Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)

September 4, 2004
Section: Gwinnett
Edition: Home; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Page: JJ1

Pastor will eulogize baby left at church
   MARK DAVIS

Staff

The body of a stillborn baby boy, found outside a southeast Atlanta church Sunday will be buried today at Gwinnett Memorial Park alongside the graves of two other found- lings.

"David Nathanael," the name given the dead infant found at Woodland Hills Baptist Church, will be buried at 10 a.m. at the Lawrenceville cemetery. The Rev. Larry Camp, who found the child's body before services Sunday, will officiate.

The child's name has two meanings, said Brittany McClintock of Hoschton, who helped arrange the service: "David" means "beloved," while "Nathanael" means "gift of God."

The infant will be buried on the same row as two other babies whose bodies were found in public places, said McClintock, founder of New Hope Safe Haven. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to promoting public awareness of Georgia's Safe Haven Law, which allows parents of newborns to drop off their child at a police station, fire department or other safe place without fear of prosecution for abandoning the infant.

One child, "Matthew Christian," whose origins remain unknown, was buried in April. A jogger discovered his body on a Walton County roadside.

In May, "Joshua Moses," a second infant, was interred at the park. Atlanta police recovered his body near a MARTA rail line.

Copyright 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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