Valdosta Church of Christ

History of the Valdosta Church of Christ

Efforts to establish a congregation of the Church of Christ in Valdosta date back to the 20's. In the later part of the 1920's a few members of the church who lived in the area started meeting in homes for worship. Irvin and Rudell Sherrod (family) and R.C. and Vera Brown (family) are the earliest that is known to have preached in meetings was John Harvey Morris. Regular services were then discontinued for a time

In 1933 other attempts were made to establish regular worship services. Jack Meyer, who preached regularly for the Tuscumbia church offered his assistance. A number of young men were used in the earlier days under the guidance of Jack Meyer from the Tuscumbia church. The Valdosta Elementary school (now Hope Haven) was secured for a meeting place. On the second Sunday in August 1933 the first services were conducted in the school house. At this time there were approximately 12 members of the church assisted by others who helped from the Tuscumbia church. There were only 2 Bible classes during much of this time. Later some begin to worship regularly with Valdosta who had previously worshipped at Tuscumbia. Through the years others moved in. It was about 1941 when Archie Hester and his family begin worshipping with the church. The following is a list of others who worshipped at the school house: Mr. and Mrs. Dee Inman, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Miller, Mrs. Carroll, Beulah Hand, Mr. and Mrs. Moss, Mrs. Claude Waddell, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Black, Mrs. Dora Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jones, Raymond Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Coy Hodges, Maybelle Crittenden, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Rayford Henry. Among those who led singing were Roy Jones, J.P. Black, Archie Hester and others. As late as 1944 there was no regular preacher for the church. They were using different preachers at the school we able to only recount a few: Claude Smith, George McCorkle, Sim Nagles, Oscar Boggle and Rayford Henry. The years spent in the school were not easy because most of the men were young. It was a real struggle for all who desired to faithfully worship God. Growth was slow for some time but a building was in the mind of the small group thus a fund was started for the purpose of erecting a meeting house.

In August 1942 lots were purchased on which a building was to be erected. The cost of the original land was $550.00. However some 3 years would pass before actual construction would begin. The lots were filled with Pine trees but had to be cut and the stumps dynamited. One particular Pine tree stood until 1977 under which an open air (Pine Arbor) meeting was conducted by V.P. Black (early in 40's). We know that meetings were held on the property before the building was constructed. Several individuals and congregations of the area assisted by contributing to the building fund. Mrs. Blanche Lewey gave the first $25.00 to the building fund. The list of contributors for the work was quite long. WHAT A BLESSING! SO MANY DID HELP.

In April 1945 the footing form were made ready. On April 24 the concrete was poured and on the 30 th the first blocks were laid which had been on hand since October 1944. One of the real helps in building came from Joe Walker who provided not only money but lumber (at a very reasonable cost) and a truck. Without so many sacrificing this dream might have never materialized. Some of the ones who labored on the construction of the first building are still worshipping at Valdosta.

FRONT OF OLD BUILDING

The first service was conducted in the building on Wednesday April 3, 1946. There were 47 present. J.P. Black led (Give Me The Bible), J.B. Walker made a brief talk, Rayford Henry worded the first prayer and Buford Mills dismissed with prayer.

The first Sunday worship service was conducted April 7, 1946. There were 88 present with a contribution of $40.47. J.B. Walker led the singing, Rayford Henry (1 st regular preacher) did the preaching (Subject: "His Glory Filled the Temple"), the opening prayer was by J.R. Jones and the closing prayer by Archie Hester. During this service came the 1 st public response (Blanche Lewey Restored). The first gospel meeting was conducted June 30 thru July 9 with Chester Estes as speaker.

The first confession (and desire for baptism) was on July 14, 1946 (Miss Jean Walker). At the evening service 4 others responded to the gospel call ( Mary Dobbs, Ocie Dobbs, Sally Dobbs, and Joyce Hester). They were baptized at the Tuscumbia building. The first to be baptized in the new baptistery at Valdosta was Betty Rose (Waddell) Garner on July 10, 1947.

The following names appear regularly in business meetings dating from March 16, 1948: Buford Mills, Sam Miller, J U Walker, J.B. Walker, Raymond Miller, Archie Hester, T.M. Willingham, Lige Moss, Walter Campbell, Fred Black, Roy Jones, Charley Jones, Bennie Richardson, Rayford Henry, Ermon Bain, Howard McCormack, Boyd Fleming and Obey Taylor.

Church Building 1980

The congregation may have had the earliest bus ministry in the area. As of February 7, 1949 Fred Black drove a bus to pick up people for worship. The cost for the bus was .25 per mile. Later cars were used for the same purpose.

The preacher's home: completed about the end of 1949. As of June 27, 1949 all bills could not be paid so it was decided to pay them as they could. On July 1, 1949 Ermon Bain became the 2 nd regular preacher with these to follow: Blanton Swindle, Albert Hill, Gilbert Kretzer, Ralph Stout, Charles Burns, Joe David Neely, Lee Rogers, Tom Scott, A.R. Hill Sr., Jack Hazelbaker, Gilbert Kretzer, and Gary Puryear. The congregation has had few elders in its history. At this time the flock is shepherded by Rayford Henry and James Richardson.

As rapid growth took place in the community and the church need arose, 2 additional classrooms were added in 1952 and then 2 more in 1956. The present auditorium was built in 1960.

There is no way to ever know the work that all have done to make this church possible. Above all let's give God the glory and respect those who so bravely worked in face of many hardships to provide for us this place of meeting. MAY GOD BLESS! AMEN...

For current Elders who oversee the congregation see the About us page.



