CENTENNIAL STORY, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, TYLER, SMITH CO, TEXAS, 1848-1948 ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Used with the permission of Dr. Michael Massar, Pastor First Baptist Church, Tyler, TX Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net 8 March 2001 ***************************************************************** OUR EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS - Sunday School and Training Union THE SUNDAY SCHOOL J. R. MOORE, Sunday School Supt. The sole authority for Baptist organizations comes from the church. In 1865, when the congregation had been organized eight years, the members, realizing that "all thy children shall be taught of the Lord," organized a Sunday School. Deacon T. J. Kelly was the first superintendent. During the ninety-two years of existence, the Sunday School has grown proportionately with the church. Adequate buildings and equipment have been provided. The First Baptist Church of Tyler was one of the first churches to use the Southern Baptist Graded Lesson Series and the Graded Plan for its classes. The first church assistant, was Chester Harris, employed in 1907. In January 1916, the enrollment went beyond 1000 for the first time. J. R. Moore has been serving faithfully and efficiently as Sunday School Superintendant since 1930. The church has been blessed in having such a fine Christian educator serving in this capacity. He has been ably assisted by John D. Matthews educational director since 1943. Also working with him is a large corps of Christian men and women giving them- selves to teaching the Word of God. A motion picture machine and projector were bought in June 1946 to be used by the church for visual religious education. Supper is served at the church each Wednesday evening preceding the officers' and teachers' meeting and weekly prayer service. The present enrollment of the Sunday School May 1, 1948 was 1715. DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL The daily Vacation School is conducted two weeks during the summer months, has been successful since 1936. The educational director of the church is in charge of the school, the lessons are taught by volunteer teachers and workers. SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS T. J. Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . 1856 Prof. J. T. Hand . . . . . . . . . 1868-1876 E. B. Willis . . . . . . . . . . . 1876-1879 W. H. McKay . . . . . . . . . . . . 1879- R. H. Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . -1899 T. B. Butler . . . . . . . . . . . 1899-1902 J. S. Magee . . . . . . . . . . . . 1902-1904 Geo. S. McGhee . . . . . . . . . . 1904-1910 T. B. Butler . . . . . . . . . . . 1910-1911 R. A. Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . 1911-1914 Chester Harris . . . . . . . . . . 1914-1915 W. P. Philips . . . . . . . . . . . 1915-1916 J. B. Oliver . . . . . . . . . . . 1916-1919 J. R. Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . 1919-1927 J. D. Carroll . . . . . . . . . . . 1927- J. R. Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . 1927-1929 W. E. Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . 1929-1930 J. R. Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . 1930- GENERAL OFFICERS J. R. Moore, Supt. Mrs. W. D. Goyer, Asst. Secretary Dugger Ray, Assoc. Supt. Ira W. Wade, Classification Officer H. Y. Haggard, Assoc. Supt. John D. Matthews, Educational Director E. E. Bedell, Secretary Dr. Porter M. Bailes, Pastor ADULT DEPARTMENT No. 1 OFFICERS: TEACHERS: N. L. Stephens, Supt. Mrs. Rose Burgan Sam R. Ross, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. Fleetwood Rice Jack Morgan, Secretary Mrs. John Cox Mrs. Cleo Davis, Pianist Mrs. T. H. Lawrence Elwood Rayford, Choirister Mrs. G. H. Lasater Mrs. A. L. Cone Judge Otis T. Dunagan No. 2 OFFICERS: TEACHERS; A. E. McCain, Supt. P. H. Wrotenberry Ralph Parker, Secretary Miss Ina Shaw Ralph Parker, Pianist Mrs. R. L. Tippit Mrs. Jessie Spinks, Chorister Mrs. R. E. Nelms Mrs. L. H. Hobbs Mrs. A. C. Gentry No. 3 OFFICERS: TEACHERS: O. R. Smith, Supt. W. V. Boone Mrs. O. R. Smith, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. D. E. Brown E. E. Hendrix, Sr., Assoc. Supt. Mrs. Otto Cain Mrs. J. H. Busby, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. O. F. Hays Mrs. Lila B. Harris, Pianist Miss Mildred Shaw Mrs. W. G. Watson, Choirister Mrs. Stuart Smith Mrs. J. R. Moore, Secretary Ben Goodwin YOUNG PEOPLES DEPARTMENT No. 1 OFFICERS TEACHERS Mr. Roy Chappell. Supt. Mrs. W. H. Wilson Miss Dorothy Scott, Secretary Mrs. Norval Palmer Mary Eleanor Ferrell, Pianist Mr. W. H. Wilson Mr. Norval Palmer Mrs. W. B. Vaughn Mrs. R. E. G. Baldwin No. 2. OFFICERS TEACHERS Mrs. Otis Dunagan, Supt. Mr. E. E. Hendrix, Jr. Mrs. T. A. Carlton, Secretary Mrs. Jessie E. Jeffers No. 3. OFFICERS: TEACHERS: Mr. J. C. Yeary, Supt. Mr. Ben Wilson Mrs. J. A. Brown, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. John D. Matthews E. K. Liebig, Choirister Mrs. Virginia Hancock, Pianist SENIOR INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS: TEACHERS: Mr. Bob Garner, Supt. Mr. Norris Weaver Mrs. C. R. Crouch, Asso. Supt. Mr. Cecil Wilkerson Mr. Guy Irby, Secretary Mrs. E. Stuteville Mrs. J. M. Boucher Mrs. B. Friedlander Mrs. George T. Daye Mr. Ben Johnson J. R. Debenport JUNIOR INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS: TEACHERS: Miss Orlena Roberts, Supt. Mrs. J. H. Whitham Mrs. W.L. Crofford, Assoc. Supt. Miss Geneva Miller Miss Thelma Pierce, Secretary Mrs. Tom Crook Martha Sue Allsopp, Pianist Mr. Woodie Fagan Woody Fagan, Chorister Mrs. J. C. Boucher Mrs. Charles Welch Mr. Jerry Bartos Mr. O. Oliver JUNIOR LOW DEPARTMENT OFFICERS: TEACHERS: Mrs. Porter M. Bailes, Supt. Mrs. H. E. Curtis Mrs. C.E. Reynolds, Assoc. Supt. Miss Shirley Oliver Mrs. Ralph Parker, Secretary Mr. Ed Irons Mrs. C. E. Reynolds, Pianist Mr. W. K. McCraney Mrs. R. S. Crow Mrs. W. K. McCraney Mr. Jack Clark Mr. Patton Lunsford Mrs. Donald Hanson JUNION HIGH DEPARTMENT OFFICERS: TEACHERS: Mr. I. J. Humphrey, Supt. Mr. C. C. Matlock Mrs. I. J. Humphrey, Asso. Supt. Mrs. Rheamon Lewis Mr. C. H. Branson, Secretary Mrs. N. L. Stephens Mrs. Cliff Mason, Pianist Mrs. Cliff Mason Mrs. Hubert Cates Mr. Cliff Mason Mr. L. E. Bryant Mr. Leroy Greene Mr. Shelby Pirtle PRIMARY HIGH DEPARTMENT OFFICERS: TEACHERS: Mrs. T. H. Shelby, Jr., Supt. Mrs. H. J. Ellis Mrs. C. H. Branson, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. E. T. Lanier Mrs. Pearl Richards, Secretary Mrs. O. Oliver Miss Patsy Brem, Asst. Sec'y Mrs. W. A. Lengefeld Mrs. Hubert Barron, Asst. Sec'y Mrs. H. W. Starkey PRIMARY LOW DEPARTMENT OFFICERS: TEACHERS: Mrs. Bob Garner, Supt. Mrs. T. F. Crocker Mrs. Paxton Lunsford Mrs. E. C. Palmer Miss Fannie Beth Brem Mrs. Ben Hale Mrs. Tom Carr BEGINNER DEPARTMENT NO 2 OFFICERS: TEACHERS: Mrs. B. J. Alford, Supt. Miss Elizabeth Thompson Mrs. F. M. Burke Mrs. R. M. Collier Mrs. C. A. McFarland Mrs. J. F. Bice Mrs. Wayne Noel Mrs. Holiday Hayley BEGINNER DEPARTMENT NO 1 Mrs. T. O. Wright, Supt. Mrs. T. N. Winn, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. H. E. Curtis, Secretary Miss Margie Jeffus, Asst. Sec'y NURSERY DEPARTMENT NO. 2 Mrs. I. S. Price, Supt. Mrs. Curtis Wooten, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. Irene Hart, Secretary Mrs. Ross Lively, Asst. Sec'y NURSERY DEPARTMENT NO. 1 Mrs. Leroy Green, Supt. Mrs. J. M. Barron, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. Morris Acker, Secretary Mrs. Milburn Pool, Asst. Sec'y Mrs. Geo. T. Murphy, Ass. Sec'y CRADLE ROLL DEPARTMENT Mrs. Horace Hurks, Supt. Mrs. E. R. Burns, Assoc. Supt. Mrs. Jim Gullege, Secretary BAPTIST TRAINING UNION Mrs. Jessie E. Jeffers The Baptist Training Union began its work in the state under the name Baptist Young People Union and was familiarly known as "B.Y.P.U." It was organized in 1900 while Dr. Gambrell, who was interested in youth, was pastor of the church. The purpose of this organization, whose name has been changed to Baptist Training Union, is the training of members of all ages in the church. Beginning with the first employed assistant, Chester Harris in 1907, the Training Union, has had capable paid and volunteer leaders. Since 1946 the director of the B.T.U. has been Mrs. Jessie E. Jeffers, formerly State Junior T. U. Worker of Texas. The Training Union holds enviable records established in 1947 at the Mineral Well, Texas convention at which time many contestants took first honors. The groups entering were the Junior Choir, and Intermediate Girls Chorus, trained by John D. Matthews and Mrs. W. G. Watson respectively. The Juniors also took first place in the Better memory contest. The Elementary group won first honors in Story Telling. The Training Union membership has grown steadily and consistently under the inspired and agressive leadership of Mrs. Jeffers to the present enrollment of five hundred twenty-one March 1, 1948. FORMER B.T.U. DIRECTORS Chester Harris . . . . . . . . . . . 1913-1914 T. C. Julian . . . . . . . . . . . . 1931-1932 H. C. Wilkerson . . . . . . . . . . 1932-1935 Mrs. C. A. Shelby . . . . . . . . . 1940-1942 Mr. Glen Knauts . . . . . . . . . . 1942-1943 Miss Lois Nichols . . . . . . . . . 1943-1945 Mrs. W. K. McCraney. . . . . . .Summer of 1945 Miss Perla Dudley . . . . . . . . . 1945-1946 Mrs. Jessie E. Jeffers . . . . . . . 1946- THE PRESENT DAY ORGANIZATION DIRECTOR - Mrs. Jessie E. Jeffers GENERAL SECRETARY - Sam H. Ross ADULT DEPARTMENT No. 1 Mr. Norval Palmer . . . . . . . . . . Director ADULT DEPARTMENT No. 2 Mr. T. N. Winn . . . . . . . . . . . Director YOUNG PEOPLE DEPARTMENT No. 1 Miss Frances Poston . . . . . . . . . Director Mrs. J. F. Robertson . . . . . . . . Sponsor Miss Orlena Roberts . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Miss Ella Mae Bailes . . . . . . . . Sponsor YOUNG PEOPLE DEPARTMENT No. 2 Mr. Bob Waldron . . . . . . . . . . . Director Mrs. T. J. Stripling. . . . . . . . . Sponsor Miss Lillie Mae Armstrong . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. T. A. Carlton. . . . . . . . . . Sponsor INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT No. 1 Judge C. W. Beard . . . . . . . . . . Director Mr. and Mrs. Dugger Ray . . . . . . . Sponsors Mrs. D. E. Brown . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Cleo E. Davis . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Ben Hale . . . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor INTERMEDITE DEPARTMENT No. 2 Mr. Roy Chappell . . . . . . . . . . Director Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Alford . . . . . . Sponsors Miss Dorothy Scott . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Dick Mallard . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. R. M. Collier . . . . . . . . . Sponsor JUNIOR DEPARTMENT NO. 1 Mr. O. Oliver . . . . . . . . . . . . Director Mrs. O. Oliver . . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mr. and Mrs. Tom Carr . . . . . . . . Sponsors Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Bartos . . . . . . . Sponsors Mr. Guy Irby . . . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. W. I. Talkington . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mr. Ralph Parker . . . . . . . . . . Pianist JUNIOR DEPARTMENT No. 2. Mr. J. L. Ford . . . . . . . . . . . Director Mrs. Porter M. Bailes . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. C. R. Oliver . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Charles Welch . . . . . . . . . Sponsor ELEMENTARY DEPARTMENT Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. T. O. Wright PRIMARY DEPARTMENT No. 1 Mrs. P. E. Rogers . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. A. A. Briley . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Fred Bott . . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Craven W. Beard . . . . . . . . Sponsor PRIMARY DEPARTMENT No. 2 Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Pope . . . . . . . Sponsors BEGINNER DEPARTMENT No. 1 Mrs. George Allen . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. R. E. Burk . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Sam H. Ross . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Miss Myrlene Crawford . . . . . . . Sponsor BEGINNER DEPARTMENT No. 2 Mr. and Mrs. C. A. McFarland . . . . Sponsors Mrs. I. S. Price . . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Annie Lee Alford . . . . . . . Sponsor NURSERY DEPARTMENT Mrs. Horace Burks . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. J. O. Burnett . . . . . . . . . Sponsor Mrs. Ralph Parker. . . . . . . . . . Dept. Secretary * * * * * THE CHURCH NURSERY Pleasant surroundings for the children are provided by the church nursery. Mrs. Horace Burks and Mrs. Oscar Burnett are in charge. Their interest in the children assures happiness for the little ones and satisfaction for the mothers. Modernizing the three nursery departments, with violet ray lamps was done in 1945.