HISTORY OF REEDS CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH
WRITTEN BY HELEN REED NORRED AND CONTINUED BY SANDRA REED BAIN

On a high hill in Georgia there stands a House of God, called Reeds Chapel Baptist Church. Not many people know of this church although it has stood for many, many years. I would like to tell you the history of myself, my trials, troubles, temptations and my triumphs for God.
In a small community located between LaGrange and West Point there was a large plantation owned by Henry Miller, on which lived about a dozen tenant farmers, their wives and children. The nearest church was several miles away and their only means of transportation were mules and wagons. These were God-fearing, law abiding people who loved God and needed a place to worship him. Their children were growing up and the sins of this world are awfully tempting to young people. Of course, these people taught their children about God and sent them to church when they could afford decent clothes for them to wear, but they needed me, a place to worship where clothes wouldn’t matter. The people of this community longed and prayed for a church even as they went about their daily tasks. As they were plowing, cooking, milking or even hunting their cows in the pasture they constantly prayed to God to help them.
On a bright sunny day in March, 1911, these men and women joined together and started me but only in their imagination. None of these people owned any land so that was their first problem. They all had faith in the man they worked for so they went to see him to tell him their problems about the land they needed. Mr. Miller was a God-fearing man so he gave them an acre of land in the center of their community for a church. It was deeded to them in such a way that I would always have to stand there or else go back to the Miller Estate. These people were not afraid because they knew once they had a church they would fight the devil of hell to keep it.
They had no funds for a building so they started their services in a remodeled one room school house, as a mission of the First Baptist Church in West Point. They had much deliberation over whether I would be a Baptist, Methodist or Primitive Baptist but in the final arguments I became a Baptist Mission. Helpers were needed to get me going so Henry Hart and Mrs. Annie Higginbotham were sent from the mother church to teach my people the rules and problems of the Baptist religion. They learned easy and passed all their problems with flying colors, so now they knew God was on their side. They needed thirty members before I could be called a church, but that was an easy task for them. Armed with courage, love and humbleness they set out to do God’s will.
I am so glad they started me in the spring of the year. Things were coming to life after a long winter’s sleep. I felt as if this was a sign that I would grow and never sleep. On that Spring day I remember so well, I had finally come into being, even though I was just a crude building, with only a few members and still called a mission, I knew I was on my way. I felt as if I could sing “O Happy Day” by myself and who knows, maybe I did.
The next task of these people was to give me a name. I was built on a hill in a grove of pine trees. Someone suggested Pine Grove, which would have been an appropriate name. But this did not seem to suit the majority of people, so they kept on searching for just the right name for me. There was a man living in this community whose name was John L. Reed. He was a tenant farmer and he realized how very much I was needed to bring his family, friends and relatives together. When the young people went to him, he always tried in every way to help them so a name was finally decided on. John L. Reed was a charter member and the first deacon so no other name could have been chosen but REEDS CHAPEL in his honor. I have been using this name for the Glory of God ever since. Now my first Deacon Board, I cannot remember their names, after all, I am getting old and my records haven’t been kept too well, but I do know John L. Reed was the first one. I am sure he had some help, but anyway, armed with courage and love they set out to do God’s will in helping me to grow from a mission to a church. Their first task was to find a man to preach the Gospel and be their leader. Please keep in mind these were poor people who farmed for a living. Their income was small and their families were large so there wasn’t much money to pay a preacher.
