Memorial gazebo in place

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

The late Leland Smith’s love for children was legendary. It manifested itself at St. John’s Episcopal Church, in the church’s daycare program and throughout the Wytheville community.
When Smith, the church’s rector for almost 10 years, died suddenly while walking in the Christmas parade last December his congregation was devastated. The children, too, lost their friend and advocate.
“My grandson was expecting a baby brother at the time,” recalled church member Pat Phillippi. “He said Leland won’t get to see Luke. It has been a hard. The children had a really hard time with it.”
Following Smith’s death, memorial contributions poured into the church’s Good Samaritan Fund. They were to continue Smith’s work with children.
According to Phillippi, Smith’s widow, Jan, and son Michael suggested buying a gazebo for the church. Their idea was supported by the congregation.
Early this spring, a committee consulted with the owners of the Mennonite woodcrafter business in Wytheville. It placed an order for the gazebo to be built in Tennessee.
At the end of June, the white octagonal-shaped gazebo with a 14-foot diameter and gray slate roof arrived at the church on Main Street. It was unloaded from a truck and placed on a site beside the church building.
On July 3, the Leland Smith Memorial Gazebo was dedicated. Presiding over the ceremony was the Right Rev. Neff Powell of Roanoke, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Virginia.
Powell told the first Bible story from the gazebo to the delight of the children.
Also attending the dedication were Smith’s family and church congregation. The Rev. H. James Raines Jr., interim rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, participated too.
The gazebo will continue to be used as a site for storytelling. It also will be the scene of activities for the church’s daycare children and church children.
There was money left in the fund.
“We decided to use the money for children in the community who need dental work,” Phillippi said. “We’re still working on how to determine which children will be chosen. It will be an ongoing memorial. We’ll do money-making projects to keep funding it.”
The congregation also misses Jan Smith, who was the church organist. Mrs. Smith and her son moved to Florida.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .