HISTORY OF PARKBURG BAPTIST
On May 8, 1881, a group of Baptist brothers and sisters in Christ living east of Medon in the tenth district of Madison County met together in Parker’s Chapel building to organize a regular and independent Missionary Baptist Church. The name chosen for this church was Meridian Creek. Twenty-two people presented for membership that day, having already obtained letters of dismissal from their respective churches (Cane Creek, Clover Creek, and Rocky Bluff). The first pastor was Rev. T.B. Richardson, the first clerk was J.M. Day, and the first deacons were Levin Richardson and C.W. Hudson.
Meridian Creek Church had preaching services once a month for about 40 years. During this time, the Meridian School House deteriorated, and the church building began to be used as a school and a church.
The G. M. & N. Railroad was built from Jackson to Mobile in 1917-1919. Much of the population moved further away from the Meridian community toward Pinson. The neighborhood surrounding the area where the railroad crossed the Jackson-Deanburg, and Pinson-Medon dirt road was named Parkburg in tribute to Clarence H. Parker and his wife, Lillian.
A decision was made in 1922 to move the Meridian church building and membership to the present site on Parkburg Road, which is 1.5 miles north of the old Parker homeplace, built in the 1830s.
While the move was being made, the pastor, Rev. J.T. Cox, held services under a nearby brush arbor, and J.W. Fussell served as church clerk. The church building continued to be used as a public school until the county built Parkburg School.
Fred A. Ives was the first person to join the Parkburg Baptist Church and served as its first Sunday School superintendent. The Rev. John L. Hall was the next pastor, serving until 1925, when Rev. J. N. Mays was called. It is interesting to note that on the first Sunday he preached, the offering was $3.50. Under the leadership of Rev. Mays and clerk Preston Davis, steady growth was experienced, and eventually, the church could afford to have a preacher every other Sunday.
On September 22, 1940, the Rev. J.W. Camp was called as pastor and remained for six years. He was followed by Rev. George Crawford, under whose leadership the church finally reached full-time status.
In 1947, Ruble Azbill was elected church clerk, serving until Guy Brown was elected in 1949. In September of that year, a committee was appointed to arrange for the financing of a new church building. On March 5, 1950, the cornerstone for the present building was laid. Rev. Crawford preached using the exact text from when the church was first organized: Luke 12:32, “Fear Not Little Flock.”
The church’s people worked untiringly with the pastor in constructing the new church. Most of the lumber was given by members, with the logs coming out of the hills and hollows in and around the church.
Rev. Leroy Grissom followed as pastor in 1953 and was succeeded by Rev. Don Shockley in 1954. Rev. Shockley served one year and was followed by Rev. W.R. Prince. Under Rev. Prince’s leadership, the church began the construction of the new educational building on January 22, 1956.
Also, in January 1956, the church voted to borrow $10,000 to build a pastor’s home and more Sunday School rooms. The trustees were Leroy Hayes, Harold Williams, Earl Hicks, and Frank Butler. The church purchased the Tillman Mays home for a pastorium in February 1956, paying $5,250.
On April 4, 1956, the church voted to pay off the old church debt. On June 9th of that year, the church accepted the resignation of Rev. Prince.
Rev. Tollie W. Smith was called interim pastor on August 7, 1957. Under his leadership, the public address system was installed in the church. Rev. Smith left in May 1958 and appointed a new pulpit committee comprising Ruble Azbill, J.D. Butler, Leroy Hays, Myrtle Couch, and Bessie Stanfill.
Bro Ted Wimberly became pastor on September 7, 1958. The church sold the pastorium for $6,000 in January 1959. A dedication service was held at the church on November 22, 1959, for the new wing of the church and the new pastor’s home.
Bro. Wimberly offered his resignation to the church on September 28, 1960, to accept a call from a church near Kennett, MO. A pulpit committee comprised Preston Davis, Leroy Hays, Alvin Davis, Buster Butler, and J.H. Nanney.
On October 2, 1960, the church elected a building committee of the following members: Wayne Couch, Everette Webb, Caesar Butler, Neal Diggs, W.F. McNeal, Ronald Davis, and Lynn Nanney. Mr. Fred Webb motioned for the church to buy fifteen yards of gravel for the churchyard.
On Sunday, February 5, 1961, the church called Bro. George Hunter as pastor. A cemetery committee was also formed with Preston Davis, Guy Brown, and Buster Butler.
On September 1, 1963, Bro. Hunter resigned to accept a call from Bradford Baptist Church. The deacons recommended to the church on September 8th that $65.00 be given to Bro. Hunter to show appreciation for all he had done for the church.
Bro Hensley began his service to Parkburg on November 3, 1963, receiving a salary of $65 per week, plus a $ 20-a-month auto allowance and utilities.
