by Barbara Sue Oglesby Nicholl, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Erwin, 2016

Left to Right: Sandra Ralph Joseph, Allison Joseph Crumpler, Sarah Lanier Wells & Diane Ralph Lanier

In 2005, at the time of the 100th Anniversary of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Erwin, NC, women in three generations of one family were actively serving in leadership positions. Pauline Ralph was on the 100th Anniversary committee; her daughter, Diane Lanier, was president of the ECW; a second daughter, Sandra Joseph, was Altar Guild chairman; a granddaughter, Sarah Wells, was clerk of the vestry; and another granddaughter, Allison Crumpler, was UTO chairman. Part of the strength of St. Stephen’s lies in the way families in this small-town church work together and remain active in church activities.

Diane is married to Bill Lanier, a pharmacist, who for many years owned Lanier Drug in Erwin. Right around the corner was Joseph’s Department store owned by Sandra’s husband, Louis. Diane’s husband, Bill, served many years as senior warden and as church treasurer. Sandra’s husband, Louis, was also a revered member of the community, holding the position of Fire Chief for many years until his death in 2006. Louis was a member of the Catholic Church, but Sandra and Louis reared their children as Episcopalians. Diane and Bill have had their cross to carry, having lost their youngest son, Ralph, at the age of 15. They understand grief and have helped others on many occasions.

For the past 60 years Sandra and Diane have been part of the lifeblood of St. Stephen’s. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, “Let me count the ways.” We can start with the altar. Sandra has served 40 years as Altar Guild Chairman. For the past 16 years, both Diane and Sandra, along with Lucy Adair, have been co-chairmen of the memorial committee, recording memorials, sending acknowledgements, and purchasing items from memorial funds. Diane has been ECW president and bazaar chairman; Sandra, secretary and also treasurer of the ECW. What is often missed is the behind the scenes work of these two ladies. When something needs to be done, they do it. For example, every closet in the church is organized; the plates and other items for church suppers are just where they need to be.

In 1975 Sandra was the first woman elected to serve on the Vestry. Today, 41 years later, she is again a vestry person. Sandra’s daughter, Allison, is raising her children, Kannan and Olivia, in St. Stephen’s. They enjoy being acolytes and playing sports. Allison, a teacher in the public school system, is responsible for Christian education, serving as Superintendent of the Sunday School.

Diane’s daughter, Sarah, has followed in her mother’s tradition of service, with 11 years on the vestry, often as clerk. Each year Sarah organizes the Seder Meal. A schoolteacher, Sarah was honored as Veteran of Foreign Wars “Teacher of the Year”. She preceded Allison as Superintendent of Sunday School and now continues as a teacher. Sarah’s husband, Mike, is a dean at Campbell University and a past senior warden. Mike and Sarah have three children, Jacob, Thomas, and Paul, who, true to their Biblical names, are faithful acolytes at St. Stephen’s.