First Baptist Church [ Kannapolis, N.C. Our First 75 ^ The Author BILL WORKMAN Bill Workman moved to Kan- napolis from Pineville in the spring of 1922, when he was four years old. Two weeks later, he was invited by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Stroup to attend Sunday School and worship services. He has been in Kannapolis and First Baptist Church ever since. Soon after graduating from Can- non High School, Workman became an eager but very green reporter for The Independent. He spent 45 years with his hometown newspaper, retir- ing in June 1983 as associate editor. He loved every day he spent help- ing record the growth and progress of Kannapolis. In our church, he helped in the first Daily Vacation Bible School (which, incidentally, was one of the first DVBS programs in Kannapolis) dur- ing the P. A. Underwood pastorate. He spent his youth working in the Baptist Young People's Union. For many years, he and his wife, Lucy, have enjoyed working in the pre-school department of the Sunday School. He has often said, "This is the place in our church where the people know what they're doing and where they're going." He welcomes the Sunday mornings with children in our church and his volunteer tutoring of elementary grade students in the Kannapolis City Schools as "a break from the hectic adult world." 1-7 First Baptist Church Kannapolis, N.C. Our First ^ £ I ^ Years Author: BILL WORKMAN Copyright © 1983 First Baptist Church Kannapolis, N.C. ii Dedication This story of how the First Baptist Church and the Kannapolis community grew together in the past 75 years is dedicated to the members of our congrega- tion — those who set the course in the for- mative years, those who make our Chris- tian fellowship what it is today, and those who will meet the challenges that can take First Baptist to greater heights in the dynamic future. iii The History Committee Seated Left to Right: Jo Sherrill. Bess Oxendine, Mrs. W. H. Riddle; Standing left to right: Raymond Brinkley, Norman Brisson, Troy Day, J. K. Rouse, Bill Workman. Picture editor and research: J.K. ROUSE Layout: JO SHERRILL BESS OXENDINE Advisory: MRS. W.H. RIDDLE RA YMOND BRINKLEY NORMAN BRISSON KEN ALTO M TROYL. DAY iv A ckn o wledgm en ts This book would not have been possible without a lot of help from many peo- ple, in and outside our church. Pictures that reflect the history of our congregation were provided by Miss Willeree Tate, Mrs. Nell Allen, Mrs. Ross Castor, J.V. Corn, Mrs. George Noel, Marvin Ira Dayvault, Mrs. A. P. Jackson, J.K. Rouse, Mrs. H.B. Robertson, Mrs. Smith Brown, Mrs. Millard Cheek, Miss Loraine Gray, Earl Graham and Dow Brinkley. Cannon Mills Company Archives provided many pictures that permitted us to connect the history of our church with the history of Kannapolis. We are grateful to Edward L. Rankin Jr., Cannon Mills vice president-public relations, and Mrs. Faye Howard and Harry Litaker of his staff. The Daily Independent enabled us to set the type as the text was written, and this generosity reduced the cost of this book substantially. We are indebted to James A. Blair, general manager; Earl Evans, production director, who guided us in the selection of the typefaces and the style of composition; Ray Phillips, who patiently ran copies for our consultants to read and then produced the corrected type; Mrs. Pat Archer and Miss Terry Christopher, who assisted with the typeset- ting; Ken Ogle and Marty Price, photographers. We asked Miss Loraine Gray of our congregation to give the proofs a final and critical reading. She remembered several historic events that others had forgot- ten, and these additions enhanced the text. The assistance from all these people is deeply appreciated. [ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https ://arch i ve . org/detai Is/f i rstbaptistch u rOOwo r k r Introduction The first Baptist Church of Kannapolis is celebrating its Diamond Anniver- sary. Our organization dates back to October 11, 1908, the records say. Actually, our history goes back a couple of years before that. As J.W. Cannon built mills to spin cotton into yarn and weave yarn into a simple fabric called Cannon Cloth, and carpenters constructed shell houses for workers, Baptists moved in from farms nearby and far away. Also arriving with their families and all their belongings piled on wagons pulled by mules were Methodists and Presbyterians and Lutherans — and a sprinkling of men, women and children of the Reformed, the ARP and the Pentecostal faiths. These people were filled with a pioneer spirit. They believed that J.W. Can- non would build a strong company and a good town, and their mission was to help him provide their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren a life that would be better than the hard times they had to endure. These people knew they had to work together — or wither on the vine. They also knew that churches would lead the way in the community's progress. Cottage prayer meetings were held all over the little town. People of all faiths came together, and paid little or no attention to denominational lines. Their in- terest was in converting sinners. There were many sinners. As in any new com- munity, meanies as well as Christians moved in. Out of these cottage prayer meetings grew churches, including our congrega- tion. Our First Baptist Church and the Town of Kannapolis grew together, rejoiced together in good times, suffered together in tragic times. Togetherness is the theme of this account of our first 75 years. The 75th Anniversary Committee Troy L. Day, Chairman Ned Robinette Jill Roach Dow Brinkley Madry Grant Phyllis Odell Julie Ward Tom Dayvault Doug Truesdel Shirley Hartis Frances Bounds Lawrence M. Williams 1 ( ~ ^ Table Of Contents Page Our Beginning 5 Our First Pastor 9 A Civil War Hero 11 He Came To Build 13 Dividends Of Faith 17 He Filled The Church 23 A Preacher With Wit 25 Ladies Took The Lead 27 We Added Depth 29 Influential Classes 33 Cyclone Came To Town 35 He Was One Of Us 41 Rapid Growth 45 We Reached Out 47 Tithing Worked 57 Our Vision Widened 61 He Added Strength 67 A Challenging Time 71 Our Church Family 85 The Years Ahead 91 Our Church Leaders In 1983 96 Our Church Roll In 1983 97 V J 3 Our Beginning October 11, 1908 was crisply cool in Kannapolis, a village that was being developed around the mills that J.W. Cannon constructed in a sage field along the railroad. At 8 o'clock that night a dozen Baptists — a preacher from Rowan County, the Rev. Jacob Lovelace Kirk, and 11 persons who had moved here to seek their for- tune in the beginning of North Carolina's industrial revolution — gathered to form a church. The Missionary Baptist Church that was formed that night is our First Baptist Church 75 years later in 1983. The Rev. Mr. Kirk signed the charter, along with J. P. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. T.B. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Norville, Miss Donie Norville, J.H. Reader, John W. Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Carter and Miss Clara Carter. Though very small, that group represented a cross section of Kannapolis in 1908. The charter membership included a couple of young people, top super- visors in the mill, and people who ran the cards and spinning frames and the looms to make the simple "Cannon cloth." It also reflected the dreams, the aspirations and the enthusiasm of the people who were setting out to build a town from the ground up with their own hands. Reporting on the organization of the Missionary Baptist Church in Kannapolis, the Rev. J.W. Snyder, a member of the organizing council, wrote in the October 21, 1908 issue of the Biblical Recorder. "This little band of Baptists, with their pastor, the Rev. J.L. Kirk, is very en- thusiastic and with the splendid field they have they are sure to grow and suc- ceed. Kannapolis is a beautiful new cotton mill town situated on the Southern Railway, seven miles north of Concord, and when all the tenant houses for the three large mills are filled, it will have a population of at least two thousand peo- ple." Yes, those dozen Baptists were enthusiastic and optimistic. People who came to Kannapolis while J.W. Cannon was building the mills and constructing houses for the workers had to be filled with faith and hope to survive. They had faith in J.W. Cannon, who had been a merchant in Concord and had operated mills there. They had confidence in his business philosophy: it made more sense to build cloth-making mills where cotton was grown than to ship the cotton to New England to be spun into thread and woven into cloth that would be shipped back to the South. They had hope that the future would be better for them, their children, grand- children and great-grandchildren. They were willing to work diligently for the few pennies an hour that the new industry paid; those wages were much better than what farmers were earning, the hours were not as long and the work wasn't as hard. Kannapolis settlers had come in wagons, usually bringing in one trip all the furniture and clothing they owned, and their families. And, back then, families were large. Houses that were built around the mills were as enticing as the jobs that J.W. Cannon offered. If the houses had not been available virtually rent-free, the peo- 5 pie couldn't have come. They had barely enough money to get them to the new town. They worked gardens, raised pigs and milked cows — primarily to supple- ment their wages, secondarily to provide chores for children too young to work in the mills. The houses were rugged by today's standards. They were small — three, four and five rooms. It wasn't unusual for six, eight and ten people to live in one of these houses and not know they were crowded. Inside plumbing hadn't been heard of in this part of the country; a "john" was 50 feet behind each house, and water was carried, usually by children, from a well a block away. The people who came here 75 years ago were of good character. They were honest with each other, and with the merchants who extended credit. And they were God-fearing. Miss Donie Norville, who spent her life in our church and was loved as a teacher, left for our records a note about the first Sunday School in Kannapolis. "It began in 1908," she wrote, "in a three-room house on what is now North Poplar Street where No. 3 Mill now stands. This was not a denominational Sun- day School. There were Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and perhaps others. I'm not sure, but I think there were about 13 persons present on the first Sunday we met. Mr. A.H. Sides, better known as Daddy Sides, a Methodist, was superintendent of the Sunday School and also taught a class. All of the small children met in one room together." "We all met together for several months," Miss Donie continued, "after which we, the Baptists, moved to a hall over F.L. Smith Drug store which stood where My Shop was." Although Miss Donie didn't say so, the organization of our church took place in that meeting hall over Smith Drug. Known as the Junior Hall, it was used by several organizations and churches over a period of years. The Missionary Baptist Church of Kannapolis continued to worship there until its building was completed in 1912. While a lot of good people were moving to Kannapolis, some less desirable characters came, too. This new town was fertile territory for evangelists, and the preaching style that got the people's attention was fear of God, hell fire being certain punishment for those who died in sin, and blasting away at drinking liquor and gambling. Some of the traveling preachers also lashed out against smoking cigarettes, and women wearing makeup and cutting their hair. They didn't say much against sex, because in those days decent people didn't dare to mention sex in public. The Oct. 29, 1908 issue of the Concord Times carried a lengthy story about 18 days of revival services which G.W. Fink of Charlotte conducted in a tent in Kannapolis. These services resulted "in one of the most stirring revivals ever held in or around Kannapolis," the newspaper said. "There were many striking conver- sions, including those of drunkards, gamblers, whiskey sellers and self-righteous people. There were 227 professions during these meetings, many of whom gave their names for membership in the different churches of this community. Many who were lately drunkards and gamblers are holding cottage prayer meetings and taking up church work in general." Apparently the good people who settled Kannapolis had a way of getting rid of the bad ones who couldn't be converted. The Nov. 2, 1908 issue of the Concord Times noted in its Kannapolis news col- umn: "There is considerable moving in and out of Kannapolis, but our population is on the increase and we are glad to note that a better citizenship is being built up." In the same issue, it was noted that the Rev. Mr. Kirk preached on a Saturday 6 night and received five new members into the Baptist Church. The Rev. J.W. Snyder was correct when he predicted that Kannapolis' Mis- sionary Baptist Church would "grow and succeed." Minutes of the 24th annual session of the Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Baptist Association in 1909 noted that the congregation received 55 members during its first year — 17 by baptism, 38 by transfer of letters. These raised the total membership to 61 (27 males, 34 females), according to Clerk S.T. Reeder's records. The Sunday School report for that first year, submitted by Superintendent J. A. Combs and Secretary C . W . Wright, listed an enrollment of 21 1 : nine officers and teachers, 202 "scholars." Attendance averaged 79. The financial records for the charter year — 1908-09 — reflected the economy of the period and the wages people earned. They also showed where the Baptist Church's heart was. Pastor Kirk received a salary of $150 for the year. This was pitifully small com- pared to 1983 wage schedules, but in those days of our beginning $150 a year was pretty good money. All expenditures in 1908-09 totaled $267.51. The church con- tributed $4.90 to state missions, $1.70 to home missions, $1.75 to foreign mis- sions, $6.62 to the orphanage. Sunday School expenses were $15; incidental costs were $19.22 and "other objects" accounted for $69.32. The Mecklenburg-Cabarrus Association's 1909 report also included recom- mended "apportionments" for the following 12 months. The Kannapolis church's goals included $5 for the orphanage, $5 for foreign missions, $3 for home mis- sions, $4 for state missions, $1 for ministerial relief, $1 for ministerial education. Entering Early Kannapolis From S. Main St. 7 Rev. Jacob Lovelace Kirk Our First Pastor The organizing pastor of the Missionary Baptist Church of Kannapolis was a man for the times. The Rev. Jacob Lovelace Kirk was young when he came here; 30 years-old, to be exact. He was a newly-wed; he and Miss Connie Viola Edwards, a Stanly County native, had exchanged vows on May 25, 1908, in New London. He was educated, and had the ability to deal with people in all walks of life. He was a friendly man who shunned formality; Miss Donie Norville referred to him as "Rev. Jake Kirk." He loved people almost as much as he loved a challenge. By the time Preacher Jake arrived in Kannapolis, he was a full-fledged Baptist. He had spent a dozen years learning to be a Baptist; he attended Mars Hill Col- lege, Wake Forest College and the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville. Prior to age 18, he was a member of the Associate Reformed Church, ap- parently because of his father's influence. His mother's influence prevailed final- ly, and she was Baptist. Young Jake was also influenced by Dr. J.N. Stallings, the noted minister for whom Stallings Memorial Baptist Church in Salisbury was named. But the over- riding influence was what he learned from his own diligent search of the Scrip- tures. It seems that the Rev. Mr. Kirk leaned toward evangelism, one-on-one and in revival services. He also preached the importance of strong family ties and parental guidance. The oldest of his four children, Jacob Sidney Kirk, was born in Kannapolis on June 14, 1909. 