Quitman-Statewide County GaArchives Church Records.....Liberty Baptist  Copyright Date August 27, 1893
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Clyde Watson clyde.nell@gmail.com January 30, 2010, 6:10 am

                          A GRAND OLD CHURCH
            Interesting Services at Its Semi-Centennial Celebration
                         Savannah Morning News
                            August 23 1893
Quitman Ga.-Aug 23- Liberty Baptist Church at Grooverville, in this county,
celebrated it's semi-centennial, on Saturday the 19th of August. The occasion
was a very interesting one, and there was present one of the largest crowds ever
seen at a public gathering in this county. The church was constituted on the
19th of August, 1843, just fifty years to the day from the time of celebration
of it's semi-centennial. The members who organized the church were Elisha P.
Smith; R.T. Stanaland; James T. Baker; Nancy Hagan; Sarah A. Groover; Mary
Smith; Amanda Denmark; and Sarah Whitfield. All of these names are familiar ones
in all of South Georgia, and will be recognized by many old inhabitants all over
this section. Of these members but one, Mrs. S. A. Groover is living. She was
present at the celebration exercises, and was the happy recipient of many good
wishes and congratulations. Elders R. J. Mays, Jesse Goodman and Thomas Lang
formed the church's presbytery at the time of it's organization. Rev. R. J. Mays
who has many descendants now living in South Georgia was the church's first
pastor. He served not quite two years. The church;s other pastors have been:
Rev. J. S. Fuller from 1845 to 1849:::Rev. J. B. Lacy from 1849 to 1855:::Rev.
Z. J. Bluett from 1855 to 1867:::Rev. James McBryde from 1867 to 1871:::Rev. C.
D. Canpbell from 1871 to 1872::: and Rev. J. M. Rushin from 1872 to the present
time, he now being pastor in charge.
The Deacons of the church have been Brethren T. I. Denmark ordained in 1844; T.
F. Jones in 1852; J. Densler, in 1859; C. A. Davis, in 1862; R. J. Groover, in
1866; A. W. Groover, in 1889; F. M. Groover and J. W. McMullen, in 1873; D. A.
Groover and J. W. Haddock in 1881
                           A MISSIONARY CHURCH
    The church has been a missionary body ever since its constitution; and is
the mother of several of the strongest Missionary Baptist churches in this
section, notably among them the church at Boston, Ga. and the one at Hickory
Head in this county. The leading spirit and the prime mover in the organization
of this church was Mrs. Nancy Hagan whose name is mentioned above as one of the
original members. She is today well remembered by numbers of the older 
inhabitants of this section as one of the most remarkable women among the
pioneers of this section. Her descendants in this county and adjoining counties,
s well as in Florida, are numerous, and among them all her name is held in
sacred reverence. A part of the program in the day's exercises was the reading
of a poem written by her over fifty years ago on the dedication of this church.
The poem was recited by a great-great-granddaughter, Miss Mary Groover. Another
poem written by her at about the same time was recited by a great-granddaughter,
Miss Bertha Groover. Other features of the day were the roll call of members
from the day of the church's organization to the present time. "A History of the
Church" by Rev. J. M. Rushin, "The Progress of Baptist Principles During Fifty
Years" by Capt. J. G. McCall, and brief sketches of the older pastors and
members by different ones. Delegates and representatives from over twenty other
churches in this section were present.
     Old Liberty Church, is one of the Missionary Baptist Churches in this
state, it's name is familiar to all Baptist in the state and all will be glad to
learn that it is still in a flourishing condition. 

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