The church elected Mrs. Wayne Couch as Sunday School Secretary on October 27, 1963, to replace Mrs. Pinkie Smallwood. On November 27, 1963, a motion was made to pay off the note on the organ. Also, on this date, it was decided that a memorial fund should be established for the erection of a monument on Bro. George Crawford’s grave.
The church voted unanimously on August 31, 1964, to borrow $2,400.00 from the Second National Bank for the heating and air conditioning of the church. On October 28, a baby grand piano was purchased. The music committee was Mable Webb, Ruble Azbill, Brenda Azbill, Rachel Azbill, and Leroy Hays. Shrubbery was planted around the church in December at the cost of $241.00. The Grounds committee consisted of Ruble Azbill, Howard Homesley, and Glynn Nanney. Everett Webb reported on air conditioning for the rest of the church building.
Bro Leroy Grissom preached the morning message for homecoming on the fourth Sunday in July 1965. A special offering was taken during the afternoon for the cemetery’s upkeep. On August 1, Bro. Hensley nominated a committee to elect officers and teachers for the new year. This committee consisted of Howard Homesley, Mrs. J.H. Nanney, and Mrs. Everett Webb. A deacon ordination service was held on December 5 for the following men: Leroy Hays, Clennon Myracle, T.B. Hammons, and Wayne Couch.
A bus was purchased on May 25, 1966, for the church. Mrs. Everett Webb motioned on July 20, 1966, to accept the S.M. Lawrence bid to put air conditioning in the basement. Mrs. Ruble Azbill seconded the motion, which was carried. The deacons appointed J.D. Butler, Wayne Couch, Ruble Azbill, G.C. Diggs, and Charles Webb as Board of Directors for the cemetery.
Steve Harbin was ordained to the ministry on August 9, 1967, here at Parkburg. Bro Ralph Bray stated that Union University recommended Steve very highly.
Bro Elven Hensley resigned as pastor on August 17, 1968, to accept a call from Frist Baptist Church in Wardell, Missouri. The following were appointed to serve on the pulpit committee: Leroy Hays, Clennon Myracle, Bradford Webb, Mable Webb, Alma Couch, Ollie Pearl Hicks, and Glynn Nanney. Bro Ralph Bray served as interim pastor, receiving $65.00 per week for Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night services. Parnell Tims was elected as an active deacon from Midville Baptist Church, Tarawa Terrace, North Carolina.
Burton Hammons was recognized as the new chairman of the deacons, beginning the first of January 1969. A 12’ x 16’ room was added to the pastorium at $3,569.13. March 2-9, 1969, was the spring revival with Bro. Calvin Moore of Spring Creek Baptist Church serves as an evangelist. Twenty-seven decisions were made during the week: fifteen by baptism, three by letter, and nine rededications. Bro T.R. Hammons brought the message on Sunday, March 9. His subject was “Prayer.” There were eighteen who made decisions during this service.
The church voted to call Bro. Joe T. Naylor as pastor in 1969. On Sunday afternoon, a reception was given at the pastorium to welcome Bro. Naylor and his family. Due to the illness of Mrs. Myrtle Couch, Mrs. Elwood Sturdivant temporarily accepted the position of secretary-treasurer of the church. On December 7, 1969, Mr. Burton Hammons, chairman of the deacons, presented the four following names as candidates for deacons: J.H. Nanney, Loyd Butler, J.R. King, and Bradford Webb.
In November 1970, the church began its first Forward Program of Christian Stewardship. The adopted budget was $34,021.59.
For some time, the church’s people had been talking about entering into a building project. A Planning and Survey Committee was appointed to look into our building needs and bring a proposal back to the church. On June 7, 1970, the building and survey committee brought a recommendation before the church. The recommendation called for: (1) the complete remodeling of the auditorium, (2) an 18-foot, three-story addition on the rear of the auditorium containing a baptistry, additional office, classroom, and assembly space; (3) that the outside of the building is brick veneer, following the contemporary or colonial design. The proposal carried.
During the morning service on February 21, 1971, the church voted by secret ballot on the proposed building project. The building committee recommended that we enter into a contract with Watlington Brothers Company, with a bid of $96,971. If the church approved, we would enter into this contract by March 15, with construction to begin by April 1. It was understood that Harold C. Wallace & Associates, Architects and Engineers of Nashville, would supervise the construction to completion. The finance committee made the following recommendations:
- That $100,000.00 be borrowed through the sale of church bonds at the interest rate of 7%.
- That Ambassador Church Finance Company of Nashville be employed to sell our church bonds for us.
- That we enter a fourteen-year program of repaying these bonds.
