LAMAR - PIKE COUNTY, GA - CHURCHES Ebenezer Methodist Church Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Diane Cooper" Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/lamar.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Ebenezer Methodist Church 150th Anniversary Bulletin - 1990 Lenora Ginn, Complier 1840-1990 The community where the church is located was called Stewartsville, named for William Stewart, whose name first appear in the 1829 Pike County tax digest. He and his family are listed in the 1830 Census. The land for the church was a gift by Mr. W.V. Kendrick, one trustees of the church. It wa son Lot 70 & 71 District #1 Pike County, Georgia. This was recorded in the records in Pike County in 1840. In Augst 1840 the church was constituted but it is believed that services were held years before the building was built. As far as we can determine, this is the building that was built in 1840. (by John Hendricks) Located between Zebulon and Barnesville at the Meansville Crossroad, there stand an old Methodist Church taht is at least as old as August 5, 1840. This date, recorded on the first deed, included names of many of the first families of the Old Piedmont District of that era. According to Rogers' History of Pike County, these trustees were Sylanus Kenrick, Thomas B. Jones, William Park, Richmond R. Kendrick, Samuel Ford, W.G. Morgan and J.L. Mansfield. The community orientation to that area was also attested in Lambdin and Fish, The History of Lamar county, a 1933 publication, also lists the old cemetery aon the Ebenezer site. Some of the early members may be found in the cemetery. For example, Rev. Patrick N. Maddox was a local preacher, and ohter family names included A.E. Eubank, Lawrence Smith, John Means, James W. Means, Fannie Slade, James Bankston, Garlington Leake, and James Holsey. In its initial history, Ebenezer was a part of the Zebulon circuit until the Milner circuit was created in the 1960's. On this circuit, the preacher "had a long right", since the church assigned included also Milner, Fincher's and Century Nelson. The members of the church recount numerous happy events, as the homecomings and revivals. On the other hand, the church has been the center of tragedy, as in the early 1950's when a father and former member who lived nearby was away from his home. Inside were four boys, who, when the fire began, could not escape the room they occupired. As recounted to this write by the elder father several years ago, "I came back. There was nothing, nothing that I could do". The four sons perished in the flames. There were many ministers of some note in the church's early history. J.S. Bryan was one of the first preachers, and also recorded were Isaac Parks (1873); Eli Smith (1874); Rev. James Smith (1875); Rev. R.W. Rogers (1876-1877); and many others too numerous to list. Under. L.E. Wright, in 1917, it was placed on The Rock Circuit. From past records, the stewards in the 1920's included Warren Bush, James Holsey, James Franklin and James W. Elliott. Miss Alma Walker was listed as one of the presidents of the Women's Missionary Society. The following markers were noted in the large cemetery: Stalling, Kerr, Gooden, Murray, Holsey, Smith, Trice, Goggans, Scarborough, Williams, Adams, Eubanks, Daniel, Harrison, Chapman, Walker, Burk, Cannafax, Jones, Kelley, Campbell, Pipar, Gresham, Osborne, Elliott, Leake, Bush, Hamlin, Stallings, Kerry, Gooden, Murray and surrounded by an old iron fence the Slade plot. ======= Interesting facts: The Georgia Alabama Stage Line passed Ebenezer church and stopped at the Kendrick place where the county line is now. During the time the Stage Line was in operation, a number of prominent men passed the Ebenezer church. Some became U.S. Presidents. They were: Gen Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk. Other men of prominence were: Henry Clay, Alexander H. Stephens, Gen Jefferson Davis, and the Marquis de LaFayette, hero of France and the U.S. The Kendrick Cemetery is located behind the church and Sylvania Kendrick, one of the church founders is buried there. Over the years a number of the markers have disappeared from the Kendrick Cemetery. In a Barnesville Gazette dated Aug 6, 1891 it states that the Barnesville Planing Mill has turned out a beautiful pulpit for Ebenezer out from Barnesville. Frank Bush made the communion table and dedicated it to Mrs. Ida Trice for her faithful service. Pews and hymnals were given in memory of faithful members. The Sunday School addition was built by men of the church. Some who worked hard on this were: Don Moore, W.A. Hamlin, Wilils Goggans, Andy Barret, W.J. Wilbanks, Bill Elliot and others. It was built in the 40's. The Fellowship Hall was built in the 60's. Laura Wilbanks King, a local artist and former member, presented each member with a beautiful drawing of the church. Leonora Ginn researched and wrote the church history fo the Sequicentennial in 1990. Our oldest member is Mrs. Ossie Williams, 98 and the youngest is Dustin Elliott, 4 months. For years Dudley Cannafax sent the church $1000 every Christmad in memory of his parents. When it was decided to purchase new pews, two ladies decided to purchase one eact at $90.00 per pew. They worked at the Cannery for 50 cents per hour for 180 hours each to make the money. These ladies were Mrs. Ada Parker and Mrs. Lula Elliott. CHURCH MEMORIES Anne Trice Middlebrooks remembers going to Sunday School at Ebenezer with her parents and one time being taken out of the church by her mother, when she misbehaved. She remembers being taught to behave in church and remembers a sweet Christian lady, Mrs. Ciely Smith, being her teacher. Thomas Wilson, former resident of the community, living in Jacksonville Florida has fond memories in the 1920s and knew a lot of the people buried in the cemetery. He reports that the grandfather of Jacksonville's oldest doctor, Benjamin Alexander Chapman, who died at age 98, William Thomas Chapman is buried in Ebenezer cemtery. Frances Williams Stinchcomb says her best memories were when she was a teenager in the late 1930's and Rev Eason was the pastor. She said he had such an influence on the young people that each Sunday the altar was filled with young people under conviction. She says she is thankful to have been brought up in this church Leonora Gunn's memories began in the summer of 1980 when she went to be the temporary pianist for the church and she is still there. It has been en enriching experience for I've seen Christianlove displayed every service. I've grown to love all the members and truly we seem like family. Some have gone to be with the Lord. When I first came, Mr. Bill Elliott was living and every Sunday morning he came in, opened the windows in hot weather, took his seat and he and George Thompson checked their watches. One Sunday some visitors came and frightened us all. A man came through the door interrupting the class in progress and demanded money after he told a hard luck tale. Quick thinking Wilbur Elliott, the teacher, told the ladies to get some money up while he gave him the collection. He had his hands in his jacket pocket as if he had a gun. Still another Sunday we wer paid another visit with a hard luck story. As alwayw we rose to the cause. I have seen a dedication and love for the Master and the church that I have never seen anywhere else. Ruby Trice Hamlin, and Mary Trice Littleton remember coming to Ebenezer from childhood. They lived in the community and on Meeting Day they say the yard was filled with buggies. Their great grandfather, Rev. Jones Bush preached many times at Ebenezer. It was a family church and they say on meeting day they always had lots of company. After they had grown and married, they continued to live in the community and they raised their children in this church. Many of their loved ones are laid to rest in the cemetery. Denise Elliott Chambley shares these memories: My first memories are my Sunday School classes with Mrs. Billie Bush as my teacher. I remember playing on the roots around the trees that stillstand. I remember Mrs. Sara Moore playing the piano and her sweet voice when she used to sing specials. I remember Mr. Gordon Cannafax teaching Sunday School Services. I remember my dad, Wilbur Elliott, always taking up the offering and my mother Helen Elliot setting up the Communion in the tiny little cups. I remember my mother and daddy always sitting together just about every Sunday of my life. My grandparents Bill and Lula Elliot always sat together at church. My grandmother's love for this little church has instilled a special appreciation for this little church. I have grown up with these memories and these people and it is still an important part of my l ife. Recent memeories are also special for I remember taking my own baby daughter to Ebenezer for the first time..... Steve and Judi Copley share memories of his first appointment which was at Ebenezer. It is the place where I began my ministry and everyone was loving and kind and suportive. Rachel Shaw remembers so many happy times as a child going to church with her grandparents, Bill and Lula Elliott. They were such an inspiration to her in her life and after marrying James Shaw, she chose to move her membership back to this special church. Shirley Middlebrooks Buchannan writes that her father, Bill Middlebrooks and stepmother, Bessie, moved to Pike county in 1935 in the Weaver community. We joined Ebenezer that year and Mr. C.S. Easom was S.S. Supt and he is one who made a difference in my life, spiritually. The Parkers and Bill Elliot family also were very speical during some difficult years. After my stepmother died in 1936, my daddy married Lily Neal from Texas. She had 2 sons and we all attended regularly for Lily played the piano. In 1939 they moved to Texas and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parker graciously took me in and loved me as their own. Their daughter, Jeanette, is like a sister. After graducation, I moved to Griffin and in 1943 married Sam Buchanan, a Methodist Minister who served in South Georgia Conference 29 years. Samd died in 1980 and I continue to live in Wilcox County. I have four children and eleven grandchildren. Mrs. Lula Elliott recalls that a year after she had married and moved into the community she and her husband, Bill, and little baby, Goddard, started going to the Ebenezer regularly along with Bill's parents and Aunt Light. She said she made up her mind to join during a revival in 1925 and a friend joined the next night. One year from the day she joined her husband joined. It has been the important part of their life since. She has brought her children here; she has seen many happy occasions here; and it is the place where her little son and her beloved husband are buried. She has attened church here with five generations of the Elliotts. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Elliot, she and Bill, her children, her grandchildren and now her great grandchildren. She will be 90 years old in Sept 1900 and she loves Ebenezer and all the people. Beatrice Tyus Trice has been attending Ebenezer since 1922 when she married Raymond Trice whose family were pillars in the church. She has enjoyed services and fellowship over the years. She brought her children up in the church and remembers how happy she was the day she brought her first born,Pearl, to church. George Thompson remembers his first Sunday and being made to feel so welcome especially by Mr. Bill Elliott. He said Mr. Elliott urged him to join, that they neede more men and he said he has felt a love in this church/ Frances Littleton English recalls her mother carrying her to Sunday School at Ebenezer when she was a child and how much it meant to mother. A lady of strong faith, the last place she went before she died was to evening worship at the church. She called her and told her how wonderful the sermon was and that she wished everyone could have heard it for, if so, nobody would ever hold a grudge. "My mother loved God, trusted Jesus, and set a Christian example for me." Wilbur Elliott has gone there all his life being born into an Ebenezer Church family. He has served in every capacity and is one of the strong leaders. When he and Helen married she joined with him and has been a faithful member since. Mrs. W.J. Wilbanks attended Ebenezer with her husband and loves all the people. Laura Wilbanks King attended Ebenezer when she lived in the community in the 50's. She especially remembers how happy she was to have her mother and daddy, W.J. and Montere Wilbanks, and her sister and husband, Willie May and Andy Barrett, and family all attending church together. Dr. and Mrs. Olin Dobbs said they visited around all the churchs in the county and when they saw Ebenezer one day, decided to visit it. From the time they entered the church they felt the warmth of the friendship and the love for one another.