By Beverly Belcher Woody
Patrick County’s history is often told through land, churches, and families—but sometimes it is best understood through the life of one man whose calling reached far beyond county lines. Such is the story of Rev. Robert Lee Peters, a native of Henry County, Virginia, whose ministry, humanitarian work, and leadership gave rise to the Virginia Christian Orphanage of Stuart, an institution now gone but far from forgotten.
Rev. Peters devoted his life to service in the ministry and to founding institutions that sought to uplift the most vulnerable. According to a biographical notice published during his lifetime, his first church was the College Street Christian Church of Bristol, Tennessee, and over the course of his ministry he organized and built seven Christian churches. His work soon extended beyond the pulpit into education, social welfare, and evangelism on a national scale.
Among his most enduring legacies was the Virginia Christian Orphanage, established in Stuart, Patrick County, where Rev. Peters served as president for seven years. The orphanage was created to serve children of Stuart and the surrounding communities and was closely supported by the First Christian Church of Stuart, which held rallies and fundraising efforts beginning as early as February 18, 1912, to sustain the home. Rev. Peters later became the second pastor of First Christian Church, further tying his work to the religious and civic life of Patrick County.
Newspaper accounts from the early 20th century show that the orphanage was supported through a wide network of churches and community events. Revival meetings, anniversary services, rally days, and even a “Grand Moonlight Party” held on the lawn of Highmaple Street Christian Church in Winston-Salem raised funds for the orphanage. Children from the orphanage themselves participated in church programs under the leadership of the matron, Mrs. S. E. Preston, reminding congregations that the mission was personal and immediate.
Rev. Peters traveled extensively on behalf of the orphanage, preaching throughout Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and beyond. Notices regularly announced his sermons at Disciple churches, where he spoke on subjects such as “The Six Friends in the Life of St. Paul,” “Come Now and Let Us Reason Together,” and “Humanity’s Duty to Children.” One article noted that seats were even reserved for white attendees—an important reminder of the complicated racial realities of the era and the spaces Rev. Peters navigated as a Black minister in the early 1900s.
Despite its strong beginnings and wide support, the Virginia Christian Orphanage ultimately fell victim to economic hardship. Multiple sources confirm that financial strain following World War I and during the Depression years led to its closure. A legal notice later announced the selling out of the orphanage, stating that under a deed of trust, lands belonging to the Virginia Christian Orphanage in Patrick County were to be sold due to unpaid obligations connected to property purchased by Rev. Peters and others. The institution’s closing marked the end of a noble effort shaped by faith, sacrifice, and community support.
Yet the closing of the orphanage did not mark the end of Rev. Peters’ influence. He went on to become a National Evangelist for the Church of Christ, preaching from Boston to Los Angeles, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and converting, baptizing, and welcoming thousands into the Christian Church. He founded the Twin City Industrial Workshop for the Blind, recognized as a pioneering effort for the blind community, and later helped establish the Winston-Salem Bible College, serving as its dean until his death.
Rev. Peters was widely respected in religious and civic circles. He held leadership roles including vice president of the National Christian Missionary Convention, deputy financial secretary of the North Carolina unit, president of the Afro Ministers’ Alliance, and a member of the Forsyth County Commission for the Blind.
When Rev. Robert Lee Peters passed away at age 81, newspapers honored him as a “Veteran Pastor.” Born May 15, 1869, in Leatherwood, Henry County, he taught school in Henry, Patrick, and Floyd Counties before entering the ministry. According to his death certificate filed in Forsyth County in 1951, he was born to Scippio Peters and Ruth Goolsby Peters. He was survived by his wife Maude Hairston Peters, the daughter of Dave and Caroline Hairston, his daughter Mrs. Savannah P. Friday, his son Frank, and extended family. Tributes marking his 51 years of preaching and 47 years as a city pastor reflected a lifetime devoted to service.
Today, the Virginia Christian Orphanage no longer stands, but its story remains woven into the history of Stuart, First Christian Church, and the broader Patrick County community. In remembering Rev. R. L. Peters and the Virginia Christian Orphanage, we honor not only a man and an institution, but a shared belief that communities are strongest when they care for their children. Though the buildings are gone, the spirit of that work still echoes through Patrick County’s churches, families, and stories—quietly reminding us that compassion, once given, is never truly lost.
Information on Rev. R. L. Peters and the Virginia Christian Orphanage of Stuart was gleaned from Washington Daily News, January 20, 1912, and January 22, 1912; Winston-Salem Journal, April 21, 1912, May 1, 1912, June 7, 1914, August 31, 1947, and January 9, 1951; The Roanoke Times, December 5, 1914; The World News November 28, 1916, Jacksonville Journal, March 11, 1914; Martinsville Bulletin, December 31, 1929, and August 25, 1989; and of course, The Enterprise, February 1, 1912.
For questions, comments, or story ideas, you may contact Woody at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or 276-692-9626.
