MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH, INC. 1884 – 2020

MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH, INC.

1884 ¨C 2020

The history of the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, Inc. is a chronicle of

struggle, sacrifice, humanitarian services, undying commitment, and unyielding

faithfulness. According to church records or annals, in 1884 the church was under

the pastorate of Reverend Sparks. Deacons were George Buckner and George

Greenleaf.

Before the year of 1912, with Deacon Greenleaf as Superintendent of Sunday

School and Rev. Sparks as Pastor.

Reverend Sparks was succeeded by Reverend J.J. Jones in 1912. Members of

the Deacon Board were Leon Herndon and C.E. Baker. In 1912 Deacon C.E. Baker

was Superintendent of Sunday School and served in this position until his death in

1935.

After the death of Reverend J.J. Jones, the membership sought the service of

Reverend W.C. Chinn in 1926. In 1933 Primus Stafford, Pleas Pough, Oscar

Dunham, and Charlie Clayton were ordained as deacons. Deacon Clayton was

elected as Superintendent of the Sunday School, where he served for nine months.

He was succeeded by Deacon Leon Herndon in 1939, who served until 1946. He

was succeeded by Deacon J.T. McBride. Acie Sanders and John Barnes were added

to the board several years later.

In 1937, Deacon Hamp Jones (coming from St. Elmo Baptist Church in

Omaha, Georgia) and Deacon Alex Morris were added to the board. In 1942, Deacon

Lawrence Shipp from Harmony Baptist Church, Cusseta, Georgia joined the Deacon

Board. Deacon Lawrence Shipp served as Clerk of the church. In July 1948, the

church ordained Otis Buckner as a deacon.

After twenty-five (25) years of service, Reverend Chinn felt that his age would

not permit him to serve as he desired. Therefore, the church retired him in 1950,

and Reverend G. W. Mitchell became our leader and served until the year of 1951

(nine months).

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Reverend James Calvin Harris, Sr., formerly of Albany, Georgia, succeeded

Reverend G. W. Mitchell in November, 1951 and provided sixty-four years of service

before retiring on April 26, 2016.

At the time of Reverend Harris' calling, members of the Deacon Board

included the following: Hamp Jones, Chairman; Lawrence Shipp, Clerk; Leon

Herndon, Finance Chairman; Otis Buckner, Financial Secretary; Alex Morris,

Treasurer; Dave Copenny, Frank Smith, Oscar Dunham, and Pleas Pough. During

this time other persons ordained as deacons under the leadership of Reverend

Harris and the positions they held in 1952 were Robert Kelley, Clerk; and J.T.

McBride, Superintendent of Sunday School. Reverend Eddie Buckner joined the

church family on October 31, 1952. At the time of his death, he was pastor of St.

Phillips Baptist Church in Lumpkin, Georgia.

Officers of the Sunday School upon Rev. J.C. Harris calling was Deacon J.T.

McBride - Superintendent, Ella L. Robison Fitzpatrick ¨C Secretary until the year of

1958, her success was Sister Queen Ester Buckner. At that time, we had eight

classes and teachers, which were as follows:

Class #1 ¨C Deacon Otis Buckner

Class #2 ¨C Sister Charlotte Buckner

Class #3 ¨C Brother Oscar Davis

Class #4 ¨C Sister Mildred Sharp

Class #5 ¨C Deacon Walter Sharp and Brother Esmond Grasty

Class #6 ¨C Sister Annie Maddox

Class #7 ¨C Sister Mary Quiller

Class #8 ¨C Sister Emma Lou Wright and Sister Virginia Robinson

Deacon J.T. McBride served as Superintendent until his health failed.

succeeded by Brother Isiah Buckner.

He was

The Baptist Training Union (BTU) was organized in the year of 1956, under

Pastor Reverend J.C. Harris. Officers were as follows:

President ¨C Otis Buckner

Secretary ¨C Sister Joan Wardlow (she left in September 1956 to further her

education). Sister Mildred Sharp acted as secretary in January 1957 and served

until 1959. Sister Mary Robinson was her successor.

The Sunday School and the BTU made up the Youth Department. Deacon

Walter Moss, Youth Director and Sister Marietta Habersham Youth Directress.

A new church became the aim of the membership in 1953. In spite of

many obstacles, our dream became a reality with the help of God and our newfound

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competent leader, Reverend James C. Harris, Sr.

In November 1957, Brother Clifford Stephens was called into the Gospel

Ministry. During that same year, Deacon Jessie Baker was called into the Gospel

Ministry and was ordained and elected Pastor of the Zion Hill Baptist Church in

Cusseta, Georgia.

Reverend Traylor joined the church family in 1959. Ordained as deacons on

May 3, 1959 were James Dunham and Oscar Davis. Deacon Dunham served as

Chairman of the Trustee Board for several years and Deacon Davis served as

Chairman of the Finance Committee for several years. Other deacons added to the

board were the following: Walter Moss, from New Providence Baptist Church of

Columbus, Georgia; Deacon Charles Ingram from Love Union Baptist Church of

West Point, Georgia; Deacon Carlton McKinney and Deacon William Jones from

Metropolitan Baptist Church, Columbus, Georgia who later served as Treasurer.

Deacon Ingram served as Church Cashier.

Walter Sharp and Johnnie McCray, Jr. were ordained as deacons in 1963.

