USA > North Carolina > Gates County > Reynoldson > Pride of the past, hope for the future, 1827-1977 : a history of Reynoldson Baptist Church written in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the church > Part 14
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From whence Elder Kone came or where he went is unknown to us. He served Piney Grove Church as pastor for a period of three years. No doubt his greatest contribution to the church was his insistence to be paid a salary. His refusal to continue each year until an honest effort had been made to offset the debt caused the members to become more aware of their financial obligations to both the pastor and church.1
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Elder C.T. Bailey
Dr. C.T. Bailey was born October 24, 1835 in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was educated at both William and Mary and Richmond College, graduating from Richmond College in the late eighteen hundred and fifties. He was ordained to the ministry at Williamsburg in 1858 and at once entered the work of the ministry.
In 1861 he entered the Confederate Army as a private, but was soon discharged because of his health.
He began his life as a Tarheel in October, 1865 when he became principal of Reynoldson Academy in Gates County, North Carolina. He remained here three years. Dr. Bailey not only taught at Reynoldson Institute, but he also offered his services to Piney Grove Church. He preached here on second Sundays. The church now held preaching services twice monthly. In March, 1867 he spoke to his congregation about their Baptist paper, the "Bibical Recorder". In 1875 he purchased the "Bibical Recorder" and for nearly twenty years was proprietor and editor of this periodical.
This gifted writer and able speaker was president of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention in 1885 and 1886.
He died July 5, 1895.1
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T.W. Babb
With the Civil War raging, Elder Howell, aged and desiring retirement, was still pastor. The church members were becoming very lax regarding attendance at conference and a special sermon had been delivered by Pastor Howell urging members to take more interest in the Lord's business. Thus, a bleak picture existed when T.W. Babb offered his services to the church to aid Elder Howell during 1862-1863. In April, 1864 Brother Babb, a licensed minister serving Middle Swamp Baptist Church, requested membership into Piney Grove Baptist Church.1
Mr. Babb, a promising and magnetic young man, was ordained "to the ministry of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" at Piney Grove Church in March, 1865. His salary was to be $100.00 per year.2
Money was scarce and the treasury was empty. Until 1866 the church relied on subscriptions, collections at quarterly conference and promises to meet the church's responsibility to her pastor. Each year ended with the pastor's salary not being met. Therefore, this year when the pastor's salary was decided upon, a committee of four (J.M. Taylor, T.H. Martin, John H. Parker and Elder Babb) was appointed to apportion to each male member a part of the pastor's salary. This method of collection was still difficult to enforce. At the end of 1867, the church was still in debt to the pastor $34.75 of his $125.00 a year salary.3 During the next two years, Elder Babb was elected pastor one year at a time, a custom which began with Elder John Howell and had endured through the years.
However, at quarterly conference on October 23, 1869, Elder Edward Howell brought forth the following motion which changed this custom:
"Motion: Resolved that we, this church, call Elder Thomas W. Babb to the pastoral of this church and that he remain in that capacity so long as he and the church are mutually satisfied. Furthermore, that in case of dissatisfaction on the part of either each shall give the other three months notice, previous to his resignation."4
The ill fate that befell Elder Babb's ministry was not recorded in the minutes. Only recorded there on October 8, 1875 was the following action which was taken by conference:
"We believe that Pastor T.W. Babb has been maliciously slandered. Rev. Putman Owens by his actions and treatment of Mr. Babb has given publicity to many of these slanderous reports.
Be it resolved that we 1. believe Mr. Babb to be innocent, 2. request Mr. Owens to no longer persist in a course of destruction to Christian harmony, but to correct publicity unless he knows them to be really true, and 3. If Mr. Owens persists in widening the breach already
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made, we will publicly denounce his cause and publish resolutions vindicating our pastor's innocence."
Committee of resolution T.E. Waff, G.R. Eure, J.R. Jones, T.T. Pittman, and M.W. Howell.5
These resolutions were adopted by conference and the same committee, with Brother T.E. Waff Chairman, was appointed to attend conference at South Quay to see Brother Owens.6
This upheavel was not the end of Elder Babb's ministry at Piney Grove. He was a delegate to the association at Ahoskie on May 22, 1877, when he, G.R. Eure, and T.E. Waff were appointed to be messengers and a standing committee on Temperance.7
By this time, the mission field was calling Brother Babb. Piney Grove Conference twice relieved him of his duties. In July, 1878 they voted to release him during the month of August to labor in adjacent missionary fields.8 Again in February and March, 1880 he was relieved of his appointments in order to canvas the union meetings in behalf of Eureka Church.9
Mr. Jethro D. Goodman had passed on to his heavenly rewards. Suddenly, the members began to ask questions about the church property and land. A church had been located here five years before Jethro had become a member. Even though it had been an established Baptist church for nearly 55 years, no deeds had ever passed hands. Conference in May, 1881 appointed Elder Babb to obtain a deed for the land.10 Elder Babb evidently set the wheels of action in motion, but it was two years later before it became an accomplished fact.
