USA > North Carolina > Camden County > Sharon in Camden County > The history of Sharon and Wise Baptist Church, 1858-1958 > Part 4
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Chapter XVI
PROGRESS IN CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
I would like to sum up our progress during the past hundred years showing how our membership and the value of our church property has increased.
Our church began in 1858 with thirty-eight white members and seven colored members. As has been previousely mentioned, there were no colored churches, that they might attend in this locality, and the members of our church were glad to give them the opportunity to worship with us. Some of the best colored families, now living here were for- mer members of our church.
In 1958 our total membership was 313. Through the years, we have normally lost a few of our members by death, and moving to other churches. We have also gained some by baptism and by letters from other churches. Altogether I think our growth in this field is phenominal.
The earliest records available, 1908 lists our church property at $6,000, the year in which our new church was built. This low estimate was due to the low price of material and labor. Even then this estimate of our church property was too low. Now fifty years later the value of our church property including our Educational Building is in excess of $40,000. It is true we still owe money on the renovation of our church in 1957 and 1958, but it will eventually be cleared.
During the past hundred years our church member- ship has built two churches and an Educational Building at a cost of $15,000 for building and equipment. Original church (Sharon) only a few hundred dollars. New stone church at about $6,000 in 1908. Renovating in 1957 and 1958 approx- imately $22,000 for present church. So I think we are mak- ing definite progress in this field of endeavor. At present we do not own our parsonage, but rent it from Mr. Coley Perkin-
55
son. I'm sure our next step will be to obtain a parsonage for our church.
Fifty years ago we only had a part-time pastor, pay- ing about $600.00 a year, since we have shared our pastors with Gardner's, Norlina, and Warrenton Baptist Churches.
Now we have a full time pastor paying him $2,600 annually. So we are justly proud of our work in this field.
Our Sunday School began about 1872 with only a few members in a few classes. There was no special Sunday School material issued by the Baptist Sunday School Board in those days. Nevertheless this crude beginning laid the foundation for a wonderful Sunday School in our church to- day. At present we have members in most of the classes for Sunday School enrollment. Our grand total enrollment is 174 with an average attendance of 68 in 1958. This could be better of course, but we are proud of our progress in all phases of church work through the years.
We have an active Woman's Missionary Union with two units, and a membership enrollment of thirty-three mem- bers. We also have a Girls' Auxiliary, Young Women's Auxiliary, and a Sunbeam Unit in our church. Mrs. M. S. Dryden is president of our W. M. S. at present (1959).
Our total gifts to all purposes in 1958 were $8,598.00, and our grand total for local expenses in 1958 were $19,153.00, and a grand total of $19,895.00 for all purposes. We have moved forward a little ways up in the past. In the future, God willing, we shall march on trying to do our best to reach perfection as near as we possibly can.
The first records of a Woman's Missionary Society at Wise was in 1913. At this time the church sent delegates to the Ninth Annual meeting held in Warrenton. The delegates were Miss Carrie B. Dunn, Miss Lena White, and Miss Mattie Hicks. Mrs. W. W. Parker of Henderson was elected Presi- dent, Mrs. M. H. Hayes 2nd. Vice Presdient, Miss Lena White 3rd. Vice President. In 1916 through 1920 Miss Lena White was WMS President of Wise Church, Miss Carrie Dunn was Sunbeam President, Miss Mary Perkinson was Sunbeam Pres- ident in 1917. This group still functioned years later (1958).
56
Mrs. R. I. Mulchi was WMS President in 1922 and 1923; YWA's and Sunbeams, Miss Lena White.
