Folks, I just received this but I think it was a bounce from the mail list because the contributor was not subscribed to the list. It is a great bit of information and I wanted to make certain that the efforts of Deloris Williams were not in vain. If anyone has any of the memorials for deceased members, we would be happy to have them. Thank you Deloris! Her original message is below: Nola ________________________________________ Lovely Hill Baptist Church of Warren County, North Carolina (Surnames mentioned in this document: Allen, Alston, Arrington, Baker, Brame, Braxton, Brown, Cheek, Clanton Copeland, Davis, Dixon, Edwards, Egerton, Faulkner, Fitts, Fitz, Foster, Griffin, Harris, Harrison, Hawkins, Hedgepeth, Hudgins, Ingram, Johnson, Kearney, Kerr, Lawson, Newell, Nickolson, Plummer, Powell, Ross, Spruill, Streeter, Suggs, Swinson, Thornton, Watson, West, Williams) I have come into possession of a book made by the Greater Lovely Hill Baptist Church celebrating its 111th Anniversary, in May 11, 1977. My Great Aunt gave me the book just recently and I have found that there is some information in it that may be of great use to some of us. I do not know anything other than what is in the book, with the exception of a few names who are related to me, so I cannot answer inquiries about what happened to most of the individuals. Here is a synopsis of the church history as stated in this book: The church as founded in 1866 right after the end of the Civil War by 12 brave men and women with extraordinary insight . It was a brush arbor as its beginning place of worship. The lowly brush arbor was ideal for that purpose since it protected worshippers from the heat of the blazing sun in summer, as well as serving as its own air conditioner. And it provided shelter against the ravaging wind and blowing rain. These founders felt that the spot chosen as the church site was truly atop the loveliest hill on the countryside. The Reverend Loveless Brown, Sr. was the first minister, who served as pastor for four years. Reverend Saul Clanton was the 2nd pastor, who served fro 32 years, from 1870 to 1902. He was instrumental in keeping the congregation together and in adding new members. During this time, Mrs. Lizzie Clanton, inspired the congregation to seek construction of a church building. The first recorded deed for real estate to build the church in the name of Lovely Hill Baptist Church is dated September 13, 1882, where for the sum of $5.00 a parcel of land containing one acre was obtained from Turner Alston. The deed listed as trustees: Young Clanton, Jim Allen, Sam Williams, Louis Baker and others. The land was sold to be kept and used as a missionary Baptist church for and in consideration of divine worship; and if the church were to go down and not be kept, as forestated, the land would revert back to the original owner or to his heirs. Church ownership of the first acre was registered in Superior Court, Warren County, NC, on January 5, 1885 and filed before the Warren County Reg. of Deeds, Mansfield. F. Thornton, a prominent black Warren County resident, on January 21, 1885. One of the first Deaconesses and Mothers of the Church was Mrs. Anna Alston, born 1843. She had a son, George W. Alston, who later became one of Lovely Hill's sons who went into the ministry. The third pastor was Rev. Lovelace Brown, Jr., who was the son of the first pastor, the only father-son combination to serve as pastors in the church's history. He served from 1902 to 1911. Next came Reverend Guilford B. Fitts, was the father of Deacon Willie Herbert Fitz, and he served two terms. The first was from 1911 to 1916. During this time, land was secured to use as a cemetery. A deed for one and one quarter acres was obtained from Mildred and Turner Alston for $10.00 on December 9, 1910. It was located on Mountain View Road adjoining the lands of William Alston, W. G. Egerton, Turner Alston and others. Deacons (Trustees) were listed as Young Clanton, Reuben Newell and Jerry Alston. Mr. And Mrs. Turner Alston appeared before acting Justice of the Peace, J. B. Harris on December 17, 1910, but the cemetery parcel was not registered in Superior Court until June 20, 1911. On March 3, 1911, another one and one-half acres was purchased on Mountain View Road from Anna and Willie Alston. Deacons listed were Young Clanton, Sr., Reuben Newell and Jerry Alston. The deed was registered on the same date. The fifth pastor was Reverend Nick V. Davis of Weldon who served from 1916 through 1925. During this time Mrs. Lydia Johnson of Littleton donated two beautiful amber topped cut-glass goblets and two engraved metal plates, which were used for decades by the church during Communion. Next, Reverend Guilford B. Fitts was recalled as pastor and served from 1925 through 1929. The seventh pastor was Reverend John J. Brame, who served through the early Depression years, 1930 to 1937. The eighth pastor, was Reverend Clifton E. Griffin of Mebane, North Carolina, who served from 1937 to 1945, when he resigned to become pastor of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA. During his tenure, the Youth Choir was organized by Mrs. Ophelia Watson Swinson, the church started participating in charitable organizations such as the Hart Fund and the Red Cross, strongly supported their missionary work, and became represented in the National Baptist Conventions. The ninth pastor was Reverend Ernest B. Suggs, who served from 1945 through 1953, when he died of a sudden illness. During this time, a piano was purchased and an Usher Board was organized. He also led the church in digging a well, that provided better drinking water for the church. The next pastor, number ten, was Reverend John H. Foster of Raleigh, North Carolina, who served from 1954 to 1961. It was during this time that the new church was built, which was started by Reverend Griffin by raising the funds. The building began in 1956 and was dedicated in June, 1957, when the name was changed to "The Greater Lovely Hill Baptist Church." It was moved to a two acre site on Secondary Road 1509. One acre of the land was purchased from Joseph C. Faulkner, and he gave the second acre to the church. The eleventh pastor was Reverend O'Kelly Lawson of Henderson, North Carolina, who served from 1961 to 1966, when he resigned to become pastor of Sandy Grove Baptist Church at Lumberton, North Carolina, and then to Greenville, North Carolina. The twelfth pastor was the Reverend Monsie R. Hedgepeth of Oxford, North Carolina who started service as of March 1966. Among the first Missionaries are listed as: Mrs. Maggie L. (Davis) Watson - b: 1874 - d: 1970 Mrs. Dorothy Spruill - b: 1859 -1948 Mrs. Peggy Powell - b. 1854 - 1948 Mrs. Mary Hudgins - b: 1858 -1922 Mrs. Alice Alston - b: 1870 1925 Former Deacons; William Clanton Young Clanton, Sr. John Brown Turner Alston - 1839 - 1911 Reuben Newell - 1856 - 1933 Norman Alston - 1885 - 1955 Jerry Alston - 1868 - 1926 Andrew Brown - 1884 - 1947 Jim Williams Robert Y. Davis - 1878 - 1939 Robert Harris William S. Hudgins - 1895 - 1964 Willie J. Spruill - 1875 - 1950 David N. Spruill - 1895 - 1975 Willie F. Powell - 1880 - 1963 James W. Alston - 1890 - 1960 Thomas Williams - 1871 - 1946 Former Deaconesses: Mrs. Mariah Clanton - 1847 - 1919 Mrs. Lucy D. Watson - 1848 - 1929 Mrs. Mary Hudgins - 1858 - 1922 Mrs. Cora B. Spruill - 1878 - 1960 Mrs. Beulah Spruill - 1894 - 1966 Mrs. Mary A. Alston - 1870 - 1925 Mrs. Nannie Brown - 1882- 1962 Mrs. Martha Williams - 1864 - 1939 Mrs. Penola M. Hudgins - 1895 - 1955 Mrs. Annie L. Kearney - 1894 - 1967 Mrs. Maggie L. (Davis) Watson - 1874 - 1870 Mrs. Enolia L. (Davis) Streeter - 1888 - 1974 Mrs. Rebecca Newell 1865 - 1945 Mrs. Anna Alston - 1843 - 1929 Mrs. Mary Clanton - 1876 - 1969 Former Missionaries: Mrs. Jane Nicholson - 1858- 1939 Mrs. Della Harrison - 1896 - 1976 Mrs. Angie F. Dixon - 1901 - 1970 Mrs. Minerva Hawkins - 1878 - 1966 Mrs. Nannie J. Hudgins - 1898 - 1947 Mrs. Lizzie Alston - 1893 -1967 Mrs. Emma C. Davis - 1891 -1951 Mrs. Minnie (Cheek) Arrington - 1888 - 1946 Mrs. Rosa E. Edwards - 1903 - 1970 Miss Susie Williams - 1888 -1950 Mrs. Cora B. Spruill - 1878 - 1970 Mrs. Pattie C. (Davis) Davis - 1892 - 1957 Mrs. Mary Eliza (Davis) Powell - 1859 - 1947 Mrs. Lillie Cheek - 1882 - 1944 Mrs. Mildred Alston - 1865 -1937 Mrs. Beulah Spruill - 1894 - 1965 Mrs. Lucy S. Harris - 1890 - 1953 Mrs. Channie C. Powell - 1914 - 1975 Miss Lucy Williams - 1911 -1944 Mrs. Mary Clanton - 1876 - 1969 Mrs. Lillie P. Ingram - 1896 - 1961 Mrs. Lillian Alston Mrs. Nevie J. (Davis) Powell - 1884 - 1967 Mrs. India Plummer Other Former Members (deceased): Mr. Arthur W. Hudgins Mr. Leroy Newell Mr. Joseph Spruill Mr. James L. Watson (first organized the Church Choir in early 1900's) Mr. James A. Alston Mrs. Rosa Kerr Mr. Benjamin Powell Mr. Samuel Cheek Mr. Garfield Copeland Mr. Langdon West Mrs. Marjorie W. Ross Mr. Edward Brown Mr. Joseph C. Faulkner Mr. Lafayette L. Brown Mr. David N. Spruill Other Ministers: Rev. George W. Alston - 1875 - 1957 ( son of William and Anna Alston) Rev. John Henry Clanton - ordained 1928 (son of Jimmy Clanton and Ida Clanton) Rev. Samuel B. Clanton - 1883 - 1947 ( son of Rev. Saul and Mariah Clanton) Rev. James S. Spruill - ordained 1928 ( son of Henry and Dorothy Spruill) Rev. William Williams Rev. Anniah Clanton - 1882 ?- 1930 (son of Rev. Saul and Mariah Clanton) Cemetery- Headstones visible in photo: William E. Clanton - Aug.28, 1903 - Nov.16, 1965-REST IN PEACE Jesse Ed Braxton - TEXAS, U.S. NAVY-WORLD WAR II-Aug. 15, 1919 - Jan. 16,1972 CLANTON- John H. - 1872 -1955 , Mary H. - 1876 - 1969 ***There is also a list of members of the church as of 1977. If anyone wants me to check a name for them, I will be happy to do so if you send me an email. There are also a few dedications to deceased family members from their then living relatives, some with addresses. I will do a check of any of those names also, but I will only disclose the names of family members listed in the dedication*** Deloris Williams deloris.williams2@verizon.net