In April of 1911, they called Rev. Oats to stand behind my pulpit. He was a good preacher but only stayed a mere six months and left during a revival meeting. He was followed by Rev. Rice, and he also stayed only a short time. My next preacher was Rev. Tom Mullinix. He was truly a man of God even though his eyes were sightless. Charles Reed, son of John Reed, would read the Bible for him and then he preached. Oh, how my people enjoyed hearing God’s Word preached and my congregation was a sight to see. The men came in their overalls and straw hats and the women in their print dresses but they were happy in the Lord. They couldn’t pay these preachers in money so they gave them syrup, corn, eggs and anything they could raise on their farm. These preachers received their pay in the blessings they got from preaching God’s Word and seeing souls saved. These three preachers, Oats, Rice and Mullinix were supply pastors to help me get started, but in the fall of 1912 I had proven I could stand on my own so my people called their first preacher to stand behind my pulpit. He was Rev. Sino and they found him in Atlanta, Georgia. I suppose you could really call me a church now. I had been through my first year and my people were so proud of me. Money was still a rare commodity to these people but what they gave their preacher, they gave with a free heart. You should have seen Brother Sino leave for home on a Sunday night. He was loaded down with sorghum syrup, corn, butter, potatoes and maybe enough money to buy gas to get home.
By the Grace of God we were growing and my membership had grown to fifty. I was still so small that when revival meeting time came, there wasn’t room inside for all the people so they built a brush arbor. I was so proud to see so many people that loved God and wanted to hear His word preached that I almost burst at my seams. These revival meetings often lasted two weeks. Many souls were saved and many were revived.
My congregation had grown so much in this year or so, they were talking about putting me in the Baptist Association. I was so proud I couldn’t stand much more, but if I had known what was in store for me, I think I would have collapsed. I was so small and seemed almost insignificant in that big Baptist Association but at least I was there.
In addition to being a church, please remember now, I am also used as a school house. Truly, my cup runneth over. Five days a week I was filled wit laughing boys and girls, being taught reading, writing and arithmetic. Then on Sunday, once each month, God’s Word was taught to every unbeliever. These boys and girls were of all ages with only one teacher, but I was glad my people realized their children’s minds had to be trained as well as their souls saved. I wish I could call each of my teachers and pupils by name but they were too numerous to mention. I especially remember one of my teachers, she was a young lady and grandaughter of the man who had given the land to my people. She was wonderful with these children and they all loved Miss Lura Frances.
Rev. Sino stayed with us for five eventful years and great things were accomplished during this time. Two more deacons, T.J. Spraggins and Ed Rodgers, were ordained to serve and brought my Deacon Board up to five. These men were my new deacons and they served me faithfully and well. Not all was smooth sailing though because my people were a stubborn and steadfast lot. We had many ups and downs, but we always came out on top for God.
In August, 1918, my pulpit was filled by another man of God. He was Rev. Fryar and he only stayed a mere six months, then went on his way. His term was finished by Ed Rodgers, one of my deacons who was ordained to preach. He was a very young man with high ambitions so he stayed around for six months and then left for ministerial college. That was a wonderful occasion, to think he wanted to do bigger and better things for God so I gave him up willingly. War clouds had been gathering for a year now in Germany and it seemed as if Kaiser’s sins were reaching as far as the Reeds Chapel Community. My people were troubled and loved ones were leaving to defend their country. I was fortunate in not having too many of my young men leave and happy is a mild word for my feelings when they all returned safe and sound.
During the next five years my preacher, Rev. Larkin Prophett, did much to fill my people’s needs. They had gotten to where they could pay a small salary, sometimes as much as ten dollars a month. It was during his ministry that my second building was finished and I was made four feet longer. Two more deacons, M.A. Weaver and R.A. Rodgers, were ordained at this time. They served me faithfully and well. M.A. Weaver stayed with me for over twenty years and then moved away, He never forgot his church and came back at every opportunity until he left this earth to join the Redeemed of God. My congregation was growing and I was now a very important part of the community. Since my beginning, I had Sunday school each Sunday and now once each month, God’s Word was preached.
Now that the war was over and things were back to normal in our community my people called their next leader. My next preacher was a man it would be hard to forget. He was Rev. J.A. Eason from Newnan, Georgia, truly a man of God. He had a large family and they came with him each time he preached. His whole family was liked by everyone so it was a real treat to have Brother Eason and his family to spend the night with anyone. Rev. Eason came to stand in my pulpit in 1925 and he stayed longer than any man yet to hold that place. He was with me ten long, momentous years. He preached God’s word long and loud and many souls were saved. During his ten years he ordained one more deacon, J.C. Gatlin, and my membership grew by leaps and bounds. I well remember one night, during a revival, there were so many people that my floor fell in. Plans were started then for a bigger and better church. This was the third time my people had seen the need to make me larger. My congregation had grown to nearly one hundred and there was still work to be done.
There came a day though when my people wanted to hear the Gospel preached in a different way so when Rev. Eason gave his resignation they readily accepted it. For a short time I had an open pulpit, but every fourth Sunday, some man preached Gods Word. Then in the fall of 1935, Rev. John Hadaway of LaGrange, Georgia took the stand to preach to my people. He also undertook finishing the building that had been started and built Sunday School rooms. During all these years I had been one big building with rooms partitioned off by pulling a thin curtain. It seemed as if sometimes all the teachers were talking at the same time. Now these people wanted rooms built on the back and the building to be made wider. As usual, and with the same spirit they set about to do this. They gave box suppers, sold ice cream and gradually our building fund was growing. Rev. Hadaway stayed with us nearly a year and left rather abruptly, but by now my people knew how to get another.
This time they were fortunate to find Rev. Bartlett who lived in the community. He was another man of God who joined right in with my people. They were still working on their building fund and it was growing slowly but surely.
There were many young boys and girls in this community by now and Rev. Bartlett was genuinely interested in them, having some of his own. They started by first having a B.Y.P.U., Baptist Young Peoples Union. It was a big hit and the young people soon had forty or fifty young boys and girls meeting on Sunday nights. They learned to speak and pray in public which was quite an accomplishment for them. There were two adults who worked faithfully with these young people, R.A. Rodgers and Mrs. Rob Reed (Aunt Janie). Many a time they were the only adults to come on Sunday night, but they were always ready to do their part for the growth of God’s Kingdom.
Rev. Bartlett stayed with me for two years and then he resigned. Definite plans had not been made for the new building but the fund was growing and without a doubt I knew that someday soon I would be a monument to God.
The next man to stand in my pulpit was Rev. Robert Tanner from LaGrange, Georgia. He was a younger man than I had before and he really fit in with my people. He was plain spoken and he preached the gospel just as plain. They worked side by side and many things were accomplished. It was then that I was put on two Sundays a month for preaching. That was quite an occasion, for all these years I had only been used once each month to preach God’s Word. It was during his ministry that I was made into a bigger church. I had been so little so long and now I was big. I had always been called that little white church on the hill and now I felt so big. Rev. Tanner stayed with me three years and taught my people much. He worked diligently with my young people and many would have laid down their lives for him. He caused many to seek Christ and work in their church. It was decided about now that I needed more deacons and young ones. James Hunt, Vernon Reed, Ethan Morrow, Frank Denney and John Cantrell were ordained to serve. They were young in age and young in Christ but that was what I needed. It was during his ministry that my people learned that a preacher was human and shouldn’t be put on a pedestal, that his thoughts and desires ran the same as theirs and he needed lots of prayers too. Rev. Tanner left us in 1942 and to some it was hard to give him up.
Again, clouds were gathering and this time a man called Hitler was reaching out to conquer the world. I was not so fortunate this time and many of my men went off to serve their country. It seemed more than I could bear to have my community torn apart in such a way. There was hardly a home left that this war hadn’t touched. Husbands, sons, and brothers were sent to camps all over the country. Wives and mothers were left to carry on alone. They still came to church and brought their children for God was their only solace during these trying times.
Rev. A.C. Hawkins came to my people during these terrible years but it seemed as if they were drawn closer to God and each other. It was during his ministry I was put on full time basis but no salary was set because he only wanted to serve God. Sunday was quite a day of the week now to have Sunday School, Training Union and to have the Word of God preached twice. You will have to agree I had come a long way in the last thirty years.