9 His youngest child, Helen Ida, the wife of North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture James A. Graham, wrote a biography of the Rev. Mr. Kirk for use in our church's 75th Anniversary celebration. She closed with this comment: "I hope that this church will continue to follow the Bible concept of 'Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it'." The Rev. Mr. Kirk left the Kannapolis Missionary Baptist Church in 1909 to become minister of a congregation at Palmerville. He also served Kendall Church and Newell's Church. He was twice pastor of Stallings Memorial Baptist Church in Salisbury, 1913- 1916 and 1918-1920. In 1916-17 he led Rinnert Church in Stanly County, and was pastor of a con- gregation in Morganton in 1920. During the period from 1921 until 1925, he was pastor of the First Baptist Church in China Grove and Corinth Church in southern Rowan. From 1925 until his retirement in 1931, the Rev. Mr. Kirk was pastor of two churches in the Mocksville area, Turentine and Cornatzer. He died on October 23, 1954 at the age of 76. Mrs. Kirk died on July 14, 1967 and was buried beside her husband in Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Salisbury. Girl's Sunday School Class, 1910: Teacher, Lillie Kyles Menton, Annie Reid, Minnie Norville, Gertrude Talbert, Grace Bounds, Bessie Carter, Gertrude Potts, Mary Wentz, Mary Potts and Nell McClamrock. 10 Rev. William T. Talbert A Civil War Hero The Rev. William T. Talbert, a Civil War veteran who had been a member of the council that organized our church in 1908, became pastor in 1909, suc- ceeding the Rev. Mr. Kirk. He was elderly at the time, and accepted the call with reluctance. For several months he had insisted that the young church in Kannapolis needed a young minister. But, after he accepted, he entered the field with the same diligence that had marked his service at Second Baptist Church in Concord (he was called at the organization meeting in 1902 and the church later assumed the name of McGill Avenue Baptist) and West Concord Baptist Church (which he established in 1906 in an old vacant building). Just as he had been early in his service as a pastor, the Rev. Mr. Talbert was evangelistic and mission-minded. In 1910 he conducted a spring revival in the Junior Hall, with the assistance of the Rev. A.C. Davis of Union County. The following August, he preached a series of evangelistic services in the David Franklin Cannon Hall at the brand new YMCA here. The Concord Times, on August 4, 1910, said the Rev. Mr. Talbert was a "very earnest preacher and has the confidence and respect of the entire community." Another observer described the minister, past retirement age, as "an old work horse who has been in the harness a long time" but "still as zealous as a young preacher, thus enjoying the attention of his audience and his preaching is effec- tive." li The Rev. Mr. Talbert was also known as the "marrying parson." He was still providing effective leadership in the early months of 1911, but was left in a feeble condition after an attack of influenza in March. He resigned, ef- fective the first of May 1911. He continued to live in Kannapolis, on South Main Street beside the home of his son, Marion, who was the town's police chief. He died on June 18, 1913. The Rev. Mr. Talbert was the father-in-law of John W. Fisher, one of the charter members of our church. The minister's family was still represented in our congregation in the 75th Anniversary year by two granddaughters, Mrs. Bertha Seaford and Miss Gladys Fisher, and two great-granddaughters, Doris (Mrs. Larry) Hinson and Grace (Mrs. Charlie R.) Crowe. Another granddaughter of the Rev. Mr. Talbert, Mrs. Clemmie Fisher, was active in our congregation until her death. Our First Choir: Left to Right — Miss Bessie Funderburk, Mr. Reeder, Miss Carter, Mr. E. F. Carter, Miss Carter, Miss Donie Noville, the YMCA Secretary, Cora Propst, Grace Martin Brown, Ina Bridges, Nell McClamrock Allen. The 2nd YMCA in Kannapolis offered meeting space to the huge Baraca Men's Class of our church when they outgrew their classroom in the church building. 12 Rev. E. C. Andrews He Came To Build Our third pastor, the Rev. E.C. Andrews, came here to convert sinners, which he did very effectively. He came here to increase the membership of the Baptist Church, which he did. He came here to teach the Baptists how to be good stewards, how to work hard, save their pennies and invest in the work of the Lord. He was successful in this, too. He came here to help the Baptists build their own place of worship. The Junior Hall over Smith's Drug on South Main Street no longer was adequate in size or in appearance. The Cannon Hall at the new YMCA was not large enough to ac- commodate our congregation, either. The Rev. Mr. Andrews arrived here from Plymouth in January 1912. During the latter part of 1911, our interim pastor was a noted Salisbury minister, the Rev. J.N. Stallings. For several weeks, the Andrews family lived with Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Wright. After the arrival of household furnishings, the pastor moved his family into a Cannon house on Chestnut Avenue. The Rev. Mr. Andrews was young, 36. Seven years before coming here, he married Miss Mary Wilson of Oxford. She was active in the church wherever he served. They had young children, who kept them feeling young. 13 This minister was experienced at preaching, with emphasis on evangelism. Born in Chatham County near Pittsboro, he attended Mars Hill College, Wake Forest College and the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Thomas J. Taylor's history of the Tar River Baptist Association pointed out that while a student at Wake Forest, the Rev. Mr. Andrews "served as pastor of the following churches: Ephesus in the Mount Zion Association, where he baptiz- ed about 40; Sulphur Springs in the Tar River Association, where about 65 were baptized; and Sandy Creek in the Tar River Association, where about 50 were added to the church by baptism." Following his graduation from seminary, the Rev. Mr. Andrews became pastor at Swansboro in 1904, and went to Plymouth three years later. The energetic minister was ready for his first challenge as a builder that faced him as our minister, but he did not let this interfere with his preaching and his zeal for evangelism. The Concord Times reported on April 15, 1912: "Bricks are being placed on the ground for a new Baptist Church, which will be built near the Cannon Hall (YMCA), and it will be built at a cost of about $7,000, which will be in keeping with the other buildings that are being built." The same newspaper reported in its June 14, 1912 issue: "The Rev. E.C. Andrews, pastor of the Baptist Church in Kannapolis, closed a two weeks' revival meeting, resulting in 92 additions to the church. Dr. C.S. Blackwell of Richmond, Va., did the preaching." The first item demonstrated the faith the Baptists had. Bricks were being plac- ed on the ground which the congregation didn't own but depended upon God to provide. The second item was evidence that the Rev. Mr. Andrews was pursuing his first love — and the first mandate of the calling of a minister in those times. A couple of hours set aside at night for fire and brimstone preaching and the singing of come-to-the-altar hymns simply began a revival. The days were spent pleading with sinners to come, hear the Word, believe and repent — and urging new Christians to get busy in the work of the Lord. He was also known as a disciplinarian, and discipline began in his own home. Mrs. W.H. Riddle recalled a service during which the Rev. Mr. Andrews' son, Clessie, who was 10 or 12 years old, was talking so much and so loudly that he was giving his father quite a bit of competition. Preacher Andrews ran out of patience before Clessie ran out of words. He left the pulpit, lifted Clessie by the nape of the neck and marched him through the door back of the pulpit. After a few minutes had passed and Clessie was given a spanking, the youngster was seated beside his mother. Mr. Andrews finished his sermon as though nothing had happened. Never again did he have competition from Clessie. 14 Deed To The First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, N.C. 131 This Indenture Made this xw^pn i£ts. ti .*/. day oi....j£-^^£4t4> 1. (.../a /- - //.(..../ |H(V"< I. // /(A.*JiM*^LA~£L. ,.- L*.4..7# l ..#./o _ >y/) //i //.?. 21 /» c o. / /'/J .: J y^//^t //i J>//)//fm<*A ^A^u r yy/«y fr//^ s L Aa.I.J J?t?/l.A 4-l < fiiui /StrtA '////< S/y-)yX.ys / /< */ij*<'ei f.t%V/..///*/... J /(/..*< . y/t.'<. Cc 6. JUuJ. . L, ^J/i/xdtUA. £ /.v*/y/?( liAMai/, /^(^y?Z ' .Ml j's' ..£<-;./. ~/t^. //<. ^, << ( $7~4C£{.. . ..&<**..C<<....£f*.< 6-••>• > - (Sca!) / I Jv/f/y C J **+/Jl.*-^ rh^U//^u/~.{Stz\.) (Seal.) 7"0 HAVE AND TO HOLD all and singular the above granted premises, with the appurtenances, unto the s;:d parLc<*..of the second part .7>Cuvt heirs and assigns forever. And the said part-^ha _ of the first part for /j£&t^.: heirs, executors and administrators, do.....-7r».... hereby covenant with the said pnrt*C....of the second pai i.../r^£rw~ heirs and assigns that. .^l^_...seiied of the premises in fee simple; that the said premises are free from all incumbrances; that..^*^ 7**m**C good, right anl lawful authorit> to sell the same; that rf^^j will warrant and defend the said premises unto the said part - n * ; of the second part fifa^-v his heirs and assigns, against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoeve/. j j IN TESTIMONY WHEKJiOV, 'flic said parl-*^ of the first liay ... // CLla-p^J- /?J$,/?/H /sajs-h Aj^^i '/ta, '// :^l.-. ]/<• nri^'irodi. / State of North Carolina, I _ . 1 _. Court. C«bi>r,„j County I The exi-cntion of tin foregoing Deed wns this * . day of 191 acknowledged, proven, before the undersigned .*. „ in and for the county aforesaid, by Therefore, let the said [Iced, together with this certificate, be registered Witness my band and seal, date above written. .[SEAL.] State of North Carolina, I j Superior Court 191 Cabarrus County .1 Th* forcgoinif rrrtifirrttt: of.. a of I 'utility, ilnly nllrslwl by arid, l« sd judged to be in due form according to law. Therefore, let the s.-.id Dec!, with the certificates, be registered. Filed at. / 0. o'clock./? ...M. Registered at.. 6 ^ ... o'clock. (T..M. J-r ,i 9 t. -5-- Clerk Superior Court. Jt^M^d^..^ Register of Deeds. Dividends Of Faith In the summer of 1912, the Kannapolis Baptists reaped dividends from their commitment to build a church and their faith that God would provide the land. Records on file in the Cabarrus County Courthouse at Concord show that on August 14, 1912, Cannon Manufacturing Company transferred to the trustees of the Baptist Church a tract near the point where the new First Street merged into Main Street (the Kannapolis-Concord Road). This is the same land our congrega- tion has occupied ever since, with a few alterations to make room for expansion of our building, the widening of First Street and construction of Lake Drive. The land was a gift from J.W. Cannon through Cannon Manufacturing. The records show that it was transferred "in consideration of the sum of one dollar and no cents." The trustees who accepted the land were N.A. Gregg, J.W. Bounds, J.H. Reeder, A.T. Wentz and E.F. Carter. J.W. Bounds the father of Luther J. Bounds, who joined our church early in his life and remained active among us until his death in 1972, except the time his work as a Southern Railway Agent took him to Gastonia. Luther's wife, Mrs. Glennie Helms Bounds, and daughter Frances were still very much a part of our church family in our 75th year. Work on the 500-seat sanctuary and six Sunday School rooms must have pro- gressed rapidly and smoothly. The first service was held in the new church on Thanksgiving night, barely three months after the deed to the land was recorded. Mrs. Smith Brown, recalling that joyful occasion for our church history, said the people sat on homemade-benches constructed with rough lumber, and spent the next couple of days remembering the sermon, the songs and the splinters. The construction was supervised by W. I. Montgomery, a High Point contrac- tor, who had ties here. He and E.F. Carter, who through the years could have been called "Mr. Everything" in our church, had married sisters. Mr. Montgomery, who was paid $100 for overseeing the building of our first church, came from High Point to Kannapolis once each week to check on the work, and spent as much time as was necessary. Since there is nothing in our records that indicates he received an expense allowance, it is assumed that the Carters furnished his meals and a place to sleep. Following Mr. Montgomery's death in July 1913, his daughter, Ruth, came to Kannapolis the next December. His wife, Mrs. Alice Montgomery, and the other children, Norma and Winfred, moved here in March 1914. All became very busy in the Baptist Church that Mr. Montgomery, a Methodist, had helped build. Mrs. Montgomery, whose career up to that time had been homemaking, open- ed a millinery shop on Main Street. After her store was destroyed by fire in 1919, she became manager of the millinery department at Efird's. She continued to be active in our church in the years that followed. She died in 1965 at the age of 95. Ruth, who had gone to work in the Cannon Mills office, met Horace B. Robertson shortly after he joined the Cannon office staff in 1920. They took a lik- ing to each other and were married two years later. In time, the Robertsons became very active in Trinity Methodist Church — and still are. Winfred Montgomery sang in our choir and filled many other positions in our church until his marriage to Sarah Walton. He went with her to the Episcopal Church. He is retired from Cannon Mills and continues to live in Kannapolis. Norma worked in various departments of our church for many years. As we prepared to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of our congregation, she was living in a retirement center in Chapel Hill. Mrs. Robertson remembers the Rev. Mr. Andrews as a "very busy preacher" and recalls his children playing with others in the church and in the neighborhood. 17 She also remembers the fund-raising projects to help pay the debt on the new church. One of the favorite — and most successful — ways of raising money was selling homemade ice cream in front of the church. Among the ice cream makers and sellers remembered by Mrs. Robertson were Sally and John E. Lindsay. Two of the Lindsays' daughters, Mrs. Addie Lowder and Mrs. Josie Reece, were still in our church family in its Diamond Anniversary year. So were Mrs. Lowder's sons, Ervin and Ned, and Mrs. Reece's daughters, Mrs. Carolyn Goldston and Mrs. Alice Tucker. The Rev. Mr. Andrews continued to emphasize evangelism and fund-raising. The baptistry in the new church was used for the first time in April 1913. Until then, people coming into the Baptist Church on profession of faith were baptized in the lake in front of the Cannon Mills plant unless they preferred to be baptized in the Yadkin River. In the closing days of August 1913, the Rev. W.F. Fisher conducted a revival in our church. The Concord Times issue of September 4, 1913, made this comment about this evangelist from Atlanta: "Dr. Fisher is not a sensational preacher but presents the truth in a plain, straightforward way, going deep into his subject. Therefore, the congregation is edified and there is no excitement. The preaching is of a high order and much good is being done." The article said the church "was crowded both morning and evening" on the Sunday the revival started and "at the latter service many could not get in." The Rev. Mr. Andrews preached his farewell sermon on February 22, 1914, after accepting a call to become pastor of the Baptist Church at Mt. Holly. The minutes of the 1913 session of the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus Baptist Associa- tion listed the value of the Kannapolis Baptist Church's new building at $8,000. The records submitted by S.T. Reeder, church clerk, showed that during the previous 12 months the Kannapolis church received 46 members by baptism and 57 by transfer of letters; one member died and 14 were dismissed by letters. The net gain of 88 members raised the total to 300. Superintendent E.F. Carter and Secretary T.A. Davis reported 16 officers and 417 students enrolled in Sunday School. Sunday School collections during that period amounted to $238.03. 18 20 Rev. S. J. Beeker He Filled The Church Our history files have little to say about our fourth minister, the Rev. S.J. Beeker. There is a clipping from the Kannapolis column in the March 4, 1914 issue of the Concord Times that reported: "Rev. S.J. Beeker, the new pastor of the Baptist Church, arrived Saturday evening and preached Sunday morning and night to a large congregation who were anxious to form the acquaintance of the new pastor, although he is not an entire stranger here. Mrs. Beeker, who will arrive here this week, will be no stranger either, as she has a number of friends here already. Mr. and Mrs. Beeker are welcomed by the entire community." The Concord Tribune reported in the Kannapolis news column in the March 30, 1916 issue: "Rev. S.J. Beeker of the Baptist Church here has resigned and will go to another field of service." Most of what we learned about the Rev. Mr. Beeker comes from Mrs. W.H. Riddle's memory. "Certainly, I remember him," Mrs. Riddle recalled. "He lived with my family (the J.W. Johnsons) about a month until his family arrived." She added: "He was a good preacher — he baptized me. The church (which had a seating capacity of 500) was full at most services and the overflow went to the Sunday School rooms along the back of the sanctuary. And he held many revivals." 23 The Rev. Mr. Beeker had good rapport with young people, too. "He worked with us a lot," Mrs. Riddle recalled. "His daughter, Mable, was about our age, and he encouraged her to skate because he wanted her to have big feet. Skating was the big thing in those years, when Kannapolis was beginning to get a few sidewalks, especially in the center of town." The minister invited evangelists and missionaries to speak in our church. The Concord Times reported in its Kannapolis column on April 8, 1915: "Evangelist Fred Day of Winston-Salem will begin a series of meetings at the Baptist Church week after next. Mr. Day's reputation as a great Christian worker is known far away from his home and no doubt he will receive the hearty cooperation of Kannapolis in his work here." And on February 28,1916, that newspaper reported: "Miss Mary Mullis, a young lady from North Charlotte who has given herself to missionary work in China delivered two very interesting lectures in the Baptist Church here (Kannapolis) Sunday at 11 o'clock and 7 o'clock. Miss Mullis expects to leave for China in a short while." Kannapolis's Main St. Had a Parking Problem Even Then. 24 Rev. J. Frank Black A Preacher With Wit It seems that in our early years, the Lord sent a minister who was needed at the time. The Rev. Mr. Beeker's successor, the Rev. J. Frank Black, is remembered by Mrs. W.H. Riddle as "a good preacher, a strong preacher with some dry wit." Wit was needed in those times that tried people's faith and patience. Our church was in its own building, but raising money to meet the operating expenses and make payments on the church brought upon the people stress, strain and worry. Wages were still a few cents an hour. J.W. Cannon's mills were still in their infancy. Workers were trying to get ac- customed to the machines, fixers were trying to get the bugs out of the machines, and the business area was in early development. People were moving into town as rapidly as Cannon houses could be built. In addition to all the concerns related to getting a town started, troubles throughout the world were causing Kannapolis men to worry. Germany was kicking up a big fuss all over Europe, and American men had every right to believe that eventually they would become involved in World War I. U.S. Marines were sent to Haiti in 1915 to preserve order, and the following spring, U.S. troops invaded Mexico in pursuit of revolutionary Pancho Villa. In November 1916, American Marines landed in the Dominican Republic. The worst fear in the minds of Kannapolis young men and their parents became reality. On April 6, 1917, the U.S. formally declared war on Germany, and by the thousands soldiers were quickly sent to Europe. Kannapolis provided its share of the armed forces. 25 The Rev. J.F. Black's wit was a kind of stabilizer; it kept the people in the young Baptist Church of Kannapolis firm in the faith that the future would be brighter. Wit did not dominate his personality or his preaching, however. He lashed out against such sins as drinking liquor, smoking cigarettes, playing cards, running around with loose women, and not worshipping God. He warned that the fires of hell awaited those who didn't repent, make peace with the Lord, and start living the way that Jesus said people should live. The Rev. Mr. Black had his own burdens that tried his personal faith. His wife died on March 24, 1919, leaving him responsible for the care of his two children, Mary and Frank Jr., in addition to carrying out his pastoral duties. His cousin, Miss Anna Duncan, who had come to Kannapolis to work in the mills and was living with the J.W. Johnson family, moved in with the Rev. Mr. Black and shared with him the care of the children. The Rev. Mr. Black died in the spring of 1924 in Salisbury. The "Official" Cannon Mills Band. This Band Enlisted In WWI Together. 26 Ladies Took The Lead One who reads the journal of the Ladies Aid Society of the Kannapolis Baptist Church might wonder what the men did during the early years of our congrega- tion. The Ladies Aid Society was formed on October 23, 1910, for the purpose, as the name implies, of helping the church. Twenty-five women attended the organization meeting in the Junior Order Hall over Smith Drug, where the Baptists gathered for their worship services. They were aware of the financial problems of the congregation, which at the time was barely two years old. Mrs. E.F. Carter, whose husband was a key man in the Cannon organization and filled many leadership roles in our church, was elected president. Mrs. T.B. Moore, whose husband was a top supervisor at Cannon and was president of the YMCA, was named vice president of the Ladies Aid Society. Miss Bessie Funderburk, who loved the church "more than anything else," became secretary. Miss Alice Moore was elected treasurer. The society's journal was specific on two points: the term of each officer would expire at the end of six months; the membership fee would be 10 cents per month per member. The members apparently paid little heed to the bylaws. Mrs. Carter served as president five years, and the financial assistance the society gave the church was much more than a dime per member per month. Miss Bessie Funderburk moved from the position of secretary to treasurer and Mrs. J. W. Johnson became secretary. The Ladies Aid Society's first fund-raiser was making a quilt, with the names of members and friends of the church sewn into it. Names were collected for 10 cents each. The society expected to make at least $50 for the building fund. The society sponsored public, suppers occasionally and frequently sold ice cream and cake at lawn parties in front of the YMCA. The Ladies Aid Society provided the first communion set for the church. It "papered and painted" the pastor's home in 1912 and helped pay the minister's salary in December that year. In 1914, two years after the church was built, the society bought two chairs and a table for the pulpit at a cost of $35. It also paid $3.20 "for the scouring of the church before the associational meeting on September 15, 1914." The Ladies Aid Society took the initiative in providing the first pews in the new church. A committee was appointed on October 4, 1915, to select the pews, get the prices and place the order. In those early years of our church, "some members contributed regularly and some gave spasmodically." Sometimes, the leaders felt the financial needs of the church were so great that "Peter was justified in borrowing from Paul." Many of the Ladies Aid Society members didn't agree with Peter borrowing from Paul. In their view, Paul represented the missionary spirit at the heart of the Baptist faith. Money given for missions should be used for missions, not for needs of the local church, they contended. A turnaround in stewardship came with the merger of the Ladies Aid Society and the Missionary Societies. It was strengthened when tithing and the Cooperative Program were introduced. These moves marked the sowing of the seeds for the great love this church now has for missions. Girls in Lonnie J. Brown's Sunday School class followed in their mothers' footsteps in helping the church financially. They sponsored cake walks at social gatherings and box suppers in Town Park. There was keen competition among the girls to see who would have the most 27 attractive box. The boxes were sold to the highest bidders. Young men kept rais- ing the prices until they got the boxes prepared by their special friends. Bricks for the new church were "sold" for a dime each. All the money went into the building fund. The girls who raised the most money received recognition in Sunday School and in worship services. No person writing a history of our church would dare play down the leader- ship of the women in the early years. It may have been that the women were more meticulous about recording their good deeds than the men were. The men, no doubt, kept busy doing work in and around the building instead of hiring it done, conducting cottage prayer meetings, helping in community-wide evangelistic crusades, taking care of the business affairs of the congregation, expanding programs, launching Sunday School classes, and planning for the future. In those times, few mothers worked outside the home. They tended the children, kept their homes neat, cooked the meals, washed and ironed clothes, and figured out how to get the most value from the dollars their husbands earned at their jobs. And then they inspired the men to do the Lord's work. 28 Rev. J. H. Broom Rev. H. G. Bryant We Added Depth With the trauma of World War I overcome and Kannapolis in a growth trend, the Baptist Church began in the 1920's to add depth to its ministry. While continuing its primary mission, seeking lost souls, it recognized that the converts must be trained and challenged so that they might grow in the Christian faith. This brought on a determination to enlarge the Baptist influence in shaping the town's future. The Rev. H.G. Bryant, who had come here in the fall of 1919 from the historic Meherrin Baptist Church at Murfreesboro, placed teaching and leadership development on the same plane with preaching. Expanded leader- ship emerged in our church during the year that he was our minister. He became very active — and very influential — in the Kannapolis Ministers Association. The minutes of meetings show that he frequently spoke out against "gambling and all games of chance." He expressed deep concern about businesses operating on Sunday, which, he contended, was set aside as God's day. When the association learned that dancing was beginning at Mary Ella Hall (a large dormitory between our church and the YMCA), the Rev. Mr. Bryant was named to a committee to meet with "Miss Maud Reid, the superintendent, and thereby use our influence to help her in suppressing this evil." 29 The October 9, 1920 issue of the Concord Tribune reported that the Rev. Mr. Bryant had moved to Louisville. In the same paragraph, it said that Miss Winona Chaney had assumed her duties as the Baptist Church's city mis- sionary. Development of leadership continued under the direction of Miss Chaney, who remained with us until January 1923, when she accepted a call to Temple Baptist Church in Durham as a home mission worker. The January 11, 1923 issue of the Concord Times reported that during her stay in our church Miss Chaney "organized the Missionary Society into circles, reorganized the BYPU (Baptist Young People's Union), ministered to the sick and suffering, scattering sunshine and cheer." It also said that she had been ac- tive in the Federated Missionary Society in