Fred's Collection of Fayette County, AL Church of Christ History

by
Fred McCaleb

Here is some more of my collection of Ala. history. Fred McCaleb

BANKSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST--The Bankston Church of Christ was built in 1940 on
property adjoining the Bankston Cemetery. G. S. "Ned" Smith and Dr. J.T.
weathers were the elders of this early church. In May 1914 the first series of
meetings was conducted by Bro. C.T. Cannon of Rocky, Okla.
The annual Easter singing had its beginning at that church in 1916. The church
building was destroyed by a storm in the spring of 1932, and the new building
was erected at the present site on the Southern Railroad near the old water
tank. Mrs. Lorenzo Michael selected the first song, "We'll Work Till Jesus
Comes," that was sung after the new building was completed.
Some of the early elders of the church were Doc Hollingsworth, Bus
SHollingsworth, Ed Spiller, R.S. Smith and Dr. J.T. Weathers.
Among the ministers who have served are the following: Wiley Hollingsworth, Bro.
Baker, S.W. Thompson, C.W. Duncan, J.D. Jones, C.T. Cannon, Chester Honeycutt,
Bob Gray, C.W. Lewis, Chaarles Wheeler, Bro. Guance, Bro. Crowder, Bro.
Gossett, Bro. Fite, Bro. McCluskey, Bro. Price, Bro. Freeman, and Bro. Wagner.

BERRY CHURCH OF CHRIST--The Berry Church of Christ started meeting in the store
of Mrs. Oliver C. "Granny" Dobbs in the early 1900s. The Church was officially
organized in 1911, and some of the charter members were Mrs Oliver Dobbs, J.R.
Dobbs, O.C. Dobbs, J.D. Dobbs, Sam Dobbs, Mr. & Mrs. Cap Shepherd, Mrs. C.H.
Pinion, Mr. & Mrs Caager Shepherd, Mrs. Cardle Stewart, Mr.& Mrs. Mose Bailey,
Mr. Lump Smith, Mr & Mrs. Joe B. Johnson and Mr. & Mrs. Fenton Anthony.
A partial list of the preachers gives the following men: Chaarlie Wheeler, Frank
Baker, O.C. Dobbs, G.A. Dunn, J.B. Nelson and Gus Nichols.

FAYETTE CHURCH OF CHRIST--The congregation of the Church of Christ was begun
earlier than the year 1923. By this year there were about 15 members who were
meeting in the Fayette County Court House for worship. John R. Fowler was the
leader of the group.
In the latter part of 1923, C.R. Nichol from Clifton, Texas, conducted a revival
meeting which resulted in two additions. Soon after this meeting a movement was
started to raise funds to erect a suitable building in which to meet to
worship. After many business meetings were held the work was finally started
which resulted in the building on Temple Avenue.
Not long after the completion of the building, W.B. Hardeman of Henderson Tenn.,
was engaged to hold a meeting and this effort resulted in several additions.

Among the preachers who have sercved the Fayette Church of Christ are the
following: C.R. Brewer, G.C. Brewer, Gus Dunn,Jr., Gus Dunn, Sr., John T.
Hinds, Foy Wallace, Jr., Jack Hackworth, LeRoy Brownlow, H.A. Dixon, Willis
Jernigan, G.K. Wallace, Chester Estes, Flavil Nichols, J.G. Pounds, J.D.
Davidson, G.L. Mann, Bobby Cheatom, and Curtis W. Posey.
In the early 1950s the church added an educational building, joining the back of
the main church building and in 1957 they completed a lovely brick pastorium.
Edsel Burleson, Don McWhorter

HOUSH'S CHAPEL CHURCH OF CHRIST--Housh's Chapel Church of Christ was begun in
1945 with the following activce and inacticve members: Mr. & Mrs. John Sims,
Miss Bernice Sims, Mr. & Mrs. Ormand Sims, Mr. & Mrs Whitson, Miss Clara
Whitson, Mr. Cephas Whitson, Mr. Deward Whitson, Mr. Jason Whitson, Miss Ola
Whitson, Mr. & Mrs Dalton Hubbert, and Mrs. Morgan Kirkley.
Mr. Belton Whitson and son Deward were the leaders in the Church's activities,
but in 1946, both were killed in a well cave-in. After this tragedy Mr. Cogar
Hubbert of Hubbertville and Mr. Clarence Ehl and family of New River began
meeting with the church to help with the various activities. The membership was
approximately 40, with only seven of the charter members meeting there; the
average attendance was approximately sixty.
Some of the ministers who have assisted this church follow: Bro. Pervie Nichols,
Bro. Marshall Wyers, Bro. Wiley Hollingsworth, Bro. Wiley Herren, Bro. Aaron
Herren, Bro. Charlie Dunn, Bro. Ray Duncan, Br. Curtis W. Posey, Bro. Dale
Buckley, Bro. Randy Jernigan, Bro. Wayne Jackson, Bro. Charles Brown, and Bro.
Windell Fikes.