The vote was to go ahead with the project, with 78 for it and 18 against. After the church entered this project, the people worked enthusiastically, giving their time, tithe, and talents. We sold $100,000.00 worth of bonds, $68,000.00 being sold in our community, and the remaining $32,000.00 sold to friends and relatives.
Sunday, September 5, 1971, was the date of our first baptismal service in our new baptistry, during which we baptized seven candidates into the fellowship of our Lord. In November 1971, Bro Joe Naylor led the church in a dedication service for the newly remodeled Parkburg Baptist Church.
Deacons are added as the need arises and are not on a rotation system, but all are active. Elwood Sturdivant was ordained on January 9, 1972, and Dwight Morisch was voted in as a full-fledged deacon from Westover Baptist Church on February 25, 1973.
Bro Naylor resigned in July 1973, and Bro Eldon Byrd was called as interim pastor. Bro Byrd served until Bro Miles Ziegler was called regular pastor in December 1973.
Bro Henry Linginfelter, Evangelist from Alcoa, Tn, held two summer revivals for Parkburg, with many visible results. Other evangelists have been Bro Carol Owens (who was, at the time, serving as President of TN Baptist Convention), Bro. Paul Ragland from Myrtle, MS, Bro Benny Jackson from Memphis, Bro William George of Leclair Baptist Church, Memphis, and Bro Paul Bryant.
Bro Ronnie Davidson was called our pastor in 1975. During the five years that Bro Ronnie served as pastor, four men surrendered to the ministry of preaching. Allen Brown received his license on September 26, 1976, was ordained in July 1977, and was called to pastor Shady Grove Church in Paris, TN. Freddie Ward delivered his first sermon on June 4, 1978, was presented his license, was called to pastor Mercer Church and was ordained on August 20, 1978. The deacons recommended, on September 12, 1979, that Ronnie Davis be issued a license to preach. An ordination service and reception were held for him on October 21, 1979, and he accepted the call to Enville Baptist Church. Grover “Butch” Westover III was licensed in February 1980, held a revival in West Virginia in June, was ordained in November, and moved to Virginia in January 1980 to pastor Grace Baptist Church.
The Youth attended the State Youth Evangelistic Conference in Nashville for many years. They have have participated in Resort Ministry in Florida and at Chickasaw State Park in Henderson. They have used Muppets and other means to witness in a lot of different places, including St. Jude Hospital in Memphis. Freddie and Lois Ward worked with this group before moving to Mercer. Dennis and Edith Hays, Joe and Bobbie Coley, and others devoted lots of time with our Youth.
There has been a progressive, graded Sunday School for many years. Lynn Nanney has been the director since 1973, when he replaced Bradford Webb. The Associate Director since 1969 has been J.D. Butler. The Sunday School is divided into six departments with 42 officers and teachers. Each year, a Vacation Bible School is held. If a church happens to be without a pastor, the church goes ahead with the plans. In 1969, when Bro Naylor arrived on the field, Mary Homesley had the VBS all set up. Leaders had attended associational workshops and planned their work. A record of 171 people were enrolled. In 1975, Margaret Myracle enlisted workers and supervised plans for VBS before Bro Ronnie Davidson accepted the call as pastor in June.
Beginning with B.Y.P.U., Parkburg has endeavored to train its members to become well-informed about Baptist work and trained to do the work. Directors of this Church Training Program include Leroy Hays, Loyd Butler, Wayne Couch, Parnell Brown, Ronnie Davis, and Grover Westover. In addition to weekly programs, an annual study course was offered. We had six departments and nine officers to carry on the church training at that time.
Parkburg organized a WMS in 1925. Later, the organization embraced the youth and became WMU (Women’s Missionary Union). Since those “horse and buggy days” when Mrs. Alice Mays met with the ladies for mission study regardless of weather, the organization has stayed alive. It has worked with pastors to lead the church in observance of Weeks of Prayer for Home and Foreign Missions, giving to the special mission offerings, engaging in the study of mission books, and participating in mission activities. Mrs. Mary Homesley was the director for many years.
Parkburg has been very fortunate to have excellent volunteer musicians and music directors. Included in this list are: Hubert Azbill, Ruble Azbill, Bonnie Azbill Rainey, Rachel Azbill, Brenda Azbill Wheatley, Myrtle Couch, Pegge Couch Kuykendall, Olga Brown, Hazel Brown Boothe, Deborah Tims Thomas, Carol King, Darlene Diggs, Jan Coffman, and others.
The Brotherhood have completed a number of worthwhile projects. For instance, they cut wood for some of the widows and other members who were sick; they built new picnic tables for the church grounds, put up church and road signs, cleaned off the old Meridian Cemetery and various other things. They also observed Laymens Day each year. They have at times provided leadership for the R.A.s.
