JONES COUNTY  GA  Wayside Presbyterian Church

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by

Wayne Bowden  wbowden99@msn.com


WAYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us.  	Hebrews 12:1	KJV

The seeds of the Wayside Presbyterian Church were
planted when the Wayside community Sunday School was
organized in March 1921, at the inspiration of Miss
Maude Childs.  The old schoolhouse in the center of
Wayside was the meeting place. Mr. Willie Whitehead
was the first Sunday School Superintendent and he was
followed by Mr. Freeman Whitehead.

In the fall of 1921, a series of evangelistic
services were held by the Reverend John Goff, an
evangelist from the Macon Presbytery, assisted by a
Doctor Anthony.  In December, the Presbytery
organized a church with four charter members.  These
were E. M. Davis Sr., Henry B. Davis, and Mr. and
Mrs. W. H.. Marquess.  Others joined very soon after.
Rev. John Goff and Rev. R. E. Douglas from First
Presbyterian in Macon had charge of the
organizational meeting.  Soon afterward officers were
appointed.  E. M. Davis and Henry B. Davis - trustees
and Henry B. Davis and a new member, J. F. Rogers
were ordained as elders.

Plans for a new church building were made.  When
asked by the people "Why a Presbyterian Church since
there aren't many of those here; where is your
congregation?" The answer was "We'll raise some up." 
Our church today testifies that's just what was done.
Mr. Rogers, Mr. Marquess, and Mr. E. M. Davis
furnished most of the lumber and a good bit of the
money.  Mr. Rogers was a traveling salesman (living
where the Otis Redding home is now) and he got many
contributions from interested people in his travels. 
The lot was given by Mr. Dauph Barfield, a devoted
member.  The plans were drawn, at no cost, by Elliot
Dunwoody, Macon architect.  Rev. Goff and Dr. Douglas
asked for and received $1000 from the Home Mission
Board.  This amount was more than doubled by members,
residents of Jones County, and other interested
people.  The building was built by Mr. Hapgood and a
Mr. Wood (who boarded at the Zack Gordon home).  The
church dedication was held in May, 1923.  In the
meantime a lot was bought from Mr. Freeman Whitehead
and a Manse was built and financed at the cost of
$450 given by E. M. Davis.  Mr. Davis also gave land
for a cemetery at this time.

Rev. E. B. Witherspoon had arrived in May 1922 and
under his leadership, the membership had grown to
thirty.  Mrs. Witherspoon organized a Women's
Auxiliary in June 1922.  Mrs. Witherspoon died in
June 1923 and Mr. Witherspoon left soon afterwards.
1924 - 1925 found Rev. George Ratchford as pastor.
In December 1925, the church began a time of activity
and growth when Rev. Fred Manning became pastor.  He
was a wonderful leader, especially with the youth.
Many living now remember him with love.  Their
stories tell of how he kept them busy - whether it
was helping a farmer get in crops or helping needy
people in the area, or playing softball against other
churches' teams, he sparked these young people by his
enthusiasm and his examples.  In the fall of 1926,
the church voted to share Rev. Manning with Liberty
Community about nine miles from Wayside.  A Sunday
school was organized and, in 1927, the Liberty
Presbyterian Church was started.  It was soon moved
to the Caney Creek community; a better location. Also
through his leadership, a home mission worker was
brought here.  When. was Miss Alva Bird from Ilah
South Carolina.  She married Mr. Will Russell and
became a permanent and devoted member of the church
and community until her death.  During the year 1933,
Rev. Manning swapped pastorates with Rev. Landrum and
Mr. Landrum was here for eight months.  Rev. Manning
returned to Wayside at this time and was here until
August 1934.  The church was without a pastor until
April 1935 when Rev. Jay M. Davis came to serve the
church.  He remained until January 1943 when he
joined the Army.  

This early history was compiled by Mrs. Mac Davis for
the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Wayside
Presbyterian Church.  Most of the information was
taken from a history written by "Miss Maude" - (Mrs.
T. M.) Russell in 1935.  As she ended her history,
the session consisted of Mr. T. M. Russell and Mr.
James Stewart.  The other elder, Mr. W. J. Childs
having just died.  Parts of this compilation in 1996
came from memories of older members still in the
church.  Mrs. Russell's history ended with these
words, "In April 1935, Rev Jay M. Davis accepted the
call to the Wayside church.  Under his guiding hand,
we have hopes for a future of greater vision and
larger services, looking always to Christ, the author
and finisher of our faith."

