TENNESSEE: Death at Devotional

• Share

It was a devout family, and happy in its devotion. The father, Gordon Roberts, 21, was a student at a Seventh-day Adventist college in Madison, Tenn., planned to become a missionary. The mother, Trannie Roberts, 20, also went to the college, worked nights as nurse in an Adventist hospital. Each day, at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Gordon and Trannie Roberts held family devotional, cradling their infant son Larry while 2½-year-old Philip Roberts joined in the prayers and sang simple hymns.

Late one afternoon last week, Gordon and Trannie Roberts, with their sons, were driving home from a visit to a home for handicapped children in a nearby town. Trannie was due on duty at her hospital in 90 minutes; there would not be time for a devotional at home. Gordon Roberts pulled off the highway, the family clasped hands and prayed—among other things, for a safe trip. When Gordon started up again, little Philip was still on his knees on the front floorboard, singing one of his favorite hymns:

Happy, happy home,

Happy, happy home,

With Jesus in the family,

Happy, happy home.

Just then, another car, headed in the opposite direction, came over a rise in the highway. The cars crashed headon. Seven people were injured in the wreck. Caught between dashboard and front seat and instantly killed was little Philip Roberts, still on his knees.