Photo by Travis Pratt Henry Sabetti, rector of The Church of the Transfiguration, was surprised to learn that a summer parishioner, Marybell Everhart, bequeathed $3 million to the church.

Marybell C. Everhart, who died in January 2008 at age 92, left the money to the Community Foundation, which manages the Dr. David Everhart Jr. and Marybell C. Everhart Charitable Fund.

Everhart, along with her husband, a local dentist who died in 1984, attended the church in the summer for many years, according to a Community Foundation press release.

Rector Henry Sabetti said that Marybell Everhart was known to the congregation as a gracious, unassuming person. She stopped attending church after her husband died, though parishioners continued to visit her.

"We were quite surprised," Sabetti said about receiving the money.

Sabetti said the fund will make its first allocation, about 5 percent of the total, to the church by November.

Additional 5 percent allotments will be made annually, he said.

Though nothing has been decided, Sabetti said the church may use the money for outreach, to reduce the mortgage on the church's new building, and maintenance and repair of church property.

"We have been graciously blessed by God through God's servant, Marybell Everhart, to be good stewards of this gracious gift," he said.