Miss Carrie Burwell and Wayside Community Church
By Beverly Belcher Woody
In the Enterprise, Volume 48, Number 15, 12 April 1928, a wonderful letter of thanks, which wound up being a great history of the Wayside Community Church, was published.
Here is the letter in its entirety, written by Wayside Church Board of Trustees, J. A. Gilbert, donator of the plot of land, W. L. Ashby, and E. L. Bryant.
“In 1872 the first church was built at Wayside and used by all denominations. In 1908, the log structure was replaced by a frame building to be used as a church and school building. For a number of years, the Methodist Conference sent a preacher to us once a month, but in recent years there has been no regular preacher, and the building has been used mostly as a schoolhouse and for funerals. In the Spring of 1926, the building was destroyed by fire and we almost despaired of ever getting another, but from time to time we would have meetings and discuss how we would build another church and there did not seem to be anything to pledge but labor. Finally, in the spring of 1927, our good friend, Miss Carrie Burwell of Pittsburgh, asked us to send her a copy of the deed to the lot to her and she would see if she could not interest some of her northern friends in our behalf. We sent the deed and when she came to Stuart for her summer vacation, she brought $600, and we immediately got busy. We wrote letters to people whom we knew to be interested in matters of this kind and received quite a nice sum from them. Then we had ice cream suppers, cake sales, etc., which we realized a nice amount, all of which brought us nearer to the new building we had planned. After getting $1000 together, we signed the contract and neighbors who could not give money, gave their time, and so we have now almost completed a neat little brick church of which any community may be proud.
We have school there this winter and everyone seems to be comfortable and happy, so every person old and young wishes to thank the people who helped make it possible. Most especially do we wish to thank Miss Burwell for her untiring efforts while here on her vacation, and her Pittsburgh friends who gave her money. We hope that someday they may come to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and visit the little red brick church so wonderfully built. We want to thank the people of Stuart who patronized us when we had our suppers and etc., and all the people of other communities who helped in any way. I can tell you we would get terribly discouraged when we realized that we must have more money before we could go any further. At times, then we would remember that God helps those who help themselves, so we kept right. Some days there would be only two at work, others having to attend home duties, then some good Samaritan would send us a small check and we would try again, never giving up. To anyone who helped in any way, we sincerely hope that each person that gave time, money, advice, and good wishes may visit us so we may have the opportunity of thanking them personally. So, we do again, thank you and God bless and keep you. The Wayside Community. J.A. Gilbert, – donator of plot, W. L. Ashby, and E. L. Bryant. Wayside Community Church Board of Trustees.
My next question was who in the world was Miss Carrie Burwell? The Enterprise provided some great information about Miss Burwell’s comings and goings, but I still had to do a lot of searching to find out who were parents were. It was confusing because one of the clippings stated that her sister was Dinnie Gilbert. How could Dinnie’s last name be Gilbert and Carrie’s last name be Burwell?
I found Miss Carrie Burwell in the census records for the 1920’s through the 1940’s as working as a licensed practical nurse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
I finally found the parents of Carrie’s nephew, Joseph Burwell Abshire, listed as J. P. Abshire and Adina “Dinnie” Gilbert. I thought I would get some confirmation, but Dinnie did not give her parents name when they applied for a marriage license in Roanoke.
One of the most important breakthroughs in my research came through the death certificate of Adina “Dinnie” Gilbert/Burwell Abshire. Adina or “Dinnie”, who was born on August 8, 1871, died in Roanoke, Virginia, on October 20, 1912, at the age of forty-one. Her death certificate, registered on October 22, 1912, identified her parents as William A. Burwell and Matilda Gilbert. That single document proved invaluable because it helped explain why some members of the family appeared in records using the surname Burwell, while others used Gilbert.
The 1880 United States Census provided another important piece of the puzzle. Living in the Mayo River District of Patrick County was Matilda Gilbert, age 30, who was listed as the head of her household. Residing with her were her children: Adina Gilbert, age 8; William A. Gilbert, age 6; Lucy A. Gilbert, age 2; and Carrie J. Gilbert, age 1. (Carrie would later go by Carrie Burwell). All of the children were born in Virginia, and young Adina was noted as attending school. The census clearly documented the family living together under the Gilbert surname, a fact that initially made tracing their genealogy somewhat confusing.
Adding another layer to the mystery, the same 1880 census recorded William A. Burwell living separately in the Mayo River District. Fifty-four years old at the time, Burwell was listed as single, living alone, and a retired lawyer. Born in Virginia, he was head of his own household with no other family members residing with him. At first glance, these census records appear to describe two unrelated families. However, when considered alongside Adina Abshire’s death certificate identifying William A. Burwell and Matilda Gilbert as her parents, the relationship becomes much clearer. Together, these records reveal why some of the children were later known by the surname Burwell, while others continued to use the surname Gilbert, solving one of the most intriguing genealogical mysteries surrounding Miss Carrie Burwell and her family.
Later newspaper clippings from the Enterprise would show that Carrie Burwell had two more brothers, Charles R. Gilbert and Thomas Jefferson Burwell.
On page 370 of the History of Patrick County, Virginia William A. Burwell is mentioned; he was a member of the Patrick County Bar Association and practicing attorney in Patrick County from the 1850’s to the 1880s. William A. Burwell represented Patrick County in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1856-1859.
The following clippings from the Enterprise give a wonderful snapshot of Miss Carrie Burwell, her family activities, and philanthropic causes.