It was during these war years that a cemetery was started in my side yard. The first one to be buried there was one of my charter members, Mrs. J.M. Harpe, “Granny Bee” as she was known to all. It was a sad occasion to give her up but I was glad they had chosen to place her near her church. Since then my cemetery has grown and I never know who might be next.
In the summer of 1945, the enemies decided that God wasn’t on their side and laid down their arms. Peace was here again but this war had left scars that could never be erased. On my service flag with many blue stars, only two gold ones had to be sewn on, but these two were hard to give up. They were James Hunt, my youngest deacon and Curtis Rodgers. These homes were heartbroken during all the rejoicing of peace. There wasn’t much my people could do toward honoring these men who had defended their country so they decided that once each year, the first Sunday in September, they would have a memorial service in their honor. They all brought their dinner and made this another wonderful occasion. As the saying goes, “Time Heals All Wounds,” so this later was turned into an annual homecoming.
Now that the war was over, Rev. Hawkins had served me well, and gone on his way. My people began their search for another man of God to fill my pulpit. Rev. C.A. Adams
from Marieta, Georgia, came for a trial sermon. They called him and he accepted. He was the first preacher to get a salary. All the others had taken a free will offering but now they paid Rev. Adams forty dollars each week to help defray his expenses. It seemed as if God truly sent him for he was exactly what my people needed. He was an older man, learned in the Bible and also a retired school teacher. He was a leader and he soon realized great things could be done here for God. Can you imagine my feelings when these people wanted to make me even bigger and better than ever? As I have said before, truly my cup runneth over, and I knew they would do it too.
First, more money had to be raised, but this was becoming old soap to them. Many gave their whole paycheck, while others solicited donations from various organizations. Rev. Adams worked faithfully with these people, prayed long and hard for God to show him the right way to lead them. Many great things were accomplished and at last one day, also in the spring, the first shovel of dirt was turned for a bigger and better Reeds Chapel. After many months of hard work and sweat, at last I was ready to be dedicated to God.
On my dedication day, September, 1951, my people brought their dinner and made this a
wonderful affair. There were many happy faces that day, too many to call them all by
name. One deacon had worked many hours, became frustrated and quit, came back, and
you can well imagine how happy R.A. Rodgers (Uncle Bud) was on this day. He was a
carpenter, had drawn the plans and done lots of the work alone by himself. He was truly
an ornery, lovable old man who loved his church and God and his memory will linger on
long after I am made even bigger. Another happy man that day was Rev. Adams for he
had worked hard and waited a long time for this day. I am sure the angels in Heaven
rejoiced with him and his people. There I stood, a large two storied building, huge
auditorium, baptistery, nine Sunday School rooms, and a pastor’s study. That was truly
something to rejoice about! The first Candidates for Baptism in the new Building
Baptistry was Linda Reed, Lowery Terrel Morrow, James Michael Hunt, Mary
McDowell, and Oscar Spraggins on May 13, 1951.
But as I have said many times before my life has never run smooth so here I was faced with another situation. Times were rought for a while and my people were torn apart. Many times I thought things would never be right again, but as always before, Reeds Chapel held together. Brother Adams left us in March, 1953, and he left many with a broken heart because they hated to see him go. Some scars were made that never healed but my people pulled back together and started looking for another preacher. I had an open pulpit then for several months. Many preachers were tried until at last they settled on Rev. Andrews. He lived in the community and worked hard to smooth out the rough edges left in my new building. The economy of the country had grown so much now that these people were able to pay him a salary of $65 a week. They also saw a need for a new decorum to rule and govern me as some of the old regulations didn’t fit with this day and age. A Womens Missionary Union was organized and two more deacons, Thomas Spraggins and Robert Duncan, were ordained. They also installed a cooling system in my auditorium. Yes! I had really come a long way! Rev. Andrews’ time with me was short so my people voted for an open pulpit. For two months, my pulpit was filled with varied men of God, some old, some young, but only for the days service. In October, 1954, was elected for the coming year. Please bear in mind that my people were on an annual call, once each year they either called the same preacher or a new one.
