Forty years after her death, Clara Lamp continues to support the ministry of First Baptist Church.
Clara was born on June 20, 1883 to George C.S. Lamp and Eliza H. (Medley) Lamp. She was the fourth of five children— James, John, Cora, Clara and Jesse Doris. The family lived on a farm in southwestern Wood County. They attended the New England Baptist Church and several generations of the family are buried in the church cemetery.
As a young adult, Clara moved to Parkersburg where she worked as a telephone operator and later as a seamstress and office assistant for a doctor. She and her younger sister, Jesse, lived with their Aunt Hannah, her father’s sister, on 19th Street.
When Clara’s father died in 1933, she and her sister returned to manage the family farm. Jesse died in 1948 and soon afterward Clara moved back to Parkersburg. It is uncertain when she sold the farm. Clara joined First Baptist Church of Parkersburg. She eventually took up residence in the Colonial House on 23rd Street.
Clara hired Attorney Roger Redmond to put her affairs in order. Roger was a member of First Baptist Church. In her estate, Clara’s desire was that three organizations be named as beneficiaries—New England Baptist Church was to receive one half of her estate, First Baptist Church was to receive one quarter and a new entity in 1978, the West Virginia Baptist Conference Center (Parchment Valley) was to receive one quarter. The sole agent of the estate was to be the convention’s Minister of Business and Finance.
Clara Lamp died on April 7, 1978. She is buried at the New England Cemetery next to her siblings, her father, aunt and grandparents.
From the beginning, the three organizations have each sent a representative to serve as trustees for the estate. The initial estate of $121,644 was invested so that quarterly disbursements would come from the growth. Today, the principal has increased to more than $656,000.
We have experienced numerous blessings by folk who include the church in their will. Some gifts are large and others are small. Some are designated for specific things such as the repair and upkeep of the building. Other gifts are given to be used however needed. Some gifts are invested with only the growth available. Others have no such restrictions. Each gift blesses the congregation and furthers the ministry of this church.
Have you included your church in your will? Contact our office and we would love to help you do this. Jesus tells us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:21) Clara Lamp had a heart for what the Lord was doing at New England Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, and Parchment Valley.
This article was adapted from an article written in a July 2018 church newsletter by Richard McClure, pastor at First Baptist Church of Parkersburg.
