Spotlight Upon Unsung Heroes: Reverend Eldridge Hunter, Sr. Methodist Minister, Community Activist By Wilbur Thirkield Titus August 2007 Reverend Eldridge Hunter, Sr. has been my hero for as long as I can remember. He was my grandfather, my mother’s father, who was born during the Reconstruction Period of the Civil War, and lived in the Stewards Mill and Youngs Mill communities in the northeastern part of Freestone County, Texas. Physically, he was of medium build and height. He wore a manicured mustache beneath piercing and sometimes smiling eyes, which were housed in a broad forehead. He has strong convictionns and acted upon them. He was firm. Yet considerate of others, kind and generous. He believed in and taught obedience to God and to constituted authority. He espoused personal responsibility. He taught by example, and used his calling as a Methodist preacher to get his message to the people. During his ministry, her served with Bishop Wilbur Patterson Thirkield whom he admired. In fact, he named me for the bishop. Grandpa pastored several charges. One was in Thornton. Texas. He traveled miles on horseback, arriving at his destination on a Friday or Saturday and beginning his return trip on a Monday. Grandpa’s major contribution to society was his provision of leadership, encouragement and hope for a people who were struggling to survive in a repressive and sometimes hostile environment. Some of my most pleasant memories of him are of a loving grandpa who came to visit us riding on Old Boyd, his dappled, crop eared pony. He made each of us feel special and often gave us goodies. When he made syrup in his syrup mill which he brought to our community, he would let me skim the boiling cane juice and sample the finished product. It was always a delight to go to his home for a visit. It was a special treat to sit around the long table in the kitchen, on benches and devour a special meal. We would visit the barn, gather hickory nuts, (his were special) and play in the "pretty red dirt (clay). I remember him as being a good preacher and delighted to hear his booming baritone voice as he led hymns during worship services. I cherish my memories of him dressed in his Masonic regalia as he and the other Masons performed their ceremonies. What a hero! For addtional information and to submit the description of a hero, contact Bill Titus at bill1919@valornet.com.