CLIPPING SERVice 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH, NC 27603 ~ TEL (919) 833-2079 CAROLINIAN RAlElGti, N.~

OCT 22 92

() ttl Rev. Debnam Speaker For Oak City Church Program Rev. Leotha Debnam, pastor of . '!'upper Memorial Baptist Church, will be the featured spader at the 11 a.m. homecoming/church anni­ versary service at Oak City Bap­ tist Church, 608 Method Road, Sunday. Dr. Debnam is a native of Raleigh and a product of the Raleigh public school system. Dr. Debnam attended St. Augustine's College and upon his discharge from the Army, he completed his studies at N.C. A8tT State Univer­ sity. He completed studies at American University, Washington, D.C.; Shaw University School of Religion and Duke Divinity .Sch ool. Dr. Debnam is a well-known educator and minister who has served on many boards and com­ REV. LEOTHA DEBNAM missions in Raleigh and is cur­ rently a member of the Board of nity Day Care Center. Management of the Estey Han The public is invited to attend . Fou~d a~;c.n and Tuttle C('!!lmu- this service. ­ CUPPING SERVICE 1115 HIllSBORO RALEIGH. NC 27603 ?" TEL . (919)833.2079 CAROLINIAN RALEIGH, N. C.

DEC-20-R4

APPRECIATION ADDHESS- TIle Hlv. LIIIIII Dlbnlm, plltor of Tupper Mlmorlal ~IP"lt Church, was Ihe keynote lpelklr at thl Chartel T. Mlrwood PIli 157 apprtCII"ln .",1It IIIId IICInlly. Till Allltlfca. LI.lln IIIId III flrll aChl..I"";I. ..lnII IIInqull In reclnl years 10· honor Ileal selected wlr "lIranl. During hlalpleCh, Rev. DlbaIaa tiId.aI 1111 "cal li the mIIIIItry" during ilia .ar nrvlcl. Hilla veteran of World Warl P08t Hold8 Its Fir8t Annual Award8 Banquet lne Charles T. Norwood Post 157 of the American Legion held its first achievement awards banquet in recent years on Dec. 1 to honor local selected. war veterans. The principal speaker was the Rev. Leotha Debnam of Tupper }\iemorial Baptist Church. A veteran of World War n, Rev. Debnam told of being called to· the minislry during his war service. • Awa rds were presented to Plummer Vines, Sr., William McNair, Louis Dunbar, A.O. Carmichael, George Smith and John T. Moore, Jr. And special certificates were given to World War I veterans Robert Sharper, Millard Peebles, Sr., and Charles G. Irving, Sr. The evening was such a success that Julius R. Haywood, the commander of Post 157, announced that the post plans an appreciaiton ...... ollet once eveD 'i~~~ ____ CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH. NC 27603 ~ TEl. (919) 833 , 2079 CAROLINIAN RALEIGH, N. c.

PASTOR (Continued from page I) 'Debnam said he taught Bible class at First Baptist Church on hnington Street for a number of years and describes his work with Postal Service as a "bi-vocational ministry. I used my secular work to support my family. I lifted the burden .off the church. There re so many churches tha t needed a minister that couldn't afford it. " Profil' His first pastorate was Bethlehem B~ptist Church in Raleigh and lSrst Baptist Church in Smithfield. He 'pastored Oak City Baptist f astor OIurch and First Baptist Church of Clayton at the same time. J)uring Rev. Debnam's 17 years at Tupper, which was where Shaw Uaiversity was organized in 1865 by Dr. Henry Martin Tupper, the ~h's first pastor and first president of Shaw University, many nisters have been ordained and licensed from the church. Rev. Debnam is married to the former Naomi Chavis, also of l&IJeigh, and parents of Gloria Jean, a teacher in Portsmouth, Va.; Elaine,..a housing manager in Mesa, Ariz.; Leotha Jr., with the Postal Service; Malcolm, a corporate manager in Pittsburgh, ; Emily, a businesswoman in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Stephanie.

