Two pastors of Cedar Rapids United Methodist Church killed in car crash

CEDAR RAPIDS – Two pastors of the Cedar Rapids County United Methodist Church were killed in a car crash Sunday after attending a morning service at the Veterans Memorial Building.

The Rev. Charles Layton, 65, and the Rev. Carol Mart, 77, were carpooling to the event on Sunday and eating lunch together after the service. At about 1 p.m., they were driving on Blaine’s Crossing Road in Bertram when they crossed Highway 13 and collided with a car on the highway.

Layton and Mart died in the crash.

“Both pastors were wonderful people with big hearts,” said Scott Meador, pastor of Lovely Lane United Methodist Church and leader of the Cedar Rapids United Methodist Circuit.

“You could see that they loved their people and their people loved them. That was a strong characteristic of both of them, that they loved their communities.”

Layton was pastor of the United Methodist Church in Asbury and Kenwood Park, and Mart was pastor of the Buffalo United Methodist Church. Mart was a member of the Asbury church before entering the ministry, and Layton was her mentor, said Chuck Johnson, a member of the Asbury church leadership team.

Johnson said Layton drew on his childhood experiences in his sermons and liked to make jokes.

“He was a minister with a love of music and singing. He was in the choir as often as possible. He loved potlucks, as perhaps all Methodists do,” Johnson said. “He preached wonderful, beautiful sermons… He was very down-to-earth in his sermons.”

Johnson said the crash was difficult for many community members to accept, especially since many of them not only knew Layton but were friends with Mart when she was a member of Asbury.

“The two of them had a lot of lunches and shared a bond of camaraderie. It was a big shock to everyone who heard about it,” Johnson said.

Bob Marrs, a member of the Buffalo church who worked with Mart on newsletters and other communications, said she often incorporated personal and family experiences into her teaching. She spoke regularly about her grandchild and always seemed responsive to the needs of the church.

“She was very personable and seemed to genuinely care. Pastors are paid to care, but I think with her, that was her core personality,” Marrs said. “She put a lot of effort into thinking of ways to bring people into the church and make them feel comfortable.”

Meador said other pastors from the Cedar Rapids area plan to meet later this week to discuss how best to support the two pastors’ congregations as they adjust to the sudden losses.

“As colleagues, we just try to be available,” Meador said. “I think each of us is ready to go if needed. There are still things that need to be worked out, but we’re ready to do what we can.”

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