Randolph County AlArchives Church Records.....History of Liberty [West] Baptist Church Copyright Date 2022 ************************************************ 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: Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 October 25, 2022, 11:06 pm Louina Randolph County Alabama Township 22, Range 11, Section 7 The earliest record of Liberty Baptist church in Randolph County is Sep-1847 when the church was received to the Liberty [East] Baptist Association. In 1849 Rev. Isaac S. Weaver was the pastor. The church had 45 members. Rev. Weaver remained as a member of the Liberty Baptist church for over 20 years, several years as pastor. In 1852 Rev. Weaver became a circuit riding preacher. He was the pastor of several other churches in Randolph County. It is believed his first wife Pricilla Reynolds-Weaver and two of their daughters are buried in the Liberty Baptist Cemetery in unmarked graves. The Liberty Baptist church was large Baptist church built on a tract near the Tallapoosa River that borders Louina. On Dec 12, 1842, Thomas Parnell and on Apr 25, 1847, James Hutton patented land in TS 22, Range 11, Section 7 of Randolph County. It is said Wyatt Heflin and other landowners such as Peter Mitchell, Harrington Phillips, Franklin A. McMurray, Peter Green, Mansfield Gray and John J. Chewning entered in the contract for the land the church was built on. By 1860 the church had 37 members, Rev. Weaver was the still the pastor. At one time Rev. William L. Taylor was the pastor. By 1875 Rev. John P. Shaffer was the pastor of the church. He was also a circuit riding preacher. The Liberty Baptist church remained with the Liberty [East] Baptist Association until at least 1890. By 1888 Rev. A.S. Smith was the pastor and John D. Orr was the church clerk. From around 1875 to around 1900 the Liberty Baptist Cemetery was used as a cemetery for the Louina Alums House. [Poor House] Wm Rotton was the overseer of the Alums House. Mr. & Mrs. Rotton lost a child during that time, the child was buried in the Liberty Baptist Cemetery. Jesse Hulsey a CSA soldier was an inmate at the Alums house when he died, and he is also buried in the cemetery. The Alums house was moved to Wedowee by 1900. In 1898 the Randolph County singing convention was held at Liberty Baptist Church. The church was still active in 1910. Rev. J.M. Yates was the pastor. On Dec 11, 1935, the Roanoke Leader ran an ad: Auction Sale: For Cash to the Highest bidder Old Liberty Church, one and half miles from Wadley on the Roanoke Road. LARGE BUILDING, Ceiled all heart lumber. SALE will be at the church Dec 18, at 11 o'clock. M. Handley. Roanoke Leader Dec 18, 1935: Last week there appeared in The Leader an advertisement of the public sale, to be held today, December 18th, of the Liberty church building located on the old road to Louina, about one mile this side of that one-time flourishing village. This is a development of unusual interest from some standpoints, for this is perhaps one of the oldest church buildings in the county, but being built largely of heart pine, it has stood the attrition of the years remarkably well. The editor consulted a few days ago with Representative John T. Heflin in regard to this building. While he is, of course, still a young man, at least in some respects, he states that this old church house was in use as far back as he can remember. He thinks it is entirely probable that it is 85 years old, perhaps 100. For many years it accommodated a large congregation of Missionary Baptists and was attended by people of all denominations from a wide area surrounding. Of interest in this connection is the fact that for a long time there was a flourishing Methodist church in the village of Louina, the building dating back probably as far as the old Liberty meeting house, as such buildings were at one time called. The one at Louina was torn down a good many years ago. In all the changes of time the church of God has stood secure. In this country it is probably rare that a house of worship has disappeared without another and a better one being substituted for it. This is true of the two churches that served the Louina community.......... After the church was torn down and moved to another location, the cemetery was still used for a few more years. Mrs. Emma Elliott-Hunt and her son Edger Hunt were buried in the cemetery in 1940. Wm