Dan Lambeth’s 57-year journey with Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) is a testimony to the enduring power of God’s love in action. In 1967, nine-year-old Dan came to live on the Mills Home campus. His house mother, Estelle Crouch, provided Dan with nurture and guidance, and now, at age 66, the same ministry has come full circle—by building a wheelchair ramp to support Dan’s safety and independence at home.
Dan spent only 14 months at Mills Home’s Hutchinson Cottage, but his house mother Estelle Crouch made a lasting impression on the young boy. “We as children were loved and cared for. I was there in third grade as a flunkie. Miss Crouch made me study with no playtime until I got my grades up. She got me straightened out and I went from all F’s to all A’s.”
Dan also credits Estelle Crouch with creating a tradition that enabled the boys’ teachers to better understand them and their situations. “Miss Crouch would invite all of our teachers to the cottage once a year for supper.”
Dan has never forgotten Miss Crouch and the changes she brought to his young life—as she empowered him to see that he could excel at school. He recalls, “She was a firm believer in the value of a good education.”
In recognition of Miss Crouch, Dan was part of a committee in 2000 that established the Crouch-Pinnix Scholarship fund in honor of his beloved house mother as well as Lugenia Pinnix who retired after serving 21 years as a dietician at Hutchinson Cottage. The scholarship fund benefited students attending Davidson County Community College.
Dan also fondly remembers “Miss Pinnix,” the cook for Hutchinson cottage who made special cakes for each of the boy’s birthdays. Dan’s tenth birthday occurred within days of him leaving Mills Home. Dan remembers, “My cake was decorated with cowboys and Indians and I tried to leave it there, but Miss Pinnix made me take it with me and told me she would make another one for the cottage.”
Toward the end of her life, Lugenia didn’t drive and so Dan drove her to Troy for visits with Estelle. When Estelle Crouch passed away in 2004 and Lugenia Pinnix in 2006, Dan attended both of their funerals. Dan remembers sadly, “They raised all those children and I wanted to be there to honor them for the difference they made in my life.”
As a faithful reader of Charity & Children, Dan, now age 66, knew of BCH’s ministry for aging adults—North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM). When he began to need a walker and have difficulty with the steps leaving his home, Dan contacted NCBAM to have a ramp built that makes his life much safer now. Dan was able to purchase the materials himself and greatly appreciates the work of crew chief Matthew Hunt and other volunteers from United Methodist Church in Archdale who constructed his ramp.
Dan’s 14 months as a child in care at Mills Home had a lasting impact on his life. As an adult, he was a faithful son to both his parents in their later years. “I helped my parents until they passed away. And before my grandmother passed away, I used to drive her to church and to Winn Dixie.”
Dan continues to attend alumni Homecoming events at Mills Home and has had cookouts and trips with other Mills Home alumni over the years. “The Homecoming and being with other alumni always brings a lot of good feelings,” he says. Dan deeply appreciates the guidance and compassion he received as a young boy as well as the help extended to him as an adult.
Dan Lambeth’s story is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that love, care, and community can have on a person’s life. His journey, from a young boy at Mills Home to an adult supported by the same ministry, showcases the transformative power of God’s love.
Dan’s life and experiences inspire us at BCH and NCBAM to continue to fulfill our missions. Please consider contributing to the circle of care, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word about the work of BCH and NCBAM. Together, we can ensure that more children and adults receive the love and support they need to thrive, just as Dan did.
This wheelchair ramp, constructed by volunteers from United Methodist Church in Archdale, has improved Dan’s quality of life and greatly increased his safety and independence. Dan enjoys people and this ramp allows him more opportunities to attend church, get fresh air, and engage with his community.
Written by Carol Layton, NCBAM Director of Communications and Administration
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