PROPOSED WISE BAPTIST CHURCH BUDGET: 1959-1960 LOCAL EXPENDITURES
Pastor's Salary
$
65.00
$281.66
$3,380.00
Pastor's Utilities
10.00
43.33
520.00
Pastor's Retirement
2.88
12.50
150.00
Janitor's Salary
5.00
20.00
240.00
Church Utilities
4.81
20.83
250.00
Literature
3.85
16.67
200.00
"Charity & Children
.67
2.75
35.00
Music Supplies
.23
1.00
12.00
Office Supplies
.38
1.67
20.00
V. B. S.
.96
4.17
50.00
Revival Expenses
3.37
14.58
175.00
Benevolences
1.92
8.33
100.00
Maintainance
1.92
8.33
100.00
Insurance
1.18
5.13
61.60
Miscellaneous
.96
4.17
50.00
TOTAL
103.13
445.12
5,343.60
Building Fund
72.12
312.50
3,750.00
GRAND TOTAL LOCAL
175.25
757.62
9,093.60
MISSIONS :
W. R. Cullom Association
1.92
8.33
100.00
10.27
44.51
534.36
Cooperative Program
TOTAL MISSIONS
12.19
52.84
634.36
Total Local Expenditures
175.25
757.62
9,093.60
Total Missions
12.19
52.84
634.36
GRAND TOTAL
$187.44
$810.46
$9.727.96
This budget represents our goals for the coming year. It is a guide that determines how much we can or cannot do. It is, in fact, a detailed outline of the church program. The
57
budget is well within reach of our capabilities and whether or not it is attained will be dependent upon our faithfulness as stewards before God. Remember, an offering each Sunday to your church is an investment in the Kingdom of Christ.
This budget was adopted wholeheartly by members on Sunday October 4, 1959. It shows a great deal of progress in the past one hundred years.
58
Chapter XVII
ROLL WISE BAPTIST CHURCH February 1959 Rev. A. T. Ayscue, Pastor
ADAMS
COX
HANSEN
C. J.
Mrs. Richard
Mrs. A. R. Mr. A. R.
Mrs. C. J.
DANIEL
Hubert
Mrs. V. J.
HANDOE
AYSCUE
DARNELL
Mrs. Lucy P.
Milton
Sue
HARDEN
Mrs. Lois Young
Mrs. Jim
Rev. Earl
ALLGOOD
Ella
HARRIS
BALL
DAVIS
Frances
Mrs. John
Mrs. Joe
W. D.
Carl
Mrs. Lessie
HARRIS
BARTHLOMEW
DICKERSON
Mrs. Ruby S.
Emma Gray
E. C.
HARTLEY
BELTON
DOWELL
Mrs. Vernon
Mrs. H. H.
Clyde
HAWKS
BENDER
DRYDEN
Horace
Mrs. Arnold
Mrs. M. S.
Mrs. Horace
BOSWELL
DUNN
Bill
Mrs. Virgie
Carrie B.
Mrs. Bill
BRYANT
Emma L.
Rose
Mrs. Harold
R. M.
HICKS
Kenneth
EARLY
Jim
CLEATON
ELAM
Everette
CHAMPION
ENDECOTT
Florence
COLLIER
Mrs. Hattie P.
Lewis
Mrs. Earnest
FELTS
Fred, Jr.
COLLINS
Ivy
Mrs. Roy
Clifton
Horace
William
Mrs. Clifton
John Thomas
Mrs. William
COMER
GRAY
Freddie Gray
Woodrow
Mrs. Shirley P.
Helen
Mrs. Woodrow
GRIFFITH
Nellie
Bobbie
Mrs. Pearl B.
Mrs. Horace K.
Mary Ruth
Mrs. M. J.
Tasker
Milo
Mrs. Bob
Freddie L.
George
Holt
Mrs. Earl
Mrs. Ben
59
HIGHT
MEADER
Mrs. Lillian
Morgan Mrs. Morgan
Edith
Ralph
MELANDRY
Victor
HOLMES
Mrs. Elma May
Priscilla
Mrs. Emma
MILLER
Ovell
HORTON
Mrs. Joyce
Grover
Mrs. Jake
MITCHELL Mrs. Wiley
Harvey
JONES
Mrs. Ola St. Sing
MOODY
Mrs. Norman
Mrs. Albert John
Earnest Janet
Mrs. Claude, Sr.
JOHNSON
Elizabeth
Claude, Jr.
Mrs. Sidney
MOSS
Mrs. Claude, Jr.
JORDAN
Mrs. W. H.
Luther, Sr.
Claude, Sr.
MUNN
Mrs. Luther, Sr.
Mrs. Lucille K.
Mrs. Howard F.
Wilbur
Claude, Jr.
Russell
Johnny W.
KEMPSON
Irving
Mrs. Johnny W.
Sarah Sue
Mrs. Irving
Herbert
Alvin
Edward
PEACH
KING
Mrs. Edward
Mrs. Gladys
Johnnie
Helen
PERKINSON
Mrs. Johnnie
Eugene
W. L.
I. L.
MYRICK
C. C.
Mrs. Boyd
Mrs. Manson
Mrs. C. C.
Florence
Thomas
Page
Anne
NICHOLSON
Patricia
KINSLEY
Gray
Clanton C.
Mrs. Elizabeth P.
NORRIS
Mrs. Clanton C.
KIMBALL
Mrs. Velma M.
Clanton T.
Joe
PASCHALL
Jasper
Mrs. Joe
Walter
Rachel Ann
Alton
Mrs. Jack
Mrs. Roy
Thelma
William C.
Roy Irving
KIMBALL
James
Coley, Jr.
Mrs. T. D. PAYNTER
Carl
Alvis
Raymond
William J.
George
M. A.
Holt
Boyle
Mrs. M. A.
O. B.
Luther
Leonard
Leon
Mrs. Luther
Mrs. Leonard
Mrs. Leon
Johnnie
Janet
Charles
LEETE
Calvin
Frank
Charlie
Mrs. Calvin
Lucy
Robbie
Luther (Navy)
Nat
Laurin
Mrs. Luther
Mrs. Nat
LONG
J. T.
Sol
Mrs. Roy
Mrs. J. T.
Mrs.Sol
Mabry
Loretta
Mrs. Sterling
Geraldine
Lillian
Thomas Macon
60
Norman
Claude, Sr.
Jimmy Taylor Lalla Rose
Thomas SAMMONS Mrs. Carlton
Hal, Sr. Mrs. Hal
PRINCE
Mrs. Mattie H. Herbert Betty Jane Bernard
SATTERWHITE
Mrs. Hunter, Sr. Hunter, Jr.
WILLIS
POWELL
Mrs. Marvern
Delma
R. Seth
Otis
Mrs. Seth
WILLIAMS
Mrs. Otis
Robert
Robert
Eleanor Mustian
George
Mrs. R. A.
RIGGAN
Mrs. George
Cliffie
Mrs. James
Dan
WILSON Mrs. John
Mrs. Manie
SPAIN
WYNN
RIVERS
Mary Brown
Roy
Richard
ST. SING
YOUNG
Mrs. Richard Holt
SLATER
Mrs. Malvern
Mrs. Holt
Gloria
Edward
Kennedy
SIKES
Calvin
Earnest
Mr. Connie
Mrs. Calvin
Benjamin
THACKER
Mrs. Ollie
Mrs. Benjamin
Mrs. W. G.
Ollie (Metus) Jr.
Fred
THOMPSON
Thomas
Alvis
Clarence H.
Mrs. Thomas
ROCHELLE
VAUGHAN
Ivan
W. M.
Mrs. Ellis
Mrs. Ivan
Mrs. W. M.
WALL
Mrs. Willie
Charles
Mrs. Jesse
Clarence
Walter M.
WALKER
Mrs. Clarence
SALMON
Lottie Mae
Jimmy
Ollie
Betty Lou
Eugene
Mrs. Ollie
WHITE
Mrs. Eugene
Lillian
Mrs. Lewis
Roy
Buck
William Ira
Thomas
John
Rom
Robert
Evelyn Jim
Faye
Everette
Mrs. Grady
Willie
Jackie
Katy Ann
Julius Henry
Bobbie
Carmelita
Bobby
Harry
Hal, Jr. WHITTIMORE John
James, Sr.
