Marble – Lifelong local resident Fred Lunsford was honored Friday, when the N.C. Department of Transportation named a bridge in his honor.
Family, friends and members of the community came out to Marble Springs Baptist Church to celebrate a man of many achievements. His faithfulness and service of his country, community and fellow man is the reason the sign on N.C. 141 – bridge No. 5 in Marble – will always read the Rev. Fred B. Lunsford Bridge.
Lunsford was born in March 1925 in Cherokee County. At just age 13, he was baptized in Vengeance Creek.
He met his future wife, Gladys, that same year, when she was only 11 years old. The two were married for more than 70 years and had two sons before she passed away in 2014.
Even as a child, Lunsford loved the Lord, pretending to be a preacher – a sign of things to come.
As a young man, Lunsford faithfully served the U.S. Army in World War II from 1943-45. He fought during the Normandy Invasion, the Battle of the Bulge and in the Liberation of France.
After returning home from the war, his wife got very sick. Lunsford said his prayer to God was, "If only You'll make her well, I will do Your will."
Gladys did get better, and Fred kept his promise, dedicating his life to preaching the word of God.
For more than 70 years, he served in ministry as a Baptist preacher across western North Carolina.
Lunsford helped with the Truett Camp for Boys & Girls in Clay County as well as the Broyhill Home for Children in Hayward County. He also developed services for people with disabilities, including the blind.
As well as speaking in dozens of churches, Lunsford has been a member of the Murphy Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors and recognized as an elder with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He was also awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the governor of North Carolina.
More recently, Lunsford has added to his many achievements a series of inspirational books he has written, some which have been distributed nationwide. His books can be found locally at Living Water Bookstore in Murphy or online at christianbook.com.
Lunsford found himself duly awarded Friday, when he was the recipient of a beautiful Quilt of Valor. A Quilt of Valor is awarded to living veterans who have been touched by war.
Randolph and Lynda Case, along with Christine Twiss, gently placed the handcrafted quilt upon his shoulders, which is customary for the Quilt of Valor Foundation. The inside of his quilt bears a tag with his name, where the quilt was handcrafted and by whom.
The broad-shouldered yet humble and gentle man looked up and said, "I want to thank everyone for being here, I feel so honored. Without the grace of God, I'd be nothing. I didn't arrive at this place by myself."
When asked, “Where do you go from here?” Lunsford simply said, “My goal is to be pleasing to the Lord."