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and
the sin which so easily besets us and let us run with
perseverance the race that is set before us."

As Mrs. Russell's history ended, Rev. Davis was
beginning his time of service to Wayside church.  In
1936, he married Elizabeth Riggins, a member of East
Macon Presbyterian Church, and under their
leadership, the church and the auxiliary went
forward.

Land had been donated by E. M.. Davis Sr. for a
cemetery behind the church and the first internment
was Mr. Freeman Whitehead, Sunday School
Superintendent, who died in August 1939.

Highlights, Firsts and Improvements 1940's - 1950's

In 1941, the first wedding was performed in the
church by Rev. Jay M. Davis. Tommie Russell and Ralph
Hall (who was stationed at Camp Blanding) were united
in marriage on December 24, 1941. In 1941, Wallace
Reid, 17 year old member of the Wayside church and
son of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Reid, was the first Jones
Countian to enlist in the Marines. During the World
War II years, the Ladies Auxiliary sent candy,
letters, cards, calendars, and devotional books ,
"Day by Day", to boys in the service.  Our minister,
Rev. Davis, left in 1942 for the Army and we were
without a regular minister until he returned in 1946.
A service flag was presented to the church in the
fall of 1942 with twelve stars representing twelve
Wayside church and community boys in the armed
service.  During 1943 through 1946, a retired
Methodist minister, Rev. J. W. King of Round Oak and
a succession of Columbia Seminary students filled the
pulpit.  The Sunday School and the church were held
together during these years by Elder T. M. Russell
and the "faithful few."  The church's first war
casualty was Floyd Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. M.
Davis, Sr.  He was a paratrooper and was killed in
the jump over the Rhine in the spring of 1945. During
the years right after the war, improvements were made
in the church. New benches were bought for the
sanctuary to replace the old "back-breaking" ones.
They were donated by two of the members, Vernon and
Carroll Shaver (The Shavers operated the cannery in
Wayside during the 40's and 50's).  New floor
covering was put in the church and an oil circulating
heater was bought for the sanctuary to replace the
wood and coal burning one.  The ladies raised money
for these improvements by giving cake and pie sales
and two barbecues.  Most of these ladies had been
reared Methodist or Baptist and were unaware that
"good Presbyterians" did not raise money in this way.
However, even though they were obtained in an "un-
Presbyterian " way, the heater and floor covering
added to the comfort and warmth of the sanctuary. In
1947, Rev. Davis, again, went into the Army to serve
as Chaplain.  This left a great void in the church.
In 1949, the only surviving elder, Mr. Russell, died
so the church faced a time of a dearth of leadership
- no minister and no session.  Members of the Ladies
Auxiliary went to Monticello and asked for guidance
from Rev. Harry Overton, pastor of the Presbyterian
Church there.  Rev. Overton was instrumental in
getting Dr. Gignilliat, Wesleyan professor, and
General Huber, both elders of Vineville Presbyterian
Church in Macon to come out and teach a class of
young men who had agreed to comprise the session.
Jack M. Gordon, Mac Davis, Jr., Victor Russell  and
B. J. Childs were ordained as elders by Rev. Vernon
Crawford, executive secretary of the Presbytery so we
started 1950 with a full session. In the summer of
1949, the Ladies Auxiliary sponsored and taught in a
Bible School at the St. Paul A.M.E. Church near
Wayside,  It was very successful with several of the
Presbyterian ladies teaching and other members and
friends furnishing and serving refreshments each day.
This took place before integration and we had a visit
from the local deputy asking why we were eating and
"mixing" with blacks.  We explained about the Bible
School and named several prominent ladies in Gray who
were helping with money and refreshment so he "hummed
and hawed" around and left us to our "good works."
Time Marches On