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REV. LEOTHA DEBN SR. •Rev. Leotha. Debnam, Sr., pastor of Tupper Memorial Baptist Church is viewed by the community as a friend and spiritual shepherd , and for years gathered Inspiration for many sermons from the neighborhoods he visited while with the U. S. Postal Service. Rev. Debnam retired from the U. S. Postal Service in 1982 after 28 years of service. Today I he spends most of his time with the ministry. Debnam is a graduate of Raleigh's former Washington High School and attended St. Augustine's College before a tour in the U. S. Army during World War II. He also attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro where he received a BS degree in math and tailoring. Later he received a MA degree in cutting and design from American , Washington, D. C. Debnam taught math and tailoring at returned to Raleigh. He also CLlPP' NCI SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RAt.EIOH, NC 27603 ~ TEL, (919) 833-2079 CAROUNIAN ~ RAtE!GH, N. C. C»' , ~ ~tto , .vJ- 1) 'smaA 99 ' .4:~J~L.;;I;;'o ; l .J [eV!Leotha, . Debnam Dies" A-GoodMan . . BY CASH MICHAELS . . _ Staff Writer, , "He was a good man, ~ . go.odJ worker, and he was concerned about the welfare of his people." , -" ' ,Yesterday, the Rev. , ~a ,Debnam Sr., pastor of Tupper Me­ mOrial Baptist Church in Raleigh, ' was laid to rest after funeral ser~ i vices at First Baptist Church on Wilmington Street. Rev. Debnam passed at his home last Friday after an ex­ tended illness. He was 75. Those who knew the Raleigh na­ tive agreed he was a man of great purpose and joy, who was al ways willing to be of service. "Rev. Debnam was a good com­ ..,: munity man," said Dr. John W. fleming, longtime friend and asso­ !iate. ".Edward Glenn, 72, says he's, mown Rev. Debnam for 65 years. ['hey attended the old Washington ugh School together, even though lev. Debnam was a few grades bead. "He's always been a concerned , . lan," said Glenn,sitting on the teps of Tupper, lookin'g at the REV~ DEBNAM (Continued from Ve 1),

sign out front that still lists his lifelong friend as pastor. Every week, they would stand outside the church, and just talk: about life and the community. That's what they did last week, and according to Glenn, Rev. Deb­ nam looked fine and never let on if he was feeling bad. "I promised him that I would join his church one day," Glenn re­ ,. flects sadly, sorry that he couldn't keep his promlse before his friend passed. "I lost my buddy." Indeed, the death of Rev. peb­ nam is untimely. As a member of the Board of Management of the Estey Hall Foundation, the body that spearheaded restoration ef­ forts of the hjstoric structure on the Shaw University campus, he was certainly missed at the re­ dedication ceremony Tuesday. "Rev. Leotha Debnam was sup· posed to open this ceremony wit~ prayer t.oday," Dr. George Deb·. nam chairman of the Shaw Uni' versity Board of Trustees, told the large gathering. "Let's all bow our heads in a mo­ ment of silence," he said. Rev. Debnam attended St. Augustine's College, completed his -. --- . ~--~:;~~======~= I'VE LOST·MY BUDDY - This week, Edward Glenn, 72, sat on the ,• undergraduate studies at N.C. A & ' / steps of Tupper Memorial Baptist Church alone. His friend, the pastor, T Stute .University, und did his postgraduate studies at American Rev: Dr. Leotha Debnam (inset), passed last Friday of a prolonged illness. University in Was hington, D.C., !hey had been lifelong friends for 65 years. (Photo-Cash Michaels) Sh;w University School of Reli­ gion, Duke Divinity School, and the Urban Bible College jn Detroit, Mich. He became pastor of Tupper in 1968. Rev. Debnam was also a mem­ ber of the Tuttle Community Day Care Center, the General Baptist' State Convention, the Raleigh­ Apex branch of the NAACP, and the Wnke Baptist Association. He is survived by h is wife, Naomi, six. children, four grand­ children, and three great-grand­ children. * CLIPPING SERVICE J llS HillSBORO RALEI GH. NC 27603 ? TH . (9J9) 833 . 2079

CAROLINIAN RALEIGH, N. C.

