Rev. Joseph Cain

The former Reverend of Shady Grove was Ethel's father. At the time Preacher's Daughter begins, the Reverend has been dead for a decade, according to an interview between Ethel Cain (the character) and Silken Weinberg. He was killed in a fire.

Ethel says about her father," He was a good man. He wasn’t perfect but I don’t think anyone could have come closer. Towards the end, he really gave it all to God. Spent long nights at the church preparing his sermons. I missed him those nights, and still do, but… he had a calling, and he only ever got closer and closer. When he did come home before I fell asleep, he’d never forget to check on me and pray with me before bed. He cared. I’m grateful..."

"...When I was 7, he took me out of town for the first time. We went north to the interstate and took a day trip to the lake. I remember stopping at a farmer’s stand where he bought me a big bag of walnuts. My dress was covered in shell bits when we got there, he had to shake me off after he pulled me out of the truck."