Kannapolis and the Woman's Club. The Biblical Recorder reported in the August 31, 1921 issue that the Rev. J.H. Broom had arrived from Bethune, S.C. to be pastor of our church. "He is already on the field and is delighting the congregation with splendid sermons and his pleasing personality," the article said. The Rev. Mr. Broom immediately became a leader of the Kannapolis Pastors Association. The minutes of the association's February 13, 1922 meeting listed him as president. The main concern at that session was "bootlegging and gambling" in the community. The year 1922 was destined to be a banner period for our church, and the leadership — having grown in Christian service — was ready for all challenges. Teachers who had been busy from the founding of the congrega- tion were more mature and better trained. New teachers were developed. Miss Donie Norville was in her classroom early every Sunday morning, get- ting ready for the children to arrive. There are few adults in our church today who do not cherish the memory of sitting at Miss Donie's knee and hearing her tell stories from the Bible. She taught more than the lessons on the cards in the earliest years, the little books that came along later, and the quarterlies that guided her in the Junior Department in her later life. She taught from her own Christian experiences. A senior citizen in our congregation recalls that when she was old enough to leave her mother she went to Miss Donie's class. She remembers the cards with pictures on one side and stories on the back, and the Bible verses that Miss Donie encouraged the little boys and girls to memorize. Miss Donie always called the roll and then passed the rollbook around for the children to put their pennies on. One Sunday, one of the boys decided it was more blessed to receive than to give. Instead of putting pennies on the book, he took pennies off the book. His sister, sitting next to him, tapped the boy's hand and he dropped the pennies back on the book. The sister went home and reported the little boy's misbehavior. Their mother held her own Sunday School session and drilled him on the verse, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Another old-timer remembers a card that Miss Donie gave him one Christmas. It was a simple gift and probably didn't cost more than a penny or two, but he held onto it for years. When the card accidentally slipped behind the mantel-piece at his home he wanted his father to tear the fireplace out to get it. Miss Donie "graduated" to the Junior Department, where she remained as long as she could come to church. She died in 1966. By the year 1922, Zettie Walters was well established as the teacher of the boys' class. His service, and his influence, spanned half a century. As "my boys" moved up, Zettie moved up with them. He was their teacher when they were teens, when they were young men, and when they were senior citizens. He also served our church as a deacon, as volunteer choir director, and was first president of the Keen- Age Fellowship. He served as superintendent of the 30 Sunday School, but preferred teaching. Zettie taught by living. He worked at Efird's and then at Belk's, but was never too busy to stop and talk with and counsel a member of his Bible class. At least 35 of his boys became ministers, Christian educators or useful laymen in churches. Zettie helped some of these with cash gifts or loans. This man was serious when teaching a Sunday School lesson or counseling one of his boys. Yet, he had a great sense of humor and an always-optimistic attitude. The Rev. Raymond Brinkley, one of Zettie's boys, remembers hearing Zettie tell about a class outing at Spurgeon White's home. The young people gathered for a chicken stew, and used a wash pot to cook the stew. As they watched the stew come to a boil, a cat approached and was promptly chased away. The cat reappeared, and quickly leaped into the pot. Needless to say, no stew was eaten that day. The incident inspired Raymond Brinkley to write a poem: The cat was curious, The soup was hot; The cooks were lurious When the cat jumped into the boiling pot. Zettie Walters died in 1975, but his influence lives in the hearts and minds of hundreds of men in our congregation. Charles Turner also was advancing in Christian service in 1922. He stood ready for any duty anywhere in the church. Through the years, he was a deacon, a teacher and a leader in the BYPU. When a Sunday School room needed painting, he recruited a couple of helpers and painted it. If an elec- trical receptacle needed replacing, he replaced it. He was always doing minor carpentry work. He was'highly regarded as the teacher of a men's Bible class when he died in 1964. His wife Macie and his sister Elsie (Mrs. Floyd) Beaver were active in our church as we prepared to celebrate our 75th anniversary. By 1922, John Funderburk was well respected not only as a Bible teacher but as a preacher when the minister was away. Basil Funderburk, a quiet man who usually worked in the background, became one of the moving forces in our young church. 31 Influential Classes Organizations in our church began to stand out in the post-World War I era. The Philathea Sunday School Class, organized by a group of ladies in the early days of our church, had become influential in the life of the church by 1922. Its influence is felt until this day. E.F. Carter taught this class for a number of years. When he moved to another town, Mrs. J.W. Johnson, became the Philathea teacher, and con- tinued to serve until her death in 1938. Mrs. J.H. Fowler, mother of Mrs. Marion Jones, succeeded Mrs. Johnson and served until she resigned because of illness. It was during Mrs. A.F. Set- tlemyer's time as teacher that the large Philathea Class was reorganized and graded. It became several classes. Mrs. W.H. Riddle followed in the footsteps of her mother, Mrs. J.W. Johnson, and became the next teacher of the Philathea group that is now known as the Ruth Class, for ladies 66 and older. In the fall of 1982, members of the Ruth Class, with the help of some friends, were able to purchase more comfortable chairs. The chairs were dedicated to the past, present and future members of the class and designated for use by senior ladies of the congrega- tion. By 1922, the Kannapolis Baptist Church's Baraca Class had become one of the largest Bible Classes for men in North Carolina. The Concord Times reported in its February 16 issue that year the class had 219 members. Pastor Broom was the Baraca teacher in 1922 and J.W. Taylor was presi- dent. Others who had served as teachers included John Funderburk; E.J. Sharp, who was general secretary of the YMCA; P.O. Purser, superintendent of schools; B.G. Henry, principal of Aycock School; and Ruff Williams, an overseer at Cabarrus Mill (now Cannon Plant 4). H.W. Owen, an early general secretary of the YMCA often served as guest teacher. The Baraca Class was inclined to be evangelistic. The members often divid- ed into Reds and Blues in contests to see which team could bring in the most members. The Rev. Raymond Brinkley, recalling the Red-Blue competition, said, "We had pleasant experiences making personal contacts through the week and see- ing friends show up on Sunday morning to become members of this great class." At times, the Baraca Class grew out of space in the church and met at the YMCA. And, at least once it outgrew the meeting hall at the YMCA. 33 Rev. C. K. Turner Cyclone Came To Town The year 1922 also brought Evangelist Baxter P. McLendon, known widely as Cyclone Mack, to Kannapolis for a revival sponsored by several churches, including the Baptist. Cyclone packed them in, and drew people to the altar. At the close of the revival on the first Sunday in June, 1,411 persons professed their faith in Christ and more than 500 indicated they wanted to join the Baptist Church, ac- cording to an article in the June 22 issue of the Concord Tribune. The converts to the Baptist faith were baptized in the lake in front of the Cannon plant, in the YMCA swimming pool and in the South Yadkin River. Deacons assisted the minister in the baptizing. Thirty-two were baptized in the South Yadkin near New Jerusalem one Sun- day afternoon. Among them were two men who were still active in our church in its 75th year, CD. Hartness and J.K. Rouse. The evangelistic zeal of people in our church, combined with the fruits of Cyclone Mack's crusade, caused our facilities to overflow. Our leaders went to work on expansion plans, and before the end of 1922, Sunday School classrooms and assembly rooms were built, a balcony was added to the auditorium, a new baptistry was installed, new electric lights were placed throughout the building, and for the first time our congregation enjoyed the luxury of steam heat. The Rev. C.K. Turner, who had attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago in 1916-1917, became pastor of our church in April 1923, succeeding the Rev. Mr. Broom. He came here from Statesville. 35 Long-time members of our congregation remembered the Rev. Mr. Turner as a powerful preacher. Other pastors in town admired his preaching ability. Minutes of the Kannapolis Ministers Association meetings during the two years he was here mention that he was called upon to give outlines for sermons. One that received special mention was his sermon on "God's Blockades on the Road to Hell." He believed in cooperation with other churches, and joined in a program of ministers exchanging pulpits with each other. He led the Baptists in participating in community-wide evangelistic crusades, including one conducted by Mel Trotter at the YMCA. The Rev. Mr. Turner also had a good rapport with young people. He and Mrs. Turner entertained members of the Kannapolis High School's Senior Class of 1924 at a Valentine party. Their daughter, Helen, was a member of the class. He delivered the baccalaureate sermon to the Class of 1924, and it made such an impression upon Superintendent of Schools J.W. Sloan that he recom- mended that the sermon be published and each member obtain a copy. When the Rev. Mr. Turner left late in 1925, the Rev. H.G. Bryant, who had served in 1919-20, returned as our minister. He immediately resumed his ef- forts to have Sunday observed as God's Day, and his main targets were filling stations that sold gasoline on the Sabbath and drug stores that sold "cigars, ice cream and things other than medicine on Sunday." He and other ministers conducted chapel programs in the local schools and reported these were "profitable meetings." In our church, the Rev. Mr. Bryant emphasized the expansion of the Baptist Young People's Union, and during the 21 months he was here a third group was organized and all the groups met the standard prescribed by the Southern Baptist Convention. He also emphasized the importance of the Sunday School meeting the standard, and in his letter of resignation in September 1927 he said "marked advances" toward this goal had been made. He also said in his letter that our congregation's gifts for all causes increased from $5,413 to $7,269 and then to $8,405. More than 300 members were add- ed to the church roll during this pastorate. In reporting the Rev. Mr. Bryant's resignation, James L. Moore, Kannapolis correspondent for the Concord Tribune referred to our congregation as the First Baptist Church. The headline said it was the largest church in Kan- napolis, but nowhere in the lengthy article was the membership figure given. The Rev. Mr. Bryant left in November 1927 to become a member of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, which at the time had headquarters at Oxford. He later served a church at Windsor and in March 1930 he was called to the pastorate of the North Charlotte Baptist Church. 36 Rev. James S. Slaughter He Was One Of Us When the Rev. H.G. Bryant concluded his second pastorate in our church in 1927, our people turned to the Rev. James S. Slaughter for leadership. The Rev. Mr. Slaughter, who had been reared in Columbia, Miss, and educated at Clark Memorial College in Newton, Miss., had served as pastor of two churches in that state — at Stonewall and Enterprise. He was with each of these congregations for nine years. He came down with tuberculosis, which in those days was a killer — it literally drained the life out of a victim. He spent quite some time in a sanatorium in Laurel, Miss. His wife, Zonie, and five children moved to Laurel so they could be close to him during his battle for health. The Rev. Mr. Slaughter made progress and was able to resume his work as a minister. He didn't fully recover, however. His doctors recommended that he move to western North Carolina; the air would be good for him. In the spring of 1927, he, Zonie and their five children left Mississippi in a seven-passenger Reo, planning to resettle in the mountains in western North Carolina. They stopped in Kannapolis to visit friends they had known in Mississippi, and stayed here. The minister became active in our First Baptist Church as a layman. He taught the Baraca Class. He encouraged expansion of the Sunday School and the Baptist Young People's Union, the training arm of the church. He preached when the minister was ill or needed to be away. 41 He preached regularly after the Rev. Mr. Bryant left, and in December 1927 our church extended him a call to become its pastor. The Rev. Mr. Slaughter's down-to-earth sermons reflected his tenderness, his love for other people, his firmness of character. His delivery was low key, but his faith in God and his commitment to preach this faith came through in a forceful manner. Services in our church were simple in those times, and somewhat old-fashioned by 1983 standards. W.N. Brinkley (everybody called him Dad) was in the "amen corner" every time the First Baptists got together. Bill Jenkins was in that corner much of the time. So were people like John Funderburk and Lonnie Brown. Peo- ple in the choir shouted "amen" quite often. There were many red-letter days each year that the Rev. Mr. Slaughter was pastor. Easter was a day of rejoicing, singing and renewal. On Mother's Day, everybody wore white or red flowers, and bouquets or potted plants were given to the oldest mother, the youngest mother, the mother with the most children. Celebration of Christmas covered a couple of weeks, and ended with the distribution of treats on Sunday night before Christmas. Those bags of fruit, can- dy and nuts were the only Christmas gifts that some children had. It was during this time that the First Baptist Church Quartet was organized by Fred Watts, first tenor; his brother Herman, second tenor; Lee Chambers, baritone; Dow Brinkley, bass. Allie Mae Smith (now Mrs. Beryl Hobbs) was the pianist. This quartet sang at singing conventions and usually brought home top honors. It performed regularly on radio station WBT in Charlotte, and was later sought out by station WSOC and by Salisbury station WSTP when it began broad- casting. It was asked to sing at funerals in neighboring churches and was invited to present "specials" during revivals throughout the area. Dow Brinkley, Fred Watts and Lee Chambers went to Vaughn's School of Music at Lawrenceville, Tenn. to improve their singing ability. They recruited Lee's wife, Hessie, to fill out a quartet and sang regularly on a radio station in that Tennessee town. Herman Watts stayed home and assumed the position of choir director in our church, following in the footsteps of Zettie Walters and Lee Chambers. During the 19 years he served, our church took giant steps in music. We bought hymnals for the congregation; up to that time, we had only paperback Vaughn and Stamps Baxter gospel songbooks for the choir. Our choir wore robes for the first time, and the singers bought their own robes. A 30-member male chorus was organized. Mr. Watts started an organ fund, and a Hammond organ was install- ed. Delette Honeycutt (Sibley), daughter of the J.W. Honeycutts, was our first organist. She was followed by Cora Lee Propst (Ketner) and then by Virginia Hartness (Winecoff), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. CD. Hartness. Following Virginia's marriage, Herman Watts's daughter, Billie Doris (Fowler), became organist. The quartet continued as an organization, even though some of the members went out to help form other churches. When Lee Chambers decided to go to the New Orleans Baptist Seminary to prepare for the ministry, Herman Watts's wife, Alma, took his place in the quartet. While our church was making progress, despite the recession that was rapidly becoming the Great Depression, the Rev. Mr. Slaughter's health deteriorated. He became very weak, and susceptible to every germ that made the rounds. He took the flu after conducting a church member's graveside rites in cold, wet weather, and was unable to regain his strength. He resigned in May 1930, and died the following July 19. 