Quitman County GaArchives Church Records.....Mt. Zion 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, 5:24 pm MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH (African American) Mt. Zion Baptist Church probably started in a bush arbor in the 1800's. The year is not known. It is believed that a family member of Mrs. Beall Dozier Gary gave the land and possibly the church building to the Cross Roads community. The Reverend Williamson is believed to have been one of the earlier pastors. He was followed by the Reverend Jessie Simkins of Americus, Georgia. Next came the Reverend Crawford Baldwin, the Reverend Hobbs, who also was from Americus and served until 1930, the Reverend J. J. Johnson, the Reverend Silas McKinzley, the Reverend Robert James, the Reverend McElroy, the Reverend J. Bryant, the Reverend Hayes, the Reverend Baldwin, the Reverend Ellis, the Reverend Green, the Reverend Odums, the Reverend Kinchan, and the Reverend Dozier. The pastor's chair that was large enough to seat two people was thought to have been given to the church by Mr. Will Gorset in the early 1900's. There are several old chairs stored and this chair is probably one of them. It is also remembered that a large Singing Convention was held at the church in 1909. In 1966 new pews were purchased as well as having the church bricked, a new roof and bathrooms erected. A well was also drilled. The church had a piano for the first time in 1986 and a piano player was employed. They had to drill another well that year as the first one went dry with the severe drought. The columns at the front porch were also bricked. A kitchen and a fellowship hall are being added to the church in 1987. This addition could be finished before the year ends. Mrs. Aaron King Mrs. Amanda Hamilton "Cemeteries and Churches of Quitman County, Georgia" by Jacquelyn M. Shepard (page 58) Additional Comments: Transcribed and submitted by Donna Eldridge with permission from Jacquelyn Shephard File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/churches/nbb66mtzionba.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 2.5 Kb