SHEARIN
Mrs. James
Billie Sue
Mrs. James, Jr.
RIGGS
Horace
Mrs. W. W.
Malvern
Mrs. Rom
Mrs. Robert
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Chapter XVIII
SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND ASSISTANTS AND OTHER OFFICERS
James H. Hicks was probably our first Sunday School Superintendent with our Sunday School beginning in 1872. He served in this office through 1882.
He was succeeded in 1883 by Rev. L. C. Perkinson as Superintendent. He served only one year at this time. In 1884, T. R. Perkinson (Preacher Perkinson's son Tommie) served in this capacity. Preacher L. C. Perkinson returned as Sunday School Superintendent in 1885. Jas H. Hicks was superinten- dent again in 1886 and 1887. Through 1891, N. G. Perkinson was Sunday School Superintendent at Sharon. Charles Wes- ley Perkinson became Sunday School Superintendent in 1891 followed by J. H. Hicks again in 1892.
T. R. Perkinson returned as our Sunday School Super- intendent in 1893 after an absence of nine years from this position.
He was followed by J. H. Hicks in 1894 and L. E. Hicks in 1895. N. G. Perkinson returned to this place in church work in 1896 to be followed by L. E. Hicks who served 1897 to 1903. Then J. H. Hicks became Superinten- dent again until 1905. Mr. W. O. Dunn was our next Super- intendent. He served until 1908, the year of his death. W. C. Parker, Jr. served in 1908 as head of our Sunday School. C. W. Perkinson was Superintendent 1909 to 1913. He was suc- ceeded by Vance H. Saint Sing who held this position until 1917 at which time he was drafted into the Army. He died in France. Mr. Coley Perkinson served as Sunday School Secretary 1918 and 1919.
C. Wesley Perkinson was our next Sunday School Superintendent, holding this place until 1924, the year of his death.
Rufus I. Mulchi served from 1925 to 1933. During this
62
period C. H. Thompson served as program supervisor for Sunday School.
W. M. Rochelle succeeded Mr. Mulchi and served from 1934 to 1946. His assistant was C. H. Thompson until 1941 at which time he was drafted into military service. Then Mr. C. J. Adams became Assistant Superintendent to Mr. Rochelle.
In 1947 Elmo King became Superintendent for two years (1947-48) .
Our present Sunday School Superintendent began his duties in 1949 and has served nine years already (1949-1958) . During 1953 and 1954 William (Bill) Hawks was his assis- tant.
At the present time Frank Perkinson is the Assistant Superintendent of our Sunday School.
Several years ago James D. White was Secretary of Sunday School.
Later his brother W. Rom White was also Secretary during 1926 and 1927.
Glenn Perkinson has served also as Secretary for many years, about 12 years, I believe.
Our present Secretary is Carl Perkinson. He has held this office for the past six years.
DEACONS OF OUR CHURCH
The following list in only a partial list of our deacons. Some of these served in the late 1800's. Our list is fairly com- plete for the last forty or fifty years. Many of these men have served in this capacity for many years as we use a rotating system in the election of our deacons. They serve four years at first, then they are off for one or more years, or until re- elected to this post of service.
We have only one honorary life deacon at present, Mr. Walter L. Perkinson. But at the next deacons' election, Mr. Coley C. Perkinson will be elected to this post. He has served many years as a deacon.
Our earliest deacons were the following men: Rev.
63
L. C. Perkinson, James Hicks, N. G. Perkinson, Hillary Jef- fress, Armstead King.
These men followed much later: W. O. Dunn, Coley C. Perkinson, Jimmie White, Willie White, C. Weseley Per- kinson, R. I. Mulchi, Walter Perkinson, Clarence Adams, Charlie Ball, W. C. Parker, Sr., W. C. Parker, Jr., Frank Dunn, T. H. Sledge, Cameron Michael, Elmo King, W. M. Rochelle, Hubert Adams.
