Many churches and individuals choose to remember loved ones who have passed away or honor those who are living through gifts to Sunrise Children's Home. This “Living Memorial Program” was started by Rev. A.J. Hensley in 1968 to benefit Sunrise Children's Home.

The History

In 1968, Rev. Hensley was strolling through a cemetery. Away from the neatly clipped grass and well-tended stones, he saw a gully filled with dead and dying flowers that had been removed from the nearby graves.

Hensley said he had one thought: “What a waste.”

Then pastor of Salem Baptist in Shelbyville, Hensley knew that he and his congregation had made significant contributions to that gully and others like it over the years as they honored the memory of deceased church members. Suddenly, he said the traditional expression of sympathy seemed somewhat empty to him.

“I thought it would be a good idea to direct the money we were using for flowers to the children’s home,” Hensley said. Then he took the idea step further and thought a plaque could be designed to be placed in a prominent location of the church that would signal their support of Sunrise. The plaque would also have a space to include the name of the church member most recently memorialized.

Hensley brought the idea to Rev. J.D. Herndon, then director of Spring Meadows Children’s Home in Louisville. More than 35 years, 340 plaques and thousands of memorial gifts later, the tradition is thriving in Kentucky Baptist churches.

Tommy Webb, a deacon at Salem Baptist, supported Hensley’s idea. “Flowers are short-lived, but this lives on,” he said. “And who should be the most watched over and cared for but the children?”

On Dec. 20, 1970, Salem Baptist voted to make the change from flowers to funds. In 1971, the Baptist Children’s Messenger began spreading the news about the memorial plaque program, advising churches that they would receive a plaque for their congregation’s memorial gift to Sunrise. The program was named “Living Memorials.”

Many churches bring their plaques to the funeral home and place them on a flower stand, Hensley said. “Just like people look at the cards on the flowers, the plaque is a testimony to the person belonging to the church, the people who made the gift and to the children’s home.”

Hensley said he chose the latter part of Hebrews 11:4 for the memorial plaque. “And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”

How to participate

If your church would like to receive a plaque to signify your support of Sunrise, please call 1-800-456-1386 or email donate@kbhc.org. Sunrise will provide engraved plaques to be displayed at funeral homes and/or your church. Our development office will also tell you how to send your donation in to Sunrise.

Click here to make an online honor or memorial gift.