According to Alan Keith-Lucas’ book “Meeting the Needs of the Time: A History of Barium Springs Home for Children 1891-1991,” the original Little Joe’s Church building was built in 1907 to fulfill the dream of a little boy named Joe Gilland. Little Joe was unable to walk into town to attend church and he saved up 45 cents to start a church fund for the Barium Springs campus. The money was found in a coin purse when Little Joe died at age 9 in 1903.
The following is an excerpt from Celeste Boyd's obituary which appeared in the Statesville Daily Record 10 April 1952:
"Mrs. Celeste Boyd . . . served as housemother in the orphanage for some time and was with little Joe Gilland at the time of his death. Joe was the little boy who expressed a dying wish that his little savings be used to start the building of a church in Barium. Miss Boyd furthered the child's wish, helping to raise the money that built Little Joe's Church that serves Barium today."
The following is an excerpt from Celeste Boyd's obituary which appeared in the Statesville Daily Record 10 April 1952:
"Mrs. Celeste Boyd . . . served as housemother in the orphanage for some time and was with little Joe Gilland at the time of his death. Joe was the little boy who expressed a dying wish that his little savings be used to start the building of a church in Barium. Miss Boyd furthered the child's wish, helping to raise the money that built Little Joe's Church that serves Barium today."
According to Alan Keith-Lucas’ book “Meeting the Needs of the Time: A History of Barium Springs Home for Children 1891-1991,” the original Little Joe’s Church building was built in 1907 to fulfill the dream of a little boy named Joe Gilland. Little Joe was unable to walk into town to attend church and he saved up 45 cents to start a church fund for the Barium Springs campus. The money was found in a coin purse when Little Joe died at age 9 in 1903.
The following is an excerpt from Celeste Boyd's obituary which appeared in the Statesville Daily Record 10 April 1952:
"Mrs. Celeste Boyd . . . served as housemother in the orphanage for some time and was with little Joe Gilland at the time of his death. Joe was the little boy who expressed a dying wish that his little savings be used to start the building of a church in Barium. Miss Boyd furthered the child's wish, helping to raise the money that built Little Joe's Church that serves Barium today."
The following is an excerpt from Celeste Boyd's obituary which appeared in the Statesville Daily Record 10 April 1952:
"Mrs. Celeste Boyd . . . served as housemother in the orphanage for some time and was with little Joe Gilland at the time of his death. Joe was the little boy who expressed a dying wish that his little savings be used to start the building of a church in Barium. Miss Boyd furthered the child's wish, helping to raise the money that built Little Joe's Church that serves Barium today."
Inscription
INSPIRATION FOR LITTLE JOE'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