Under the leadership and advice of Reverend Harris, many major spiritual

accomplishments were made. The following auxiliaries were organized: Junior,

Senior Musical, Inspirational, Harris Youth and Mass Choirs, Male Chorus; Baptist

Training Union (B.T.U.) within each department; Scouting Program; Junior Usher

Board; Welcome Circle, Trinity Circle, Brotherhood, Faithful Few, and Willing

Workers Circle; Courtesy Guild; Twelve Tribes, Orientation Committee; Teachers

Board; Pastor's Aid Steering Committee; Mothers and Deaconess Circles; Sunshine

Circles 1-3; Budgeting Committee; Recreation Committee; Educational Fund

Committee Board; Christian Education Committee; Matrons I and Young Matrons

Circles; Junior Mission; Newspaper Staff; Ministers' Wives and Widows¡¯ Circle;

Ministers' Circle; and the Saints With A Testimony (SWAT) Team. Most of these

auxiliaries are involved in some form of community outreach.

Reverend Primus E. King joined our church family in 1964.

The present church structure was built in 1967. The 1954 church building

was incorporated into the present building for classrooms, finance room, modern

restrooms, kitchen, and fellowship hall. We included many new features in our new

sanctuary and purchased a parsonage at 910 Hardegree Dr. in Mount Vernon

Estates. Our pastor, Reverend James C. Harris, Sr. became full-time pastor in

1968.

As a result of many successful revivals and inspiring worship services, the

membership continued to grow until an addition was sought.

In the years 1968-69, Deacons Quilbert Shipp and Lincoln D. Shipp were

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added to the Deacon Board from Harmony Baptist Church in Cusseta, Georgia. In

1969, Reverend Harris and the Deacon Board chose the following as being worthy of

ordination as deacons: Harold Tutt, Ollie Bursey, Nelson Cliatt and Edmond

Greasty.

Deacon Otis Buckner was called into the Gospel Ministry in 1969. In 1970,

he was ordained and elected Pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Lumpkin,

Georgia, and Associate Pastor of Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.

He became full-time Pastor of Liberty Hill in 1981.

In 1970, Reverend James L. Williams was united with us.

Under the pastoral ship of Rev. J.C. Harris, Sr., Church services has been

changed from one service per month to service each Sunday including night service.

In 1971, our parking area was paved and furnished the church with about

300 parking spaces.

Ordained as deacons in 1972 were the following: Roosevelt Ruggs, Robert

Buckner, Robert L. Davis, and John H. Harris. Deacons Willie J. Nelson and Joe

Green were added to the board in 1973.

In 1973, Michael Lord, Sr. and Michael Lord, Jr. joined our church family

and were baptized and licensed to preach the gospel ministry of the Baptist

Doctrine.

Deacon Robert Buckner was called into the ministry in 1974. In 1975, he was

ordained and elected Pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.

Brother Wesley Myers was ordained March 18, 1973.

In 1974, Harry J. Kearse and Will Smith, Jr. were called into the ministry.

In June 1975, lots 4-7 of the Mattie Williams Davis property were purchased

and cleared for a recreation area.

Brothers Michael Smith and Ronald Brown were called into the ministry in

1975. In October 1975, Brothers Will Smith, Jr., and Billy Carter were ordained

into the Ministry. Reverend Will Smith was elected Assistant Pastor of Parkwood

Baptist Church, and Reverend Billy Carter was elected Assistant Pastor of

Beallwood Baptist Church, Inc. Both churches are located in Columbus, Georgia.

Deacons ordained in 1975 were the following: Willie J. Appling, Leon Chiles,

Edward Powell, Eugene Reddick, and Gene T. Whitlow.

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Sister Ocie Mae Harris had a vision from God to feed and shelter the

homeless. In 1975, her vision became a reality when she founded and opened the

House of Mercy at 1212? Broadway. Feeding and sheltering the homeless was only

a small portion of Mother Harris¡¯ purpose. She was also dedicated to bringing

Christianity into the lives of those in need through the daily worship services at the

House of Mercy and through her Christian attitude and counseling. The present

location of the mission is in the former Woodall School building at 1532 3rd Avenue.

Sister Harris¡¯ service was recognized as a ¡°Point of Light¡± by President George H. W.

Bush in Washington, D. C. during his administration.

In 1976, Brother Harry K. Dickerson was called into the ministry and

Reverend J.H. Golson joined our church. Reverend John H. Hollis joined our

church family in 1978. Additional parking spaces were added with all areas lighted.

Brother Jessie Kelley was called into the ministry in 1979.

Deacon Nelson Cliatt was called into the ministry in 1980 and was ordained

as Assistant Pastor of the Shady Grove Baptist Church in Talbotton, Georgia in

1981. In July 1983, Reverend Cliatt was elected pastor of the St. James Baptist

Church in Cottonton, Alabama, and in May of 1984, he was elected Pastor of the

Mount Zion Baptist Church, Eufaula, Alabama.

In 1978 additional parking was added with all areas lighted. Additionally,

more features were added to the present building.

In 1981, lot 3 of the Mattie William Davis property was purchased.

In 1983, Brother Willie Kelly was called into the ministry. During that same

year, Reverend Billy Robinson and Reverend Robert Earl Moore joined our church

family. In February, a full-time secretary was added. Reverend Billy Robinson was

elected Pastor of Springhill Zion Baptist Church in Eufaula, Alabama.

In 1983 the concept for a newspaper was formed during a six-week Bible

study course of the textbook ¡°Our Church is News¡±. We want to spread the word,

through this newspaper, that there is news in our church. You, as members, will

have to go to work too. We want news about you and your families. I am sure there

are quite a number of events we could write about each month. The only way this

can be done is that you tell us about it. This newspaper became known as ¡°The

Pilgrim Progress¡±.

In March 1984, Reverend Robinson was elected full-time Pastor of Bryant

Missionary Baptist Church Montgomery, Alabama.

In 1984, Brothers Chester Bruce, Kenneth Thompson, Sr., Theodore Emziah,

Walter Harris, Jr., and Joseph Harris, Jr. were ordained as deacons. During that

same year, Mount Pilgrim held its first Commencement Exercise in Christian

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