The treasurer's report of Februay, 1882 stated that the church owed Mr. Babb $117.54 for services rendered between 1879-1882. Mr. Babb agreed that if the church would raise $30.50 at once and collect as much as was collectable he would give the church a receipt maked paid in full up to January 1, 1882.11
Elder Babb remained pastor until January, 1884 when he, his wife and Frank were granted letters of dismission. His resignation as pastor was accepted at the February conference.12
He later returned to the area as pastor at Ariel Baptist Church serving from January, 1890 until July, 1890. At the May conference of the Chowan Baptist Association, he was charged with immoral conduct. In July Ariel held a special council to investigate charges alleged against him. Due to lack of evidence, the decision of the council, composed of 30 members from several different churches, was in Mr. Babb's favor. Nevertheless, Mr. Babb left the church and the area, perhaps because he had been dismissed from the Chowan Association in May.13
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William Benberry Waff Pastor 1884-1907
William Benberry Waff, son of Joseph Thomas and Elizabeth Waff, was born in Chowan County, North Carolina on November 13, 1853. He attended school in Edenton before entering Reynoldson Male Institute at Reynoldson, North Carolina. After graduating from Reynoldson and prior to entering Wake Forest College, Mr. Waff taught one year in Virginia. He then entered Wake Forest College where he was the recipient of the Latin Medal. He graduated from Wake Forest in 1880.
Upon graduation Mr. Waff began a career as a teacher and educator. He taught two years in Davidson County, North Carolina and one year in Washington, North Carolina. While teaching in Washington he met and married Willie L. Traynham on December 21, 1882. Soon after marrying, the Waff's moved to Reynoldson where Mr. Waff became associated as a teacher with his brother, Thomas E. Waff, at Reynoldson Institute. He taught with his brother four years. In 1887, Thomas E. Waff moved to Brunswick, Georgia, William B. Waff purchased and operated Reynoldson Institute until 1905.
At that time he sold it to Gates County for use as a public school.
In 1884, a year after Mr. Waff's return to the Reynoldson Community, he was elected pastor of Reynoldson. Here he was ordained on January 24, 1885 by Dr. R.R. Overby and Rev. T.G. Speight. He served as pastor of Reynoldson for twenty-three years. He also served as pastor of Gatesville, Ariel, Cool Spring, Beulah, Middle Swamp, Ballard's Bridge and Great Fork Churches.
In January, 1907, Mr. Waff and his family moved to Murfreesboro, North Carolina where he served as pastor of Merherrin, Conway, Severn and Margarettsville Churches. After eight years of service at these churches, he moved to the Jonesboro field and then to Pittsboro. In 1922 he moved to Mocksville to serve as full-time pastor the next ten years. This was to be his last pastorate. The last year of his ministry he baptized twenty-one persons. During his career as a minister, he baptized nearly 1,500 professing Christians.
"In all these fields he was eminently successful and wherever he served by his noble character, his real ability, his diligent and self- sacrificing labor, he won the love and esteem not only of his own immediate charges but of the communities in which he lived and labored."1
He returned to eastern North Carolina to reside in Winton in
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This was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Waff while he was pastor at Reynoldson. Later it became the home of Mr. and Mrs. M.P. Ellis.
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First row from left - Mrs. Willie Traynham Waff, daughter Jessie and Rev. Willie B. Waff. Second row - Ruth Waff, Manley Waff, and Mary Waff. Rev. and Mrs. Waff served at Reynoldson from 1883-1907. Mrs. Waff was instrumental in organizing the W.M.U.
December, 1931. Here he died on January 11, 1933. He left the following survivors; his wife, Mrs. Willie Le Grand Waff; daughters, Mrs. J.B. Whitley, Mrs. Wiley Stone, and Mrs. John A. Northcott; a son, C.N. Waff; two sisters, Mrs. W.O. Carpenter, Mrs. E.L. (Lilley Waff) Smith; and a brother, R.E. Waff. He was buried in the Reynoldson Church Cemetery. Soon after Mr. Waff's death, conference appointed a committee to place flowers on his grave each month.2
Obituary of Mr. Waff prepared by Miss Edith Freeman, Mrs. George Ellis and Rev. T.L. Brown included the following epitaph:
"Servant of God, well done
Thy glorious warfares past
The battle's fought, the race is won
and thou art crowned at last."3
Albert Clyde McCall Pastor 1918-1922
Albert Clyde McCall was born November 28, 1888. He was educated at Wake Forest College. In January, 1918 upon completion of his education,
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Rev. A.C. McCall was pastor from 1918-1922.
he came to Reynoldson to serve the first pastorate. He offered the church his services to preach on second Sunday evenings if they would increase his salary fifty dollars per year.
