Quitman County GaArchives Church Records.....First 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: Donna Eldridge DonnaEldrid@aol.com July 2, 2004, 4:25 pm FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH (African American) The plot of land on which the First Missionary Baptist Church stands was sold or given to the Negro Baptist Church by James Harrison in February of 1878. The deed was recorded in 1895 at the Georgetown Court House. Evidently there was a building on the site that had been attended by Blacks and Whites under the leadership of a White pastor. According to older members, the Whites relocated, leaving the Black membership. It is said that a portion of the old building was destroyed by a storm, which was later rebuilt and consisted of one room with a porch and two steepled ante-rooms. This is believed to have been between 1865 and 1897. The Reverend Curry is said to have been the first Black pastor. The Reverend Flagg was the second and he served for ten years. The Reverend Maddox was next called and he remained in the pulpit for thirty-four years. Some of his officers were: Grant Smith, George Carbin, Edd Jones, Ephin Mathis, and Lee Jones. The fourth pastor was Reverend T. W. Williams. It was under his leadership that the church began to flourish. The building was painted inside and out, a new floor was laid also. Reverend Cook followed in 1960 and this was the year a baptismal pool was placed in the church. A musician was hired in 1961 and bathrooms were constructed in 1964. By 1965 the steeples had begun to lean and were torn off. In 1970 new windows were put in and another piano was purchased. The steeples were replaced in 1972. New Pews were purchased in 1973 and there were new collection plates, donated by the Kendrick family. Sherman Williams was called into the ministry under Reverend Cook's leadership. Reverend Cook served as pastor for the last time on the first Sunday in August of 1974 as he died later that week, leaving First Baptist without a pastor until November of that year when the Reverend Story was called. He has served faithfully since 1974 and progress is evident. In 1977 the back section of the church was torn out, removing the unsightly windows from the choir and the pulpit section, also doing away with the high steps outside. The renovation result was three classrooms, three bathrooms, a pastor's study, new choir stand, a kitchen and a fellowship hall. The Church Covenant was presented in 1978 by Mrs. Louiella Liptroth in honor of her parents and in 1980 a gift of land was made by Tommy Kendrick to extend the back of the church. Mrs. Louise Braswell donated carpet and furniture for her classroom, the upstairs walls were painted by the deacons and the antique table and chairs, along with the furniture in the deacon's room were refinished by Mrs. Kendrick, Mrs. Massey, and Mrs. McElroy. Candy sales were held and the proceeds were used to fix the pastor's study. A stove and refrigerator, plus tables and chairs were donated by the members. The church mortgage was paid off in 1981, a great time in the life of all churches. New lighting and ceiling fans were installed in the main sanctuary. The land for a cemetery was purchased, the church hiproofed, painted and underpined in 1983. In 1984 the cemetery was named. Tinted windows, central heat and air conditioning have been installed and a covering placed on the seats in 1987. The First Missionary Baptist Church Directory was published this year and this book is for sale by the church. Mr. Tommy Kendrick "Cemeteries and Churches of Quitman County, Georgia" by Jacquelyn M. Shepard (page 50-51) Additional Comments: Transcribed and submitted by Donna Eldridge with permission from Jacquelyn Shephard File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/churches/nbb56firstmis.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb