Georgiana Baptist Church - Butler Co., AL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ALGenWeb File Manager - Lygia Dawkins Cutts ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun, 15 Nov 1998 00:44:41 EST Georgiana Baptist Church - Butler Co., AL The following is an excerpt from Rev. J. W. Joyner's book, A History of the Baptists in Butler County ( 1819-1957). Surnames have been capitolized for easier visualization. Mildred Stinson Brown < Martyb1448@aol.com> Gatesville, Texas ------------------------------------ GEORGIANA BAPTIST CHURCH The early records of this church are not complete. One reason for this is the records wer not made and those made were destroyed by fire. Twice the church building was destroyed by fire. From a History of Butler County, written by Prof. John Buckner Little and published in the year 1885, we find that in the year 1865, Pitt S. MILNER, a Baptist minister, organized this church. The writer read al old minute of the Bethlehem Association, and in this minute he found that in the year 1880, Johm M. SIMS went as a messenger from this church. This minute also revealed that the church only had preaching once a month, and the salary paid the pastor was $300.00 per year. In the minutes of Butler Springs Church we learned that Rev. A. T. SIMS was called and accepted the pastorate of this church in the early 80's. The write has lived in Georgiana, or near, since around 1890, and since he is blessed with a good memory, ca give the following facts, preceded by this list of pastors since 1890: Rev. S. P. LINDSEY, Rev. M. M. MURRY, Dr. L. M. STONE, Rev. A. G. SPINKS, Rev. W. M. MURRY, Dr. A. B. METCALF, Rev. C. E. MORMAN, Rev. C. W. CULPEPPER, Rev. R. S. NEW, Rev. J. E. COOK, Jr., Rev. L. A. NALL, Rev. E. B. FARRAR,Rev. A. L. BONNER, Rev. D. L. HICKMAN, Rev. Claude HAYGOOD, Rev. Jennigs BAGGETT, Rev. H. B. SHEPERD, Dr. D. E. RICHARDSON, Rev. J. W. NUTT, Rev. LeRoy CURRY, and the present pastor, Rev. L. N. STAMPER. Ministers ordained by this church: Rev. Johnny JOHNSON, Rev. J. H. COUNTRYMAN, Rev. J. W. EADY, Rev. Clayton PRUETT, and Rev. Leon MAJORS. James HOLLY was licensed by the church, but was called into the Army, later making the supreme sacrifice for his country. This church furnished the following officers of the Butler Association: Rev. J. H. JOYNER and Rev. H. B. SHEPERD, as moderators; G. L. BRYAN, W. P. BISHOP, and Mrs. D. E. RICHARDSON, as clerks. It had a pastor for two Sundays a month until Rev. H. B. SHEPERD was called, in teh year 1943. Since then a full-time pastor has lived in the pastorium and given full-time service. Georgiana Church has an educational building that was erected under the leadership of Rev. H. B. SHEPERD. The growth of the church has been slow, but steady, through the years. The minutes of the Association for 1906, fifty years ago, show that the amount paid for pator's salary was only $235.00, and for all causes the amount was $699.22. In the year 1956, the church paid $4,000.00 for pastor's salary, and the full church budget was around $10,000.00. The present officers of the church are: Van EDGE, Sunday School superintendent; Grady MIXON, clerk; W. M. WISE, treasurer; Mrs. Louis SETZER, B. T. U. director; Mrs. Arthur SMITH, W. M. U. president; W. M. WISE, Brotherhood president; Mrs. R. J. WILLIAMSON, church secretary. The Board of Deacons consts of Grady MIXON, chairman; J. D. CAMPBELL, F. M. McINVALE, A. A. REID, Maxwell HERRING; W. H. CLEM, Van EDGE, W. C. POSEY, and W. M. WISE.