Dodge County GaArchives Church Records.....History of Vilula Missionary Baptist Church ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 28, 2004, 7:09 pm VILULA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. THE VILULA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH was constituted in 1874 under the supervision of Rev. W. M. Miles, who was employed by the New Ebenezer Association. It was organized with the following who came from Hopewell Church: John McLeod, Allie McLeod, Dr. William Burch, Seaborn Burch, Philip Reaves, Josiah Reaves; and John McCranie from Parkerson Church. The first church was a log house and was built by John H. Burch, Peter A. Bowen, and John Barren. There were only about twenty-five or thirty members at first and these were scattered over an area from the home of Mr. R. F. Burch, Sr., about six miles from Eastman, to Spires Town in Telfair County and from the Southern Railroad to the Ocmulgee River, it being the only church within this radius. This church is situated about (?) miles from Eastman in the Vilula Militia District of the county. This church has prospered under the management of different pastors and has increased its membership from the twenty-five or thirty when it was organized to one hundred and ninety-four members at present. The first pastor was the Rev. W. M. Miles, who served through 1874 and 1875. The following is the list of pastors and clerks who have served since its organization: Year Pastor Clerk 1874 W. M. Miles Billie Hamilton 1875 W. M. Miles Billie Hamilton 1876 Philip Reaves W. T. Howard 1877 Philip Reaves W. T. Howard 1878 John Greene W. T. Howard 1879 Jerry Kinchen J. W. Cadwell 1880 C. C. Home J. W. Cadwell 1881 Philip Reaves B. M. Burch 1882 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1883 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1884 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1885 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1886 W. H. Coleman B. M. Burch 1887 W. H. Coleman B. M. Burch 1888 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1889 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1890 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1891 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1892 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1893 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1894 Alph Reaves B. M. Burch 1895 B. A. Bacon B. M. Burch 1896 B. A. Bacon B. M. Burch 1897 B. A. Bacon B. M. Burch 1898 B. A. Bacon B. M. Burch 1899 J. W. Wither ton B. M. Burch 1900 S. A. Sheffield B. M. Burch 1901 S. A. Sheffield J. L. McCranie 1902 S. A. Sheffield J. L. McCranie 1903 S. A. Sheffield J. L. Sheffield 1904 E. F. Dye J. L. Sheffield 1906 E. F. Dye J. L. Sheffield 1907 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1908 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1909 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1910 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1911 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1912 C. E. Hight J. L. Sheffield 1913 C. E. Hight J. L. Sheffield 1914 C. E. Hight J. L. Sheffield 1915 C. E. Hight J. L. Sheffield 1916 C. E. Hight J. L. Sheffield 1917 F. A. Bone J. L. Sheffield 1918 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1919 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1920 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1921 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1922 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1923 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1924 W. M. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1925 J. B. Evans J. L. Sheffield 1926 J. B. Evans J. L. Sheffield 1927 J.-B. Evans J. L. Sheffield 1928 J. B. Evans J. L. Sheffield 1929 G. W. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1930 G. W. Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1931 Jeff Williamson J. L. Sheffield 1932 Jeff Williamson J. L. Sheffield The first deacons were: W. T. Womble, B. M. Burch, John Cadwell, W. W. Stapleton, Johnnie Mc-Cranie, P. A. Reaves, W. T. Howard, W. G. Burch, G. W. McCranie, H. G. Sheffield. The first Sunday school was organized by Seaborn Burch in 1875. Among the Superintendents who have served during the years since its organization are B. M. Burch, A. C. Ross, P. A. Reaves, and G. W. McCranie. Mr. Reaves served for fifteen years, and the others served for a great number of years each. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY COPYRIGHT 1932 By MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB Printed by FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dodge/churches/gbb183historyo.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb