LANES CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH RECORDS - Smith County, TX Submitted by East Texas Genealogical Society P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** EAST TEXAS FAMILY RECORDS, VOL. 8, N0. 2, 1984 LANES CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH RECORDS Copied by Flora H. Hallowell (picture) Present Lanes Chapel Methodist Church built 1947 In 1982, Lanes Chapel Methodist Church celebrated its 100th year. The church is located at the corner of Old Bullard Road and Rice Road 4 in Tyler. The few records that were saved over the years didn't shed much light on the church history, but they were fortunate to have in their midst, Miss Velma Weakley, who enjoyed remembering the past of this church, rich in love and determination. This loving lady, with a keen sense of humor, was known to all as "Miss Velma". Her parents owned a farm and her brothers had a dairy on Copeland Road, 2 miles from the center of Tyler. Miss Weakley was born in the home where she lived until she was 82. She reluctantly sold her home because of illness and moved to Dallas to be near her sisters. Later she was confined to a nursing home there where she died December 12, 1983. Miss Weakley was the oldest daughter and was unable to finish her own education but helped her younger sisters achieve that goal by working in the old Sledge Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of heavy-duty work clothes on North Broadway Street. At the age of 72, "Miss Velma" wrote the following historical account of Lanes Chapel Church, reminiscing on past incidents in her churclh life and remembering with love, the lay leaders and the pastors. HISTORY OF LANES CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH Lanes Chapel UN Methodist Church was organized and built in early 1883 or may have been started the last part of year 1892 and just finished by 1st of 1883. But we do know it was serving the people in mid 1883 by haveing a week or ten days meeting as the first record of services there. Judge Natt Brooks was the last person able to give report on the time or date, He and My Mother Mrs. Loueva Weakley at 110 yrs of age, attended that meeting in 1883 - Also my Mother and Father were married in the church in 1894. The Church was on a lot given by Mr. Lane who was very interested in organizing and getting the church in that part of the community. the people had been holding prayer meetings in the Lane's home. The church was located about seven miles south of Tyler on Old Bullard Road just south of mud creek crossing where Robet Lee Street leaves the Red Barn Shopping Center. Most of the community people lived in that location then. And of course the church was named "Lane's Chapel" for Mr. Lane. Some of the first Pastors we have record of are, Uncle Caleb Smith, who when he started to take the collection would always say in a loud but fine voice, "lets remember the 'Lord loves a cheerful giver.'" Rev. Ogburn, Rev. Blocker, Rev. Booth, "Rev. J. W. Griffin, evangelist" Rev. Angelie, "Rev. P. R. White", J. R. Rape. "E. C. Esco", "J. L. Ross 1909 to 1911", J. M Fuller 1912-1913, W. H. Russel, Weeks, Turer 1921. In about 1921 since most people of the church were living up near this end of the neighborhood it would be better to move it up to the present location than to repair and remodle it where it was. This lot in this location was give by Mr. and Mrs. Clenn Rice. They also added money to help with the building. Rev. J. C. Calhoun was the first Preacher in the new church from 1922 through 1924. He was followed by Rev. Bob Pool, J. C. Calhoun, Rev. Clyde Woodard 1928-1930. James E. Gurgerson, J. C. White, Chas Doak, Grady Earls, E. E. Baird, 1940-43, Arnold Reed, Robert Graves 1946. Early in year 1949 with Chaplen Herbert Hamilton serving pastor, the men and women met and started carefully taking down the old church, saving all the old parts - even nails, handling them carefully to be used in the new building. I would like to take time here to give tribute to each person who in any way helped, with gifts in money and time, labor of love for the Church. The first service in the new brick building was May 18th 1947. Chaplain Herbert H. Hamilton during building program through out June 1947. Our next pastor was Rev. E. S. Brawner 1947-1948 Rev. Thomas Davis 1949-1950 Rev. Elton R. Bass 1951-52 Laymen and women who served from 1883 - 1922 were - Mrs. Lane, Willie Thompson, M. E. Philps, H. E. Yarberry, Jim Mathis, William Kendrick, M. J. Howard, Jean Shuford, I. L. Rice, 1922-1949. Laymen 1922 - 1949 - Shorty Slone, J. S. Hathcock, W. G. Neil, W. E. Hood, Sr, L. F. Weakley, Howard Weaver, Mrs. May Rice, Velma Weakley, Miss Hellen Neil, Leon Everett Two importantant parts of the church activities are the S. School work and the young peoples Epworth League - was organized with Miss Ella Kendrick as president, with 7 members at the start but 72 members during that year. This League helped to organize several others but brought home the Banner for attendance all that year. Now this organization is called MYF. In earlier years of our church at present location, the ladies of the church had a Missionary Society with officers - Mrs. W. D. Kendrick as 1st Chairman. This was known as W.S.C.S. Miss Raymond Smith Treasurer in Summer 1926. Mrs. Leon Everett was president that year - We must not let this work get away from us. It's so good for us and helpful to the church as good mission work. Among workers who have dedicated themselves to God's special work to carry his words to others is Miss Grace Kendrick who is a deaconess and is now working in a Methodist Church in Dallas. We also have a young man of the church who has been given his license to preach, and goes to Winnsboro Circuit. He and his good wife have gone to start their work. May God bless both Rev. Bobbie Parrott and his good wife Dorris. They are both such good workers and we are proud of them and for them. Pastors June 1947 - 1948 Rev. E. S. Brawner was sick a while. Chap Hamilton helped out while he was disabled. Chap Hamiltons last sermon in the old church of this location was preached from Ps. 119. "I thought on my way and turned my feet unto thy testimenes." May 18, 1947 Dr. Goodrich preached the first sermon in this new church. Ez. 47 - "Visions of Spiritual Waters." Rev. Elton Bass was with us longer than any other pastor and Rev. J. C. Calhoun was with us almost that long. ---------------------------------------------------------------- PASTORS, CIRCUIT MINISTERS AND LAY LEADERS SERVING LANES CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH IN 102 YEARS * 1882 - "Chap" LANE'S Prayer Meetings in his home * 1883 - "Uncle Caleb SMITH ? * ? - Rev. ANGLIE ? * ? - BLOCKER ? * ? - Rev. OGBURN * 1890 - Caleb SMITH * 1892 - Evangelist J. W. GRIFFIN * 1893 - Rev BOOTH ** 1902 - Rev. P. R. WRITE ** 1905 - Rev. J. J. RAPE ** 1907 - Rev. C. C. CUMMINGS ** 1908 - Rev. E. C. ESCOE ** 1909 - Rev. J. L. ROSS ** 1912 - Rev. J. M. FULLER ** 1914 - Rev. W. L. RUSSELL ** 1915 - J. S. KENDRICK ** 1920 - Rev. WEEKS ** 1921 - Rev. TURNER ** 1922 - Rev. J. C. CALHOUN ** 1925 - Rev. R. L. POOL ** 1927 - Rev. J. S. WILSON ** 1928 - Rev. Clyde WOODWARD ** 1931 - Rev. James E. FERGUSON ** 1933 - Rev. E. S. BRAWNER ** 1934 - Rev. Robert BURGIN ** 1935 - Rev. J. E. WHITE ** 1938 - Rev. Charles DOAK ** 1939 - Rev. Grady EARLS ** 1940 - Rev. R. E. BEAIRD ** 1944 - Rev. Arnold REED ** 1946 - Rev. Robert GRAVES ** 1947 - Chaplain Herbert HAMILTON ** 1948 - Rev. E. S. BRAWNER ** 1949 - Rev. Thomas DAVIS *** 1950 - Elton BASS *** 1957 - Rev. James TUNNELL *** 1958 - Rev. Ted REED *** 1959 - Rev. S. M. DUNNAM *** 1961 - Rev. Lawrence HERBERT *** 1963 - Rev. Carl GARNER *** 1965 - Rev. Jack SHELTON *** 1966 - Rev. Boyd V. BAKER **** 1969 - Rev. Harvev 0. BECKENDORF **** 1973 - Rev. Rav BOULTER **** 1976 - Rev. R. Winston GOINS **** 1977 - Rev. Randall SMITH **** 1980 - Rev. Herbert STALLKNECHT **** 1983 - Rev. George WILSON Note: * From "Miss Velma" WEAKLEY ** From Membership Records *** From Centennial Pastors Lists **** Lists From District Office of Methodist Church in Tyler REGISTER OF MEMBERS - 1904 1. Mary BLAKE 2. Lou BLAKE 3. 0. P. PAYNE 4. Mollie PAYNE 5. Henry PAYNE 6. Dora CREIG 7. G. T. CREIG 8. J. L. CREIG 9. H. E. YARBERRY 10. Frankie DARK 11. David DARK 12. Annie DARK 13. Sallie FLINT 14. Elizabeth DABBS 15. Linnie GRADICK 16. N. E. GRADICK 17. M. E. GRADICK 18. Hannah GIPSON 19. M. I. HOWARD 20. Mary HOWARD 21. Pearl HOWARD 22. Missie HOWARD 23. William KENDRICK 24. Ella KENDRICK 25. Erin KENDRICK 26. Allen KENDRICK 27. Willie KENDRICK 28. Florence KENDRICK 29. Clayton MOORE 30. Sallie MOORE 31. Ada OWENS 32. Howell SCOTT 33. Sallie SCOTT 34. Zelda SHUFORD 35. Pearl SHUFORD 36. A. J. LAWRENCE 37. J. W. LAWRENCE 38. May TRAYER (RICE) 39. S. A. ELLIOT 40. M. E. ELLIOT 41. Pearl HILL 42. Ruth KILLINGER REGISTER OF MEMBERS - 1905 1. Mary BLAKE 2. Lou BLAKE 3. Dora CREIG 4. G. I. CREIG 5. J. L. CREIG 6. H. E. YARBERRY 7. Frankie DARK 8. David DARK 9. Annie DARK 10. Sallie FLINT 11. Elizabeth DABBS 12. Linnie GRADICK. 13. N. E. GRADICK 14. M. E. GRADICK 15. Hannah GIPSON 16. M. I. HOWARD 17. Mary HOWARD 18. Pearl HOWARD 19. Missie HOWARD 20. William KENDRICK 21. Ella KENDRICK 22. Erin KENDRICK 23. Walter KENDRICK 24. Allen KENDRICK 25. Willie KENDRICK 26. Florence KENDRICK 27. Clayton MOORE 28. Sallie MOORE 29. Ada 014ENS 30. Howell SCOTT 31. Sallie SCOTT 32. Zelda SHUFORD 33. Pearl SHUFORD 34. A. J. LAWRENCE 35. J. W. LAWRENCE 36. May TRAYER 37. S. A. ELLIOT 38. M. E. ELLIOT 39. Pearl HILL REGISTER OF MEMBERS - 1907 1. Mary BLAKE 2. Lou BLAKE 3. Dora CREIG 4. J. L. CREIG 5. G. T. CREIG 6. H. E. YARBERRY 7. Frankie DARK 8. Annie DARK 9. M. L. DARK 10. D. V. DARK 11. Sallie FLINT 12. Elizabeth DABBS 13. Linnie GRADICK 14. N. E. GRADICK 15. M. E. GRADICK 16. Hannah GIPSON 17. M. I. HOWARD 18. Mary HOWARD 19. Pearl HOWARD 20. Missie HOWARD 21. William KENDRICK 22. Ella KENDRICK 23. Allen KENDRICK 24. Walter KENDRICK 25. Willie KENDRICK 26. Florence KENDRICK 27. Clayton MOORE 28. Sallie MOORE 29. Lee MOORE 30. Mollie MOORE 31. Howell SCOTT 32. Sallie SCOTT 33. A. J. LAWRENCE 34. J. W. LAWRENCE 35. May (TRAYER) RICE 36. J. K. STUBBS 37. Addie STUBBS 38. Adella STUBBS 39. Daisy McCASLIN 40. Hanslin McCASLIN 41. Rosco McCASLIN 42. Robert McCASLIN 43. Effie PORTER 44. Clay HOWARD 45. Alberta BOYETTE REGISTER OF MEMBERS - 1908 1. Mary BLAKE 2. Lou BLAKE 3. Dora CREIG 4. G. T. CREIG 5. J. L. CREIG 6. H. E. YARBERRY 7. Mrs. Frankie DARK 8. Miss Annie DARK 9. Mrs. Minnie L. DARK 10. Dovie V. DARK 11. Sallie FLINT 12. Mrs. Elizabeth DABBS 13. Mrs. Linnie GRADICK 14. N. E. GRADICK 15. M. E. GRADICK 16. Hannah GIPSON 17. Mr. M. I. HOWARD 18. Mary HOWARD 19. Pearl HOWARD 20. Mrs. Missie HOWARD 21. William KENDRICK 22. Ella KENDRICK 23. Willie KENDRICK 24. Florence KENDRICK 25. Walter KENDRICK 26. Allen KENDRICK 27. Marvin KENDRICK 28. Gracie KENDRICK 29. Clayton MOORE 30. Sallie MOORE 31. Lee MOORE 32. Miss Mollie MOORE 33. A. J. LAWRENCE 34. Mrs. J. W. LAWRENCE 35. Mrs. May RICE 36. J. K. STUBBS 37. Mrs. Addie STUBBS 38. Miss Adella STUBBS 39. Miss Effie PORTER 40. Miss Ellie PORTER 41. Mrs. Eldorado PORTER 42. Clay HOWARD 43. Miss Alberter BOYETTE REGISTER OF MEMBERS - 1909 1. Mrs. Mary BLAKE 2. Miss Lou BLAKE 3. Mrs. Dora CREIG 4. G. T. CREIG 5. J. L. CREIG 6. Mrs. H. E. YARBERRY 7. Mrs. Frankie DARK 8. Miss Annie DARK 9. Mrs. Minnie L. DARK 10. Mrs. R. McCASLIN 11. Mrs. Sallie FLINT 12. Mrs. Linnie GRADICK 13. N. E. GRADICK 14. M. E. GRADICK, 15. Mrs. Hannah GIPSON 16. Mr. M. I. HOWARD 17. Mrs. Mary HOWARD 18. Miss Pearl HOWARD 19. Mrs. Missie HOWARD 20. William KENDRICK 21. Mrs. Ella KENDRICK 22. W. D. KENDRICK 23. Mrs. Florence KENDRICK 24. Walter L. KENDRICK 25. Allen B. KENDRICK 26. Marvin KENDRICK 27. Miss Grace KENDRICK 28. Claton MOORE 29. Sally MOORE 30. Lee MOORE 31. Mrs. J. W. LAWRENCE 32. A. J. LAWRENCE 33. Mrs. May RICE 34. J. K. STUBBS 35. Mrs. Addie STUBBS 36. Mrs. Adella WILKERSON 37. Mrs. Eldorado PORTER 38. Miss Effie PORTER 39. Miss Ellie PORTER 40. Clay HOWARD 41. W. G. SMITH 42. Mrs. W. G. SMITH 43. Miss Alberta BOYETTE 44. L. E. SHUFORD 45. Mrs. Zelda SHUFORD 46. Coker M. RATLER 47. Searcy KINDRICK 48. Lizzie DARK 49. Birdie PORTER 50. Johnnie STUBBS 51. Mollie E. MOORE 52. Lee NEIL 53. Agnes SHUFORD 54. R. D. McCASLIN 55. W. W. BROYLES 56. Mrs. W. W. BROYLES 57. W. L. RUSSELL 58. Mrs. Willie E. RUSSELL 59. Love McDONALD 60. Willie McDONALD 61. Vera WILLIAMSON 62. J. C. BRUNSON 63. J. E. BRUNSON 64. Fannie McDONALD 65. Mrs. Isley DARK 66. W. N. MANLY 67. Mrs. Katek MANLY 68. Aubrey MANLY 69. Hilda MANLY 70. Joe P. DARK 71. Luther P. REEL 72. Mrs. May REEL 73. William BROYLES 74. Mrs. Wm. BROYLES 75. Robert A. DARK 76. 1. L. RICE 77. Allie RICE 78. Julia M. GREEN 79. Ethel Lee GREEN 80. J. T. HOWARD 81. Clen RICE 82. C. T. WILKINSON 83. J. M. MARTIN 84. Lona PORTER ------------------------------------------------------- DEATHS-OF MEMBERS TAKEN FROM THE MEMBERSHIP RECORD BOOK Name: Date: 0. P. PAYNE Feb 25, 1904 Mrs. Elizabeth DABBS 1907 M. E. ELLIOT 1905 Pearl SHUFORD Feb 17, 1905 David DARK Dec 16, 1905 J. W. LAWRENCE Oct 7, 1909 Mary BLAKE 1915 G. I. CREIG 1917 William KENDRICK Jan 24, 1917 Clayton MOORE 1913 Mary (TRAYER) RICE Mar 25, 1917 D. L. TRAYER Mar 25, 1917 Mrs. H. E. YARBERRY 1916 F. G. GILLILAND 1916 Mrs. Minnie DARK Jul 11, 1910 Mrs. Florence KENDRICK Oct 25, 1912 Mrs. W. W. BROYLES 1912 Mrs. Maggie HOOD Oct ?, 1918 M. I. HOWARD 1920 Ima MURRY Apr 19, 1922 Hannah GIPSON 1923 Birdie PORTER 1920 Lizzie DARK (GREEN) 1921 Eliza FREEMAN Jan 14, 1925 Mrs. Mary HOWARD Jan 5, 1925 E. C. PRUETT 1924 E. N. MURRY Aug 1926 Hermit MURRY 1924 Mrs. S. E. GILLILAND 1927 E. A. MURRY Sep 1927 Kermit STEEL Feb 20, 1925 Mrs. Allie RICE Apr 9, 1931 Mrs. Lou BLAKE 1933 Mrs. H. L. (Ellen) OWENS Feb ?, 1933 Mrs. Eldorado PORTER 1933 Mrs. Sallie FLINT 1933 Mrs. I. M. DEAN 1937 Emily Lee SLOAN Sep 15, 1937 Lon Era WEAKLEY Sep 10, 1937 Mrs. Dovie McCASLIN Sep ?, 2936 Cullen THORNTON Sep 13, 1937 Mrs. E. T. DEAN Jun 15, 1937 Mrs. W. T. HOLLAND Jul ?, 1939 Mrs. Ella KENDRICK 1941 Mrs. Jula? GREEN Feb ?, 1941 D. B. THORNTON Jul 21, 1941 John Frank BURNS Jun ?, 1942 Mrs. W. D. KENDRICK Jul 12, 1942 Mrs. Frankie DARK Jan 15, 1945 H. L. OWENS Spring, 1944 Mrs. Gertrude WILBRANKS Spring, 1946 Mrs. Annie WEAKLEY Mar 6, 1946 I. L. RICE May 14, 1949 (To be continued in the Fall Quarterly)