Rev. Louis W. Foxwell, Sr.

Louis Foxwell was born in January 1916 in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents, James and Annie Foxwell, both deaf, were longtime members of the Christ United Methodist Church congregation.1 In his youth Foxwell was a member of the church and in many ways his service to church members began when he was young. He was engaged in several church related organizations, including organizing the Youth Silent Basketball Team and the All Deaf Choir. In the early 1940s he worked to secure employment for members of this community at Defense Plants.2 Largely, however, he served as an interpreter at the church.

Rev. Louis Foxwell signing Jesus.
Fig 1: Rev. Louis Foxwell signing "Jesus" (1960s).

As Rev. Moylan’s health began to decline, Foxwell played a larger role at the church and he began teaching bible classes. Near the end of Rev. Moylan’s life, “he encouraged young Louis Foxwell to study for holy orders, hoping that after his retirement, the young man would take up the work of the Deaf church.”3

Unfortunately, without a minister the future of the church was uncertain. A rotating visitation of hearing ministers attempted to serve the congregations until a replacement could be found, but attendance at the church dwindled. Church history refers to this as a transitory period, but oral histories indicate that church members took a much more active role in keeping the church alive. In an attempt to keep the congregation from declining, two deaf black members, Waters and Horsey, led worship among the remaining congregants.4 Shortly after his death, Foxwell pursued ordination with the aim of becoming the church’s minister. He enrolled at Westminster Theological Seminary from 1943 to 1951 and in 1951 Foxwell was ordained a deacon and took over the church.

He served deaf people as “a pastor, a father, a friend and a source of dependable help for deaf people young and old, black and white, rich and poor.”5

The church was revived and four years later Foxwell formally joined the Whatcoat Mission with Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf. In his letter to the bishop he described the church as “th#e first Methodist Church in Baltimore, to have negro folks join our congregation.”6 Though it remains unclear whether or not this was the case, for Foxwell, this was certainly an accomplishment.

At some point in his ministry, Rev. Foxwell began to utilize Simultaneous Communication in his sermons, “He presented his sermons from the pulpit both verbally and with sign language.”7 Though this was a departure from the sermons given by Rev. Moylan, the use of spoken English paired with the production of signs was popularized during this period.

Foxwell was an equally dedicated minister. He conducted services across the region, provided interpreting and employment, made visits to congregants in the hospital, hosted sign language classes, ran summer camps, and aided the Maryland School for the Deaf with a Family Education program. Tragically, his life was cut short when he was killed in front of his home in 1974. His wife, Ruth Parks Foxwell and his son, Louis Foxwell Jr. would continue his ministry.

Sources:

Figure 1: "Rev. Louis W. Foxwell, Sr." Memorial pamphlet, undated, Miscellaneous Photographs Binder, Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf Archives.

1. Foxwell, Ruth. “80th Anniversary Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf, 1895-1975.” Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf, April 1975. Folder: Fulton Siemers Memorial/ Christ Church of the Deaf - Folder 8/8. Lovely Lanes Archives.

2. Ibid.; “75th Anniversary; 1895-1970.” Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf, April 5, 1970. Red Binder, unlabeled. Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf Archives.

3. Johnson, Peggy A, and Robert L Walker. Deaf Ministry: Make a Joyful Silence. (Charleston, S.C.: BookSurge, LLC, 2007), 22.

4. Snyder, Dean. “United Methodists Celebrate Historic Black Deaf Church.” United Methodist News Service. October 23, 2000. Folder: Fulton Siemers Memorial/ Christ Church of the Deaf - Folder 8/8. Lovely Lanes Archives.

5. Louis Foxwell, “Letter: Foxwell to Dr. Trett and Members of the Quarterly Conference,” Correspondence, February 6, 1955, Red Binder, unlabeled, Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf Archives.

6. “Rev. Louis Wm. Foxwell, Sr.” Moylan News, no. 213 (April 1974): 4.