Onslow County NcArchives News.....Queen’s Creek Homecoming Attracts Many Onslowans June 19, 1952 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bill Gibson bgibson@uncfsu.edu March 25, 2006, 8:15 pm Jacksonville Daily News, Onslow County, NC Sec. 2 Page 3 June 19, 1952 “Queen’s Creek Homecoming Attracts Many Onslowans” Story By Bill Buchan Pictures By Bill Folsom The Russells, Farnells, Starlings, Mortons, Costons and dozens of other old Onslow County residents gathered Sunday morning at Queen’s Creek Methodist church near Hubert for the 24th straight reunion of members and former members of the church. The history of Queen’s Creek dates back to before 1785 when the first service was held by a spring near the present site by a Bishop Francis Asbury who is believed to have organized the church. Among the names of the earliest existing records of the church are those of a Russell, a Bell, a Coston, a Morton and other names which are still prominent in Onslow County. The oldest member at the homecoming Sunday was W. W. (Uncle Billy) Russell Sr., who is a spry 92. Although he has only one leg and gets about on crutches, he took and active part in the services both in the church and the visiting hour in the church yard. Uncle Billy joined Queen’s Creek 71 years ago – in 1881 and is the oldest living member today. Most of the history of Queen’s Creek has been handed down by word of mouth from one generation to another. One early member, Mrs. John Bell, told her granddaughter, Mrs. Catherine Bell Henderson, who in turn related the story to a nephew, A. H. Hatsell, that she (Mrs. Bell) remembered a small log church standing behind the present one near the branch and spring behind the church. Present members say this log structure was replaced by a frame building on the same site about 1816 and that the structure was build from hand-sawed lumber. One story says that Bishop Asbury held his first service at Queen’s Creek, sometime around 1780, after he had been stoned out of Swansboro. The story says that the worshippers were seated on logs near the spring. One history book, W. L. Grissom’s “History of Methodism in North Carolina,” says Bishop Asbury visited New Bern, Beaufort and then visited Swansbury (now spelled Swansboro) in 1785 and held a quarterly meeting on Dec. 24 and 25. The current series of homecoming services were started in 1928 and have continued each year without a break. And each year, there has been a large attendance. Last Sunday, approximately 350 persons were present for the all- day services. Only once, in 1942 when Onslow County was struck by a polio epidemic, was the attendance unusually small. The old members now refer to that gathering as the “polio year.” Much of the morning worship service is repeated year after year. For example, the well-loved hymn, “Amazing Grace” has been a part of the program since the reunions began. Too, a short memorial service is held during each service in memory of those members who have died since the last previous service. This year, Rev. Herman Winberry, the pastor of Sunset Park Methodist church in Wilmington returned to his native Onslow County to deliver the sermon. He was assisted by Rev. J. K. Worthington who is the regular pastor of the church. Many former residents of the Hubert and Queen’s Creek area use the homecoming services as their annual visit “back home.” The church is located within a few yards of the Camp Lejeune military reservation and a large number of Onslowans were moved off their homelands when the Navy took over the territory in the early 1940s. Now, they’re scattered over eastern North Carolina. The picnic lunch which these native Onslowans spread on the church grounds following the morning services is a sight to see. Instead of the usual picnic tables, church members have strung and unusually wide wire fence parallel with the ground some 300 yards. Once the ladies of the church began unpacking their baskets and boxes, unbelievable quantities of food made their appearance. There were cakes of every type and variety, fried chicken and pure Onslow County ham highlighted almost every family gathering up and down the table, as well as deviled eggs, pork, pies, potatoes and chicken salad, sandwiches of all varieties and other foods too numerous to mention. For the past ten years, a huge barrel of lemonade has been one of the features of the gathering. In 1942, Aaron Farnell, one of the descendents of the church, made an agreement with John Meadows, another familiar name in the church history, whereby the two of them would furnish the lemons, ice and sugar for the barrel of lemonade. The cooling refreshment was such a success then that it has been continued each years. There are still many graves in the church cemetery marked simply by aged wooden markers. Many, many more of them have been lost through weather beating and other conditions. During the Civil War, both Federal and Confererate soldiers used the church site as a camp ground and one story says the grave markers were used for fire wood by the cold soldiers. The newer graves are marked with permanent concrete and bronze markers. Some of them were moved from cemeteries on the Lejeune reservation when the area was taken over for the Marine base. Mrs. Lillian Russell Ray, a historian who was born and raised in the area and whose ancestors were active members of the church, has published a story which states that the present church building was erected around 1880, several hundred yards from the old spring and first building. The pulpit was built by the late Henry Willis and the late Ed Markette handcarved the altar rail from two pines which had grown in a curved-shape on the old Bell place. Part of that railing is used in the church today. When a ceiling was not available, the church members appealed to Governor D. L. Russell, an Onslow native, for assistance. The governor not only furnished the ceiling but had it shipped by water from Wilmington up New River to Bear Creek from where it was hauled by oxen to the church. When the interior of the church was remodeled recently, that ceiling was covered. Following the picnic lunch, those attending the event gathered again in the church auditorium where officers where elected. Mrs. Ray acted as a temporary chairman in place of the late N. H. Russell who filled that capacity from the first homecoming until his death in 1950. Officers elected were: Willie Russell, chairman; A. H. Hatsell, vice chairman; Mrs. Ray, secretary; registrars, Clennie Ward and Louise Morton; users, Clem Morton, Lee Rogers, Johnny Meadows and Albert Venters; historians, Mrs. C. M. Ward and Mrs. Ray; memorial committee, Mrs. Louise Barbour, Mrs. Louise Russell, Miss Marie Morton, Mrs. Annie Farnell and Albert Venters; program committee, Mrs. Euzella Morton, Mrs. Marshall Blythe, Mrs. Clyde Bartley, Mrs. Barbour, Mrs. Lucille Parker and Mrs. Sam Starling. The welcome address during the morning services was given by E. B. Smith, a Jacksonville merchant who formerly lived in a community named marines which is a part of Camp Lejeune. Smith has made the welcome address for the past 21 years. Some, but not all of the pictures of the article included the following captions: [picture – Of the front of the church building] “More than 350 persons attended annual homecoming services at Queens Creek Sunday. The services have been held annually for the past 24 years. The church was the first organized in 1780 by Bishop Francis Asbury. Descendents of the original members still in the area and attend services regularly. Others who have moved away return once each year for the homecoming.” [picture – Children standing around the lemonade barrel] [picture – Looking down the long table from one end. Attendees on either side helping themselves to the assorted foods and fare. Women in their Sunday hats.] [picture – Ladies putting some of their food items on the table.] “These ladies, as did all others attending the homecoming, brought baskets and boxes well filled with delicious chicken, ham, pies, cakes and other foods. Here, left to right , are Mrs. Pearl Russell Lewis of Burgaw, Mrs. Daisy Bell Henderson of Jacksonville and Mrs. W. W. Russell, Jr. Looking on are Albert Venters, rear right, and Aaaron Farnell, left.” [picture -- Mr. Russell in a white hat and Mrs. Provost in a flowered dress standing looking down at a large stone marker inscribed with the name RUSSELL.] “D. W. Russell, left, of Richlands, and his aunt, Mrs. E. W. Provost are show above as they viewed the graves of Russell’s parents in the Queens Creek cemetery. Some of the graves in the Russell’s family plot were moved from the family property on what is now Camp Lejeune.” Additional Comments: Bishop Francis Asbury was the “founding father” of the American Methodist Church. Excerpts from his journal (at least three visits to Swansboro): "Wednesday, April 6, 1785-Preached at Swansbury in sight of the sea. Here are a wicked people indeed; nevertheless a few have joined society." "Saturday and Sunday, December 24 and 25 (Christmas), 1785 we held quarterly meeting at Swansbury, many people—little religion." "Thursday, January 27, 1791—I had many to hear at Swansbury—the people were attentive—O that God may bless His word to them." File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/onslow/newspapers/queenscr17gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 9.8 Kb