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Providence Baptist Church was
organized after a brush arbor meeting in August, 1916. Land was donated by
Charles Gann and the church was named Providence because it was only through the
Providence of God that the congregation was able to erect a church
building. Working at night and carrying lanterns to light their way as
they walked between their homes and the church, men of the community built
the church. Admitted to the Hamilton
County Baptist Association on 22 August, 1917, this church still
serves its community. First deacons were Jim Cole, J. T. Berkley, and Sam Thompson.
The brush arbor has been maintained by the church for
many years.
Bessie
Maude (Nix) Massingill was a charter member of Providence Baptist
Church.
Early pastors included:
John Seymour Deaton,
1917--1920, 1922--1925, 1927
J. L. S. Deaton, 1921
John Dempsey West, 1929
Allen Boone DeHart, 1931
Early church clerks included:
Myrtle Cole,
1917--1918
Miss Maude Cole,
1919
J. B. Burney, 1921
Miss Ruby Nix, 1927
Gladys Thompson, 1928--1929
Early messengers to the association were:
1917--J. P.
Berkley, Jessie Cole, T. N. Peterson
1918--T. N.
Peterson, Mrs. Cole, John Seymour Deaton
1919--T. N.
Peterson, Maude Cole, Bessie Peterson
1920, 1921--J.
B. Burney, Mr. and Mrs. H. Berkley
1922--Mr. and Mrs. H. Berkley
1925--J. H. Burney, T. D. Thompson,
Miss Mabel Cole
1928--Sam
Thompson, Joe McKandless, Freeman Nix, Miss May Belle Cole
1929--Joe McCandless, Miss Ola Berkley, Miss Ruby Anderson, Sam Thompson
Howard Ford recalled some of his memorable
experiences while he was pastor at Providence Baptist Church from
1952 through 1954 in this manner: Memories of
Providence Baptist Church.
Bessie Maude (Nix) Massingill was a charter member of
this church.
IN MEMORIAM, 2002
Mrs. Lelia Weathers
Providence Baptist Church
