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First Presbyterian Church Whitewright, Texas The 81st Anniversay of the First Presbyterian Church covered a period of 3 days, November 29-30 and December 2, 1934. November 29 service was held at 7 p.m. with Rev. Joe M. Russell, former pastor, delivering the opening address. November 30 morning service had Rev. J.W. Everheart, son of late Sheriff Bill Everheart as guest speaker. Dr. B. Wrenn Webb, pastor, presided over Sunday services, December 2, 1934. Speakers were: Mrs. Margreta Fender of Texarkana, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Fender, spoke on "Whitewright and I." T.H. Sears and Luther Sears read histories of the organization of the church. Dr. Fender gave the opening address at the afternoon session on "The Individual's Place in the Church." Some of the first ELDERS and organizers of the church were: Jacob A. Zinn Joseph D. Barbee J.T. Clark Thomas E. Montgomery Chastine Wilkins J.C. Newton J.B. Sears Ellin Newton Mary A. Barbee Polly Montgomery Elizabeth May Joseph H. Sears Christopher Sears PASTORS R.F. Jones, 1873-1893 R.A. Gay, 1893-1895 R.R. Crockett, 1895-1899 M.C. Johnson, 1899-1903 J.F. Fender, 1902-1927 J.W. Willbanks, 1927-1929 Joe M. Russell, 1931-1933 Dr. B. Wrenn Webb, September 1, 1933 - present SUPERINTENDENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL Eli Smith, 1883-1885 J.F. Battle, 1886-1887 B.S. Montgomery, 1888-1889 J.C. Russell, 1889-1891 J.M. Pennington, 1902-1908 J.W. Ashley, 1908-1909 J.M. Pennington, reelected and served a number of years J.L. Dyer W.M. Cox John Reeves B.B. Hall S.T. Montgomery J.W. Henry, present Miss Edna Rathburn - primary teacher for 32 years Those Living Who Have Been Members for the church longest are: Luther Sears, 61 years T.H. Sears, 53 years B.S. Montgomery, 55 years Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Montgomery, 55 years Mrs. W.A. Kirkpatrick, 50 years Mrs. Eli Smith of Dallas, 50 years Women's Organizations Missionary Society & Ladies' Aid, organized in 1889 by Mrs. J. B. Nicholson. Mrs. J.B. Nicholson - President, 1889 - 1903 Mrs. J.C. Reubell - first secretary & treasurer Mrs. Sallie Gowdy - secretary & treasurer until her move to Paris in 1909 Mrs. T.H. Sears Mrs. Helen Rathburn Edna Rathburn - secretary & treasurer for 15 years Present officers: Missionary Society Mrs. Ida Street Montgomery, President Mrs. Rhom T. Pennington, secretary & treasurer Aide Society Mrs. Robert Sears, President Mrs. W.A. Kirkpatrick, secretary & treasurer (The Whitewright Sun, December 6, 1934, pg. 3) First Presbyterian Church History ~ Whitewright Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |