Patrick County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Rorrer, Henry Lee December 7, 1854 - April 13, 1936
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ron Martin cindyandron@bellsouth.net July 16, 2024, 1:48 am

Author: Ron Martin

  Henry Lee “Leroy” Rorrer was born on December 7, 1854, the third child of 
David Charles Rorrer, a Civil War veteran and Sarah Amanda Harbour Rorrer in a 
remote area of Patrick County Virginia.  Ultimately, it blossomed into a huge 
family as he eventually had eleven siblings.

  Sadly, his father died while he was still residing at home in 1872.   
According to folklore, his father became stricken with stomach cancer to the 
point that he was overcome with such tremendous pain that he eventually ended 
his life.

  Just over three- and one-half years later, he married Sarah Ann “Sallie” 
Bryant, the daughter of James M. Bryant, Jr. and Ruth Martha Harger Bryant.

  The newly married couple embarked upon their family and Elizabeth Ann “Betty” 
Rorrer was born on January 17, 1877.    John Taylor Rorrer, their only son was 
born on May 2, 1878.   Just under three years later, Mary Lee “Judy Ruth” Rorrer 
was born on February 15, 1881.   Their daughter Minnie Adeline Rorrer came into 
the world on November 27, 1889.

  On January 28, 1902, tragedy came to the family as Judy Ruth who had married 
William Howard Foley in 1895 passed away during childbirth as her twins also 
passed away at the same time.

  On April 15, 1910, Henry Lee and Sallie made a decision that changed the 
entire community as they provided the land which later Goodwill Church of the 
Brethren was built.   This little church touched many lives in the community for 
decades as hundreds of people gave their life to Jesus Christ while attending 
worship services at the little church as well as Bible schools, weddings, and 
funerals. 
   
  Around this same time, Taylor Anderson Wright, a local carpenter was 
contracted to build the Dunkard Church at the location of the old Brammer 
School.  There are unanswered questions about whether this was the precursor to 
Goodwill Church of the Brethren or perhaps this was the actual church that 
served the community for decades.

  Due to the growth of this church, it was decided to build the current church, 
New Hope Church of the Brethren sometime in the 1960’s.   Eventually the vacant 
church building was sold to Clyde Woodrow “Blondie” Pilson.  It was being 
utilized for storage but sadly on October 30, 1972, arsonists struck and burned 
down the church as well as the nearby Heidelbach School building.  The 
perpetrators were never brought to justice.

  Sometime during this period, the Rorrer family decided to depart from Patrick 
County moving to the Spray, North Carolina community where the economy was 
booming and jobs were plentiful.   The 1910 census indicated that Henry was a 
night watchman at one of the many cotton mills in this area.  Many people in 
this area of Patrick County moved to either the Spray area of North Carolina or 
West Virginia seeking employment in the mines.

  Sarah passed away on February 20, 1930, in Spray due to the effects of 
influenza.   Evidently sometime after Sarah’s death, he moved to West Virginia 
to reside with his daughter, Minnie Alice Thore and her husband, David Henry 
Thore.   
 
  On April 13, 1936, he passed away in Algoma which is in McDowell County, West 
Virginia.   His body was transported back to Patrick County, and he was buried 
beside his wife in what was the Goodwill Church of the Brethren Cemetery which 
is now aptly named the Foley-Rorrer Cemetery.


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