42 The funeral was conducted by the Rev. P. A. Underwood, who had become our minister less than two weeks before the Rev. Mr. Slaughter's death, and by the Rev. H.G. Bryant. No thought was given to returning the Rev. Mr. Slaughter to Mississippi for burial. Kannapolis had become his home. He was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery. His wife and children remained here. John, who had worked at Cannon Mills Plant 4 after coming here in 1927, went into the jewelry business and has con- tinued to be active in our church through the years. Daughter Lela Mae became Mrs. Dow Brinkley, and the two have always been among the busiest people in our congregation. Anderson, who went into sales after a brief career at Cannon Mills, remained in our church until his death. James was with us until he went to Asheboro and then to Orangeburg, S.C., to pursue a career in jewelry sales. Dan, the youngest, was with us until he returned from the military in World War II and went to work for an optical company in Charlotte. Mrs. Zonie Slaughter continued to be an active member of our church until her death in 1960. 43 The First Baptist Church Quartet of Kannapolis was known state-wide and were often called upon to present programs in other towns. They were Fred Watts, Herman Watts, Lee Chambers and Dow Brinkley. Allie Mae Hobbs was pianist. 44 Rapid Growth A directory published in 1928-29, during the Rev. Mr. Slaughter's pastorate^ listed 912 members of our First Baptist Church. Officers of our congregation at that time included CO. Doty, secretary; Mrs. A.F. Settlemyer, church hostess; James W. Taylor, clerk; Joe W. Honeycutt, treasurer; James A. White, assistant treasurer. D.A. Jolly was chairman of the deacons and J. Walter Taylor was secretary. Others on the board included Lonnie J. Brown, C.H. White, Lonnie E. Funder- burk, D.L. Carter, Ed A. Johnson, T.W. Anderson, W.N. Brinkley, John C. Funderburk, W.J. Keever, M.L. Hampton, Joe W. Honeycutt, T.A. Davis and John Connell. A junior board of deacons consisted of Chairman Zettie Walters, Raymond Brinkley, Charles Turner, Randolph Hartis, Anderson Slaughter, John Slaughter, George W. Petrea Sr., R. Perry Murray, Smith Brown, Dow Brinkley, Dewitt Baker. Lonnie J. Brown was superintendent of the Sunday School. Other general of- ficers were Ed A. Johnson, assistant superintendent; James A. White, secretary and treasurer; Dewitt Baker, assistant secretary; R. Perry Murray, classification chairman. Zettie Walters was general director of the BYPU. Serving with him were C.W. Thrift, assistant directof; John Slaughter, secretary; Margaree Brinkley (Slaughter), chorister; Idell Connell (Cheek), pianist; Mrs. Perry Murray, cor- responding secretary. Dow Brinkley was president of the Senior BYPU. The In- termediate BYPU was led by Perry Murray and Lucille Orr was president. Naomi Tillman was leader of the Junior BYPU and Louis Jennings was president. Officers of the WMS were Mrs. J.W. Johnson, president; Mrs. Charlie Jones, vice president; Mrs. A.F. Settlemyer, secretary; Bessie Funderburk, treasurer. Mrs. James S. Slaughter was president of the Ladies Aid Society, and Mrs. Perry Murray was leader of the Sunbeams. The minutes of the 1929 session of the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus Baptist Associa- tion showed that Kannapolis and our First Baptist Church, along with other con- gregations and towns were suffering from a recession that was rapidly developing into the Great Depression. In the 1929 church year, our expenses for the local church work totaled $7,729.04. Our minister was paid $2,600 for the year. Other expenditures includ- ed $206.30 for "ministerial help and supply"; $2,367 for building and repairs; $872.81 for incidentals; $1,308.83 for literature for the Sunday School, the BYPU and the WMS; $212.50 for help for the poor; $12.50 for printing the minutes of the association; $59.07 for "other objects." Our contributions that year included $200 to the Cooperative Program; $472.34 for special projects including home missions, foreign missions and educa- tion; $162.16 given through the Sunday School and $65.41 raised by the WMS for special projects. The total budget of $8,628.99 in 1929 was tiny by 1983 standards, but it represented sacrifice on the part of many people. Dollars were hard to come by; there were more coins than bills in the collection plates as they passed through the congregation. Some old-timers remember when our church had to borrow money to pay interest on its debt. 45 The depression did not dampen our church's mission zeal in 1929 and 1930, however. Our leaders felt that God was commanding the First Baptist Church in Kan- napolis to reach out. Results of cottage prayer meetings held throughout the town clearly showed that more Baptist churches were needed and desired. Town Park In An Earlier Time. (Quite Different From Today's Beautiful Park.) 46 Rev. P. A. Underwood We Reached Out The Rev. Mr. Underwood and his wife, Sallie, arrived at the time the leaders of our congregation were convinced that God was commanding us to become missionaries. On June 15, 1930, W.N. Brinkley, a pillar in our church since 1915, and the Rev. C.J. Jenkins, a minister who had moved to Kannapolis and frequently wor- shiped with us, held a meeting at the Jenkins home on Park Street. At that gathering, a Sunday School was organized with 36 members. Less than three months later, on September 7, Centerview Baptist Church was formed with 22 charter members. Twenty-seven members were added the following Sunday. The Rev. Mr. Jenkins was called as the first pastor. Among the First Baptists who became charter members of the Centerview con- gregation — some to remain long enough to help get the church on a sound footing, others to stay the rest of their lives — included Mr. and Mrs. W.N. Brinkley, J.V. Corn, Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Humphrey, Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Jenkins, Miss Nelia Hinson, Mrs. Laura Smith, Eugene Smith, Mrs. Helen Smith Sechler, Mr. and Mrs. O. Lee Chambers, Mrs. Nellie Cook, Mrs. Ella Jenkins, P.W. Walker. While the Centerview Baptist Church was being formed, First Baptists were sponsoring a revival by the Rev. H.T. Stevens in a tent set up at the corner of North Juniper Avenue and 11th Street. 47 Out of this revival was born the North Kannapolis Baptist Church. At the organization on September 30, 1930, sixty persons presented themselves for membership with letters from other Baptist Churches and eleven were added by baptism. Evangelist H.T. Stevens presided over that meeting. Among the First Baptists on the organizing panel were the Rev. Mr. Underwood, W.N. Brinkley and his son, the Rev. Raymond Brinkley, G. Herman Watts, W.L. Bradley and D. H. Lowder. Wade James, who had been a member of the First Baptist Church for five years and was working in the sewing room at Cannon Mills Plant 1, was called as the first pastor of North Kannapolis Baptist. Roy Byrd was among the First Baptists who became charter members of North Kannapolis Baptist. He and several other men, driving a couple of mules that pulled "pans," dug out the basement for the first building. Stillman Robinette and his wife, Emma, went from our church to North Kan- napolis as charter members. Some of their children went with them, including Willard, who through the years has been a leader in the North Kannapolis con- gregation. Some went to help the Centerview congregation. Some remained with us. The J.L. Prices and their children went from our church to help start the North Kannapolis Baptist Church. Wade James had married the Prices' daughter, Viola. Mrs. W.A. Barnette went to North Kannapolis early in that church's life. She was the mother of Dr. Henlee Barnette, who was converted at North Kannapolis, became prominent among Southern Baptists as a preacher, lecturer, author, and professor of Christian ethics at our seminary in Louisville. Since retiring from the seminary, Henlee has been clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Others from our church who became active in North Kannapolis included Ossie and Pearl Poole, the C.C. Dishmans and the J.S. Dishmans. The First Baptist mission zeal was transferred to the churches our congregation helped organize. Within three years after it started, North Kannapolis Church established a mis- sion that became West Point Baptist Church. This house of worship was in one of the roughest sections of Kannapolis at the time, and was within a few yards of several bootleg liquor joints where poker was played every night and knifings and shootings were looked upon as common occurrences. West Point cleaned up that mess. Several bootleggers and many of their customers joined the young church. North Kannapolis Baptist established other missions that became progressive churches — Franklin Heights in 1936, Lakewood in 1938, Blackwelder Park in 1939 and Jackson Park in 1941. These churches reached out. Today, there's a Baptist church in every residen- tial community in the Kannapolis area. First Baptists as individuals have helped many of these churches grow. W.N. Brinkley's oldest son, Calvin, and George W. Petrea Sr., who served in many positions in our church and taught Sunday School, became influential in Shady Brook Baptist Church when they moved into that community. So did Frank Brin- dle, who grew up in our church. The Leo Shulls were busy in Shady Brook for a number of years and then moved back to First Baptist. Dad Brinkley moved back to First Baptist when he was sure Centerview Bap- tist Church was off to a good start. He remained active in our work right up until his death in 1946. His son, Raymond, returned to us after he retired from the ministry. His youngest son, Dow, and his daughter, Margaree (Slaughter) never left our fellowship. 48 While First Baptists were reaching out and helping establish other churches, the Rev. Mr. Underwood and his wife Sallie were reaching out new challenges to our own congregation. A Vacation Bible School was held in June 1931. This was a first for our church, and it drew boys and girls from all over town who were eager for crafts, games and refreshments that went along with Bible study. Among the teachers in that school were Edythe Jolley, Mrs. T.D. Ingram, Willene Yost, Mrs. A.F. Settlemyer, Delette Honeycutt, Ida Reeder, Mrs. Guy L. Whicker, Mrs. Beryl Hobbs, Mrs. Walter Tesh and Walter Smith. The Underwoods, who had come to Kannapolis from Fort Worth, Texas, where they had attended the Southwestern Baptist Seminary and had led a Bap- tist Church in that area, encouraged our Sunday School to become standard in all departments and emphasized the importance of the Baptist Young People's Union. The BYPU grew in membership and influence. In those depression years, the pastor was the only employee of the church. Mrs. Underwood was the unpaid "co-pastor" of our congregation. She handled the of- fice chores, usually working at the parsonage on West Avenue. The Underwoods had no children, but they were the adopted parents of a lot of young people. Walter Smith, an orphan, found a home under the Underwood roof. He went to high school, helped with the chores around the house and helped in BYPU, Sunday School and every other department at the church. Encouraged by the Underwoods, he became a minister in the Chicago area. If it hadn't been for the Underwoods, Oscar Funderburk may not have become a preacher. They didn't promise him that the road would be easy, but they kept telling him that he could be a minister if he would simply take the Lord as his partner. Oscar and his wife, Annie Belle (Corn), shared the Underwoods' faith. He became a Baptist pastor. Wayne Oates, who came to Kannapolis to work in Cannon Mills, spent as much time at the Underwood home as he did at his house. Encouraged by the Underwoods to go into Christian service, he earned a doctorate, was a professor at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville for many years, and then became professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the University of Louisville School of Medicine — counseling, teaching and writing books. Wayne is the author of several of the inspirational tracts our church offers continuously. Frank Efird, who visited the Underwoods almost daily, became a leading Lutheran minister. After leaving here in 1936, the Underwoods went to Pembroke to establish an Indian orphanage in an old, rambling frame house. They started this project with several children, lukewarm moral support, and a lot more faith than money. About the time they were getting the orphanage underway, the Rev. Mr. Underwood collapsed at a meeting of the State Baptist Convention. His death was attributed to a heart attack. Mrs. Underwood remained at the orphanage, being "mother" to as many as 30 children at a time. When she retired, the orphanage was on a sound financial footing. Assistance was coming regularly from Baptists throughout North Carolina. Our congregation assisted the institution in the years when its needs were greatest, providing space heaters, clothing, food and little extras to make life a little better for the Indian children. Mrs. Sallie died in August 1970 at the age of 79. She was buried beside her hus- band at Salemburg, his home town. 49 The Ladies' Sunday School Class 1928 (above) and 1929 (below). The teacher was J. V. Corn. Rev. F. A. Bower Tithing Worked When the Rev. Fred A. Bower arrived in the closing days of 1936 to succeed the Rev. P. A. Underwood as the First Baptist pastor, Kannapolis was scratching out of the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal was in full swing. People in the mills were working eight hours a day, instead of ten or more. The minimum wage was 30 cents an hour. Weavers generally were earning $3.60 a day, and some were taking home more than $4 a day. People in one of the big weave rooms at Cannon looked upon their overseer as a rich man; they had heard that he drew a dollar an hour. Everything was looking rosy. New stores were opening in Kannapolis and old ones were being renovated. Farm land surrounding the Cannon Mills property was being cut up into homesites and sold at auction. People talked in glowing terms about "suburbs" such as Jackson Park, Royal Oaks and Shady Brook. With optimism that bordered on daring, they went into debt — $2,000, $3,000 and even $5,000 — to build homes. People were so busy anticipating prosperity promised by President Roosevelt's New Deal that they paid scant attention to the fuss that the Nazis were kicking up in Germany. Warnings that a crazed dictator named Hitler was going to draw the whole world into war were ignored. The Rev. Mr. Bower shared the optimism that enveloped Kannapolis. He was certain that the First Baptist Church was just beginning to grow. He knew something about our church's heritage. In 1924, he had been the guest preacher when First Baptist and other congregations in Kannapolis joined in simultaneous evangelistic crusades. 