Becky Weigley Passes Away After a Long Battle With Cancer

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

After a battle with cancer that started in April 2020, Rebecca “Becky” A. Weigley passed away Feb. 12. She was 67. For nearly 18 years, Weigley served as the director of the Columbia Union Conference Ministerial Spouses Association, an office that supports ministry spouses who serve in the Columbia Union’s eight conferences. She retired in 2024. 

“I am a better person, wife and mother for having known Becky Weigley,” says Celeste Ryan Blyden, executive secretary of the Columbia Union, who worked with Weigley for almost 18 years. “Becky showed her love and care for people through small acts of kindness on holidays, birthdays, special days or any day. She would just show up with something she knew you'd like or need and turn an ordinary day into a great day. That was her gift, her ministry, her joy, and in addition to supporting her husband's ministry and making memories with her family, that's how she made a difference. Also, because she knew what it was to be a pastor and church leader's spouse, Becky made it her special mission to reach out and try to make spouses feel seen and appreciated. And if you talk with them, they'll tell you she succeeded.”  

After attending Southern Missionary College (now Southern Adventist University), located in Collegedale, Tenn., Weigley ministered together with her husband, Dave Weigley, then-president of the Columbia Union, during their 47 years of marriage. Prior to the Columbia Union, they served as the presidential couple of the Potomac and Washington conferences. Through the years, they worked in seven different conferences in various positions. These roles included the added benefits of pastoring at local churches, ministerial secretary work and full-time evangelism.   

Just before she served at the Columbia Union, Becky worked in Potomac Conference’s Office of Education as assistant—preparing reports, entering data and assisting the superintendent of schools and associates with communication to the local schools.  

Dave says that from the first time he met her, she was one of the most practical, down-to-earth, “steady in every situation” type of persons he had met. Others also thought the same of her, as she was voted “Most Dependable” by her senior class at Forest Lake Academy in Apopka, Fla.  

While serving as full-time evangelists for some 12 years, the Weigleys conducted 40 evangelistic seminars, including one in the early 1990s in seven different cities along the Volga River in Russia. It was the first of many evangelism meetings they conducted for the North Pacific Union Conference in the newly opened mission field in Russia.  

In the June 11 entry in Columbia Union’s 2021 Words of Life devotional book, Becky wrote about the challenges and rewards of the years spent in full-time evangelism. She noted that Philippians 4:13 became one of her favorite Bible texts, pulling her through many difficult situations. “I’ve added my own spin to this verse to help me cope with life’s demands: “‘I can do anything, as long as it’s not forever!’” she wrote. “This has become my motto. God will never give us more than He gives us the strength to handle.”  

Adding Her Special Touch to the Columbia Union  

In her role at the union, Weigley was known for her exquisite decorating and organizing skills. During her years at the union headquarters in Columbia, Md., she planned countless retirement and holiday parties—always finding new ways to make an event special and the food delicious.  

She brought that same attention to detail and care to her role as director of the Ministerial Spouses Association, where she worked to encourage spouses in their important but sometimes overlooked ministry.  

Marcellus T. Robinson, Columbia Union Conference president, shares, "Becky’s legacy of 18 years of kindness, warmth and compassion touched the lives of many members of the Columbia Union, and she had a special connection with the members of the Ministerial Spouses Association." He continues, "Her unique gifts—especially selected and packaged for each ministerial spouse for their birthday or during the holidays—let them know that they were always valued and loved. She will always be loved and truly will be missed.”

Becky also enjoyed her role as mother to Christy (Weigley) Anderson (Bronson) and Jonathan Weigley (Karin), both registered nurses. She leaves behind five grandchildren, who referred to her as “Noni.”  

The Visitor staff will share memorial information as it becomes available.