The steeple of First Baptist Church was recently wired for electricity to provide a light within the steeple from dusk until dawn. The project was made possible by a donation from Connie Young and Camilla Gibson in memory of their father, Howard Franklin.Connie and Camilla who reside in Section and Montgomery, respectively, were baptized and long time members of First Baptist. Their mother, Sydney Franklin, has been an active member of the church since 1962.
Their father was born in 1930. He died in 2007. He was a life long resident of Piedmont.
He accepted Jesus at an early age at Dailey Street Baptist Church. His daughters say that although he never remembered being baptized, he felt baptism was important, and on Sept. 24, 2005, at his request, he was baptized at First Baptist by Rev. Michael Ingram.
While not an official member of the church, it was important to their father’s life and he valued his many friends there, said his daughters.
“The love and support provided by members of the church to him and his family during his illness and following his death was immeasurable,” they say.
In addition to honoring their father, the lighting of the steeple is being done as a testimony to the love the church provides to the city.
The 65 foot white aluminum steeple with a modified carillon bell system was lifted by cranes and placed on top of the church on Nov. 6, 1970.
The official first lighting of the steeple will take place at dusk on Saturday, June 28.
