Tyler Whetstone

twhetstone@jacksonsun.com

PINSON — The halls of Pinson Baptist Church filled with the sound of an old hymn 30 minutes after Chester County Sheriff Blair Weaver tearfully announced Thursday that the body of 2-year-old Noah Chamberlin had been found.

John Gaters, pastor of the church, played “Carry Me” on the piano while his wife Angela watched.

The words were comforting, Gaters said. “Through the storm keep me safe, through the tears and all my shame, carry me.”

After seven days of searching, authorities found Noah’s body about a mile and a half to two miles from where he went missing. His body was found between 1 and 4 p.m. in a small clearing. The announcement was made at Pinson Baptist Church, where news conferences had been held during the search. The church was also headquarters for volunteer efforts.

Andy Morris, pastor of The Highlands in Chester County, said Noah's family wants him to be remembered as a boy who brought a community together.

"And they’re asking right now that they have time to mourn and to love on each other as they go through this time of loss," Morris said. "But at the same [time], they beg you to continue to pray and continue to keep this heart of service and heart of compassion for other people and other humans.

“It’s just an amazing family, an amazing family,” Morris said. “Not just in this time, but in any time.”

Madison County Sheriff John Mehr said the family’s faith caused everyone involved to look at their own lives.

“They’re a very faith-oriented family, and it’s remarkable to see their faith in God,” Mehr said.

Community mourns for Noah Chamberlin

Authorities said no foul play is suspected in Noah's death, and there is no criminal investigation. They described Noah's death as a tragic accident. An autopsy will be conducted, which is standard procedure.

Mehr said scents picked up by dogs and tracks from Noah in the woods led officials to believe Noah was in the woods and had not gone elsewhere. He said had the weather stayed warm, not gotten cold and not rained, there could have been a recovery.

VIDEO: Command post for Noah Chamberlin search remained active during the week

Madison County Fire Chief Eric Turner said Noah's body was found on the outskirts of the search area, an area that had only previously been searched one time.

“I’ll be honest with you, it’s further away than I thought [it would be], but we had to keep expanding, and that’s why we do that,” Turner said.

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Noah had been missing since about 1:20 p.m. Jan. 14. He, his grandmother and his 4-year-old sister were walking in the woods near Short Road in Chester County, near the Madison County line, when Noah disappeared. Hundreds of law enforcement officers and volunteers were involved in the week-long search before Noah's body was found.

PHOTO GALLERY: Community prayer service for Noah Chamberlin

Turner said it is likely that Noah ran from his grandmother and hid, which he liked to do. He said it is possible that Noah was moving away from searchers when they began looking for him on the afternoon of Jan 14.

Morris, the family's pastor, described Noah as a “spider-monkey."

"He was just 100 mph with whatever he did," Morris said. "And I know this, and feel confident being able to share this, the mom just got through praying, ‘Jesus better have his ice skates on to keep up with him.’”

Sheriff Weaver said authorities did everything humanly possible to find Noah.

“We were there, and we stuck to it and looked, and it just wasn’t meant to be for some reason,” Weaver said. “We don’t know everything, and we’re not supposed to know everything.”

Weaver, Turner and Mehr all thanked law enforcement officials from across the country who came to help search for Noah.

No funeral plans have been announced at this time. Cards for the family can be sent to The Highlands Church, 5035 US 45, Finger, TN 38334.

Reach Tyler at (731) 425-9629. Follow him on Twitter @tyler_whetstone.