More recent and latest Deacons: Horace Hawks, Joe Kimball, Leon Perkinson, Clanton C. Perkinson, Bill Hawks, Robert Young, W. Rom White, Frank Perkinson, Jimmy Young, Everette Hicks, C. H. Thompson.
HILLARY THOMAS JEFFRESS - CHURCH LEADER AND DEACON
Mr. Jeffress was born in Lunenburg County, Va., January 9, 1826, and grew to manhood there.
On Nov. 18, 1849, he married Miss Frances Susan Scott also of Lunenburg County, Va.
He and his brother James fought in the Civil War. James was killed at Fort Donelson in Tennessee. After the War, he returned home and raised a large family of two boys and six girls. The sons were named James Hillary and Ethel- bert Jeffress. The daughters were namely Nannie E., Alice Louise, Roberta Scott, Emma Susan, Maggie Weston, and Fannie Pettus.
Prior to the War, Hillary Jeffress had moved from Lunenburg County to Mecklenburg County, Va. The old home site is near the home of Richard F. Jeffress of Palmer Springs, Va. He just possibly may have brought his bride there from Lunenburg County in 1849.
As there was no Baptist church in that vicinity, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffress came to Wise to Old Sharon Church. They may have even been charter members. There are no records to prove or disprove this theory. But it is well known that they were faithful workers in the church. It it said that at one time Hillary Jeffress did more to support the church financially than any person in the entire membership. He
64
was also a leader in the church work, and at one time was a deacon.
The family Court of Arms hangs on the wall of Richard F. Jeffress, a grandson of Hillary, near Palmer Springs, Va. It has this Latin inscription on it, "Facrecte Et Niltine" -- Translated meaning "Do Good and Have no Fear". Hillary must have used this for a motto for daily living and with his dealings with his fellowmen. H. T. Jeffress served as Associational Delegate to Browns Church 1886. Hillary T. Jeffress died April 11, 1895 and was buried in the family burying ground just east of Richard Jeffress home. At the death of his wife, Frances Susan, she was also laid to rest there. These two graves are enclosed in a metal fence and have markers that are still legible.
Only one of Hillary's sons married, James Hillary Jef- fress. He reared a family of two sons and three daughters. One of his sons, Richard Fleming Jeffress, lives in the old home of his father. Of course it has been much modernized, and is very pretty and I'm sure comfortable.
Leslie Thomas Jeffress died a few years ago. James Hillary's three daughters are still living, all are married. Vir- ginia Watson Jeffress married Charles Pryor Allen of War .. renton, N. C. Fannie Scott Jeffress married William Brodie Daniels of Henderson, N. C. Rowena Pryor Jeffress lives in South Hill, Va. and is married to George Weston Clairborne.
James was never the member of any church but his wife, along with a few others, organized and began the first Baptist church at Palmer Springs. This was Bethesda and is still the only Baptist church there.
This sketch of the life of Hillary Thomas Jeffress was made possible by the aid of Mrs. C. Pryor Allen of Warren- ton, N. C. and Mrs. Richard Fleming Jeffress of Palmer Springs, Va., who was Miss Elise Vaughan of Franklin, Va. before she was married. Both are wonderful people and they have been so helpful in this work.
65
Chapter XIX
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS
I cannot close this work without mentioning our Sun- day School teachers because I personally feel like most of our church progress, or at least most of our new members have come out of our Sunday School. This is, and was due mostly to the Christian influence brought to bear on the pupils of our classes by good teachers working and studying hard to bring to them the best thoughts in the lessons each Sunday. The results have been magnificent through the years and much credit is due to our teachers. I will not attempt to tell the classes, or the length of time each teacher taught, for in many cases it was only terminated by death, to our great loss. So I simply state here that these people, men and women, and sometimes younger men and women labored faithful in the cause in our Sunday School work. We cannot forget them, or praise them enough for their untiring efforts through the years :
Mr. William O. Dunn
Mr. George H. Hawks
Mr. James H. Hicks
Mr. W. C. Parker, Sr.
