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Mosella & Augustus Hardeman
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In the year 1894, Mrs. Jane
Lewis, a community spiritual leader, saw the
need for an African Methodist Episcopal Church
in our then small community. And as a result of
her keen vision, this conscientious woman made
known her desire throughout the community. She
found that there were two other persons, the
Rev. Booker McQuirter and Augustus Hardeman, Sr,,
who also had seen the need and wanted to work
toward its fulfillment. These three set about
soliciting funds from their generous and well
wishing white friends. The Reverend McQuirter
and Augustus Hardeman both were carpenters, and
as funds sufficient to purchase land and lumber
were received, the community project was begun.
In the year 1901 a building for worship though
humble was completed. Mrs. Jane Lewis named the
church Tyree Chapel A. M. E. Church in honor of
the Bishop Evan Tyree, the 26th Bishop of the A.
M. E. church. The Reverend Tyree had been
elected in 1900 and served as an active Bishop
for 21 years. Until the establishment of the
church in 1901, Rev. McQuirter gave spiritual
guidance to the Black community.
In the year 1901, the
Reverend Mitchell was sent as the first pastor
of Tyree Chapel and labored in the vineyard
until 1905 when the Reverend Motley took the
reins and lead until the Reverend Hickey came in
1907. From 1906 to 1908, the church grew, and
many of those who joined and worked diligently
during these times have descendents who are yet
holding high the bloodstained banner. Some of
these old warriors were John and Luella Duncan,
Thomas and Amanda Allen, Georgen and Mary
Robinson, Augustus and Mosella Hardelam, Henry
and Fannie Cooper, Georgia Edison, Alonia
Bouldin, Mary Johnson, Mamie Richardson, William
and Pearl Robison, Lillie Green and Annie
Austin. It may be noted that at this time Mrs.
Parris Smith, wife of one of Bay City's first
pharmacists gave of her time to come and teach
the missionary lessons. The two missionaries who
made up the class were Jane Lewis and Mosella
Hardeman who has a descendent in the church
today.
A storm demolish the church
in 1909. It was rebuilt in 1910 under the
pastorage of the Rev. I. D. Coffee. The Reverend
C. W. McCowan following the Reverend in the fall
of 1913.
|
|
1913 - |
Presiding
Elder Bryant |
|
1913 - 1915 |
The
Reverend C. W. McCowan |
|
1915 - 1917 |
The
Reverend L. L. Reece |
|
1917 - 1918 |
The
Reverend J. W. McDade |
|
1918-
1919 |
The
Reverend O. B. Marshall |
|
1919 |
Presiding
Elder Pendergraff |
|
1919 -
1922 |
The
Reverend Whitmire - Under whose leadership
the church that housed the congregation for many
years was built. |
|
1922 - 1924 |
The
Reverend E. D. Cooper |
|
1924 |
Presiding
Elder J. W. McDade |
|
1924 - 1927 |
The
Reverend C. J. Alexander |
|
1927 |
Presiding
Elder Boyd |
|
1927 - 1928 |
The
Reverend S. W. Whitehead |
|
1931 |
After the
death of Mrs. Jane Lewis, Augustus
Hardeman, Sr. bought, planted and dedicated to
this great lady the Pecan Tree that grows in the
front yard of our church. |
|
1932 |
The
Reverend L. Beasley - Because of illness,
the Reverend Beasley was unable to complete a
year's work.
The Reverend L. C. Wase was sent to
replace the Reverend Beasley. |
|
1933 - 1937 |
The
Reverend S. J. Matthews |
|
1937 - 1943 |
The
Reverend W. E. Thomas - Under whose
pastorage the first parsonage was built. |
|
1943 |
Presiding
Elder E. D. Cooper |
|
1943 - 1945 |
The
Reverend J. J. Hardeman - Who initiated our
building fund program. |
|
1945 |
Presiding
Elder Alexander |
|
1945 - 1949 |
The
Reverend J. E. Valentine - Who with the
cooperation of the membership, remodeled and
bricked the church. |
|
1949 |
Presiding
Elder Johnson |
|
1949-
1950 |
The
Reverend L. S. Godley |
|
1950 |
Presiding
Elder L. C. Graves |
|
1950 - 1952 |
The
Reverend L. Cornelius |
|
1952 |
Presiding
Elder W. E. Thomas |
|
1952 - 1953 |
The
Reverend A. A. Coates |
|
1953 -
1954 |
The
Reverend T. S. Singleton |
|
1954
|
Presiding
Elder A. A. Coates |
|
1954
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Augustus
Hardeman, Sr. Died |
|
1954 -
1960 |
The
Reverend T. R. Hartwell - Under whose
leadership the church cafeteria was remodeled
and sidewalks were laid. |
|
1960
|
Presiding
Elder T. A. Steadham |
|
1960 -
1963 |
The
Reverend B. T. Langham - Under whose
leadership the Gospel Choir was organized. |
|
1963 - 1965 |
Presiding
Elder T. A. Steadham and T. R. Hartwell |
|
1963 - 1965 |
The
Reverend V. L. Bell |
|
1965
|
Presiding
Elder H. L. Boyd |
|
1965 -
1977 |
The
Reverend G. Turner - under whose leadership
the new brick church and parsonage was built and
furnished. |
|
1973
|
Presiding
Elder Dawson |
|
1977 -
1979 |
The
Reverend I. B. Wells - Under his leadership
the church mortgage was burned. He also organize
the M. A. Hardeman Society in honor of the
Mother of our church. |
|
1977 |
Presiding
Elder J. H. Phillips, Jr. |
|
1979 - 1980 |
The
Reverend D. Edwards - Under whose leadership
the double glass doors at the sanctuary entrance
were installed. Returning from the Northwest
Texas Annual Conference Reverend Edwards was
killed as the result of an automobile accident. |
|
1980 - 1982 |
The
Reverend L. K. Williams, Sr. - Under whose
leadership the sanctuary was roofed and the
outside bulletin board restored. |
|
1982 -
|
The
Reverend R. W. Brown |
|
1985 |
The oldest
member of Tyree Chapel and the only living
charter member was Mrs. Mosella W. Hardeman
who died June 16, 1985. |
|
1986 |
Presiding
Elder J. H. Phillips, Jr. died. Presiding
Elder F. D. McDonald was appointed. Residing
Elder of the Bay City District on December 11,
1986 |
|
.1988 |
Stewardess
Board No. 1 under the presidency of Juanita
Hardeman Allen, compiled the Tyree Chapel
Cookbook, the first for our community. |
|
1990 |
Residing
Elder F. D. McDonald died in September. Also
The Reverend J. H. Phillips, III was
appointed Associate Presiding Elder of the Bay
City District and subsequently became the
Presiding Elder of the Bay City District.
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