Friends and family members of Rich Lancaster met at the South Baldwin Community Theatre on Sunday to dedicate a bench in the Memorial Gardens to the former actor-director.

Lancaster, a longtime resident of Gulf Shores and area realtor, was 58 when he passed away in August and was very active in the community theater.

Lancaster was featured in past productions such as “Stars Over Dixie,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Gypsy,” and “Miss Firecracker.”

“I had the honor of Rich calling me his pastor,” said Rick Long, Pastor of Christian Life Church in Orange Beach. “Many of you knew him a lot longer than I did, and I always hear stories. Rich has been removed from my sight, but certainly not from my heart.”

Long said he was privileged to have had the opportunity to know Lancaster, and that the project at the theater in his honor was fitting.

“When I heard about this project, and having the bench and the garden area, I thought that this was something that we really needed, especially during these times. I was fortunate to have been his friend.”

Lancaster’s sister, Anne Bell, who resides in Arlington, Va., was present for the dedication service and said that his work at the theatre was the joy of his life.

“I knew how much the community and the theater meant to him,” Bell said. “I remember when he was just a baby and would be surrounded by people my mother and father had over, and he would be performing and having everybody in stitches.”

Bell recalled that at age 12 Lancaster got his start in acting by taking the bus to a local theater and auditioning for a part in a play.

“It was the beginning of the love affair he had with performing and with the arts,” Bell said.

“How fitting for Rich that a garden bench be placed in his memory in the beautiful gardens of the South Baldwin Theatre, which was such a vital and important part of his life,” said Brucie Glassell, one of Lancaster’s friends.  “The very spot where Rich loved to go smoke, while he paced back and forth so many times, going over his lines, is where the memorial bench will be placed.”

Other friends who spoke at the dedication remember occasions when Lancaster would make people laugh within just minutes of starting a conversation with him.

Singer, songwriter and musician Gove Scrivenor, who was also a good friend of Lancaster’s, provided music on his autoharp and guitar.

The board of SBCT and volunteers created the memorial garden.

“In the past, we had tables and shaded areas outside to sit, eat and work on lines,” said SBCT President Elaina Herring.  “As we have cleaned up the areas surrounding the theater this year, we noticed how beautiful and peaceful the back area was. The garden will be a peaceful place to encourage conversation and relaxation.”

Donations to the memorial garden may be designated toward specific items such as tables, landscaping, fountains or personalized landscaping bricks. For more information on the garden or the ceremony, call SBCT at 251-968-6721 or visit the website: www.sbct.biz <http://www.sbct.biz>