Mrs. Lena Williams
Mrs. W. W. St. Sing
Mr. Malvern H. Hayes
Mrs. Malvern H. Hayes
Mr. Rufus I. Mulchi
Mr. Clarence H. Thompson
Mrs. Rufus I. Mulchi Mrs. Lewis White
Mr. Elmore King
Mrs. May Sallie Dryden Mr. Robert Young
Mrs. Walter Thacker
Miss Emma Dunn
Miss Carrie Dunn
Miss Elizabeth Powell
Mrs. L. W. Perkinson
Mr. T. H. Sledge
Mrs. T. H. Sledge
Mrs. C. W. Fleming Mrs. Annie Oliver Coleman
Mrs. Roy Perkinson Miss Sallie Page Perkinson
Mr. H. Evans Coleman
Mrs. Robert Young
Miss Malissa Hicks
Miss Ertha Umberger
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Miss Gladys Harris Mr. Frank Dunn Mr. Bob Dunn Mrs. Selma Perkinson Mrs. Lizzie Tudor
Miss Blanche Banks Miss Bettie Jane Prince Mrs. E. E. Ballard
Mrs. F. G. Walker
Mrs. Calvin Young Mrs. W. F. Dunn
67
Chapter XX
THE REMODELING OF WISE BAPTIST CHURCH
Along in April 1957 we vacated our church, and turned it over to a construction crew, under the direction of Oscar King, Mr. Bob Dunn and Pastor E. E. Ballard. The back part of the church was removed and that portion of the building was lengthened to include a baptistry, and several Sunday school rooms, all of it being finished in stone to match the original building. New hardwood floors were put in the main auditorium, with paneling around the walls in matched hardwood, up to about waist high, the remainder of the walls were plastered in a pleasing color. All of the sliding panels of the old Sunday school classrooms were removed making the main part of the building much larger and much more enjoyable to viewers and listeners.
New lighting fixtures of a distinctive design were in- stalled to add to the beauty of this place of worship.
In the meantime, all of the pews and church furniture had been sent to a furniture factory in Winston-Salem to be refinished. Later they were returned very well done.
A new tiled baptistry was made in back of a modern choir. To add to this a new Hammond electric organ was purchased to add to the enjoyment of the church music.
Our pulpit and rostrum were completely renovated to add to the general appearance of our main auditorium. In all these improvements worked for good, and the results were very pleasing to all concerned.
After worshiping in the public school building and our educational building for about thirteen months, on Sun- day, May the fourth, we had our first service in our re-newed church building. We had looked forward to this day, and had proclaimed it as a Home Coming Day. Many former mem- bers, and visitors returned for this occasion. A special offer-
68
ing was taken, and more than a thousand dollars was given to apply on the building fund.
The Home Coming sermon was preached by Rev. John C. Gill, Jr. of Chowan College. A brief resume of his mes- sage is included here :
OUR TRUST AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY
Scripture: Romans 1:16; Corinthians 5:20; Romans 13:11-14; John 9:4.
INTRODUCTION
"These lovely buildings are not ends in themselves. You who live and work and serve and worship here, have erected them because God has given you a sacred trust and these buildings will better enable you to carry out the respon- sibilities which that sacred trust imposes upon you.
THE TRUST
Romans 1:16 -- "I am not ashamed (I am proud) of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one the believeth."
The precious treasure of the Gospel is our sacred trust. But what exactly is the Gospel? It is the good news that in Christ, God Himself came to earth and provided for man that which man desperately needed, but could not ac- complish for himself. In Christ, God came in human form and got his shoulder under man's burden of sin and slugged it out with evil on the cross. The Gospel is the good news that God has acted in human history for man's salvation. Re- demption is available. And man can now appropriate it by his living, active faith.
THE THREEFOLD RESPONSIBILITY
1. The responsibility to SAY something about the power of God to change men's lives; the responsibility to bear witness to the good news of the Gospel. II Corinthians 5:20 is our imperative -- "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ."
