Rev. Abel McIver “Mac” Hart, 93, of Black Mountain, NC passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at Givens Highland Farms.
Born August 19, 1928 in Staunton, VA, he was a son of the late Freeman H. and Jean Fraser Hart. As a teenager, Mac was an Eagle Scout and later served as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America. Mac was an alumnus of both Davidson College where he received a B.A. in English in 1949, and Columbia Theological Seminary where he received a M.A. of Divinity in 1953.
Rev. Hart was an ordained Presbyterian minister and he served as general presbyter for Hanover Presbytery in Richmond, VA from 1968 to 1974, and as executive presbyter for Grace Presbytery in Dallas, TX from 1974-1993. In addition, he was pastor at churches in Fayette, MS, Wynne, AR, and Meridian, MS, and served as Associate Pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, AR. Even after retirement, he held interim pastorates in Rocky Mount, NC and York, SC. He was a member of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church.
As part of a lifelong commitment to social justice and his Christian values, Mac volunteered to help the needy and to register voters in Henderson and Buncombe counties. He also enjoyed relaxing with a good book, a historical map, or genealogical research.
In addition to his parents, Mac was preceded in death by his beloved spouse, Muriel Gear Hart; brother, James Wilson Hart; brother-in-law, Richard Gear; brother-in-law, Robert Dickey; and sister-in-law, Meredith Hart. Surviving are his children, David M. Hart of Amherst, MA, Felix A. Hart and his spouse, Elizabeth, of Kent, WA, J. Gary Hart of Austin, TX, F. Elizabeth Hart of Mansfield Center, CT, Douglas B. Goldenberg-Hart and his spouse, Diane, of Silver Spring, MD; siblings, Fraser Hart, of Madison, WI, David E. Hart and his spouse, Rachel, of Charlotte, NC, and Jean B. Dickey, of Takoma Park, MD, and sister-in-law, Jean C. Hart of Gainesville, FL; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at a later date. Mac and Muriel’s cremains will be deposited together at Montreat Memorial Gardens.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.PenlandFamilyFuneralHome.com. Penland Family Funeral Home is honored to assist the Hart Family at this time.