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Obituary For Reverend Henry Presler
The Reverend Henry Airheart Presler, 85, of Carrboro, North Carolina passed away peacefully on April 23, 2025 in Chapel Hill, NC.
Henry was born in Nainital, India on April 8, 1940, the son of Henry Hughes Presler and Marion Constance Anders Presler. He grew up in India, where hiking in the Himalayas was one of his favorite pastimes. At the age of 18, Henry moved to the United States to begin college at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH. It was there that Henry met his beloved wife of 61 years, Judith Louise Heiss.
Henry and Judith married in 1963 and together built a magnificent life and family with five children born between the years of 1964 and 1984. Early in their marriage, while Judith held her first teaching job, at Kansas State College in Pittsburg, Kansas, they raised cattle on their small farm nearby.
Always curious, Henry continued his studies over the course of his life, receiving a M.A. in classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was also a lifelong teacher. He taught philosophy at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He also taught for many years as an adjunct lecturer in the philosophy department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In 1983, Henry attended the General Theological Seminary in New York City and was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1986. The first church that he served was Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Warrenton, NC. Henry then moved to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Monroe, NC in 1988, serving there for 21 years. Known to his parishioners as “Father Henry,” he watched over the growth of outreach programs such as Loaves and Fishes, a food bank; Turning Point, a shelter for battered women; food service at the homeless shelter; special church services for persons with disabilities; and regular services for residents of a nearby retirement community. In 2009, Henry semi-retired and returned to his first church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Warrenton, to minister to the parish until his full retirement in 2020.
Henry was a lifelong activist beginning in college where he was a civil rights activist and volunteered with Dorothy Day at the Catholic Worker in New York City. He and his family were active supporters of the United Farm Workers struggle with the grape growers. In the 1980s, he was a leader in the anti-nuclear movement in the Charlotte area.
Henry was a lover of ancient and baroque music. As a child he played the violin, and throughout his life he played the banjo and the recorder. At the age of 75, Henry and his wife, Judith, took up playing the trumpet and they both performed trumpet recitals in Durham, NC for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Quinta.
Henry is survived by his wife, Judith; children, Marion (Kenneth) Hirsch of Pittsboro, NC, Anna (Leighton Fong) Presler of Berkeley, CA, Henrietta (Cole) Locklear of Nashville, TN, and Jesse (Rebecca) Presler of Durham, NC; grandchildren, Sarah Hirsch, Franklin Hirsch, James Hirsch, Maria Fong, Molly Locklear, Annabelle Locklear, Lonnie Locklear, Cole Locklear Jr., Elliott Presler, and Louisa Presler; and siblings Marianna (Robert) McJimsey of Colorado Springs, CO, Franklin (Paula) Presler of Kalamazoo, MI, Wesley Presler of Kalamazoo, MI, and the Rev. Titus (Jane Butterfield) Presler of Enosburg Falls, VT, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Henry was beloved for his willingness to listen, his mischievous spirit, and his never-ending interest in learning. He will be missed and remembered by many.
A celebration of Henry’s life will take place in the Chapel at Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, NC on April 26, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Professional Services Entrusted to Boyd & Royster Funeral Services
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Janis Gillespie planted 5 trees in memory of Reverend Henry Presler . - April 25, 2025
As I searched for contact information regarding Henrietta, my former bassoon student from the late 1990s, I came across Henry's obituary. Judith, Henrietta, and your entire Presler family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Though I did not know Henry well I found him very interesting to talk to, very wise with a comforting calm about him. I know you will miss his presence greatly. My deepest sympathy to all of your family. Lori Tiberio
Fr. Henry was my priest and rector at St. Paul's Episcopal, Monroe NC when I was a lay person.
But he was much more than that to me: He was my very dear friend and mentor. More than that, he was the priest and my sponsor in my ordination process - from Spiritual Formation, to Postulancy, Seminary, and Ordination.
Without Fr. Henry and his genuine love and support to me and my family, my ordination process and my ministry would have been a different story.
Unfortunately, I could not be at Funeral because I was in Baton Rouge, LA burying my cousin on the same day and time.
I am very glad I had the opportunity of joy of having a good conversation with him just last year.
I thank God that my daughter and I drove to his NC residence and had a very beautiful afternoon with him and Judith a few years ago.
I pray God's peace on his soul and everlasting repose with our Heavenly Father.
I thank God for the unbelievable "coincides" that led us to meet and get to know each other, and for the goodnesses and blessings that resulted from our relationship.
May the Lord be with you in death, as He was with you in life.
Farewell, my very dear friend.
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This world has lost a wonderful man. I have a very heavy heart for the minister/close friend that stayed with me the day I lost my wife. Advising me to tell my 2yr old daughter that she won't see her mom again to go in the sanctuary and just tell her and encourage her that daddy will be with her. Or years later when Henry included my daughter and my new daughter to be actively participating in the marriage to my new wife by getting the girls to say "I do" when he asked, and Elizabeth do you accept Allison to be your sister and Laura to be your mother? I have been so touched by Henry's wisdom, his heart and his vision in big times in my life. He meant so much to me and so much to many.
My heart is sad. I keep hearing that old song, "We shall meet and we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair...". I would change it to "We shall weep...". Little did I know that when I started as a temp as Fr. Henry's secretary at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in August of 1996 that I would make such a dear friend for life even though I was only there about 2 1/2 years. Ah, the stories we would laugh over with favorites such as "The Stapler" (missing from my desk for weeks I was so sure he had taken it and he was 100% positive that he had not) or the times he would be late writing his letter for the monthly newsmagazine, A Potpourri, and I would sigh and say "Well, I guess I'll have to write it but I'm signing your name to it" to which he would get busy and write that letter (he was fearful of what I might write!!). He taught me many things and I tried to teach him about TV shows like Andy Griffin so he'd know what I was referring to when I said "pick a lock!". He was so wise and smart and loved to laugh and he never made me feel inferior because I wasn't as smart (but I was funny). He taught me about tolerance and how it was really all about loving thy neighbor. I was sad when he moved away but we stayed in touch. I shall be sadder still knowing that he is no longer of this earth. My deepest sympathy to Judith and his beloved family. (P.S. - Judith had taken the stapler)
It is with a very sad heart that I hear of the news that my friend and former pastor Fr. Henry Presler has passed away. Fr. Henry had a strong influence on my past spiritual revival and confirmation at St. Paul's here in Monroe,NC My heart felt condolences to Judith and family.
Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.