2. The responsibility to BE something for the sake of the Gospel. In Romans 13:11-14, Paul appealed to their sense of crisis as a motive for right conduct. "Because you know what this present crisis means (he said), you know it is time
69
to cast off the works of darkness." In this crucial, crisis time in which we live, when intelligent men are testing the reality of the Gospel by the faithfulness of those of us who claim to possess it, we must BE something for the sake of the Gospel.
3. The responsibility to DO something in the name of Him who is the author of the Gospel. John 9:4 -- "We must work the works of Him to whom we belong while it is day." The only kind of faith which the New Testament describes as saving faith is a faith that issues in good works. True be- lievers are never mere talkers. Always, Christian love is a matter of works as well as of words.
CONCLUSION
We hold a precious trust in the Gospel of the Son of God and we hold it in a crucial, crisis day in the history of mankind. But what an exciting day it is to SAY something about the power of the Gospel, to BE something for the sake of that Gospel, to DO something in the name of Him who is the author of the Gospel, even Christ, the Living Lord, to whom be glory and honor, majesty and power, world with- out end. Amen."
A bountiful dinner was served on the church grounds that was enjoyed by all. This was really a red letter day for our church. After thirteen months, we were back in our house of worship. We knew of course we had spent $20,798.07 for repairs. We had bought a new electric organ, most of which was not paid for, but we liked what we saw and had, and knew we were going to pay for it, and those that come after us would like it as well as we did, and say we had built wisely. Yes, our Church is prettier and more practical now than it has ever been before.
At the conclusion of the work on our Church, Mrs. James W. Darnell had an illuminated bulletin board erected in our Church yard at a cost of $214.00. This was made of the same granite stone of which the Church was constructed and is in perfect harmony with the rest of the building. This was erected and given in memory of her late husband James W. Darnell, known to all as Jim.
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Chapter XXI
LIST OF PASTORS AND YEARS OF SERVICE FOLLOWED BY LIFE SKETCHES IN ORDER
Josiah B. Solomon 1858 - 1860
Rev. L. C. Perkinson 1860 - 1862
Elder James S. Purefoy 1862 - 1873
Elder C. T. Bailey 1874 -
N. Addison Purefoy
1875 - 1878
D. A. Glenn 1878 - 1884
Wilson Bunyan Morton 1885 - 1891
Nedham Bryon Cobb 1891 - 1894
George W. Harmon 1894 - 1896
J. T. Edmunson 1896 - 1904
I. N. Loftin 1904 - 1906
William Jackson Jones
1906 - 1908
A. V. Joyner
1908 - 1910
W. P. Campbell
1910 - 1912
K. W. Hogan 1912 -
W. B. Morton, returned for a few months 1913 Leonidas L. Johnson 1916 - 1918
C. H. Myers for a few months 1918 -
L. Spurgeon Clark
1918 - 1920
Norley Franklin Britt
1921 - 1922
W. R. Stephens 1924 - 1928
Frederick Guy Walker
1929 - 1937
(Only one pastor has served longer)
James S. Potter 1938 - 1940
Robert Holt 1942 -
Eugene E. Poston 1943 - 1944
Herbert P. Miller 1944 - 1946
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Wayne A. Slaton 1947 -
Warren T. Bush
1949 - 1953
Earl Louis Harden
1954 - 1955
E. E. Ballard
1956 - 1957
Alfred Thomas Ayscue
1958 -
JOSIAH B. SOLOMON
Dr. Solomon was born January 18, 1824 in Franklin County, North Carolina.
He attended college at Louisburg, and graduated M. A. from Wake Forest College. He received the degree of D. D. in 1870 from Bethel College, and also from the South- Western University in 1871.
He was licensed to preach by Haywood Church in the Tar River Association in 1844 and ordained by the same church in 1848. He was missionary of the State Board in 1850 and 1851, pastor in Warrenton from 1852 to 1860. It was during this pastorate that he began to preach at Sharon Church becoming its first pastor from 1858 to 1860.
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