Calhoun County AlArchives Church Records.....Ohatchee #2 Baptist Church Copyright Date 1850 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: David Norton http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006057 February 25, 2009, 7:45 pm The organization now known as The First Baptist Church of Williams is believed to trace its earliest foundings to about the year 1850 and was given the name: Ohatchee #2 Baptist Church. A creek which flowed nearby the first site of the original Church was called "Ohatchee" thereby the namesake was created. Beginning circa 1890 or thereabouts, the Church was relocated to its present site adjacent to what was then a common ground plus the eventual future site which became the Williams School. At this site in 1924 a prior Church building was demolished, being replaced by a larger wooden frame structure. That 1925 era building served the congregants for forty-seven years until it was replaced by the present 'old' main sanctuary structure in 1971. The Church established a cemetery, dedicated by E.L.Green Sr family grantors to be a church cemetery, in 1930. That cemetery was located across the road to the west and up a hill. During the earliest known periods of the church's history, only two services were held each month and one of these occasions was on a Saturday. If a brethren or sister missed three consecutive services, they were called before the Church to make acknowledgements. Failure to so do this requirement resulted in dismissal (rejection or ejection). A member could also suffer the same discipline for cussing, swearing or dancing, playing cards, and for other causes. Until 1959, approximately twenty ministers had served as pastors, their terms often lasting one or two years (with exception of Rev. H.E. Boozer, 1932- 1958) because they were bi-vocational or "circuit" preachers. The Rev. Dr. Floyd McLeod, Sr., d. 1979, was called as pastor in 1959 and served the Church for ten years (1959-1969). Owing to a period of growth during the early years of Dr. McLeod's tenure, it was necessary to find and build additional space for Sunday School Classes. One solution was to acquire a house across the road from the Church, which was under lease for this purpose. Church fellowships were frequently held at this rental property. Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. McLeod, the Church had its first organized Choir, a Girl's Auxiliary, Sunbeams, Royal Ambassadors, Men's Brotherhood, and the Vacation Bible School. It was also during this time that plans were made and implemented for an educational building, designed for a sanctuary to be added later. In 1969, Rev. Dr. McLeod took leave of absence and another pastor served the Church for slightly in excess of one year. The Church then called another Rev. who was then Baptist Campus Minister at Jacksonville State University. That individual served until the summer of 1979. In addition, from Jacksonville State the first full-time paid choir director was recruited from that campus, which was a milestone in the history of the Church. In early 1970, plans were made to initiate construction of a new sanctuary; that particular building was completed in 1971. In due course the Church purchased the old Williams School building, located adjacent to the current Church property. The Williams School had become available as a result of Calhoun County School System consolidations which were contemplated in the late 1970's. The Williams School housed a variety of Church related activities, including Sunday School Annex, a kitchen, and Youth Group's. About 1985, The Rev. Dr. Herman W. Cobb, Sr., (deceased) a native of Cullman County, plus a long-time former pastor of The Twelth Street Baptist Church of Gadsden was asked to serve as pastor. Dr. Cobb, a former President of The Alabama Southern Baptist Convention, was a much admired, highly respected leader of Southern Baptists in the state of Alabama. He was instrumental in a key role to acquire the addition of the Cumberland School of Law in Tennessee to Samford University in Birmingham. While Dr. Cobb was looked upon by many admirers as an excellent administrator, his dignified, serene and wise counsel are remembered by the Church. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/calhoun/churches/ohatchee116gbb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb