Gulian Lansing Morrill and Ada B. Wilkinson

Rev. Gulian Lansing Morrill

Born

01 DEC 1857^[1] at Newark, N.J.

Resided

1900^[2] at Owensboro, Ky.

Died

DEC 1928^[3] at San Diego, Calif.

Married

14 DEC 1881^[4] at Cook Co., Ill.

Father

Rev. David Tilton Morrill

Mother

Alida Lansing

G.L. “Golightly” Morrill received a degree in theology from the University of Chicago. He became a minister but gained national attention by breaking away from all established churches and founded an unorthodox “People’s Church” in Minneapolis. He traveled widely and was the author of dozens of books.

He picked up the nickname “Golightly” from an an associate who told him the Baptist Church officials were getting uneasy about his church services, where he told jokes, had musicians, drummers, slide projected images, and Hula Dancers. The associate told him he had better “go lightly” in the future. GL did not change his methods, but did adopt “Golightly” as his pen-name.

In his obituary in the Los Angeles Times, it is noted, “Probably the most unique funeral service ever conducted was held here today when the voice of Rev. G.L. “Golightly” Morrill was heard preaching his own funeral service. The words were heard over the body of the noted writer and world traveler in a local funeral parlor this morning. They issued from a phonograph which was playing a record dictated by Morrill himself months ago in preparation for his final rites. After the sermon another record was placed on the machine and Morrill’s voice was heard singing a religious song.”

Ada B. Wilkinson

Born

23 SEP 1863^[5] at Meridian, N.Y.