C. Adamson was possibly the last burial in the cemetery in 1942. By the 1970's the cemetery was just let grow-up in large hardwood and pine trees growing among the graves. The ground covered with pine straw. One would have waded through weeds, downed dead trees to access the headstones. By the mid-1990's Paul Reaves with help of about 30 people began the task of cleaning the cemetery. Many markers were broken some shattered. They tried attempting to piece back together headstone. Mr. Reaves later marked the unmarked graves with cement crosses. There were trees growing all over the cemetery. Several loads of pulpwood were cut and hauled from the cemetery. Paul Reaves later placed a CSA marker for his ancestor John Reaves [not buried in the cemetery]. In 2010 Paul Reaves himself was laid to rest in the cemetery. Samuel M. Adamson was born in 1835 in Henry County Georgia. He married Frances Mobley. They were the parents of nine children including John Qunicy Adamson drown in the Tallapoosa River in 1881 and Wm Coates Adamson died in 1942. Both sons are buried in Liberty Baptist Cemetery Randolph County. Wm C. Adamson married Sarah Robertson she died in Tuscaloosa Alabama and was buried there. William Wesley Gray CO K, 46TH AL INF, no other record can be found for him after the Civil War. His wife Frances Matilda Betterson-Gray is found on the 1870 Randolph County census listed as a widow. The couple had five children: Franklin Gray, Napoleon Gray, Melissa Orr, Emma Elliott and Miss Araminta Gray [she died in 1947, she is buried in Calhoun County AL] Jerry M. Jennings and his wife Rhoda Ann were African American. Thier daughter Maria Donia "Ginnins" is buried in the Liberty Baptist Church cemetery. The family was living in Randolph County in 1880. By 1900 Jerry M. Jennings had died, and his wife was living with their son John in Tallapoosa County AL. There are other African Americans buried in the cemetery. Timothy Orr was born ca 1814, he died ca 1888 Randolph County. He married Mary Bailey Betterton. They were the parents of five children: Elizabeth Brumbeloe, Martha Orr [unmarried] Wm James Orr, Francis M. Orr and John D. Orr born ca 1851, died in 1917. He married 1. Sallie [Bussey?] [she died in 1890] he married 2. Melissa J. Gray [Daughter of Wm W. Gray & Frances Matilda Betterson] John D. Orr & Melissa Gray had 4 children: Wm C. Orr, Emma Orr, Infant Orr and Earl Orr. Many members of the Orr family are buried in Liberty Cemetery in unmarked graves. Obits: 1915 A long distance telephone message from LaGrange brings news of the death yesterday at that place of Miss Martha Orr an esteemed spinster 70 years of age. The remains will pass through Roanoke today in route to Wadley, from which place the funeral party will proceed to Liberty church, where interment will be made this afternoon. Miss Orr was an aunt of W. T. Orr and R. L. Brumbeloe, of this place. Mar-1934 Death of Mrs. Melissa J. Orr, 75, died at her home in Lowell Sunday night and was buried yesterday at the old Liberty Church near Louina. [Daughter of Wm Gray & Frances Matilda Betterson] July 15. 1940 After an illness of several months Mrs. Lee Hunt passed away at the home here Saturday morning. The funeral was held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2'oclock with Rev. H. M. Gray, of Roanoke, officiating. Burial followed at Old Liberty cemetery near Wadley, Quattlebaum in charge. [Emma L. Elliott born ca 1886] [Daughter of Timothy Elliott & Emma Gray] May 29, 1940, Edgar Lee Hunt, 31-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lee Hunt of Rock Mills died Friday morning. Funeral services were conducted at Handley Avenue Baptist church Saturday with burial in the old Liberty cemetery near Louina. Rev. W. W. Lankford conducted the services with Quattlebaum directing. [He was the son of Henry Lee Hunt & Emma Elliott] Apr-1942 Buried here Buck Adamson, who died at the home of his son, C. J. Adamson in Shawmut, was buried here Saturday. He had lived in this section almost all his life and had passed the 80 mark. Surviving are two sons, some grandchildren, and two sisters, in addition to a large circle of friends. His burial was in the old Liberty cemetery across the river. [William C. Adamson born Dec 26, 1862, died Apr 22, 1942] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/churches/historyo188gbb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 9.1 Kb