Gospel Grandma

Gospel Grandma is an animated doll by Anointed Concepts International, which appears to have been released in either 2000 or 2001. The doll was invented by Chester Erby, the company's founder.

The toy requires three AA batteries. While the order page on the official website states the retail price was $70 but was dropped to $62.95 for a limited time, the website stated this for more than a year. The order page stated the doll was only available from the official website for the time being, but this was also stated for more than a year.

Despite the order page's information, a bizjournals.com article states the dolls were sold at select stores and online for $65.95, and another part of the Gospel Grandma website mentions, "Our Marketing strategies and vision for Gospel Grandma™ are aggressive. As a result of our introductory campaign, product launch and distributor partnerships, Gospel Grandma™ will soon become a household name."

A trademark for "Gospel Grandma" was filed on the 6th of April, 2000. It was considered abandoned on the 31st of May, 2001 due to a "failure to respond or late response". A petition to revive the trademark was sent on the 30th of July, 2001, however, a notice about the petition being incomplete was sent on the 15th of July, 2002. The petition to revive the trademark's registration was denied on the 11th of February, 2003.

Appearance

The doll resembles an African American lady with brown eyes and black hair tied into a bun. The doll wears a set of pajamas, consisting of a lavender, long sleeves shirt and matching long pants. She also wears a pair of shoes with the same shade of purple. Her pants and shirt are decorated with printed-on flowers, which are a lighter shade of purple.

Her shirt has a Gospel Grandma logo, which is a dark purple, vertical oval with a gold outline and two 'G's in gold.

The doll is apparently 18 inches tall, and has moulded-on earrings and a moulded-on wedding ring. According to the website, the doll was made with soft vinyl and has stuffing so it is easier to cuddle.

Other Features

The toy comes with two "voice modules", one with a story called, "Peanut Butter and Jelly" (a story about obedience) and a lullaby called "Sweet Rest". The other module has a story called, "I Didn't Take It Mommy" (a story about not stealing) and the same lullaby.

Gospel Grandma will start speaking when you insert a voice module and squeeze her tummy. She moves her mouth when singing and speaking. Her eyes (not electronic) will close when you lie her on a flat surface.

Additionally, Gospel Grandma comes with the following accesories:

Glasses
A comb
A brush

The doll also comes with a certificate of authenticity.

History

According to the gospel Grandma website, Gospel Grandma was based off an image of a storytelling doll Chester saw in a dream: "Awakened from a dream, Chester Erby, founder of Anointed Concepts International, saw an image of a doll that would change the world through story telling. He saw a beautiful, spunky and mature woman in her mid 50’s, and called her Gospel Grandma™." Because of his desire to sell the doll, Chester Erby had ceased operations with his wallpaper business to found Anointed Concepts International on the 9th of September, 1998. He was the president of the company, and his wife, Eva Erby, was the company's vice president. While Gospel Grandma was the first product offered by the company, according to the Gospel Grandma website, the company also had the intent of providing entertainment through games and "cartoon characters, TV programs and other media."

The purpose of the doll was to teach children about friendship, obedience, and love through stories and songs, and each story would end with a line where Gospel Grandma would ask the child to repeat an affirmation. According to the official website, one of her lines are, "Children repeat after me, I will show myself friendly, and I will have friends."

An article published by the New York Post on the 14th of February, 2000 mentioned that six dolls had gone missing, after Chester had boarded a taxi. I don't know if all of these lost dolls were prototypes or if certain ones were. After arriving in New York, he travelled via the taxi from the Roosevelt Hotel to the Javits Center, and according to the article, the driver sped off. Using the medallion number, he contacted the Taxi and Limousine Commission, but heard a recording which told him to call back during the week.

He described the situation, saying, "It's like my grandma's been kidnapped... even more than my grandma — my hopes." The article also mentions Chester spent "a year and a half and $20,000" on the dolls. He travelled to the Javits Center, since he was hoping to introduce the dolls at the New York Toy Fair, which was held at the location.

Though the article does not mention if he got the missing dolls back, the toy was introduced at the following locations in 2000:

The New York Toy Fair (February; date/dates not documented)
The Astro Dome in Houston, Texas (June 19-23)
The World Changers Church International Festival (2nd of September)
Hallelujah Under the Stars at Centennial Park (8th of September)
Atlanta Apparel Mart Gift Show (July 8-12)
T.D. Jakes "Woman Thou Art Loosed Plus" at the World Congress Center (July 27-28)

Other Plans

Unused Trademarks

Trademarks were filed for the following: "Gospel Grandpa" and "Gospel Grandkids". The trademark for "Gospel Grandpa" was filed on the 22nd of May, 2000. The trademark was considered abandoned, apparently due to a failure to respond or a late response with the trademark's registration. A petition to revive the trademark was received on the 30th of July, 2001, however, it was denied on the 24th of February, 2003.

The Gospel Grandkids trademark was filed on the 6th of April, 2000.

It's not confirmed what the trademarks were meant to be for exactly. The Gospel Grandpa trademark, I'd guess could have been for a planned male version of the doll, but I don't know what "Gospel Grandkids" could be for. Maybe smaller dolls that don't have electronics or that only talk?? I'm just speculating.

According to the official website, Gospel Grandma was to have more outfits available, aside from her default one, but it isn't known what other outfits for the doll were planned or if they were released: "An entire line of clothing accessories is being designed to give Gospel Grandma™ the variety and styles she needs."

Chester Erby passed away on the 26th of February, 2004.

Website Photos of the Doll

The website features images of a doll wearing a prototype version of its outfit, and wearing other outfits such as white pajamas and blue pajamas. I don't know for sure if any of the dolls featured on the website are prototypes. The box also features a photo of a Gospel Grandma doll wearing blue pajamas.