57 He also knew something about the hard times our congregation had gone through. He was aware that our debt had been a burden for more than a dozen years. While serving churches in Morganton and Albemarle, he had followed our progress — slow progress, but progress nevertheless. President Roosevelt had said this nation had nothing to fear but fear itself. The Rev. Mr. Bower told our church it could reach new peaks in leadership, in service to its members and the community at large; all it had to do was take God as a partner and go to work. This minister proved to be more than an effective preacher. He was filled with faith, and he supported this faith with a willingness to work hard to achieve ob- jectives. He challenged us to look ahead and upward. One of the Rev. Mr. Bower's first giant steps forward was to persuade us to give tithing a three-month trial. In the 1929 report of the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus Baptist Association, our church listed no tithers. He was convinced that once our church tried tithing, it would realize this was God's proven way of financing His work. Tithing, he told us, could take care of the debt that had hung over our church too long. It had taken nearly 15 years to reduce the debt from $20,000 to $7,000. According to a column by Jazzy Moore in The Independent, this $7,000 debt was cleared in the first 22 months of the Rev. Mr. Bower's pastorate. As the debt was reduced, the Rev. Mr. Bower was leading us in planning renovation and enlargement of our sanctuary and the addition of an educational facility. The need was evident; growth of the Sunday School had made it necessary for 150 members to attend classes at the YMCA, according to Jazzy Moore's article. After the presentation of preliminary plans, drawn by Charlotte architect J.M. McMichael, our church voted, on January 7, 1940, to launch a building pro- gram. A pamphlet containing details of the building plans had this message from the Rev. Mr. Bower: "No member of the church realizes more keenly than does the pastor the need for expanding our building to meet the challenge of a great and growing com- munity. None will be happier than he when the church gives the order to pro- ceed. The plans as herein presented provide for a structure that will be admirably suited for our purposes for a generation to come. We have not the slightest fear about financing the project. Our people have the mind to work." The chairman of the deacons at the time, T.B. Marlin, was quoted as follows: "The First Baptist Church is in great need of such a building as is described. We owe it to our people. The plan is a good one. Let us go forward at once." Randolph Hartis, Sunday School superintendent, supported the plan by say- ing: "Long has the need for more Sunday School space been urgent. Today, nearly 300 young people and adults are required to meet in borrowed rooms, having no Sunday School home of their own. The plans as set forth by Mr. McMichael pro- vide ample facilities for many years to come. The Sunday School pledges its full and happy cooperation." Z. Miller Freeman, our educational director at that time, said: "Let us rise up and build. Our present building, for educational purposes, is not adequate for our needs and is far behind the progress of other institutions of our city. With commodious departments for our Sunday School, we will be en- couraged to go out and invite others to come in and learn more of His will for their lives. It can be done." It was an ambitious program that our congregation received that day. The enlarged sanctuary would have a seating capacity of 670 — 442 on the main floor, 228 in the balcony. This need was evident; every Sunday morning for several years, the ushers had brought chairs from the Sunday School rooms and placed them in the aisles to accomodate the congregation. 58 The sketched plans for the educational facilities showed 66 classrooms with total seating capacity of 1,024. Renovation of the existing space would provide a study for the pastor, offices for the church secretary and the Sunday School secretary, two robing rooms for the choir, a meeting place for the Boy Scouts, two cloak rooms, according to the architect's drawings. The congregation voted with enthusiasm, and the building committee con- sisting of L.J. Carter, T.D. Ingram, Ed A. Johnson and T.B. Marlin went to work immediately. Within a week, on January 13, 1940, ground was broken for the first Sunday School unit. The second and larger Sunday School unit was started the following May 9. Work on the main building began in mid-summer. Sidney Bernhardt of Salisbury was the construction foreman. The new facilities, which raised to $110,000 the value of the First Baptist Church's ground and buildings, were dedicated on November 24, 1940. At the morning service, the Rev. Mr. Bower led the congregation in this pledge: "We now, the people of this church and congregation, compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses, do dedicate ourselves anew to the worship of God in this place, and the establishment of His Kingdom among men." During the evening service, the Rev. Mr. Bower preached on, "The Investment of Influence." The pulpit furniture, given in memory of the Rev. James S. Slaughter by his family, was formally presented by Mrs. Slaughter. The beautiful stained glass window over the south entrance, showing Jesus blessing children, was given in memory of Mrs. J.W. Johnson. Mrs. W.H. Riddle presented it on behalf of the family. Fountains were given by Charles E. Turner in memory of Ida Reeder Turner, and by Lon Whitmire in memory of Bernice Tarleton Whitmire. Donie and Myrtle Norville gave flower vases in memory of Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Norville. Adam and Madry Grant contributed furnishings for a nursery class; the Joe W. Honeycutt family provided an electric range for the kitchen; Mr. and Mrs. T.B. Marlin gave a vacuum cleaner; Paul Littleton gave a lighting fixture for the bap- tistry. The choir provided electric fans. Desks for classrooms were given by Mrs. J.F. Perry, Henry Frye, W.D. Angell, the Young Women's Auxiliary, officers and teachers of the Primary Department, and Mrs. Homer S. Fisher Sr., whose father, John Wesley Fisher, was a charter member of our church. Among others recognized for contributing furnishings, draperies, lighting fix- tures and other items were Miss Banks Foreman, C.C. Hudspeth, Beryl Hobbs, Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Critz, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Byerly. The printed program for the Services of Dedication included this note: "To the members of the congregation and their friends who donated labor, to the artisans and workmen, to the merchants from whom we procured materials at greatly reduced prices, to those who aided by their prayers and other contribu- tions, we wish to record our keen appreciation." The room that was set aside for Boy Scouting was put to good use by our Troop 2, one of the busiest units in town in those days. One of our Scouts, Freeman Slaughter, wrote a "Scouting Around" column for The Independent while working for his Eagle Award. He received his Eagle at the Kannapolis-wide Scouting Father-Son banquet at the YMCA on February 21, 1942, and quickly added the Bronze, Silver and Gold Palms. He went on to become a nationally recognized dentist, and has always maintained a keen in- terest in Scouting. The Rev. Mr. Bower became one of Kannapolis' best known pastors. Not long 59 after his arrival he was elected president of the Ministerial Association. He and Mrs. Bower became involved in several civic endeavors. He was born in Nova Scotia and attended Arcadia College there. He came to the United States for his postgraduate education at Colgate University and the University of New York City. His first pastorate was in Albany, N.Y., from 1909 until 1917. He then came to North Carolina and spent the rest of his life in the South. He was pastor of a church at Morganton from 1917 until 1925, and then served the First Baptist Church at Albemarle for 11 years, until he came to us in 1936. After leaving here in 1942, the Bev. and Mrs. Bower resided in Morganton for a number of years. They spent their golden years in Florida. 60 Rev. W. Walter Jones Our Vision Widened The Rev. W. Walter Jones, who arrived in mid-November in 1942 to succeed the Rev. Mr. Bower as our minister, broadened our vision. He came at one of the most challenging times in the history of our congrega- tion. The United States was fighting a war in Europe against the German Nazis and in the Pacific against the Japanese who had torn our Navy to shreds in a sneak at- tack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 . Young men were going away to become soldiers, sailors, Marines and pilots. Their mission was to keep the war confined to Europe and Pacific islands that most of us had never heard of. People employed at Cannon Mills were working overtime, making fabrics that our armed forces had to have, as well as towels, sheets, pillowcases and other items that the folks back home needed. They earned more money than ever before, and the dollars they did not need for essentials were invested in War Bonds. Those with skills that the war effort needed — welders, electricians, plumbers — went north, south and west to help build landing craft, destroyers and aircraft carriers for the Navy, fighter planes and bombers for the Air Force, and all kinds of guns and ammunition to go into them. In the early years of World War II, this nation was united as it had never been before in its 165-year history. Men became soldiers in days, pilots in weeks. As ships were completed, sailors were ready to man the guns. Marines were trained in actual combat. Our workforce built ships and planes, and produced weapons and ammunition at a pace nobody ever dreamed was possible. 61 Spirits were not always high, however. American armed services did not always win battles against the power-crazy Nazi war machine in Europe or the savage Japanese forces hidden on islands that dotted the Pacific. When our young men in uniform suffered losses, the people back home suffered with them. The Rev. Mr. Jones was a tall, lanky fellow — and humble. He had wide shoulders that were strong enough to carry the responsibility of comforting families when they received telegrams saying loved ones had been killed or wounded in battle, or captured as prisoners of war. Somehow, he always had just the right word of encouragement that God was having His way, and the fallen serviceman was a part of that master plan. In a low-key manner, the Rev. Mr. Jones inspired people in our congregation, individually and collectively, to look forward and upward with hope and con- fidence. He did not know the meaning of the word despair, no matter how grave a situation appeared to be. He led us to a wider and deeper understanding of the Kannapolis First Baptist's role as a missionary church. As a result of this emphasis, we increased our par- ticipation in the Cooperative Program. In 1945, we began sponsoring the Rev. and Mrs. Burton Davis as missionaries to Brazil, where the Rev. Mr. Jones and his wife, Lucia, had served as missionaries in the 1920s. Sponsorship of the Bur- ton Davises continued some 30 years, until they retired in the mid-1970s and returned to a little town near Greenville, S.C. He broadened our vision of stewardship. While increasing our contributions through the Cooperative Program, we expanded our local program, added Eyra Dell Petrea to the staff as pastor's helper, and reduced our building debt from $31,000 to about $10,000. Our congregation grew rapidly during the time of World War II and the years immediately following. A resolution in the printed program for the morning service on June 1, 1947, when the Rev. Mr. Jones completed his work here, contained this expression of appreciation: "For being instrumental in winning more than 200 people to Christ during this (five-year) time and increasing our church membership by more than 500." The Rev. Mr. Jones' wife Lucia was as busy and as popular as he was during their five years among us. Her mother, Mrs. J.W. Rodwell, was very active in our Sunday School and our mission emphasis. Born in Robertson County, Tennessee, the Rev. Mr. Jones was educated at Mercer University and Peabody College. While studying at Mercer, he served as a biology assistant, and at one time was a supply teacher at Hall Moody College. It was at Mercer that he met Lucia Rodwell, who was earning her Master of Arts degree. A year after Lucia went to Brazil as a missionary, he followed her. They were married in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 1, 1925. After his two years as a missionary, and Lucia's three years, they returned to the United States and he became pastor of Allen Street Baptist Church in Charlotte in 1928. He remained there 14 years, then accepted the call to our church. Upon leaving here, the Joneses went to the mountains of North Carolina. He was pastor of Lower Creek Church in the Lenoir area for 10 years, then moved a few miles to the Boone area to serve Oak Grove Church in the Three Forks Bap- tist Association until his death in 1963. 