Part 3
With a new sanctuary at First Baptist Church and with Sunday School attendance soaring to three hundred in 1953, the 1922 Church building, situated on the corner of Self and Cleveland Streets, was remodeled with Ray Varnado as contractor. The three-floor layout provided Sunday School rooms, an activity area, a kitchen area, and a youth department. The historic building became the setting for banquets, Vacation Bible School events, showers, and receptions. My Sunday School assembly and classes were held there, on the second floor. And on at least one occasion, I joined my Sunday School class on a Saturday when, led by our terrific teacher Ms. Beverly Young, we painted the interior of our upstairs classroom.
With J. N. Young as contractor, an annex was added to the rear of the sanctuary in 1955. And in 1958, a new brick parsonage was built on 10th Avenue after Mr. and Mrs. B. E. Bickham, Sr., sold the church the property. Dr. and Mrs. A. W. Robbins and their three sons promptly made it their residence. Then, in 1961, with a need for a children's/nursery building, a two-story Sunday School Room to the rear of the Sanctuary was built and dedicated. This is where many of us "graduated" from one Sunday School class to the next - promotion, if you will.
It was in the early 1980s that church growth once again brought about construction. With Louis Reames of Baton Rouge as architect, a three-phase plan was put in place for replacement of the 1922 Church building, which had become the Education Building, with a new Family Life/Education Building. Polk Construction Company of Columbia, Mississippi, was general contractor for the construction with the formal dedication held on July 15,1984. The beautiful fountain in front was added by contractor and architect Mike Mobley in 1986, in memory of John Alden Smith. I would be remiss if I did not note that his wife Aline Smith and I were exceptionally close. Ms. Aline adored me, calling often with unsolicited, yet kind, advice. I appreciated and respected her.
In 1990 the McMillan property across Self Street was purchased by the church, with the home renovated for the Associate/Youth minister. And also in the 1990s, the Bickham car dealership building to the east was purchased, providing greatly needed indoor space and office area. My husband Rodney and I attended Sunday School there, on occasion, when at the farm on weekends.
But in any Baptist Church, all eyes are on the pulpit. Beginning in 1873 with the formation of our church, William G. Stovall served as our first preacher, from 1873 to 1878. Then, from 1887 - 1888 there was Charles Sheppard followed in 1889 by T. B. Fortenberry.
As discussed in Part 1, William D. Bene, who served from 1894 - 1895, was an educator as was his successor in 1895, W. H. Williams. Both were part of the faculty of the Franklinton Central Institute, which later became Franklinton High School. The two were so well thought of, making such a profound difference in education (Christian and otherwise) in Franklinton, that they had streets in town named in their honor - Bene and Williams.
The following pastors served, at First Baptist Church's present-day location in Franklinton, beginning in 1904: E. H. Garner, J. A. Crawford, N. R. Stone, E. R. Henderson, S. W. Sibley, Leon W. Sloan, J. J. Walker, C. N. Kemberlin, H. E. Pettus, J. D. Buck Carroll (1926 - 1930), John Henry Smith (1931 -), William L. Compere (1936 - 1941), G. A. Nelson, J. E. Albritton (1943 - 1947), Thomas G. Ashby, Dr. A. W. Robbins (1949 - 1980), Dr. Fred Moseley (interim), Dr. Jerry Brazeale (interim), Dr. Jerry N. Barlow (1981 - 1996), Dr. Don Stewart (interim), Brother Karl Tingle, Rev. Paul Watts, Dr. Cody Warren, and Dr. Jake Roudkovski (transitional, present-day). More information on several of these preachers next week.
But before that, recognition is due the Deacons from the twentieth century. While I have an indelible memory of many, their names are taken from the booklet written in 1998 by the History Committee of the 125th anniversary of First Baptist Church of Franklinton, my primary source for this series of columns. Said committee was comprised of Lillie Mae Ford, Eric Fussell, Vicki Knight, Mildred Magee, Charline McElveen, and Carolyn McElveen.
Some of the early Deacons beginning in the 1920s and continuing through the 1990s are D. A. Self, M. I. Hennessy, M. A. Thigpen, D. J. Bateman, Willie Pierce, W. W. Varnado, W. Ellis Varnado, E. Y. Breland, Murphy J. Sylvest, N. L. Smith, H. Prentiss Magee, C. J. Gayer, Oner N. Miller, Eric Fussell, C. R. Patton, W. W. Porter, S. E. Magee, John Pigott, Dr. E. M. Causey, Sr., W. E. Magee, Sr., M. A. Thigpen, M. E. Jenkins, C. J. Gayer, Delos J. Magee, George Pittman, Robert H. Bateman, A.D. Roberts, Sr., D. H. Stringfield, Sr., Marvin L. Miller, Sr., C. M. Jones, Sr., Charles M. Jones, John Alden Smith, Daunton Gibbs, Rhodes Delaughter, and R. L. Bolton.
Also, A. G. Stevenson, Leon Knight, Sr., Eugene Readinger, Clyde Fussell, Ray Pettit, Dr. Hollis Stafford, Jr., James A. Wood, Jessie Blackwell, Tom Ford, W. W. Aaron, Jessie Blackwell, Alex Fazekas, V. E. Kealhofer, Gerald P. Himebaugh, Vernon Corkern, Dr. A. L. McMillan, O. D. Myles, James M. Ware, John Belcher, Charles Stafford, James Stafford, Victor Murray, Dr. John M. Stafford, Ray Silverstein, Errol Jenkins, Aubrey Posey, Delos R. Johnson, Jr., and Ray Kennedy.
Also, Jerry Warren, Ray Sylvest, Wiley Knight, Reggie Simmons, Dr. Lee Mason, James M. Ware, Dr. Brian Fussell, Royce Thomas, Wayne Kuhn, James Magruder, Ralph Watson, Harold Foil, V. L. Bridges, Dr. James Bailey, Charles Montgomery, Paul Cruce, Carley Stokes, R. L. Jenkins, Ben Morgan, G. H. Cain, Dr. Conrad P. "Chip" McVea, III, and Dr. Conrad "Butch" McVea, Jr..
Also, Mike Hickman, Harold Foil, Dr. James Bailey, Jerry Wascom, Richard Morgan, Danny Harris, Jimmy Johnson, Wayne Bush, Jim Morgan, Lealand Marler, Purvis Bankston, Jerry Rester, Kenny Strahan, Gary Haynes, Hunter Knight, Rusty Knight, Jimmy Stafford, and Gary Newman.
Notably, Robert H. Bateman was my husband Rodney's beloved grandfather.