Mr. McCall was married to Zilphia Nichols, sister of Mrs. Minnie Savage Lilley. The McCall's were the second family to live in the parsonage, and he was the first pastor to have an automobile. During his ministry at Reynoldson these events of interest occurred. On a Thursday in May, 1918 a special day of worship and prayer was held to pray for the speedy restoration of peace. Reynoldson's first Baby Dedication Service was held during the early nineteen twenties and renovation of the church building was begun.1
Mr. McCall and his family left Reynoldson in 1922 and he became pastor of a church in Duke, (now Erwin), North Carolina. He left Duke to preach at Bunnlevel, then he went Oak Grove in Durham County. He remained here for several years before deciding to move further west. He ministered in Statesville and Cullowee before returning east to Pisgah Baptist Church in Smithfield, North Carolina. His last ministry was at Sawyer's Creek Baptist Church near Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He retired to live in Garner in Johnston County until his death on May 21, 1966. He was buried in the cemetery at Pisgah Baptist Church.2
Thomas Luther Brown (8-8-1868 - 1-3-1941)
Rev. Thomas Luther Brown was born on August 8, 1868 at Riceville, McMinn County, Tennessee. He was the son of William A.G. and
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Rev. T.L. Brown was pastor from 1922 until his death in January, 1941.
Margaret Amanda Pattison Brown. His childhood was spent in Riceville and Jefferson City, Tennessee. His early education was obtained at what is now Carson-Newman College. In his youth he moved with his parents to Hendersonville, North Carolina. His father had been called here to be the President of Judson College. Mr. Brown graduated from this school and began his ten year career as a teacher in western North Carolina. During the early part of his teaching career, he felt the call to the ministry and he became on ordained Baptist minister March 28, 1896 at Mill River Baptist Church.
He left the school room to become a student. He attended and graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He returned to North Carolina to become actively engaged in the ministry. He served as pastor of various churches throughout the state and served as a missionary with the State Mission Board.
Mr. Brown married Azalia Julia Creasman on February 14, 1900 at Bent Creek, Buncombe County, North Carolina. They were parents of three children. One died young; the others, Catherine Brown Leaper now resides in Florida and Creasman Brown in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Mr. Brown came to Gates County in 1908 to serve as pastor of Gatesville
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Baptist Church, Gatesville, North Carolina. After serving as pastor here for several years, the Browns' returned to western North Carolina where Mrs. Brown died.
On June 21, 1914 he returned to Gates County and married Carrie Hofler of Gatesville. They were parents of three daughters: Genevieve Brown Smith of Gates, North Carolina; Gertrude Brown Waters, Nashville, North Carolina; and Jean Brown Powell, Gatesville, North Carolina.
In 1922 the Browns returned to Gates County and Mr. Brown began his ministry at Reynoldson Baptist Church.
For nearly "nineteen years he served this church and community as pastor, citizen and friend to all."1 While at Reynoldson he also served as pastor of Cool Spring and Roduco Churches.
During the 1930's the members of Reynoldson paid special tribute to Mr. Brown. The church presented him with a new automobile at Christmas.
After a brief illness he passed away on January 3, 1941. It was said of him that "his greatest sermon was the life he lived."2
John Lee Carrick (1886-1972)
John Lee Carrick, son of Christopher Columbus and Nancy Elizabeth (Thayer) Carrick, was born July 27, 1886. He received his early education in Davidson, North Carolina where he graduated from Churchland High School. He then entered Wake Forest College and received his BA degree. From 1908-1914 he served as pastor of churches in Rowan and Chatham Counties before entering Crozier Theological Seminary, Chester Pa. He received a BD degree from here. He also graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a MA degree.
He returned south to Virginia to serve as pastor of churches in Surry, Isle of Wight, Northampton, Southampton Counties and in the City of Newport News. In 1927, he went to Blackwell Memorial Baptist Church, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
In 1935 he was granted an honorary D.D. degree from Chowan College in recogination of his service to both the churches and the college Board of Trustees. In 1937 he was elected president of Chowan College, Murfreesboro, North Carolina. He served as president here until the end of the 1940-41 school year.
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In 1941 he returned to the church field where he served as pastor of churches in Hertford and Gates Counties. From 1941-1945 he served as pastor of the Reynoldson - Roduco Church field. It was during his pastorate at Reynoldson that the church became a part of the Cooperative Program. He left Reynoldson to again serve churches in Virginia. He ministered in Nansemond, Westmoreland, and King George Counties before returning to Rives Chapel Baptist Church, Chatham County, North Carolina where he had begun his ministry.
After his retirement in 1953 he lived in Siler City, North Carolina. He died February 3, 1972, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Siler City.
He was married to Myrtle Burgwyn League, June 12, 1917.1
J. Sidney Cobb (1881-1968)
J. Sidney Cobb, son of James Henry and Eliza Burges Cobb, was born January 6, 1881 at Scotland Neck, North Carolina. He was educated at Richmond College (now University of Richmond), Richmond, Virginia and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. He was ordained as a Baptist minister on April 22, 1908, at Grace Street Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia.
Mr. Cobb and Sallie Agnes Alvis were married October 6, 1909 in Hebron Baptist Church, King William, Virginia. They were the parents of two sons, J. Sidney Cobb (b. 10-21-1910) and Thurman A. Cobb (b. 10-10- 1912, d. 1-20-1966).
While in the seminary, Mr. Cobb served churches in both Indiana and Kentucky. He later served churches in South Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina. He came to the Reynoldson - Great Fork field as pastor in May, 1944. It was under his guidance as pastor that Reynoldson observed her first Harvest Day on the fourth Sunday in November, 1948. He served this field until 1949 and left to become the full-time pastor of Great Fork Church. He retired in 1953 but continued to serve as supply pastor at various churches until the end of 1961.
Mrs. Cobb departed this life on September 8, 1961, and he died on July 3, 1968. "He enjoyed a long life of service yoked with the best preacher's wife, a preacher ever had."1
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Reverend and Mrs. J. Sidney Cobb. Mr. Cobb served as pastor of Reynoldson from 1944-1949. Reynoldson's first Harvest Day was observed while he was their pastor.
James C. Conoly
James C. Conoly of Turkey, North Carolina was called to be pastor of both Reynoldson and Cool Spring Churches on June 24, 1951. Reynoldson promised to pay him a salary of $1100. He accepted the call and assumed his duties August 1, 1951.1 The church rented a home for him next door to the new parsonage in Gates which was being built. Mr. Conoly worked hard on the new parsonage, but he was never to live in it. April 27, 1952, he resigned effective immediately. The church gave him $200 (2 months salary), paid him $100 for labor at the parsonage, and Thomas White furnished the truck to move him.2
W. Wardell Waters (Pastor 1949-1951)
W. Wardell Waters, son of Jarvis and Annie Lee Baker Waters, was born on November 2, 1914 in South Norfolk, Virginia. He received his early education in the South Norfolk schools. He then attended and was graduated from the University of Virginia. Later he studied for the ministry.
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Rev. and Mrs. Wardell Waters attended Home- coming in May, 1977.
He is married to the former Ellen Roberts and they have two adopted children, Joan and David.
In June of 1949, Mr. Waters was called to be pastor of Reynoldson and Cool Spring Churches. In October, he related to Reynoldson his plans and desire for the church to have worship services four times a month. Conference voted to begin these services as soon as Brother Waters could arrange to do this. His suggestion of The Lord's Acre Plan gave impetus to the Harvest Day Program.
Mr. Waters was also working with the Temple of Music in Norfolk, Virginia. He discussed with the church the idea of placing a Hammond organ in the church on trial. The selection was made and placed in the church on June 10, 1950. The family of the late Thomas Tayloe Pittman, former deacon, donated the organ in his memory.
During his service in the Reynoldson - Cool Spring field, he was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel at Cool Spring Baptist Church.
He left Reynoldson on March 1, 1951 to become pastor of the First Baptist Church of Virginia Beach. On June 10, 1951, he returned to Reynoldson to officiate at his first marriage ceremony. He united Anita Thomas Freeman and Phillip Pittman Godwin.
From Virginia Beach, he went to West Virginia and is at present pastor in Middleburg, Virginia.
In May of 1977, he returned to Reynoldson to be guest speaker at their Homecoming Service.1
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Rev. O.S. Edmonds served as pastor from 1952 until September, 1959.
Oscar S. Edmonds, Jr.
