By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
The Central Children’s Home of North Carolina—originally founded as the Grant Colored Asylum—stands as one of the most significant African American child-care institutions in the state.
Its origins trace back to the Reconstruction era, when the emancipation of enslaved people and the decline of the apprenticeship system created a sudden rise in homeless and neglected Black children who lacked safe and reliable care. In 1873, the Oxford Orphans Asylum opened nearby but served only white children, leaving children of color without institutional support.
The need for a separate facility became apparent, and in August 1882 the Colored Orphanage Association was formed in Henderson by members of the Shiloh and Wake Missionary Baptist Associations, inspired by Rev. Dr. Augustus Shepard. With the assistance of Henderson native Henry Plummer Cheatham—an influential African American political leader who later served in Congress—the Association secured congressional funding to establish North Carolina’s first orphanage for African American children.
In October 1883, the Association purchased a 23-acre farm just south of Oxford, near Fishing Creek township, for $1,565 and opened the Grant Colored Asylum as a nondenominational institution dedicated to caring for children deprived of parental support. From the beginning, the orphanage offered a comprehensive model of care that combined religious, moral, and industrial instruction, providing training in farming, dairying, carpentry, brickmaking, barbering, shoe repair, food preparation, laundry, and household skills—preparing its residents for productive, independent adult lives.
Under its first superintendent, Robert L. Shepard, the orphanage established a foundation of structure and opportunity, and Shepard’s work was continued by Henry P. Cheatham, who directed the home for 28 years and whose 1934 brick office still stands on the grounds. Over time, the institution underwent several name changes that reflected its growth and evolving mission: it became The Colored Orphanage Asylum of North Carolina in 1887, The Colored Orphanage of North Carolina in 1927, The Central Orphanage of North Carolina in 1965, and finally the Central Children’s Home of North Carolina in 1986.
Its main 1915 building—with Italianate design elements and a striking tower—remains an architectural landmark.
Throughout its history, the home was supported by a broad coalition of churches, civic groups, and fraternal organizations, including the General Baptist State Convention, the Women’s Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary Convention, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, the Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star, and American Legion affiliates. A 30-member board of directors continues this tradition of community governance.
In 1943, a scholarship fund was established in honor of Robert L. Shepard to help graduates pursue vocational training or college education, further expanding opportunities for the children who passed through its doors. The orphanage also developed close relationships with surrounding communities, including Native American families in Granville County; one notable example involved Cherokee twin boys who were placed at the home and later adopted into the local community.
Today, the Central Children’s Home provides family-centered residential care for youth ages 8 to 21 who cannot remain safely at home due to dependency, neglect, or abuse. Its mission emphasizes emotional, social, spiritual, educational, and physical development, as well as preparing young people for independent living and strengthening family functioning whenever possible. The institution continues to serve children from across the state, including the Triangle, Eastern North Carolina, and the region surrounding Henderson and Oxford.
Recognized for its historical importance, the home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker on Raleigh Street in Oxford commemorates its legacy.