HOWARD CHURCH OF CHRIST--In 1929, the Howard Church of Christ was organized and
a building was erected in 1931.
The charter members were as follows: Mr. & Mrs. Austin Sawyers, Mr. & Mrs. P.B.
Hendon, Mr. & Mrs. L.W. Herron, Mr. & Mrs. Hollie Studdard, Mr. & mrs Frank
Herron, Mr. & Mrs. Otto Alexander, Mr. & Mrs. Grady Latham, and Mr. & Mrs. Ulys
Latham.
The following ministers have served the church: C.A. Wheeler, C.M. Geer, Sam
Gant, Gus Nichols, G.A. Dunn, Chester Estes, J.G. Pounds, W.R. Willcutt, A.M.
Plyler, C.V. Alexander, and Aaron Herron.

PEA RIDGE CHURCH OF CHRIST--The pea Ridge Church of Christ was established in
1911 with the following charter members: Mr. & Mrs. Ben panter, Mr. & Mrs.
Woodard Panter, Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Panter, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Panter, Mr. Doc
Panter, Mr. & Mrs. Tom Key, Miss Roxy Panter, Mr. Ben Panter, Miss Della
Panter, Mr. Ben Panter, and Mr. Jim Madison.
Some who served the church as preachers are as follows: O.C.Dobbs, Gus Nichols,
Charlie Nichols, Sid Cannon, R.L. Willcutt, Carey Nichols, Bobby Gray, Avery
Fike, John McCluskey, Edsel Burleson, Carlos Killingsworth, and Bryce Ellis.
The Elders of the Church were Mr. Richard Panter and Mr. Tom Key, who had served
continuously from 1918 to 1959.

HUBBERTVILLE CHURCH OF CHRIST--This church was first organized in 1926 with the
following as chaarter members: John A. Hubbert, Wiley Perry, John A.
Hollingsworth, Curvey Anderson, Fenton Anthony, Tom McArthur, S.N. Lawrence,
A.J. Hubbert, Henry McDonald, and W.H. Aldridge.
Those that served as Elders were Wiley Perry, John M. Hubbert, and Curvey
Anderson.
A new building was erected in 1952, and the charter members for this
reorganization were as follows: W.H. Aldridge, Thomas McArthur, G. E. Hubbert,
Verdo Johnson, W. Orville McCaleb, Clyde Hubbert, Monroe Stough, Cleburn
Hubbert, E.L. Hubbert, Floyd Tucker and Vester Anderson.
The preachers from 1926 to 1959 were the following: Bro. C.F. Cannon, Bro. Gus
Nichols, Bro. Charlie Nichols, Bro. C.C. Nichols, Bro. G.A. Dunn, Bro. Jack
Hackworth, Bro. Houston Haney, Bro. John Kelly, Bro. Charlie Wheeler, Bro. Jim
Wade, Bro. Chester Estes, Bro. W.A. Black, Bro. J.D. Jones, Bro. L.A. Fowler,
Bro. Winfred Clark, Bro. C.W. Posey, Bro. Vancerbilt, Bro. Plato Black, Bro.
E.L. Hubbert, Bro. Johnnie Payne, Bro. Garland Cross, Bro. G.L. Mann, Bro.
Carlos Killingsworth, Bro. Oneal Smelser, Bro. Wiley Herren, Bro. Bryce Ellis,
Bro Bobby Cheatem, Bro. Jimmie Tolle, Bro. Windell Fikes, Bro. Frank Farriss,
Bro Wiley Hollingsworth, Bro. Hal P. McDonald, Bro Marshall Wyers, and Bro.
Edward Craddock.

NEW RIVER CHURCH OF CHRIST--The New River Church of Christ was organized in
1886. Some of the charter members were as follows: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Randolph,
Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Randolph, Mr. & Mrs. John Tyler McCaleb, Mr. & Mrs. Joe
Holbrooks, Mr. & Mrs. John Hollingsworth, and Mr. & Mrs. Jim Wade.
The church was built by Mr. John Tyler McCaleb except for $18.00 that was given
by Mr. Jim Wade.
The following ministers served at the church up to 1959: Jeremiah Randolph,
Virgil Randolph, Green Haley, Joe Holbrooks, C.A. wheeler, W.A. Tipton, Sammie
Carson, Howell Taylor, Willie Loyd, Gus Nichols, Cephas Cannon, O.C. Dobbs,
Houston Haney, Willett Black, Vanderbilt Black, Wiley Hollingsworth, Edsel
Burleson, Marshall Wyers, and Paul D. Murphy.
Mr. John Tyler McCaleb was an elder of the church as long as he lived, from 1886
to 1918. John Hubbert was an elder from 1918 to 1929.