Born in 1872, Gertrude Mead married in 1901, then suffered the death of their only child three years later. She taught in four public schools in Central Pennsylvania, becoming a widow in 1934. In 1936 she attended the First (General) Assembly of what is now the OPC and became a constituting member. After she became a charter member of Calvary OPC in Middletown, Pennsylvania, she immediately gave $1,000 to her new denomination, then another $1,000 two months later. The following year on December 7, she received a letter from her pastor, Robert Marsden, who informed her that all of the church bills had been paid with $3 left in the church treasury. “That is working pretty close, but thus far the Lord has supplied all of our needs as they have arisen,” wrote Marden.
Concerned that Christ might return soon, she continued to give generously to her local church and the denomination, prompting concern in 1956 from John Galbraith, general secretary of both the Committees on Foreign Missions and Home Missions: “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your generosity. I think I should caution you not to use your capital . . . it seems to me that it is small enough as it is. Of course, you’re quite right that the Lord may return before you die, then you would have saved that money in vain. However while it is true that He may come soon, we cannot presume that He will. . . . I do not want to see you place yourself in any difficult financial circumstances.”
Gertrude received her heavenly reward in 1957, leaving her “meager possessions” to the Committee on Foreign Missions. She gave one final gift to the OPC—a new glass gavel first used by the moderator of the 1958 General Assembly—twenty-two years after she became a constituting member.