Many things, too numerous to mention, were accomplished during these years. My B.Y.P.U. was changed in the last years in the Baptist Association to a B.T.U. (Baptist Training Union), to include all ages instead of young people only. My young people had grown up and married and had their own families, so in May 1955, they reorganized the training union. This was a great move because there was a place for all ages to work for God. In July, 1955, my people saw a need for a club house, a building for the different activities of the church. They rallied together and started a place for dinners, showers, relaxation and fellowship that we all need at times in our lives and would you really believe they actually started talking about a steeple to grace the top of me. Well, miracles never cease.
Here I had grown from such a small building to this huge one and now they wanted a steeple and to finish the pastor’s study combined with a library, During Rev. Craft’s second year with me many more things happened. My cemetery was put in lots, so each family could pick their final resting place. Flood lights were put in front and back so I could be seen day or night. At the end of the associational year, Rev. Craft told my people that he would no longer be available as he was going off to college to further his education. Without a leader once again, the deacon board became the pulpit committee and began to look for a new preacher to fill my pulpit. In August, 1956, Rev. Jay Knight of LaGrange was called to fill my pulpit. To some of my older people, he seemed like such a child, just barely in his twenties but he had already been called to do God’s work and peach His Word. To this date, he is the youngest man ever to be call as my preacher. That was a wonderful period during my years. Rev. Knight brought to my people the youthfulness and love for life that they really needed. He was young and many times his tongue got twisted and what he meant to say came out wrong but he endeared himself to one and all. He brought many people to church with his humble straight-forward manner more than one can imagine. His humility knew no bounds because he was truly a God called preacher. Rev. Jay Knight ordained three more deacons: Warren Yarbrough, Johnny Watts, and Eugene Waldroup. He was very active with the R.A. boys and lead many of them to Christ. It was during his ministry that new pulpit furniture was needed as the old didn’t fit with the interior of my new building. Mrs. Ola Reed donated this to the church in memory of her husband, Robert Reed, who was killed in a tragic accident.
On June 15, 1957, death came again to my church. This time it was John L. Reed who was the oldest member, oldest deacon and the one for whom I was named. For forty-six years he had served his church and his God faithfully and well. During his last years his health began to decline but even then he came as often as he could. One day he asked one of the members if she would try to write a history of Reeds Chapel so the coming generations would know the many trials the older people had gone through to keep them a place to worship. He lived to see his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren worship in this church. He lived a long life and was ready for his reward but to this day when my congregation sings his favorite hymn, “I Would Not Be Denied,” it seems as if I can still see that smile on his face. He will be long remembered and I hope I always bear the Reeds Chapel name in his memory.
I had lost many during these years by death, many by moving away, but my membership grew by leaps and bounds as God always sent some new ones to take the place of those leaving. Things really seemed to be looking up but in September, 1960, Rev. Jay Knight told my people that he too wanted to further his education so he left to go to Norman Jr. College. It really filled my walls with pride to know my preachers wanted to learn to preach God’s word plainer to all people.
In October, 1960, my people put another man in my pulpit: Rev. Herman Marsh from Phenix City, Alabama. Just before he came these people saw fit to call my preachers on an indefinite basis instead of a yearly call so now each year the preacher could plan his work ahead. Much was accomplished during these years.
A fund was started for a pastorium. Johnny Messer was ordained as deacon. Record cards and tithing envelopes were introduced. Money was given to help develop Rock Ridge. A new and better vapor light was installed in my yard. All in all, we made progress for God. We had come so far that it seemed as if we could relax a bit but in September, 1962, Rev. Marsh resigned and I once again was looking for a new leader.