During Christmas of 1920, the children of the Wayside School gathered for a holiday program and Christmas tree. Their teacher, Miss Bernice Gilbert, had worked hard to prepare an evening the children would never forget. Thanks to the generosity of Miss Carrie Burwell of Pittsburgh, every child received TWO toys along with a bag filled with Christmas treats.
June 4, 1925
Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Burwell are visiting Miss Carrie Burwell at Rose Hill Cottage.
June 25, 1925.
“T. J. Burwell, who was connected with the Pocahontas Fuel Co. for twenty-two years, as mine foreman, died suddenly of pericarditis at the home of his sister, Miss Carrie L. Burwell, June 17th. Wednesday afternoon, He was a member of Knights Pythian lodge at Pax W. Va. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Mrs. T. J. Proffit, of Kingston; two sisters, Mrs. Lucy Shaffer, of Bluefield, and Miss Carrie L. Burwell, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and one brother, Charles, of Philadelphia. He was buried near Stuart on Friday, June 19th.”
July 12, 1928-Lost: Somewhere between my home and Wayside Church June 9, a string of beads. The Finder will please return to me or the Enterprise Office and receive a $5.00 reward. (Miss) Carrie Burwell, Stuart, Virginia.
August 9, 1928-Mr. and Mrs. Vance Orander of Stoneville, N. C. spent Sunday with Miss Carrie Burwell at Rose Hill Cottage.
May 16, 1929-Miss Carrie Burwell from Pittsburgh, Pa. has arrived here and will spend the summer at her home near Stuart.
June 6, 1929-Mr. and Mrs. Negley of Pittsburgh and Paris, and Mr. and Mrs. Vance Orander of Stoneville, N. C. spent Sunday with Carrie Lee Burwell at the Rose Hill Cottage. Miss Carrie Lee Burwell will spend the weekend with Miss Lucy Carson from Pittsburgh in Roanoke.
October 10, 1929-Miss Carrie Burwell of Stuart was dismissed from Stuart Hospital last week.
December 5, 1929-Miss Carrie Burwell left Saturday for Pittsburgh, Pa. where she will spend the winter.
May 22, 1930-Miss Carrie Burwell returned from Pa. where she spent the winter.
June 26, 1930-Mrs. G. J. Proffit and little daughter, Dorothy Lee, are visiting their aunt, Miss Carrie Lee Burwell, at Rose Hill Cottage. Miss Burwell is taking her nieces on a motor trip to Roan Mtn., Tenn. to visit their great aunt, Mrs. Lucinda Bowers.
WAYSIDE NEWS
Stuart, Va. Route, June 1, 1931—Our school at Wayside has just closed a successful term taught by Mrs. J. L. Leach. We hope she returns to us next term.
Miss C. L. Burwell of Pittsburgh has returned to her home “Rose Hill Cottage.”
Joseph Burwell Abshire of Roanoke has been the guest of Miss Carrie Burwell.
September 1, 1932
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Abshire of New York, J. B. Abshire and children, Josephine and Diana, of Roanoke spent Sunday here, guests of Miss Carrie Burwell.
October 12, 1933-Miss Carrie Burwell is leaving Sunday for Pittsburgh where she will spend the winter.
June 18, 1936-Miss Carrie Burwell, who spent the past winter in Pittsburgh, has returned to her home “Rose Hill Cottage.”
October 22, 1936-Mr. Blair of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania donated through Miss Carrie Burwell, 140 books to the Stuart High School Library. Various kinds of French and English Reference books were given. We, the pupils of the school, greatly appreciate this generous donation. —Lucy Cruise
July 18, 1940- Miss Carrie Burwell of Pittsburgh arrived here last week for the summer.
January 8, 1942-Officers were called this week to investigate a robbery reported at the Carrie Burwell home, a short distance from town. The extent of the damage is not known.
May 28, 1942-Miss Carrie Burwell of Pittsburgh, Pa. spent a short while with friends here Sunday.
January 11, 1945-Miss Carrie Burwell spent several days last week in Roanoke with her nephew and family.
October 22, 1953-Recent guests of Miss Carrie Burwell were her nephew, Mr. Ralph Abshire, of New York, and her brother, Charles R. Gilbert, of Wildwood, N. J.
January 6, 1955-Mrs. Flora Boone, Misses Jean and Lula Powell and Miss Carrie Burwell were recent shoppers in Roanoke.
March 10, 1955-Wills Admitted to Probate
The last will and Testament of Miss Carrie Burwell, who died on February 26, was admitted to probate at the Patrick County clerk’s office on March 1.
In reference to Rose Hill Cottage-Dr. John Noel and his wife Mary Rangeley lived where the Perkins Hotel was once located on Main Street. Dr. and Mrs. Noel sold out in town and moved to their farm near Wayside Church. Dr. Noel then sold his farm to William A. Burwell. I can’t confirm but suspect that Rose Hill Cottage is the home that was once owned by Dr. Noel and then purchased by William Burwell.
Today, as worshippers gather inside Wayside Community Church, few may realize that one of its greatest benefactors spent her winters in Pittsburgh and her summers at Rose Hill Cottage near Stuart. Fewer still may know of the Christmas gifts she provided for local children or the books she helped place on the shelves of the Stuart High School Library. Yet the quiet influence of Miss Carrie Lee Burwell lives on in every life she has touched.
For questions, comments, or story ideas, Woody may be reached at [email protected] or 276-692-9626.