Home About Us History of Valdosta Calendar Acceptable Acts of Worship to God After Conversion Why Church of Christ? God's Plan of Salvation for Mankind Lessons Contact Us		History of the Valdosta Church of Christ Efforts to establish a congregation of the Church of Christ in Valdosta date back to the 20's. In the later part of the 1920's a few members of the church who lived in the area started meeting in homes for worship. Irvin and Rudell Sherrod (family) and R.C. and Vera Brown (family) are the earliest that is known to have preached in meetings was John Harvey Morris. Regular services were then discontinued for a time In 1933 other attempts were made to establish regular worship services. Jack Meyer, who preached regularly for the Tuscumbia church offered his assistance. A number of young men were used in the earlier days under the guidance of Jack Meyer from the Tuscumbia church. The Valdosta Elementary school (now Hope Haven) was secured for a meeting place. On the second Sunday in August 1933 the first services were conducted in the school house. At this time there were approximately 12 members of the church assisted by others who helped from the Tuscumbia church. There were only 2 Bible classes during much of this time. Later some begin to worship regularly with Valdosta who had previously worshipped at Tuscumbia. Through the years others moved in. It was about 1941 when Archie Hester and his family begin worshipping with the church. The following is a list of others who worshipped at the school house: Mr. and Mrs. Dee Inman, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Miller, Mrs. Carroll, Beulah Hand, Mr. and Mrs. Moss, Mrs. Claude Waddell, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Black, Mrs. Dora Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jones, Raymond Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Coy Hodges, Maybelle Crittenden, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Rayford Henry. Among those who led singing were Roy Jones, J.P. Black, Archie Hester and others. As late as 1944 there was no regular preacher for the church. They were using different preachers at the school we able to only recount a few: Claude Smith, George McCorkle, Sim Nagles, Oscar Boggle and Rayford Henry. The years spent in the school were not easy because most of the men were young. It was a real struggle for all who desired to faithfully worship God. Growth was slow for some time but a building was in the mind of the small group thus a fund was started for the purpose of erecting a meeting house. In August 1942 lots were purchased on which a building was to be erected. The cost of the original land was $550.00. However some 3 years would pass before actual construction would begin. The lots were filled with Pine trees but had to be cut and the stumps dynamited. One particular Pine tree stood until 1977 under which an open air (Pine Arbor) meeting was conducted by V.P. Black (early in 40's). We know that meetings were held on the property before the building was constructed. Several individuals and congregations of the area assisted by contributing to the building fund. Mrs. Blanche Lewey gave the first $25.00 to the building fund. The list of contributors for the work was quite long. WHAT A BLESSING! SO MANY DID HELP. In April 1945 the footing form were made ready. On April 24 the concrete was poured and on the 30 th the first blocks were laid which had been on hand since October 1944. One of the real helps in building came from Joe Walker who provided not only money but lumber (at a very reasonable cost) and a truck. Without so many sacrificing this dream might have never materialized. Some of the ones who labored on the construction of the first building are still worshipping at Valdosta. *FRONT OF OLD BUILDING* The first service was conducted in the building on Wednesday April 3, 1946. There were 47 present. J.P. Black led (Give Me The Bible), J.B. Walker made a brief talk, Rayford Henry worded the first prayer and Buford Mills dismissed with prayer. The first Sunday worship service was conducted April 7, 1946. There were 88 present with a contribution of $40.47. J.B. Walker led the singing, Rayford Henry (1 st regular preacher) did the preaching (Subject: "His Glory Filled the Temple"), the opening prayer was by J.R. Jones and the closing prayer by Archie Hester. During this service came the 1 st public response (Blanche Lewey Restored). The first gospel meeting was conducted June 30 thru July 9 with Chester Estes as speaker. The first confession (and desire for baptism) was on July 14, 1946 (Miss Jean Walker). At the evening service 4 others responded to the gospel call ( Mary Dobbs, Ocie Dobbs, Sally Dobbs, and Joyce Hester). They were baptized at the Tuscumbia building. The first to be baptized in the new baptistery at Valdosta was Betty Rose (Waddell) Garner on July 10, 1947. The following names appear regularly in business meetings dating from March 16, 1948: Buford Mills, Sam Miller, J U Walker, J.B. Walker, Raymond Miller, Archie Hester, T.M. Willingham, Lige Moss, Walter Campbell, Fred Black, Roy Jones, Charley Jones, Bennie Richardson, Rayford Henry, Ermon Bain, Howard McCormack, Boyd Fleming and Obey Taylor. *Church Building 1980* The congregation may have had the earliest bus ministry in the area. As of February 7, 1949 Fred Black drove a bus to pick up people for worship. The cost for the bus was .25 per mile. Later cars were used for the same purpose. The preacher's home: completed about the end of 1949. As of June 27, 1949 all bills could not be paid so it was decided to pay them as they could. On July 1, 1949 Ermon Bain became the 2 nd regular preacher with these to follow: Blanton Swindle, Albert Hill, Gilbert Kretzer, Ralph Stout, Charles Burns, Joe David Neely, Lee Rogers, Tom Scott, A.R. Hill Sr., Jack Hazelbaker, Gilbert Kretzer, and Gary Puryear. The congregation has had few elders in its history. At this time the flock is shepherded by Rayford Henry and James Richardson. As rapid growth took place in the community and the church need arose, 2 additional classrooms were added in 1952 and then 2 more in 1956. The present auditorium was built in 1960. There is no way to ever know the work that all have done to make this church possible. Above all let's give God the glory and respect those who so bravely worked in face of many hardships to provide for us this place of meeting. MAY GOD BLESS! AMEN... For current Elders who oversee the congregation see the About us page.

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