Oscar S. Edmonds, Jr., son of Oscar S. and Elizabeth Metcalf Edmonds, was born March 3, 1922 in Marshall, North Carolina. He received his early education here and graduated from Marshall High School. After high school, he continued his education at Mars Hill College and Clear Creek Bible School, Pineville, Kentucky before attending Southeastern Seminary.
He was ordained as a Baptist minister on May 26, 1946 at Old Bull Baptist Church, Marshall, North Carolina.
He began his ministry in 1946 as pastor of Walnut Baptist Church. On August 18th of that year, he married Ellen Virginia Landreth in Greenville, South Carolina.
In 1948 Piney Mount Baptist Church was added to his charge. He served as pastor of both churches until he moved to Hyde County in 1950. The two years he worked in Hyde County, he served churches in Englehard, Fairfield, Rose Bay, Sladesville and Swanquarter.
On August 1, 1952, he came to Reynoldson as pastor. He was the first pastor to live in the new parsonage. With his guidance, the church built her new sanctuary. While at Reynoldson, he served Eure, Cool Spring, and Middle Swamp Churches.
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Since leaving Reynoldson, he has ministered in South Carolina. At present he is located at Bible Baptist Church, Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
When the Edmonds moved to Reynoldson, they had two children, Virginia Elaine, born on September 23, 1949 and Deborah Annabelle, born on July 25, 1952. While they were serving at Reynoldson, a son, George Landreth, was born on February 28, 1955. Elaine and Annabelle are now married and Elaine has a son. George is still in school and single.
The Donald Stewart family picture taken in December, 1974. Front row, left of right, children; Cindy, Katherine, and Jon. Back row, Donald and Ruth Stewart.
Donald S. Stewart (Pastor December, 1959-December, 1963)
Donald S. Stewart, a twenty-five year old native of Bartow, Georgia, was a student at Southeastern Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina, when he came to preach a trial sermon at Reynoldson Baptist Church in November, 1959. Prior to attending Southeastern, he had attended high school in his native Bartow, and embarked in a short-lived career as a railroad telegrapher in hopes of helping finance his higher education. While a student at Norman College, Norman Park, Georgia, he felt the call of the ministry. He received a Batchelor of Arts degree for Mercer College, Macon, Georgia before entering Southeastern Seminary.1 In December, 1959, Don Stewart accepted a call to become pastor of both Reynoldson and Eure Baptist Churches. He received his divinity degree in May, 1960. He has the distinction of being the only unmarried pastor Reynoldson has ever had. This state lasted until August, 1961 when he married a Southeastern graduate, Ruth Lassiter of Four Oaks, North
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Carolina.2
During their years of service at Reynoldson, they were blessed by the births of two children; a daughter, Cindy and a son, Jon. Another daughter Cathy was born during their ministry at Dozier's Corner, Chesapeake, Virginia.
Mr. Stewart enjoyed several hobbies as gardening and raising azaleas and camelias. However, the one he seemed to enjoy the most was raising birds. The chirping of both parakeets and canaries could be heard in his aviary.3
In December, 1963 the Stewarts left Reynoldson to work at DeBaun Baptist Church, Chesapeake, Virginia. After several years of service here, they moved to Veneable Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia where he serves as pastor.
Billy P. Presley, Sr.
Billy P. Presley, son of Ruby Pardue and Dentri Warren Presley, was born on January 18, 1936 in Booneville, Mississippi. He graduated from Booneville High School in 1954. He then entered Mississippi College at Clinton, Mississippi and graduated in 1958. He was ordained on August 30, 1959 in Booneville Baptist Church. He later entered Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina.
While he was studying at Southeastern, he met Marian Claire Titmus of Colonial Heights, Virginia. They were married on June 18, 1961. This marriage has been blessed with two children, Deanna Lynn and Billy Price, Jr.
During Bill's senior year at Southeastern, Reynoldson Church was seeking the services of a pastor, Thus, they invited him to preach a trial sermon. On February 16, 1964 the church voted to call him as their pastor. His ministry began on March 1, 1964. In addition to his salary, they agreed to give him two weeks vacation a year and to hold no worship service on fifth Sundays. Billy P. Presley graduated from Southeastern Theological Seminary in May, 1964. Immediately, the Presleys moved to Gates.
In 1968, he returned to school. This time he attended the School of Pastoral Care, Baptist Hospital, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Since he has been pastor at Reynoldson, he has attended many State
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Billy P. Presley came to Reynoldson as pastor in March, 1964.
and National Southern Baptist Conventions. He also attended The Baptist World Alliance when it met in Miami, Florida in June of 1965.
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