62 The First Baptist Church Choir. Director, Herman Watts; Organist, Miss Billie Doris Watts. At the pulpit is Rev. Raymond Council, guest speak The Choir Under The Direction Of Miss LaMar Wells. 64 66 Rev. Douglas M. Branch He Added Strength The Rev. Douglas M. Branch, who was our pastor from 1947 until March 1953, added strength to our leadership development. He emphasized training of lay people for more effective work in our Sunday School, our Training Union, our mission groups. These goals were attained by ex- panding our staff, sending our leaders to Ridgecrest, and taking greater ad- vantage of the programs offered by the State Baptist Convention. It was during the Rev. Mr. Branch's pastorate that our church began the or- dination of women to the Deacon Council — an advancement in leadership that not many churches have made even yet. Mrs. Lillian Lear was elected as the first woman vice-chairman of our council. Lucille Riner came here with the Rev. Mr. Branch to serve as our first minister of education. The two had worked together at the Scotland Neck Baptist Church. Following Miss Riner's marriage to Ted Solomon, Virginia Beall, who had been church secretary, assumed the duties of education director. In July 1949, LaMar Wells was introduced to the congregation as our first fulltime minister of music. She succeeded Herman Watts, who over a period of 19 years had built our choir into one of the largest and best known in this part of the state. Two years later, LaMar married Orval Murray, who grew up in our church, had just completed his work at Baylor University and was about to enter a lifetime of work as minister of music and education. LaMar and Orval went to a Baptist Church at Franklin, in western North Carolina, where she was organist 67 and he was minister of music. They then served a church at Fayetteville. After his tour of duty in the U.S. Army, Orval was minister of music at churches in Jonesboro, Ga., and Richmond, Va. He has been on the staff of the First Baptist Church at Greer, S.C., for the past 21 years. Orval and LaMar have two daughters: Sharon, who has completed her studies at Bowman-Gray School of Medicine and spent most of 1983 working with a missionary doctor at a Baptist hospital in Eku, Nigeria; and Denise, who is married to a ministerial student at Southeastern Baptist Seminary at Wake Forest. Orval is one of three children of Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Murray of our congrega- tion and all of them are involved in music. Kenneth is professor of music at Wingate College. Sarah is organist at the Emorywood Baptist Church at High point, where her husband, Dr. Bill Joyce, is in the practice of medicine. The Rev. Mr. Branch was active in the Cabarrus Baptist Association, and serv- ed as moderator in 1949-50. He believed in the State Baptist Convention of North Carolina as a fellowship through which nearly a million Baptists in 3,300 congregations could work together to achieve goals through Christian Service. While he was our pastor, the Rev. Mr. Branch was elected first vice president of the Baptist State Convention. He presided over the sessions after the president, Dr. Archie Ellis of Salisbury, moved to South Carolina. He then was elected to his own term as president. In subsequent years, he served on the "Committee of 25," which was formed to make a study of the total organized life of the convention. He also served five years on the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving our church in March 1953 to become minister of the First Baptist Church at Rocky Mount, the Rev. Mr. Branch served as a trustee of Wake Forest University from 1956 until 1959, and was vice-chairman of the board two of those years. Wake Forest awarded him a Doctor of Divinity degree. At a special session of the Baptist State Convention in May 1959, he was elected general secretary-treasurer — the top executive position. He was installed during ceremonies at the First Baptist Church in Raleigh the following June 9. He was fatally injured on February 1, 1963 when the car he was driving struck a stalled truck near Ahoskie as he was returning to Raleigh from an engagement at Chowan College, Murfreesboro. His wife, Jessie, continues to live in the Raleigh area. The expansion of staff and programs that the Rev. Mr. Branch started in our church continued under the leadership of the Rev. Charles C. Coffey, who became our minister in 1953. Virginia Beall went to Rocky Mount to work at the First Baptist Church there during the Rev. Mr. Branch's pastorate. Kathryn Bullard, who had become church secretary in the late 1940s, advanc- ed to promotional director. In that capacity, she worked with all organizations in our church and made good use of all the training this experience offered. In the mid-1950s she joined the Baptist State Convention's staff and became director of the WMU. For several years, she has held a similar position with the Baptist State Convention of Virginia. She has traveled extensively, including several trips abroad, in connection with this work. On February 21, 1954, early in the Rev. Mr. Coffey's pastorate, our church voted to construct a new sanctuary of colonial design that would have a seating capacity of 1,050, expand the educational facilities to accommodate 1,368 per- sons, and air-condition the entire facility. A Durst Pipe Organ and a Steinway Grand Piano were to be installed in the sanctuary. This $275,000 expansion was essential. By that time, the First Baptist member- ship had risen to 1,700, the Sunday School was again overflowing its facilities, and on Sunday mornings chairs were placed in the aisles. 68 The construction was started in May 1955, and the facilities were dedicated on August 21, 1955. The sermon was delivered by Dr. Sydnor L. Stealey, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary at Wake Forest. Our church staff in 1955 consisted of the Rev. Mr. Coffey; Mattie Lou Bible, educational and youth activities director; Kathryn Bullard, promotional direc- tor; Nellie Mitchell (now Mrs. Bobby Brooks), secretary; Earl C. Jolls, minister of music; Billie Doris Watts Fowler, organist. Miss Bible left the following year to become a missionary to Brazil. A circle in our WMU is named in her honor. Through the years since, our ministers of education have included Josephine Phillips, 1956-59; Edlyne Ligon (now Mrs. Larry Dickson), 1959-61; Norman Brisson, with us since January 1962. Our ministers of music have included Dan Hodges, 1956-59; Jerry Ratcliff, 1959-60; Charles Storey, 1960-68; Carl Beard, 1969-72; Tom Smith, 1973-77; Gerald Hamilton, who was with us from the time he graduated from the Southern Baptist Seminary at Louisville in 1979 until mid-May 1983. Our organists have included Mrs. Allen W. Laxton, 1955-60; Betty Honeycutt Williams, 1961-64; Carol Brown Cone, interim in 1964; Becky Tipler, who came here from Tennessee, 1964-65; Wanda Childers LeQuire, 1965-68; Jane Currin Hamilton, 1968-1974; Linda Young, 1974-76; Patricia McBrayer, 1976-79; Jane Currin Hamilton, again from 1979 until mid-May 1983. Rev. And Mrs. Douglas M. Branch Were Welcomed Into Our Fellowship With A Reception. 64 Rev. Charles C. Coffey A Challenging Time The Rev. Charles C. Coffey was our minister for almost 25 years, during one of the most challenging periods in our history. The peaks and valleys in our national life were reflected in the lives of our town and our church. When the Rev. Mr. Coffey joined us in July 1953, Kannapolis and the rest of the nation were scratching out of the hardships that World War II had inflicted. Prosperity was here. People were taking full advantage of the good times, and ex- pecting the future to be even better. Houses were being built all over town and families were taking on mortgage debts of $10,000, $15,000 and even $20,000 with full confidence that they would pay them off. Kannapolis was on wheels; there was a car in almost every yard, and two cars in many driveways. The 1960s were frustrating. Trouble boiled in a tiny Asian country that few of us had ever heard of, Vietnam. Russian missiles were discovered in Cuba, and our international relations were strained even more. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, and Lyndon B. Johnson, our new president, launched his Great Society which expanded the social programs that grew out of the Roosevelt New Deal and started a lot of new ones. Prosperity was eaten up by in- flation, new taxes and increases in old taxes, and head-over-heels borrowing by the federal government. Suddenly, our lifestyle turned from leisurely to hectic. Restlessness turned to rebellion, especially on college campuses and in the deteriorating big cities. The 1970s were marred by the Watergate scandal that ended in President Richard M. Nixon's resignation in disgrace, and the jailing of some of the men who were closest to him. 71 All of this turmoil in our nation resulted in the loss of respect — and support — for our institutions throughout the nation. It was against this backdrop of Kannapolis' involvement in the peaks and valleys the nation went through that the Rev. Mr. Coffey served as our pastor un- til his death on September 19, 1977. His Virginia heritage came through clearly. He brought formality to our worship services. He set out to add quality to our programs, our leadership. He was born in Fredricksburg, Virginia, and graduated from High Point Col- lege, a Methodist institution, and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He undertook other studies at Duke University Divinity School, a Methodist institution, and at Princeton Theological Seminary. While he was here, he received an honorary doctorate from an institution in Georgia. Probably it was because of his education in schools beyond the Baptist lines that the Rev. Mr. Coffey was so devoutly Baptist in his ministry. With very few exceptions, people joining our church staff were graduates of our Baptist seminaries. He encouraged young people who dedicated their lives to Christian service to enroll in Baptist institutions of higher learning. He was a trustee of the Golden Gate Theological Seminary at Mill Valley, California, from 1962 until his death. He emphasized missions, locally and around the world. Under his leadership, our congregation continued to assist Sharon Baptist Church, which had been organized during the Rev. Douglas M. Branch's pastorate. In April 1974, Kannapolis First Baptist Church organized the Green Acres Mission in northwestern Cabarrus County, and has supported it through the nine years since. The Rev. Charles Trull was minister of Green Acres from 1974 through 1976; the Rev. David Brown led the mission in 1976-79; the Rev. Luke Walter has been pastor since 1980. In 18 of the past 20 years, and for 15 years in a row, the Woman's Missionary Union of our congregation has earned the Distinguished Achievement Award, given by the State WMU in recognition of its meeting all of the goals for pro- grams, outreach and giving for missions. This is the highest honor the State WMU can bestow, and it is given to only a handful of WMU groups each year. Our WMU first received the award in 1963-64. The January 1971 issue of The Cabarrus Baptist News reported that among the churches in the Cabarrus Baptist Association, Kannapolis First Baptist ranked second in mission gifts per resident member and in the percentage of total offer- ings committed to missions. It was during the Rev. Mr. Coffey's pastorate that our Weekday Early Educa- tion program was started, in the early 1960s, by Mrs. Margie Sellers. When Mrs. Sellers moved to another city a year later, Mrs. Jeroline Robinette became direc- tor, and has served since then. In addition to the classes now offered in WEE for children three and four years old, kindergarten was provided until the public schools assumed responsibility for five-year-olds. A Better Homes Fellowship for young adults was started in 1970, a time when the home was among the institutions adversely effected by national trends and attitudes. The scope of many of our programs was expanded during the Coffey years. The music ministry added organ and piano instruction, along with vocal and choir training. In 1970, Lonnie E. Funderburk gave a 50-bell Shulmerich carillon system for the church tower in honor of the Funderburk family. He also made plans at that time to give handbells. Our facilities were expanded and improved. 72 Air-conditioning was installed throughout the educational departments in the spring of 1958 at a cost of $20,474. Ground was broken on April 21, 1974 for a four-story addition that provided much-needed space for the music ministry, a library and additional space for the nursery on the main floor; more space for the Young Adult department and a parlor/conference room on the second floor; a new department for children and expanded space for the Youth department on the third floor; and a new kitchen, a game room and a lounge for the ladies on the lower level. The $262,000 addition was dedicated on Sunday, May 2, 1976. Dr. Cecil Ray, executive secretary-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, delivered the sermon. The main-floor space for the library was especially welcome. For many years, the church had a small collection of books, but nothing that resembled a library came about until 1954 when Mrs. Homer Fisher Jr. volunteered to organize the volumes. For the next two years she laid the founda- tion for a good church library. Mrs. Charles Coffey succeeded Mrs. Fisher as librarian and served until 1958. Mrs. Ray McKinney served in that capacity in 1958-59. She was succeeded by Marcelle Milloway. Mrs. W.H. Riddle, a retired school teacher, became librarian in 1974, and was still serving in that position in our 75th anniversary year. The library now has 3,350 volumes. Books were donated from the personal libraries of the Rev. Mr. Coffey, Frances Keever and Blanche Sweeney after their deaths. Many books have been given in memory of, and in honor of, friends and relatives. It was fitting that our church establish the Charles C. Coffey Memorial Scholarship Fund following the minister's sudden death. Contributions and in- terest earned on investments have raised the fund's total to $15,000, with interest income to be used to provide scholarships to seminary students. The first scholar- ship was awarded in this 75th anniversary year to David Harold Wyatt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wyatt. David has enrolled in the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary at Wake Forest to begin his ministerial education. The Rev. Mr. Coffey's wife, Jewell, and younger son, Edwin, have remained in Kannapolis. The older son, Rick, is a banker in Charlotte. Daughter Judy (now Mrs. Wayne Mcintosh) resides in Chester, S.C., and is a school teacher. She and Wayne have three children. 