Cherry Grove Baptist Church, Allen Louisiana Submitted by: Karen Tramel-Carlisle April 2001 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Cherry Grove Baptist Church Mittie, Louisiana Organized 1918 The Beauregard Baptist Association minutes show Cherry Grove Baptist Church was organized in 1918. There were 16 members, 15 by letter and one baptism. The records do not show who the Charter Members were, but according to the older folks in our community, we believe the following were the Charter Members. Mr. & Mrs. Ed Howard (Della Simmons) Mr. & Mrs. Albert Burnitt (Amanda Jane O'Quin) Mr. & Mrs. J.W. "Major" Burnitt (Rasa Lee Stine) Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Reeves (Cora Simmons) Mrs. Harrison Mahaffey (Rillanne Lanier Mahaffey) (Mr. Mahaffey became a member shortly afterwards) Mrs. Charles Mahaffey (Rosie Lanier Mahaffey) (Mr. Mahaffey became a member later) Mr. & Mrs. Edward E. Tramel (Lettie Lanier) Mr. & Mrs. Odis Young (Huldah Lanier) Mr. & Mrs. Dave Smith (Mary Young) Mr. Tom Lanier Mrs. Andrew J. Singleton (Jules O'Quin) The first pastor was Mr. W.J. Sigler, he was a farmer by occupation, his salary for preaching was $50.00 (year). The first Deacon was Major Burnitt. Mr. Charles A. Mahaffey was the first Deacon to be ordained in Cherry Grove Church, he was ordained June 3, 1928. Several families saw the need for regular church services to be held in their own community, parents and mothers knowing that their children should be reared in a Christian environment, undertook to establish a church in the area. Mr. & Mrs. Howard held church meetings in their home until a church could be built on land owned by Mr. Howard. Unfortunately during the depression, Mr. Howard lost his place, and the land on which the church was located was taken also. It was said "If there had been one grave near the Church House, that the bank would have let the church have the plot of land." But there wasn't one and the church had to be moved. Cherry Grove School had been remodeled and had a nice big auditorium and a Home Economics building . The school board allowed the church to hold services in the school auditorium. Around 1929 or 30 the Cherry Grove School was consolidated with Fairview School at Grant. And there was no longer a Cherry Grove School. The school board tore down the auditorium and moved it to Grant. They donated the Home Ec. Building to the church. The men in the church remodeled the building, making an auditorium and three Sunday school rooms from it. This building served as the Cherry Grove Church House until the present brick structure was built in 1976. Some Deacons of The Church: James W. Major Burnett 1918 Charles A. Mahaffey 1928 Odis Young Jeptha Hamilton 1946 Roy Hanchey 1946 Gilbert Turner 1952 Walter Scott 1952 James Henry 1954 Willie Ray Andrews 1975 Herman Ray Hill 1975 Forest Johnson Early Weddings: Charlie Tramel and Mamie Strother were married at Ed Howard's House when church was held there. Everyone was going to Harrison Mahaffey's house for a reception party for the couple. Simon Singleton had a touring car and was going to drive over in it. About 13 young boys said Simon give us a ride, Simon said his car would not hold all of them and refused to give them a ride. When Simon drove off they all hopped on the back with out him knowing and rode over to the Mahaffey's. Just before they got there the boys jumped off and ran ahead through the woods & were there when Simon arrived. He never did figure that out. The first wedding recorded in Cherry Grove Church records was held Saturday January 20, 1934. Miss Alma Turner became the wife of Aubrey Lee Tramel. It must have really been a big event, records show that church was dismissed for the following day. Obituaries listed in early records are: Mrs. Addie Bell(Burnett)Simmons (1896-1939 wife of Mitchell Simmons She was baptised 1923. Mrs. Amanda Jane (O'Quin) burnett (1856-1939 wife of Albert Burnett (Dec 1868), she had joined Bethel Baptist Church 1878, when church was organized at Cherry Grove she became a member , by letter. Mrs. Rosa Lee Burnett 91872-1937) a member of Cherry Grove wife of Major Burnett I.B. Reeves 91883-1931 converted May 1921 Pastors: 1921 W. J. Sigler 1922-23 S. L. Miers 1924 J. P. Stockman 1926 C. S. Miers 1927-29 H. A. Walters 1930-31 H. F. Green 1932-35 Herman Moses 1938 O. L. Sherman 1939 