Quitman County GaArchives Church Records.....Berry Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
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Donna Eldridge DonnaEldrid@aol.com July 2, 2004, 4:04 pm


                               BERRY CHAPEL 
                          MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
                            (African American)


     The church was organized in the 1800's.  Meetings were held in a log cabin 
that was located on the Lampley plantation, along the Chattahoochee River, with 
the Reverend Cunningham as the first preacher.  The second pastor was the 
Reverend White.  Early Deacons were: John Brown, Thomas Ward and Johnny Ford.

     After a time, a wood church building was constructed on Reeves' Hill and 
was named Berry Chapel after Deacon Will Berry.  Reverend Lee, Reverend 
Bankston and Reverend Spice followed Reverend as pastor.  In 1941 the Reverend 
J. D. Holmes was called and he remained with the church for twenty-eight years 
as pastor.

     In 1955 a new building was erected.  It was located on what is now known 
as the Cool Branch Road.  The Deacons were: Lenward Davis, Judge White, Lee 
Wilson, Aaron Griggs, Truman Bouyer, and Leroy Bouyer.

     In 1971 the Reverend J. A. Seberson was called by the church and remained 
as pastor for six years.  The Deacons were:  Lee Wilson, Lenward Davis, Aaron 
Griggs, Truman Bouyer, David McElroy, and Sammy Laster.  Church improvements 
made that year were the purchases of a new pulpit and pews.

     In 1972 carpet was laid and in 1973 new lighting and new windows were 
installed.  A new church pool for baptism, air conditioning and a new well were 
improvements that were made in 1974.  In 1977 the Reverend J. E. Mallory was 
called as pastor and an annex and bathrooms were started.  The Reverend W. D. 
Hatcher was called to preach in 1979 and the church completed the building of 
the annex and bathrooms that year.  Tables and chairs were purchased for the 
kitchen.  An addition to the bathrooms was made in 1981 and in 1982 a stove and 
refrigerator were purchased for the kitchen.  In 1983 the church bought a 
vacuum cleaner.

     A corner stone was laid March 24, 1985 by the Reverend Hatcher and the 
Mother of the Church, Sister Matilda Bouyer; Chairman of the Deacons and 
Superintendent of Sunday School, David McElroy; Deacons: Lenward Davis, Aaron 
Griggs, and Sammy Laseter; Secretary, Sister Bell McElroy.  Cushions for the 
pews were also purchased that year.

     In 1987 a program was started to encourage all of the members to tithe.  
The Deacons were: David McElroy, Aaron Griggs, Lenward Davis, and Sammy Laseter.

     On June 3, 1987 the Reverend W. D. Hatcher, pastor of the church, died of 
a stroke.  He was buried in Mt. Ebel Church Cemetery at Arlington, Georgia.  
His favorite song, "Nobody but You, Lord, that brought me over" is often sung 
by the congregation.  The Reverend Hatcher had served the Lord at Berry Chapel 
for seven years and will be sorely missed.

Mrs. Belle McElroy


"Cemeteries and Churches of Quitman County, Georgia" 
by Jacquelyn M. Shepard (page 48)


Additional Comments:
Transcribed and submitted by Donna Eldridge with permission from Jacquelyn 
Shephard

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/churches/nbb52berrycha.txt

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