Death entered my church family again as T.J. Spraggins was called home to live with Christ. He had been a member since 1915 and a deacon since 1918. He had raised a large family and brought them all up at Reeds Chapel. They were all members and workers in the church. For 47 years he had filled his place at each service. Even small children knew where “Uncle Jule” sat and he was loved and respected by all. He was a plain spoken man, ornery in years, but great in his love for God and his church. He was greatly missed by all the people but my work had to be carried on by the others.
In September, 1962, Rev. Richard Ledbetter of Langdale Alabama, came to my pulpit. He
was no stranger to my people. He had once been pastor of a neighboring church.
He was truly a man of God and so many things began to happen at Reeds Chapel that
everyone in Troup County began to know where I was. I can never tell all the things
that happened in the next nine years and eight months because that’s how long Rev.
Ledbetter lived to stand in my pulpit. They had a telephone installed, put a new roof over
my head and bought a typewriter and a mimeo-graph machine so they could print a bulletin
each week to keep everyone informed of my many activities. I now had a W.M.U.,
Brotherhood, R.A’s, G.A’s and Sunbeams. They sent children to Rock Ridge for summer
camp. In fact, you could say that my people were involved in every phase of religious
training they could manage.
For all these years, I had plain ordinary glass windows but now they installed stained glass ones. Oh how beautiful it was to see the many different colors that came to life when the sun shined through. My benches were refinished and my pulpit furniture was made to match and my floors were sanded to a bright finish. Carpet was installed around my altar and down the aisles to the door. You could tell how my people had grown in material wealth and their love for God and the church. The cooling system was replaced with central heat and air, bathrooms were installed, the drive and parking area were paved, azaleas and dogwoods put across the front, cabinets were installed in the club house in memory of a faithful servant of God, Carrie Cotton. Its floor was sanded and heat and air was installed. A light was put on my pulpit and turned on in memory of Virgil Reed, another loved one who had left us by death and at long last a steeple was erected on my roof. After all these years of dreaming it had really happened at last. As my steeple was erected, my people were really proud of it.
In 1964, R.A. Rodgers (Uncle Bud) went to be with the Lord. He will always be remembered as the most faithful man to ever belong to this church. He loved to work in it and many a time he would go to Sunday School and be the only one there. He would go around in the community and try to get the people to come. Many times, you would hear his hammer. He was always fixing, building and repairing something. He would get discouraged, say he was never coming back, but his love for God, his people and his church was stronger than the devil’s temptations.
Barney Adcock, Jim Pinkard, Ronald Gilbert and Joe Spradlin were ordained as deacons. Preacher Ledbetter had always had the desire to see the Holy Land so my young people made his dream come true. They washed cars, sold cakes, had barbecues and did most anything to make an honest dollar to send him on this trip. God let him remember each detail so he could come home and share it with his people. Rev. Ledbetter was the first preacher we ever lost to death and it was a sharp blow to all.
In November, 1972, Rev. Hugh Harper of Pine Mountain, Georgia was called to fill my pulpit. Many great works continued to happen during his ministry. The bathrooms were remodeled, a new ceiling in the auditorium and a new coat of paint on the walls. My people raised his salary up to $100 a week which was a long way from where we started. God richly blessed us during his two years but trouble soon reared its head again. Rev. Harper left me in April of 1974 and for many weeks I had an open pulpit.
Rev. Jay Knight, a former pastor, was called as interim preacher until my people rallied back together. These were hard, rough times but little by little things got better. In June, 1974, they called Rev. Knight to fill the pulpit once again. He once again made history; first to be the youngest man to be called and now the only one to ever be called a second time. In the sixteen years that he’d been gone he had grown in many ways. His sermons were more spiritual, his delivery greatly improved but he still had that rare quality of humbleness few people ever acquire. Not only had he grown in grace but in size too. He was not a little boy anymore and of course his tongue still got twisted but that only made my people love him more. During his first year I have already gotten new benches, given by my members in honor and memory of loved ones, new carpet for my floors and new members to fill my congregation.
