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White Rock Baptist Church White Rock, Texas Herald
Democrat
Sunday, October 18, 1998 White Rock Baptist Church celebrates 135 years of Faith and Determination TOM BEAN - Great faith, determination and love have been known to conquer even the greatest obstacles. And members of White Rock Baptist Church will be celebrating such a faith as they mark the church's 135th birthday in a special 3 p.m. service today. The Rev. E. D. Furtch, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Paris, will be guest speaker. The year was 1863, the Civil War was over and slavery had ended. But news traveled slowly in those days and Texas had been one of the last states to receive word of the north's victory. A man named T. C. Cleveland had been freed, but he, like many others, found himself with nowhere to call home. After being baptized, Cleveland began preaching throughout this part of the country. For six years Cleveland continued his outdoor ministry until he and a dedicated group of men purchased land and founded the first African American community in Grayson County - - - White Rock. Founders included: Cleveland; Will Copelyn; James Waltz; Bob Hathaway; Elias Boyd; Richard Guess; Albert Kidd; Spencer Hendrix; Elias Blassengame; Dave Pace; Prof. A. Orr; Wesley Adams; Tom Hendrix; Wesley Reynolds; Stoke Dale; Wash Craven and Charley Bolden according to White Rock Baptist Church historical documents and accounts of oral histories. During those years, a small hard-working group also succeeded in constructing a permanent Church. The first building was made of logs and featured a dirt floor. Members of that original congregation, along with Cleveland included: James Walsh; Melissa Waltz; Moses Gillam; Gracie Gillam; the Rev. H. M. Jackson; Simon Miller; Dave Mitchell; Margaret Mitchell; Charley Bolden; Elizabeth Bolden; Spencer Hendrix; Ann Hendrix; Jane Jackson; Richard Guess and Charley Mitchell. According to the Rev. L. D. Hooks, current pastor of the church, the early members of the church and the White Rock community still lived in fear. Even though they were legally free from the bonds of slavery, there were people outside the community who had not been pleased with the outcome of the war and offered only animosity toward the group. Members feared for their own safety as well as that of their church building, but through faith and determination, the church and community persevered and have survived. Since that original log structure, the congregation has had only two other buildings, both built in the same location. The second building was destroyed by a cyclone in 1925 and was replaced with the present structure, Hooks said.  Twenty-six pastors have led the congregation during its 135 year stretch. The 31-year-old minister said being at the historic church has been a learning experience. "It's one thing to read about history, but to experience it through the church members is entirely different. It's brought me a lot closer to reality as to how it really was." Hooks is especially proud of the two oldest members of the congregation - a brother and sister: Carl Luper, 91, of Sherman serves as a deacon in the church and still drives himself to services. Luper's sister, Emma Scruggs, 86, lives in the White Rock community. There are three generations of the Luper and Scruggs families attending the church. Hooks also noted that there are four generations of the John and Mattie Blanton family attending. According to Hooks, the 60 member congregation is attempting to find paperwork and verification of the age of the church and have turned in paperwork to the historical society for the community cemetery which sits near the church. The task has proven difficult as few records were kept during the late 1800's and even into the early 1900's. But as history shows, the group won't let a roadblock of any type get in the way of accomplishing its goal. They are in hope that they will be able to receive a historical marker for the cemetery and eventually for the church. The church is located on FM Road 697 --- take State Highway 11 to Tom Bean one block past the blinking lights, turn right on FM Road 2729 and the building will be approximately three miles out.  Churches Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |