The History of Evergreen compiled by Sherry Gresham Gritzbaugh "..............And this community of Evergreen's hilly red countryside, fertile and beautiful the tallest trees grow that I have ever seen and the wonderful memories so bountiful." On or about the eighteenth day of February, eighteen hundred ninety Evergreen Baptist Church was constituted with the usual covenant and articles of faith. According to the Concord Baptist Association the founding members were Eld. J.C. Jones, chairman, J. B. Tubb, clerk, P.A. Moore, A. Kitchens and S. P. Leggett. Constituent members: Deacon, Absolum Cason Hamm and wife, Mrs. Pally Gresham Hamm, John R. Ray and wife Mrs. Lucinda Jane Fitts Ray, Mrs. Rebecca Belmira Feazel Redden Gresham, Mrs. Lucinda Jane Fitts Ray, J. F. Puckett, Harrison C. Ray, J.J.C. "Jim" Gilbert, Mrs. Mattie Ray Hicks, John E. Thomas & wife Wilhelmenia "Willie Elmer" Feazel Thomas, Theopholiust H. Ray and wife Margarette Edwards Ray. Evergreen Community being of good farm land and beautiful country had attracted many pioneer settlers which were also among the first families: Tobbie Moore, Garrett Rea, Bill Rea, Bob Rea, William "Bill" Reeves Gene Reeves Mac Huffman Dave Austin Joseph "Joe" Shaw Will McDaniel, Ernest Copeland, Ed Fomby, Wess Pilott, Milam Walker Bob Britton, Odis Wynn, Wiley Anderson Luke Rea, Sr. Willie Reeves L.C. Bagwell Tom Taylor Robert Simpson Lem Brooks Jim Fomby, Sr. S.P.B. Boles Lump Fomby Will Shaver Parker Beasley Weldon Charlie Britton Newt Poland M. Allen Gresham Tom Rea James "Jim" Rea Luke Rea, Jr. Ross Reeves Henry Lowery Joe Sutton Nealy Slatons Jim Fomby, Jr. Will Smith, Jack Hattiway Clem Barham Archie Cruse Manuel Britton Jim "Buck" Wynn Brooks Most of the founding members were still living in 1909 when the composition was written by the Concord Baptist Association. J. F. Puckett was deceased. John E. Thomas was killed after he was licensed to preach. Eld. J. L. Thompson was ordained by Evergreen Baptist Church, also J.H. Jordan, who did well for a while, but in 1906 he had moved to Arkansas and preached heresy, for which the church withdrew fellowship from him. Theoopholiust Rea first appeared in Union Parish records on Sept. 9, 1883 when he acquired land from the estate of Mrs. Adeline Moore. In 1890, he sold one acre of land to the Union Parish School Board. Garrett Rea/Ray was a school teacher & taught at the one room school at Evergreen for about three years when he was elected Superintendent. Miss Sada Carey also taught at Evergreen. The names of the other educators are unknown to the compiler. In 1925 the school board sold the one acre to Evergreen Baptist Church. The Evergreen community did not have a cemetery when the infant child of Mittie Nancy Ray and her husband Wiley Anderson lost an infant on January 10, 1897. This is the oldest grave in the Evergreen Cemetery which was not part of the original acre purchased by the school board or church. On June 21, 1899 a second grandchild of Theopholiust was buried on June 21, 1899. She was the infant daughter of Ada Jordan and W. T. Ray. The cemetery soon became the burial place for Gilbert, Brooks, Glass, Cole, Ham Taylor and Jones. Evergreen was now a community cemetery. Margaret Edwards Rea/Ray died in 1903. Theopholiust lived until 1914. Reazen H. Rea inherited the land and cemetery. When he died in 1965, Mrs. Hattie Rea Austin, Mr. Durwood Rea, Mr. Otis Rea, and Mrs. Laverne Reeves legally donated the land the cemetery was on to Evergreen Baptist Church. The fence for the cemetery was purchased by the money from the oil leases, Mr. Ross Reeves bought and paid for the paint to brighten up the fence, Cortez "Jake" Gresham, Jim Austin, Ross Reeves, Mrs. Hattie Rea Austin, Mrs. Inez Austin Simpson, Mrs. Florence Simpson, and Benny Simpson were among those who donated their time and labor. Mr. T. T. Fields donated enough land to make the cemetery into a square. The picture behind the choir and pulpit was painted by Mr. Randy Reeves in memory of his grandmother, Mrs. Lois Reeves. Donations were made by members, friends and former members for perpetual care of the cemetery. With the fence around the enlarged area the cemetery is almost twice as large as it once was. There is a designated parking area in front of the cemetery. The community of Evergreen dates back to the days of isolated settlements in the Middle Ford area. Before the church was built, families would sometimes worship in private homes. Cool seasons the church was heated by a wood burning stove. In the summer, fans were passed out. Often Sunday school met outside under a cool breeze. The building for the first church was constructed for the school. John E. Thomas sawed lumber for the walls of the first church and school before his death in 1898. Some of those foot wide planks are still in use today. The building was on rock foundation, the side had two windows. This one room building had a dirt floor. Planks were placed on blocks from trees. This is where the children of Evergreen studied. On Sunday it became Evergreen Baptist Church. The building has been described as being thirty by thirty-six feet, with a pulpit, two doors, and three long plank benches on each side. Family groups would come to church in wagons drawn by horses. Often dinner would be held on the ground. Sometimes they would meet and sing. As a child growing up in the Evergreen Community the old-timers often spoke of the fun and deep meaningful worship they shared at these gatherings. Around 1904 the second building was erected. It still served as both a school and church. This building had eight windows and one side door with double doors in front. In 1937 a storm blew this building down. It was patched up and still used as a church. In 1920 the schools of Evergreen, Buckley and Mt. Patrick were consolidated and Union Gin School was built. It was after this that the school board sold the one acre to Evergreen Baptist Church It was not unusual for the pioneer families to walk three miles to attend church services. Many fond memories will always linger as the first three churches were financed by the people of the community and built by their own labor. The new building is a cinder block-building which was contracted out to Glenn Holloway. Willie Simpson and two helpers lay the blocks. Rannie Terrell of Farmerville, contracted the pouring of the cement slab for the church. The members built the church with two experienced carpenters to guide them, Earl Simpson and Ross Reeves. By the time the church was completed, members, former members, friends and business made donations that paid for the church in full. The building is thirty-two by sixty feet. Willie Reeves donated the slab and a carpet runner down the floor isle to the pulpit, while his family donated the carpet inside the church. The church signs were made and donated by Waymon and Violet Glass. The pulpit was donated by Mr. Horton. Mrs. Cassie Poland donated black walnut wood which was cut by Joe Reeves for the pulpit. Mr. Horton was heir of the property which was known as "The old Brooks Place." A large table and two flower stands were made by hand. There are different levels built for the choir and refinished seats from the old Bernice Theater were donated by Mr. & Mrs. Henry Colvin of Bernice. Elmer Spencer and Hubert Reeves drove many miles collecting for the church. When the compiler wrote this history in 1969 the oldest living members were her great grandmother, Mrs. Mittie Nancy Rea Anderson and Mrs. Ellen Ray Lowery. Mrs. Anderson was the widow of Wiley Anderson. Mrs. Lowery was the widow of Daniel Lowery. Both were the granddaughters of Theopholiust H. Rea. When this history was written in 1969 the deacons were Marshall Moore, Willie Reeves, Hubert Reeves, Fred Reeves and L.C. Bagwell who also kept the cemetery records for twenty-five years. Past deacons were Theopholiust H. Rea, Marcelleous Allen Gresham, Jim Glass and William "Bill" Reeves. Willie Reeves and L.C. Bagwell were ordained at the same time in August of 1932 during a revival held by Carlos Rockett and Duff Smith. Fred Reeves and Marshall L. Moore were ordained at the same time by Rev. Ira Aulds. Evergreen is unique in her history, as many descendants of the founding fathers still worship and live in the Evergreen Community.