In 1975, Rev. Jay Knight left us again after barely a year in my pulpit. Rev. Ron Lee, a coach and teacher, came to the rescue and did much to pull my people back together. He was called to fill the pulpit in May, 1976 and resigned in June, 1976 to take a teaching and coaching position in a private school. Before he left God again sent Rev. Jay Knight to lead my people. History was made two ways that day: Rev. Jay Knight was called for the third time July 1976 and Rev. Lee stayed until the day he preached his first sermon. Never had that happened before. Surely that was a sign that great things were yet to come.
Vernon Reed, who was ordained in 1939, died during Rev. Lee’s leadership. He served his church, his people and his God faithfully and never gave up even in my darkest hours.
During the years of 1975 and 1976 four more deacons were ordained. They were George
Reid, Larry Gasaway, Preston Butler and Dennis Harmon. They were young men with
young ideas that we really needed. They worked hard and well with my people. We also
had players for the organ and piano now. A choir has been organized. Well, now you have
heard my story and here I stand, a shining monument to God and an example of the courage of my people. From a small 12 x 14 foot building to a large two story sanctuary
with a steeple pointed toward Heaven, I am indeed something to be proud of. I have
preaching twice on Sundays, Sunday School, Wednesday night prayer service, Women’s
Missionary Union, Vacation Bible School, fifth Saturday night singings, a choir, and a
faithful deacon board. My membership has grown from the 30 charter members to 140
active members and 61 inactive members. I have at times had 523 on my roll book but as
people move away this goes up and down.
I have come far and been through much. I have lost many by death and my sorrow knows no end because none of my people are promised tomorrow. I wish I could have called each of you by name, because without you, I wouldn’t be here today. There are several families still here, and still attend down to the fourth generation. There have been many that served me faithfully for 30 years or more and then went on their way. I have not mentioned all that have worked so hard to make me what I am today nor all the things that have happened but maybe in the years to come, someone will add to this history.
To my knowledge I still have 4 of my charter members on the roll book: Sallie Reed Dees, Clara Reed Jones, Jim Reed, all children of John L. Reed. Nellie Harpe Spraggins, wife of Uncle Jule, is also still a member. They have watched me grow through the years and two still fill their places at each service that they are able to attend. My life has been full so far but if I know my children, and I’m sure I do, my glory has just begun. Their children and their children’s children will carry on in their footsteps and there will always be a Reeds Chapel Baptist Church.
Time passed by and many changes have come about over the years. The original writer of this history, Helen Reed Norred went to be with the Lord in 1977. She was the daughter of another one of my founding fathers and it is time for another person to pick up the story. At this point, the story will be continued by Sandra Bain.
I lost many more of my charter members from 1976 to 1991. Rev. Jay Knight stayed with us until 1984 and we ordained more deacons. They were Kenneth Pope, Mark Knight (Rev. Jay's son) and Brad Reed (grandson of one of the founding fathers).
In 1985, Rev James Bishop was called to preach. My congregation grew in leaps and
bounds under Rev. Bishop's guidance. So much so, my people decided to enlarge my
building once again. In 1987, the new construction began and it included six new Sunday
School rooms, a pastor's study, new restrooms upstairs and a new baptismal and choir
loft. Six additional pews were added to the auditorium. Rev. Bishop and his wife,
Geraldine were a blessing to me and my people. As the congregation grew, my Word was
reaching further out into the community. My people called a choir director, Danny
Curtis and under his leadership my people sang like never before. Some days it seemed
Like the rafters of the church would lift clean off. It was wonderful to hear my people sing praises to the Lord. New members were again added to my rolls and I was growing again.
For a while, things went along smoothly but as will happen, the devil raised his head and turned things around. Mrs. Preacher (as Geraldine was called by my young children) got sick and before long, the Lord decided to take her home and cease her suffering. Rev.
Bishop was lost for a while but he tried to come back. He stayed on until March 1991.
God had other plans for Rev. Bishop and when he gave his resignation, it caused a riff in
my church because some of my people thought he should stay. There were other plans
for my people and through thick and thin, most of my people stayed with me. Once again, my pulpit was empty. It sometimes seems that my people do not have the ability or need to keep a pastor for very long. Makes me wonder why they get discontented so quickly. Rev. O.C. Reason was then called as interim pastor until my people could find another full time pastor. It seems to me that it takes longer and longer to find a Godly man to fill my pulpit. My membership had dropped but I still had my faithful few. One of my founding fathers (John L. Reed) had a great-great grandson and my members called him as interim pastor to lead my people. This young man, Brad Reed,
was a blessing to everyone. It was a wonderful blessing to have him standing in my
pulpit preaching the Word to my people. Brad and his wife, Virginia, had already been
working with the young people and both of them were loved very much. On June 23,
1991, Rev. Brad was ordained as a minister. My people turned out in a big way for this
special ordination service because he was one of their own. Brad had many obstacles
placed in his way in leading my people. The elder members did not want any change and
with Brad being a younger man, he saw many things that could be improved upon but was met with opposition at every turn. After about a year, Brad turned in his resignation and my pulpit was once again empty. When Brad left, most of my young people drifted away.
Once again, time had passed and it was October, 1999. I have lost another direct
descendent, James Michael Hunt, son of Helen Reed Norred and James Hunt. Mike lost his battle to cancer in October, 1997 and went to be with the Lord. He was a corner stone in my church and is still sorely missed. A new century was on the horizon and my
church was still sitting on this hill and ministering to the people. Rev. O.C. Reason once
again returned as interim pastor. He was an older man with many health problems but he
always stood in my pulpit and preached the Word with enthusiasm. My people came to
love him and his wife and they continued to visit often after a new pastor was called.
Finally, in July 1995, my people called Rev. Bill Smith to fill my pulpit. Rev. Smith was
just what my people needed. He was not a fire and brimestone man but a teacher of the
Word. During this time, three more men were ordained as deacons: Robert Alford, Buddy Bain, and Bill Bonner. While Rev. Smith was here, I was once again given a face lift. My people voted to have vinyl siding put all round me so there would not have to be anymore paint put on my exterior walls. My people also voted to put new stained glass windows all around and they were purchased by members of my congregation in memory of loved ones. My people must really love me to keep making me more beautiful to glorify God's name. Once again, problems came about and Rev. Smith gave his resignation. Rev. Gene Aldridge was called as interim pastor. Again, he was an older man with health problems but he stood firm in his belief in God and preached the Word each Sunday. My congregation came to love him and his wife, Elizabeth, and adopted them as part of the family. After about a year, my people called Rev. Chris King as their pastor. Rev. King did not stay but a couple of years before he felt the call to move to another church. Once again, I needed an interim pastor and Rev. Frank Sledge was called to fill my pulpit. Rev. Frank was a dynamic individual and did much good for me and my people. During the time he was filling my pulpit, my people voted to enlarge my pulpit and enclose my choir loft. It was decided that there were enough members to help that they would do most of the work themselves. A man with construction knowledge was hired to direct the work but my men did what he directed them to do. The carpet was removed from my pulpit and replaced with hardwood and new furniture was purchased for my pulpit. This was the first new furniture purchased for this purpose in many, many years. It sure did improve my appearance and made my people proud to have done the work themselves. Rev. Frank was a real blessing to me and my people and we were sorry to see him leave but there was a real need for a full time pastor to fill my pulpit. Rev. Jeff McCartney, a young man and a newly ordained man of God, was called to be my pastor. He had never pastored a church before but was immediately accepted by my people and began his ministry.
“Preacherman” (as he has been called by everyone), his wife Stephanie and their four children have all become a part of my church family and everyone loves them. This year, when my 100th year anniversary is celebrated, Preacherman will have been in my pulpit for seven years.
In 2011, my church has sat on this hill for 100 years and through storms and sunshine, my light still shines day and night. For as long as there are people who love God and want to worship in my house, I will remain faithful to be here for them.