JUN-06-85

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MODEL alrnlf RIIII yiCA- rICIltty IIIn...· .'iiIt clmmunlly IIld"l IIr Ihllr ICllYI llllllrahip l'1li1 In IhI"lII lilt ...... pallllcil Ind nelll Invlronment " till Rlllllh COIIImunlly. TWI Reh IWII'III reclplentl plctulld II", him 11ft. I,. Rev. LHtIII Dtbum, pal" If Tuptllf IIImerill Church, rICIlYlIII thl .Irtlarllul AWlnllI"n by Dr. J...... Y. 8111Dm: Dr. Will DIYII~""nll Rev. DaYld C. -=..... wHh Ih...... Aw.nI. NEWS & OBSERVER CLIPPING SERVICE RALEIGH, N. c. 11 '6 HIUS80RO RALEIGH. NC 27803 TEL (9 19) 833· 2079 ~b %,D e/ NOV159~ JOURNAl. W1NSTON-sAIV.\ ~ 4)­ NOV 1593, DEBNAM~~I RALEIGH - Rey.P~tQL~t.ha-­ Thil)~-t.llr . , a native of Raleigh, (leparted this life at his home Fri­ day, November 12, 1993. He was a son of LuIa Smith-Debnam and the lale HarTY Debnam, Sr. He was born June 3, 1918. Dr. Debnam was a product of Raleigh public schools, attended Sl. Augustine College, and completed his underl gn!dua.I.e studies at N.C. A&.T St.aUt University. Post graduate studieS were completed at American Uni­ versity-1Jl Washington, D.C., Shaw REY. DR. LEOmA DEBNAM University &hool of Religion; RALEIGH - Rev. Doclor Leolho Duke University DivinIty &hool, Debnom Sr., 0 nolive :of Rolelgh, l dePOrled Ihis IIfe' al home Fridoy,. an~. Urban Bible College in Detro~t November 12, 1993. He wos Ihe son of MiCh: A WWII veteran, he relir , Lulo Smilh·Debnom ond Ihe lole from the " U.S. Postal Service" Horry Debnom Sr. Born June3, 1918, 1982. He was a ' member 'of thll Dr. Debnom wos a producl of Ihe Board of Management of the Esley ' Rolelgh Public Schools, ollended SI. Hall Foundation and Tuttle Com: Augusline's College and compleled munlty.Day Care'Cenler. He waS a his undergraduale sludles ;01 ' NC member of the Executive Board of A& T Siole Un lversily. Posl groduale ' LoU Carey Foreign Missions Con­ sludies were compleled 01 Americon' Universily, Washinglon, D.C., Shaw vention, member of Commission Universily School of Religion, Duke for: Disciplineship of the General Unlverslly Dlvinily School , and Ur­ Baptist Slate Convention, Wake bon Bible College, Detroll, Mich. A Baptist Convention, Raleigh inter­ World Wor II veleran, he relired denominational MinJslerial Alli­ from Ihe U.S. Posiol Service In 1982. an<;e, MinJslerlal, Board of Wake He was 0 member of Ihe Boord of ' Baptist Association, Progressi\'e Managemenl of Ihe Esley Holl Foun- , National Baptist ' Convention, Ra­ dollon and Tuille Communlly Day ' leigh , Apex Chapter of ' NAACP, Core Cenler, member of Ihe Execu- , live Boord of Ihe Loll Carey Foreign Downtown Housing Improvement Missions Convenlion, member of Ihe Coip.,' the GlU'ller Road YMCA, Re. Commission for Discipleship of Ihe ' , giOnal Representative for the Ca­ Generol Bopllsl Siale Convenlion, ,opt!ratl,ve MInistries, General Bap": Wake Boptist Convenllon, Raleigh tis\, Slate Convention, and served Inlerdenominalional MinisJerial AI ­ on the Home Missions Board ofthe lionce, Mlnislerial Board of Ihe G.eneral B8.ptist Slate Convention: Wake Baplisl Association, Pragres· He ' is a past Master of Excelslo~ •~ sive Nalional , Baptisl Convenlion, .Of RalelghlApe'x ' 'Chopfer ,of Ihe ­ Lodge #21, Prince Hall Affillateq NAACP, Downlown Housing Im­ MasOrlS; . past Worthy Patron of provemenl Corp. and 'Ihe Garner Ruth Chapter #2, Order of the Rood YMCA. He was regional repre­ Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated; senlolive for Ihe Cooperalive Minls­ and- past Clerk for the Mlnlsterial Iries, General, Baptisl Stale Conven-, Board ofthe Wake Baptist Assocla­ lion ond he ' served on Ihe Harne ' tio/!. Dr. Debnam pastoreq Missions Board, Generol Baplisl churChes In Wake and Johnston Siale Convention. ' , . Counties and served as pastor of He is Posl Mosler 'of Excelsior Tupper Memorial Baptist churcll Lodge #21. Prince Hall oflilialed Masons, Pasl Worlhy palron of Rulh in Raleigh beginning In 1968. Dr, Chapler #2 Order of Ihe Eoslern' ' DebM,tn ill survived by his wife; Slars Prince Holl allilioled and pasl Naomi Chavls Debnam; six chil, clerk for Ihe Minisleriol Boord of Ihe dren, ,Gloria Debnam-Smith of Wake Boplisl Associalion. Dr. Deb­ Portsmouth, Va., Shirley Debnam1 nam poslored churches in Woke and Basldn' of Burbank, Calif., Leothe, Johnslan Counlies ond served os pas­ DeblUim, Jr. of Clemmons, Mal, lor of Tupper Memorial ' Bapllsl colm, Debnam, Emily, and Steph ~ Church In Raleigh, beginning In 1968. anie;.-o.C Raleigh; four grandchil" Dr. Debnom is survived by his wife, Nooml Chavis Debnom ; chil­ , dren; and three great grand~' dren, Gloria Debnom-Smllh of dren. Dr. Debnam will Ile In s Porlsmoulh, Va., Shirley Debnam­ from,3. until 6 p.m. Tuesday, N Baskin of Burbank, Calif., Leolho J r. vembet 16, at· Tupper Memori of Clemmons, N.C., Malcolm, Emily Bap£iSi'Church. A wake will follo and Slephonle of Raleigh; four from 7 to 8 p.m. at FIrst Bap grandchildren; Ihree greol·grand­ .Church on WIlmington St. FuneraIi children. , serviceswill be held at FIrst Baptistl Dr. Debnom will loy In slole from Chumr, Wednesday, Novembet, 3·6 p.m. Tuesdoy, November 161h 01 Tupper Memorial Boplisl Church 17, at 12 noon. Interment will be at', and a Wake will follow from 7·8 p.m.' Oak'lvood Cemetery. Arrangements 01 Flrsl Boplisl Church, Wllmlnglon i by Qaywood Funeral Home. '. .' Sireel. , ' , Funeral service will be held 01 12 noon WednesdaY, November 171h 01 Flrsl Boplisl Church. Inlerment at Ookwood Cemelery. Arrongemenls by Haywood Funer­ al Home. .. \

CUPPING SER'/ICE , '16 HILLSBORO \ RALEIGH, He 27803 lU. (9191833.2019

~NEWS & OBSERVER RALBGH. No C. 4~O MOV1693 -'d.,ql . .. r \ ' ..~~ T~~, tlle i', · · Ij~) . 1 Tupper Memorial 'minister willlie}~ sta~e~today' '. ByTREVAJONES ''T.J' ' Foundation and . the board of STAff WRITER: :~ , fle had',a beautjf~l , Tu ~ t1e CoinmUnity' Day Care Cen: ' . - ] ~ .RALEIGH - During 25 years- as ' ter. HI.: :lwas; a~i ,meJ;llbel: of the ~' personality, and was I Down~:-vn Hous~g Improvement" pastor of Tupper Merriorial Bap· I always Willing to , , Corp. - and the· Garner , Road . tist Church, the Rev. Dr. Leothil. YMCA, as well as the Raleigh· lkb.nam..Sr_embraced 'more than help. Whenever , , Apex Chapter of the NAACP. . just his own congregation: He someone needed , In the General Baptist State opened his arms to the entire Convention, he was regional rep· community. '\ something or Qther, resentative _for ', the I Cooperative "He had a beautiful personality, he was a/~ays there Ministries, served on the Home and was always willing to help," Missions Board and 'was a memo said John !Carlton, chairman of to help out. ' the board of trustees of Tupper ber of the Commission for Disci· John Cortton pleship. Memorial. "Whenever someone His service also extended to the needed something or other, he TupPer Memorial Lott Carey Foreign Missions Con· was always there to help out." I • I • vention, where'he was a member Dr. Debnam died Friday morn· !' of the executive board and host to ing at his home in Raleigh. He was postgraduate work at four univer· some of the organization's aelivi. ; 75. sities, including~haw and Duke, . ties at his church'. t • His body will lie in state from 3 and was a veteran of World War II " .Th.r.ough ' the Shaw University . to 6 p.m. today at Tupper Memorl· and_ a retired' mall'i .carrier.' " " DIVInlty School, Dr. Debnam in· ( al Baptist Church, and a wake will "It's going to be hard to Cillhis vited several students to be assn· ' be from 7 to 9 p.m. at First Baptist shoes," Mr. Carlton said. "We elate pastors at Tupper Memorial. ' Church on Wilmington Street. A just celebrated,his 25th anniversa. He shared his' experience and funeral will be noon Wednesday at ry in September." knowledge with students who Tupper Memorial on South Blount Street, and burial wlll be in To mark Dr. Debnam's quarter' wanted to participate in the com· , Oakwood Cemetery. . century of service, the church munity. held special selYice&. each night , "Daddy left to us a legacy of, A Raleigh native, Dr. Debnam for a week In 'September and love, many, fond memories, and , attended Raleigh public schools honored him with a banque~ , . un~lterab~e, , ab~ing faith, by ,; and St. Augustine's College, and " . • which to live," said Dr. Debnam's ' . completed undergraduate studies Dr. Debnam was on the Board ~ son, Malcolm, of ~aleigh. "And .' at N.C. A&T University. ,He did of Management ~of the Estey Hall •for that; ~e are gI:8leful." .• J ,.I

• HISTORY OF THE WAKE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

ITS AUXILIARIES AND CHURCHES

1866-1966 ashamed, rightly dividing the Vice Moderator called the Asso­ the Sunday School Convention. work c;f truth." ciation to order with devotionals The Extra Session of the Asso­ led by Reverend Millard Jones and The treasurer's report for the ciation called the "United Extra Isaac Lee. "Amazing Grace" was Session" met March 31, 1957 at Annual Session says there were the opening number. Eleven verses 37 churches reporting and the Shaw University. The theme was: of the 12th Chapter of Romans was "Meeting the Challenge of Chris­ amount of money raised $1,112.44; the Scripture. "When the Roll is Extra Session $580.33; the special tian Leadership." Deacon B. W. Called up Yonder," closed the devo­ Lane the president of the Sunday Shaw effort $1,581.41. A motion tionals. prevailed, that if the treasurer was School Convention called the Sun­ prepared that this Association go Reverend Heath presented Mr. day School Department to open on record as donating Shaw Uni­ J. W. Yeargin, a layman from the the session and conduct the Sun­ versity the sum of $2,000.00. First Baptist Church, to discuss day School session. the "Responsibility of Church Of­ Good Hope Baptist Church, near President Strassner of Shaw ficers to Carry Out The Mission University presented Dr. J. Neal Knightdale, was the place of meet­ Of The Church. Reverend A. A. ing for the 90th Annual Session of Hughley, University Minister at Anderson to discuss the same topic, North Carolina College at Durham the Wake Baptist Association but from the minister's viewpoint. August 15th and 16th, 1956. Rever­ and also pastor of the First Bap­ Reverend Paul Johnson delivered a tist Church, Franklinton, N. C., to end C. R. Trotter, pastor. Miss sermon from the subject, "The Geraldine High brought words of bring the message. His theme was, Cost of Being A Christian." The The Call of God Through Human welcome on behalf of the church Text was Matthew 5 :20, "For I tell and pastor. Needs." The text was from Isaiah you, unless your goodness e~cells "Also I heard the voi ce of the Because Dr. Wendell C. Somer­ that of the scribes and Pharisee.;;, Lord, saying, Whom shall I send villle could not be present on Thurs­ you will never get into the realm of and who will go for us?" jay, he gave his message in th.e heaven." morning session on Wednesday. HIs The a:fternoon session was open­ The Woman's Auxiliary had ed by the First Baptist Church theme was: "The Untrodden 'Vay, charge of the Thursday afternoon oshua 3:4 "That yet may know the Choir of Raleigh, North Carolina. session. Miss Penny Perry present­ The Raleigh Interdenominational way by which ye must go: for ye ed Mrs. Mammie N. Perry, the new have not passed this way hereto­ Ministerial Alliance joined in this President of the Auxiliary. She financial effort. Reverend C. L. fore." Dr. Somerville spoke of the spoke briefly on the subject: ~he general unrest in the east where Gidney of the Wilson Temple M. B. responsibility of the Christian Church made remarks, also, Rev­ the Lott Carey has most of its Woman. The final message of mission stations. The speaker said erend J. W. Jones, Moderator of the session was delivered by Johnston District Association. The the world is passing through an Reverend Paul Warren of Mount eclipse, but the light is still shin­ guest speaker for this special oc­ Bright Baptist Church, Hillsboro, casion was the Reverend C. W. ing, for the darkness has never put North Carolina. The speaker select­ it out. Kerry of the Friendship Baptist ed as his text: "And Jesus ans­ Church of Charlotte. Reverend Reverend Vick Alston, assisted wering said unto him, Simon, I Kerry announced his text from by Reverends W. M. Morgan and have somewhat to say unto thee. Zechariah 2 :1-5, "I lifted up mine Leotha Debnam came before the And he saith, Master, say on." The eyes again, and looked and behold Association to bring the Annual speaker stressed the idea that a man with a measuring line in his ,/ Message. His subject was "A Con­ Jesus has something to say to us. hand. Then said I, Whither goest tract With God." Text: Judges The Wake Association through thou? And he said unto me, To 11 :35, "I have opened my mouth its Committee on Education spoke measure Jerusalem, to see what is unto the Lord, and I cannot go to the Supreme Court's Decision on the breadth thereof, and what is back." Segregation. Among other things it the length thereof. And, behold, the After dinner the Association re­ said: "That the Association en­ angel that talked with me went forth and another anp'el went out convened with devotionals conduct­ dorse wholeheartedly the May 17th, to him, And said unto him, ed by Reverend L. B. Hockaday 1954 Supreme Court decision on m~et and Deacon H. C. High. Vice Mod­ outlawing segregation in the pub­ Run, speak to this young man, erator Heath presented Reverend lic schools; we further recommend saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabit­ to bring his Annual Mes­ that the Association go on ed as towns without walls for the sage. His theme was, "Working To-. record as opposed to the Pearsall multitude of men and cattle there­ Plan as a solution to the present gether With God." In the Modera­ in; For I, said the Lord, will be tor's recommendations he stressed crisis and that we urge all our the Association support a members to vote against it Sep­ unto her a well of fire round ership Training Program tember 8, 1956." about, and will be the glory in the in its borders," and also the midst of her.' The thrust of the held at Shaw University. Listed in the obituary were two longtime leaders of the Associa­ speaker's message was the church Reverend S. L. Suitt discussed tion, Reverend B. F. Jordan, form­ must take the lead in building of topic, "The Church Member's er pastor of (Jackson Chapel) the Walls. nc,H)vlI,,,'bility in Carrying out the First BRiptist Church, Wilson, N. C. ~,~"""~... of the Church." Reverend and Deacon Guyon Perry, long time W. Fleming spoke in behalf treasurer of the Ministers and 1 Minutes of the Wake Baptist As­ of State Missions. Deacons Union and President of sociation, P. 17, 1956. The History of Bethlehem Baptist Church

Bethlehem Baptist Church was founded in 1885 by a small group of persons. The church grew out of Baptist Grove Baptist Church and first started having meetings in an old Brush Harbor. After some years a church was built on the present site. The first pastor was Reverend Jim Chavis. Some of the first officers were Deacon Ateas Chavis, Deacon Leonard Chavis and Deacon Cornelius Chavis. In later years the church was remodeled. As the church grew with more members more officers were named. Some of the deacons that were ordained were: Deacon Will Cannady, Deacon Seaton Dunn, Sr., Deacon O. W. Moore, Sr., Deacon Eddie Ray, Deacon Edward Moore, Deacon Theodore Chavis, Deacon Fred Lipscomb, Deacon Alton Dunn, Deacon Willie Chavis, Deacon Oris Harris, Deacon Joseph Walters and Deacon Joseph Dunn. Since this church was organized we have had several pastors, some of them indude: Reverend Millard Jenes, Reverend Johnnie Jones, Reverend C. C. Clark, Reverend Kent Jones, Reverend W. F. Farrow, Reverend V. T. Williams, Reverend H. D. Eaton, Reverend W. B. Lewis, Reverend Leotha Debnam, Reverend Alex Terrell and Reverend W. A. Perry. The deceased ministers are Reverend Jim Chavis, Reverend Millard Jones, Reverend C. C. Clark, Reverend Johnnie Jones, Reverend V. T. Williams, Reverend H. D. Eaton, Reverend W. A. Farrow and Reverend Alex Terrell. Since 1885, our church has iricreased its membership and has grown spiritually. In 1967 annexation of a fellowship room was added to the present structure and in 1974 the church was again renovated. Stained glass win­ dows have been installed by members and friends in memory of their ralatives and in honor of living members. The entire Sanctuary was also completely renovated. Our present officers are: Reverend H. V. Miles, Pastor; Mrs. Bettie P. Closs, Church Clerk; Deacon Willie Chavis, Treasurer; Deacon Theodore Chavis, Financial Secretary; Deacon Edward Moore, Chairman of Deacon Board and Deacon J. H. Walters. Chairman of Trustee Board.