C. T. Bowden 1941-42 Herman L. Barron 1943-45 S. L. Parkam 1946 Elie McGee 1948-49 Herman Moses 1951 Herman Farquher 1952-58 H. F. Green 1959-60 Clarence Dees 1961 Lewis Eiselstein 1962-65 S. P. Bond 1967-69 Albert Hagan 1971-75 Don Nunley 1977-79 Elwood Sonnier 1980-81 C. W. Ellis 1982-87 Ted-O.Mason The church records were lost until January 1929 when Miss Sina Hamilton was elected church clerk. Miss Hamilton moved away after finishing her education and Miss Esther Reeves served as clerk from April 1930 until she left for college in 1931. Mrs. Lucy Reeves Tramel became clerk in June 1931 and served in that capacity for forty years. Mrs. Herman Ray Hill (Dorothy Sue Tramel) has served as clerk since the 1970s and is the clerk now. With these dedicated ladies our church records are very complete from Jan 1929 until today. Note: In 1985, I interviewed Mrs. Ivey Hanchey a long time church member. She began the interview by telling me that her earliest memories of church was it being held at a house that was located down the road from the present church location, that house was in a grove of cherry trees, she could not remember who lived there. She could still remember how pretty they were when in bloom, thus the name Cherry Grove. Then they would have church at various peoples houses in the community. Then Ed Howard decided they could have church at his house all the time. She said Eliga Sigler who was also schoolteacher would come every two weeks or so weather permitting and preach and teach singing. She said Toab Hanchey built the school house that was to become the church house later. Honor Roll For Those Who Serve For many years the "Honor Roll" list hung in the front of our church. Now that war times have past, it has been retired to the church office. Beginning during World War II, each time a young man of the community went off to defend his country, his name was added to the "Honor Roll" and the church members would pray for him daily. As some of these men will tell you today, they could not have faced each day during those war times, had it not been for the continuous prayers of the home folks and their faith in God. One loved one was killed in action, in Normandy, France, during World war II. He was Cecil B. Tramel, son of Mr. & Mrs. Edward E. Tramel. Another listed as missing in action, and never found, was Braxton Moreau, son of Mr. & Mrs. Mayuse Moreau. They will always have a very special place on our Honor Roll and in our hearts. They gave their lives that others might live in freedom. This list started during WWII and continued through the Korean War. Clint Tramel George A. Howard Willie Reeves Wilson Reeves G.B. Andrews, Jr. W.R. Andrews Alie Mahaffey Arnice Mahaffey Mason Tramel Willard Mahaffey Cecil B. Tramel * Allen Mahaffey Melvin Mahaffey C. Russell Smith Clyde Pate W.L. Laughlin Kenneth Pate Perry Mahaffey Ocie Simmons Leon Hamilton Bab Mahaffey Otto Simmons James Mahaffey Willet Laughlin Herbert Hamilton Adrian Hamilton Melton L. Cooley Zack Howard Roy E. Young Eugene Smith Oneal young Floyd Young George Oller Walter Mahaffey Edmond Hamilton Clint Reeves Nelson Hanchey Willard Smith Nelvin Smith Clyde Young Earl Nichols Jesse Lee Marler Dave Smith Joseph Young Vester Burnett Lemuel Strahan Edwin Darbonne Judson Howard Shelton Simmons A.C. Burnett Huey Horton Clyde Cooley Charlie Smith Wade S. Andrews T.G. Turner, Jr. Braxton Moreau* Sidney Moreau James Moreau Harold Mooreau Cecil Hobbs L.C. Simmons William David Allen Carlton Rasberry Ray Rasberry Oscar Hobbs Robbie Lee Carlisle T.V. Burnett J. B. Hanchey Owen Hamilton Rodney Nichols Jimmy LeBlanc Elmer Lee Dukes Virgil Turner Others that served during peace time or Vietnam Robert Rasberry Deleno Simmons Clifton Moreau Allen Moreau Jimmy Henry Bradley Moreau John Moreau Herman Simmons Gary Johnson This information was taken from various sources: The Beauregard Baptist Association in DeRidder information gathered in 1983. Church Homecoming Pamplets & Personal knowledge of several older members. All the above compiled by Karen Tramel Carlisle Please note that I have made every effort for this to be true and accurate record. If any errors are found please note that they are not intentional, contact me and I will gladly correct them. This was compiled strictly for my personal use and I would like to share the information for the enjoyment of others.