In the early 50's, many improvements were made,  A
bathroom was installed, parking space cleared, old
shrubbery was removed and replaced by new.  Gas space
heaters replaced the oil circulating stove.  This
time ladies of the auxiliary and elders asked for
donations and tithes (they had learned the
Presbyterian Way - no barbecues).  In the mid 50's
the cemetery was fenced in, the church was painted,
the manse repaired and wells dug deeper at the manse
and the church.  Accordion separation doors were
installed in the large back room to make two extra
classrooms as the Sunday School was increasing.  In
1951, a record number of children had been baptized,
Joyce and Ellen Childs, Tom and Gail Bilderback, Boyd
Ellison, Mary Elizabeth Russell, and Bobbie Russell.
In 1952, Mrs. T. M. Russell was given a life
membership in W.O.C. in appreciation of her
dedication, loyalty and work in the organization. In
early 1954, another first.  The supply minister from
Columbia Seminary, Charles Foshee, was ordained in an
impressive candlelight service.  Many members and
visitors attended and the church ladies served coffee
and cake after the ordination.  Rev. Felix Gear,
professor of theology at Columbia Seminary gave the
ordination sermon. In 1958, Wayside Church won first
place for the covered wagon float entered in the
Jones County Sesquicentennial parade.  The members
worked at night in Tony Sweda's shop assembling the
float.  Pots and pans and hams hung  on the side of
the wagon and someone brought an old "muzzle loader"
to add to the authenticity.  One of the members was
cleaning the gun and someone said "Be careful, it
might go off."  The reply was, "It hasn't been shot
in years, probably doesn't have any powder left in
it.  Its safe, I'll show you."  He pointed it up,
pulled the trigger and shot a hole in the top of the
shop.  Needless to say, that was an unforgettable
moment.  Driving the wagon in the parade was Jack M.
Gordon with his wife, Mary, beside him.  Jack Childs,
with the muzzle loader and Laverne Adams, with her
tennis shoes and corncob pipe walked in front with
other members walking behind.  The money won for
first prize was used to buy Christmas tree
decorations and flowers for the cleared park area in
front of the church. In 1959 - 60, the choir loft and
area behind the pulpit was paneled and the pulpit
chairs re-upholstered.  The church was also bricked
up around the bottom.  Another 1.5 acres of ground
was given by Mac Davis Jr. to enlarge the cemetery.

Decades of 60's, 70's, and 80's

The early 60's found us sharing a minister, Rev. Paul
Rowland, with the newly organized Trinity Church in
Macon.  Coxie and Mac Davis joined with leaders of
youth at Trinity and formed a youth fellowship,
meeting alternately at the two churches.  Many
parties, hay rides, and worship programs combined to
keep the group active. Also in the early 60's, new
song books were bought. Screens were put in all the
windows and curtains made.  The beauty of the choir
loft was enhanced by a lovely cross of black walnut,
made by Mac Davis, Jr. Our church also had many
Presbytery visitors during the early part of the 60's
and we were excited over the possibility of having
the Augusta - Macon Presbytery camp located here in
Wayside.  Ninety acres of land was donated and a lake
built on the land by Mac Davis, Jr. for this purpose.
Youth and adult counselors had attended camp every
summer for many years at Crawfordville and were
looking forward to the camp being in Wayside.
However, Presbytery refused the land because of some
friction between the north and south end of the
Presbytery over the location. Improvements in the
late 60's, handrails put on the front steps, and
awnings put over the front and back doors.  New
flooring was put in the Sunday School rooms.  The
sanctuary was painted and repaired and a new
communion table bought.  A new communion set was also
given in memory of Mrs. Rena Davis by three families
- the B. J. Childs', the Jack Childs', and the
Marcelle Harrisons.  Venetian blinds were installed
in 1965. In the early 70's, a new roof was put on at
the cost of $480 and windows were re-glazed.  A lawn
mower was bought and a shed to house it was built by
Smitty Canup. In 1973, we began having bulletins
every Sunday for the first time.  One of our members,
Harvey Chase, agreed to do the printing. The church
began to sponsor a softball team to play in the
church league.  Gerald Bryant was the coach and
manager.  The team had some good team players in the
years 1974-1979. Rewiring of the church was done by
Hansel Whitehead in 1975.  This was a much needed
improvement. In 1976, the new minister's wife, Mrs.
Faith Bradley, organized a handbell choir which added
much to our services and was fun and a new experience
for all the participants.  By 1979, this had
disbanded as Mrs. Bradley was unable to come every
week for practice.  The bells were sold to the
Monticello church and the money was used to rebuild
the church piano at Wayside. In the late 70's, the
ladies of the church undertook the project of making
Chrismons.  This was a wonderful time of work, fun
and fellowship. Mrs. Annette Hutto was the project
leader and the ladies worked her basement for several
weeks.  1978 was the first year that the, now
traditional, Chrismon tree was decorated and
brightened our sanctuary. The church discovered, in
1978, that it still owned an acre of land where Rev.
Manning had started the Liberty Presbyterian Church
during his pastorate at Wayside. Bids were taken and
the land was sold to Mr. Tillman of Round Oak for
$1126. Improvements noted in 1979.  Wallboard and
ceiling were replaced with sheetrock and new tile
flooring was installed.  Jack and Annette Childs gave
a new carpet strip for the center aisle, pulpit, and
choir areas.  Bibles were purchased and put in the
pews for the first time. The first adult choir was
organized in the early 80's.   The charter members of
the adult choir, organized by Mrs. Mac Davis, church
pianist, were  Pam and David Wallace, Melidy Lowe,
Diane Wells, Barbara Bilderback, Ronnie Griggs, Nancy
Whitten, and Don Pettigrew.  About this time. Don and
Carolyn Davis Pettigrew had moved to Wayside from
Miami.  In addition to Don's voice, his talent on the
saxophone, flute and clarinet added much joy and
beauty to the church services. The 1980's brought
another first.  During the Christmas season, Melidy
Lowe and Barbara Bilderback presented a special Joy
Gift program.  They set up an outdoor live manger
scene complete with live animals.   Especially
memorable was "Rosebud", the donkey owned by the
Whittens.  The setting was beautiful as Mrs. Annette
Childs had placed luminaries on the church lawn and
along a path leading into the church. Another first. 
One of our members, Mrs. Mary Davis Ellison, was
elected moderator of the Presbytery.  This was a
great honor to her and for our church. In the early
1980's, the church felt a need for more Sunday School
rooms and another bathroom as well as improvements in
the kitchen so trustees Paul Lawrence and Annette
Hutto were asked for permission, which was granted,
to borrow money for a new addition.  In 1981, central
air and heating was installed and was paid for in-
large-part by memorial gifts for Hansel Whitehead who
had died in August 1980.  A security light was
installed about this time.  The new addition was
begun September 27, 1982.  Many members and friends
gave their time and energy to help.  Mac Davis cut
and sawed much of the lumber, Sammy Wells put in the
electrical wiring, Connie Dufford acted as purchasing
agent.  Ronnie Griggs, Raymond Lowe, Gerald Bryant,
Jack Childs Jr., David Wallace, and Jim Whitten
helped put in the ceiling and did inside work.  Two
classrooms were added, a second bathroom installed, a
much needed kitchenette was added, complete with a
double sink and cabinets put in by Ronnie Griggs.  A
stove and refrigerator were given after the
completion of the addition.  They were donated by
Floyd Whitehead, U.S., Navy, in memory of his
grandmother, Mrs. Blanche Whitehead. Other
improvements and purchases in the early 1980's.  New
communion linens given by the Jack Childs family and
Mr. and Mrs. Marcelle Harrison.  Mrs. Marion Chase
presented parament sets and a baptismal bowl.
Several new tables and folding chairs were bought. In
1982, a church banner was made by Nancy Whitten,
Carolyn Pettigrew, and other women of the church.  It
had the name, location, and founding date of the
Wayside Church with the motto "Faith of Our Fathers."
This was carried by our minister, Rev. Gates at the
General Assembly's Men's Conference in Atlanta. The
church paid for half of the expenses for Jeff Johnson
and Kerri Griggs to go to Mexico for a Work Camp
experience. Christmas 1984 brought another manger
scene with Christmas music echoing from the church
steeple.  Ralph Hall, an electronics whiz,
reactivated an amplifier he had installed earlier.
He made it possible to have Christmas carols heard
all around the community during the week of
Christmas.  The highlight of the annual Christmas
program this year was a talk given by Elaine Hall Gay
in which she shared memories of growing up in Wayside
and expressed her deep love and appreciation for the
people in Wayside community and church.  Many in the
congregation had tears in their eyes during this
beautiful tribute. Fall 1985 was the year that
Wayside hosted the Augusta-Macon Presbytery meeting. 
Over 100 people attended.  Lunch was served by the
Women of the Church at the Tri-Community Firehouse
nearby.  Everyone "pitched in" and made this a
memorable occasion. The choir was very grateful for
an improvement made by Wayne Bowden,  He installed
floodlights in the choir loft, which helped
immeasurably to read the music and also had a
beautifying effect.. The Augusta-Macon Presbytery
held its last meeting in 1987 and in 1988, Wayside
Presbyterian became a member of the newly formed
Flint River Presbytery. In 1989, the debt to the
Hemphill Fund, for the new addition was retired.
Also a new roof was put on the church.

The Present Decade

In 1991, Karen Mitcham, who had attended The Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, became temporary supply
at the Wayside Church.  In 1994, after much thought,
study and prayer, she was examined and accepted by
the Flint River Presbytery. On December 28th of that
year she was ordained in an impressive service.  A
full church, consisting of members, friends and
family was present for this memorable occasion.   A
copy of the bulletin from this service is included in
this history.  Rev. Mitcham and her family own their
home in Gray where she teaches English in Jones
County High School and her husband is an Assistant
District Attorney.  Having no need for the manse at
this time and knowing improvements and repairs  were
needed, it was decided to sell it to two of the
church's members, Karen and Hank Bilbrey, who had
been long-time renters in the early 1990's. In 1993,
Wayside Presbyterian Church was incorporated. 1994-95
found another addition being built giving more space
for the growing, active church. Vinyl siding was
added and new windows and front doors were installed.
New shrubbery was planted at this time and the church
sign cleaned up and repainted by Nancy Whitten.
Through the years many of the improvements, purchases
and additions were made possible by memorial gifts
given for deceased members.  Among these are: Jack
Childs, Jack Gordon, Hansel Whitehead, Blanche
Whitehead, Rena Davis, Marie Childs Kelly, Tennyson
Mason, B. J. Childs, Marion Bowen Chase, Maude
Russell, and Maurine Bilderback. As I have reviewed
old histories, session books, Women of the Church
minutes; talked with long time members and reached
into my own memory bank, I have been very conscious
of the "great cloud of witnesses" that has kept our
church alive and growing through the past 75 years.
After reading through the words I have written, I
realize that I have not adequately reflected what, to
me, is the greatest strength of Wayside Presbyterian.
This strength is the support and belief in its
children and youth.  Because of this, I am adding
this last section to document some of the
manifestations of this strength; - some of the things
that show this church's belief in the Biblical
proverb, "Train up a child in the way he should go
and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The
Sunday School, the seed of our present church, has
remained active and vital since the beginning with
willing leaders, teachers, and superintendents.  Even
more notable is the fact that successful Vacation
Bible Schools have been held every year since 1947
except for two years, 1959 and 1974, when we
transported children and teachers to a nearby church
to help with and join in their schools.  Women of the
Church have always sponsored, taught in, and
furnished refreshments for these schools.  The first
one held in 1947 was headed by Mrs Fred Dean.  During
the last decade two of our younger members, Janette
Bryant and Melidy Lowe, have planned and implemented
VBS.  Mrs. Mac Davis was in charge of music from the
first one to the present one held in 1996. In 1960, a
Junior Choir was organized by Mrs. Jack Childs.
Robes were made and the choir sang in services and
special programs at our church and also sang in
nearby nursing homes.  This same year the first youth
fellowship was organized with officers Celia Hall,
President, Diane Bush, Vice President and  Melidy
Adams, Secretary-Treasurer. Beginning in the late
50's and 60's, Wayside sent young people every year
to Junior and Senior conferences. camps, and rallies.
Adults from this church went as counselors with two
members, Mary Ellison and Coxie Davis serving as
Senior Advisor for Augusta - Macon Presbytery.  Youth
and adults were also sent to Montreat conferences,
the Triennium, Presbytery sponsored canoe trips and
work camps.  Adults and young people were involved in
carpentry and building work done in Macon in an
impoverished area. Every year since 1943, a Christmas
program has been held at the church involving
children and youth.  Also during Christmas week,
Santa Claus visited all the children at the church's
community Christmas tree.  Easter Egg hunts have been
held every year since the 1940's at members homes or
on the church lawn.  Halloween parties, hayrides,
picnics at the lake, ball games, trips, lock-ins,
etc.  From the early youth work started by Rev.
Manning in the 20's and 30's to the youth program
headed by Wayne Bowden and Rev. Mitcham in 1996,
Wayside Presbyterian Church has said to its young
people "We care about you." So, today October 20,
1996, we have come to the celebration of the 75th
birthday of Wayside Presbyterian Church.  A copy of
the bulletin for this memorable occasion of worship,
fun, fellowship and "remembering" will be included in
this history.  The words of the anthem sung by the
choir in this service, express my feelings and I
suspect the feelings of all the congregation, "We
have come this far by faith and faith will lead us
home."

Written by Coxie Davis.  Contributed by: Wayne Bowden
wbowden@msn.com


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