73 The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering — The highlight of every Christmas season. Miss Loraine Gray, 1st from left on front row in choir, looks on approvingly. She was greatly responsible for planning these events. j ****** Rev. Coffey Proudly Poses With The Daily Vacation Bible School. 74 79 Josephine Phillips, educational director. Rev. Charles Coffey, Mrs. Coffey and Kathryn Bullard, Promotional Secretary. The First Baptist Church Chancel Choir Dr. Ken Altom Our Church Family Dr. Ken Altom, who became our minister in September 1978, was committed to lead us in solidifying our church family. This was not easy. The late 1970s were as full of concerns and national problems as the early years of the decade had been. Institutions were being attacked from all sides. Churches everywhere were suffering from chronic lethargy; attendance at Sunday School and worship services was down, and many people who did attend were lacking in commitment. The deepest recession since the Great Depression half a century earlier was rapidly developing, the Carter administration had lost the confidence of the people and Washington was in disarray. This nation's friends overseas were fighting among themselves. The early years of the 1980s were no less frustrating. Our nation elected a new president in 1980, and people pinned their hopes on Ronald Reagan's promises to restore order to Washington, reduce the inflation rate, cut taxes, beef up the na- tion's defense and balance the budget. Mr. Reagan was inaugurated in January 1981, and in less than two months he was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt. The nation, in shock, prac- tically stood still for a few weeks until our leader recovered. Although President Reagan got from Congress almost everything he asked for in 1981, problems persisted. The recession deepened, unemployment soared, people's hopes for quick recovery from a multitude of social ailments plunged. 85 The year 1982 was more depressing than 1981 was. In addition to the concerns that came out of the depressed economy and the failure of the Reagan ad- ministration to attain its goals, Kannapolis had to go through the trauma of the sale of its backbone industry, Cannon Mills. In 1983, the 75th anniversary of our church and the 77th year of our town, it was very difficult to predict what the future would bring. However, Pastor Altom kept our congregation looking forward and upward. In a church directory published soon after his arrival, the minister wrote: "In First Baptist Church, we participate with each other in worship, fellowship, Bible study, and actions of missions and ministries. There is no way we can be unaffected by these cooperative efforts and expressions. "However, we must go beyond simply attending services at the same time and place week after week. Our togetherness must have the realities of identity with each other. Only in this way can our congregation truly be a church family. With this in mind, we then can witness for Christ and invite others to join with us. Peo- ple will know we are Christians by our love for Christ and each other." A history of our congregation, published in that directory, included this com- mitment: "God has given us a ministry. Ours is the task of proclaiming the Gospel for the whole man. The good news is made known in worship, in our music ministry, in Bible study, in fellowship, in ministries, in Weekday Early Education, in discipleship and through direct evangelism. All of these ministries to God's children come to focus in the ultimate objective of winning people to Jesus Christ as personal Savior and leading them to a maturing Christian experience in the fellowship of a church." Early in Dr. Altom's pastorate, our congregation adopted its first constitution and by-laws. This action, taken on September 30, 1979, will be important in the history of our church as long as it exists. This momentous event followed more than a year's work by the Constitution Committee consisting of Dan Gray as chairman, Miss Loraine Gray, Mrs. Fred Keever, Marshall Smithers, Dr. George T. Noel, Mrs. Perry Steen, and ex-officio, Dr. Altom and Norman Brisson. Dr. Altom, who was only 30 when he came to us, brought a folksy atmosphere to our church. He and we got to know one another on a first-name basis. He thought highly of our Wednesday night fellowship suppers. He initiated ser- monettes for children. He placed emphasis on youth activities. He was a man of vision. He was convinced there was no limit to the service that Kannapolis First Baptist Church could provide for its people and the com- munity once it got its bearings and moved into high gear. His vision extended beyond our church and our community, however. In 1980 and 1981, he led our youth on mission trips to Harrisburg, Pa. He conducted a revival at the Harrisburg Baptist Mission and our young people conducted backyard Bible clubs. It was a learning experience. Our church sponsored the Sengkamphong refugee family from Laos. The family arrived in 1981 and settled in a house on West 8th Street that our con- gregation rented and furnished. This, too, was a learning experience; it put our missionary spirit into action. The following year, Dr. Altom was invited by the Foreign Mission Board to participate in a preaching mission in Chile. He accepted. This was a significant mission undertaking by our church, which underwrote practically all of our pastor's expenses. It was also indicative of the importance this congregation has placed on missions through the years. Dr. Altom became involved in several community organizations and projects, and led us in cooperating with other churches in evangelistic efforts. He was awarded the Kannapolis Jaycees' Distinguished Service Award in 1981 . 86 Mrs. Marguerite Noel and children, Rita, Jere and Marylene, endowed annual theological studies as a memorial to their husband and father, who for more than a quarter century was active in our congregation as a deacon, a member of numerous key committees and a Sunday School teacher. The first Dr. George T. Noel Theology Series was presented in 1980, a year after his sudden death. Dr. Alan Neely led studies on missions. Dr. Donald Hustad conducted a music/worship series in 1981. Dr. Findley B. Edge, senior professor of religion at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, spoke in 1982 on the theme, "Theology of Discipleship." Our church facilities were improved during Dr. Altom's time with us. New carpeting was installed in the sanctuary in December 1979, a ramp for handicap- ped persons was built in 1981, and the elevator was installed in 1982. Dr. Altom resigned in March 1983 to become pastor of Calvary Baptist Church at Florence, S.C. His wife, Pam, and children Eric, Kent and Kelli remained in our fellowship until the end of the school term. Dr. Ken Altom Is Pictured With The "Talking Hands." 87 88 The First Baptist Church, Kamiapolis, 1983 89 The Years Ahead We in the First Baptist Church of Kannapolis have every right to be proud of our heritage. We should be grateful, too. Our heritage has been bought with sacrifices from a lot of people who gave their time, work and money to fulfil their commitment to the Great Commission which is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. Many of these people were lacking in education, as we know educational op- portunities today. They learned in the School of Life; they learned by putting in long hours of study, profiting from their mistakes, searching for new ways of working when old ones proved to be inadequate. This diligence and determina- tion went before their prayers and faith. They may not have said it exactly this way, but they believed that God helped those who helped themselves. They gave coins and greenbacks when money was hard to come by. Many of the giants in our congregation passed out of life so long ago that they are not remembered by the oldest members of our congregation today. Some of the giants linger in our memories — Miss Donie Norville, who was a young girl when our congregation was organized 75 years ago, and was a teacher and counselor and friend of children until her last day; Mrs. Blanche Sweeney, a master teacher; Mrs. Kate Miller, who had a special way of making the Scrip- tures come alive every Sunday morning. John Funderburk could preach as well as most ministers could. Raymond Connell learned to preach by preaching to us, his homefolks, and he was highly respected. Lonnie Brown played a leading role in the Sunday School, and Smith Brown spent his Sunday mornings adding up the attendance reports and-helping count the money. As we prepared to observe the 75th anniversary of the founding of our con- gregation, some of these giants were still active — Mrs. W.H. Riddle, who opens the library early Sunday, teaches a Bible class and still has time to arrange in- teresting programs for the Keen-Agers and Baptist Women; Mrs. Beulah Graham, who has spent most of her life teaching pre-schoolers and visiting the homebound, and has recruited her husband John and sister Nell Fortner to help her; Dow Brinkley, who makes a hobby of helping people; Johnny Byerly who has been greeting people so long that grandmothers are among "my kids" who hug him on Sunday mornings; Bill Dove, who through many years has served as a Sunday School teacher, deacon and trustee. First Baptists have been active in the community. Naomi Tillman and Clarice Whicker have been honored as WSOC-TV's "Nine Who Care" in recognition of their civic services: Miss Tillman has, for close to 20 years, conducted Sunday devotionals at Five Oaks Nursing Center, and Mrs. Whicker has contributed much of her life to Cabarrus Memorial Hospital's Auxiliary and the Cabarrus chapter of the American Red Cross. George Kiser, Tom Dayvault, Ken Argo and Dr. Ken Altom have been among those the Jaycees have recognized as Kan- napolis Young Men-of-the-Year. Bernard Dayvault has been Young Man-of-the- Year and Citizen-of-the Year. Dr. Freeman Slaughter has been Citizen-of-the- Year, in recognition of his service as chairman of the Cabarrus County Board of Health and other civic services. Ed A. Johnson helped build the Kannapolis Volunteer Fire Department, served as its chief and was treasurer of the North Carolina Firemen's Association. Miss Frances Bounds is a Student Government advisor on the local, state and national levels. Ira T. Chapman was "Mr. Welfare" during his early years as Kannapolis police chief, before Social Services began taking care of people in need. Henry Duncan is a veteran member of the Kannapolis Board of Education, and Fred L. Wilson was chairman of that panel for many years. Dr. Charles C. Coffey was instrumental in getting Cabarrus County's mental health program off the ground. For many years, CD. Hartness conducted a one-man campaign to raise money for the Boys Home at Huntersville. 91 From the beginning of the YMCA, First Baptists have filled volunteer leader- ship positions. Dr. Guy L. Whicker and Dr. James O. Nolan were pioneers in medical care in Kannapolis; they were here long before Cabarrus Memorial Hospital was established, when doctors went into homes to care for the sick and deliver babies. In later years, Dr. George T. Noel served the community as a specialist in eye surgery. We are proud of the people in our church who have been ordained into the Christian ministry, including: • The Rev. James Summerlin, Mrs. W.J. Keever's brother, who was with us for a while and then became a minister in western North Carolina. • The Rev. Raymond Brinkley, who served as pastor of First Baptist Church at China Grove for a total of 34 years and as minister of Oakdale at Spencer for six years, and has been busy in our church since his retirement. • Dr. Raymond Connell, who served as a minister for a number of years, became a chaplain in the military, and was pastor of a church at Courtney at the time of his death. His wife, Beulah, came back to our church to spend her latter years. • Dr. John Edward Rouse, who became widely known in South Carolina as a minister and was president of Anderson College, a Baptist institution in South Carolina, for 16 years, and once served as president of the State Baptist Conven- tion of South Carolina. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Rouse, who were ac- tive in our church for many years. • The Rev. Walter Smith, who after college became a minister in East Chicago, Indiana. • Dr. Wayne Oates, author and lecturer who since his retirement from our seminary at Louisville has been professor of psychiatry at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. • Oscar Funderburk, now retired after a long time in the ministry. • B.G. Henry, who came to Kannapolis as a school principal, taught a large class in our church, was ordained, became a professor at Fruitland and then serv- ed as a pastor at Tryon. • The Rev. Lee Watts, who served as a minister in Virginia. • Z. Miller Freeman, one of the first to serve us as minister of education, was ordained and served as pastor of several churches. • The Rev. J.C. (Jake) Huneycutt, who is now serving the Faith Baptist Church. His mother, Mrs. Flora Honeycutt, is still active in our church. His father, J.C. Huneycutt, is deceased • The Rev. Eugene Walters, who formerly served as a minister and is now employed in mental health. • The Rev. Dennis Hill, who served in the Philippines as our first missionary journeyman, then served on the staff of Mars Hill College, and is now pastor of a church at Durham. He is the son of Clyde Hill. • The Rev. Herschel Tornell, who was on our staff during the Rev. Douglas Branch's pastorate and later served as a'minister in Missouri. • The Rev. Frank Perry, who became a Lutheran minister. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Perry, who were active in our church for many years. • The Rev. Wade James, a layman in our congregation who was called as the first pastor of North Kannapolis Baptist Church. • The Rev. John Perry, who became a Baptist pastor. • The Rev. Wiley Guthrie, who became a chaplain in the military. • The Rev. Ray Frye, now a missionary in Singapore. His wife, Katherine (Kathy) is the daughter of Mrs. Cy Bradley and the late Mr. Bradley. • The Rev. Norman Brisson and the Rev. Gerald Hamilton, who were ordain- ed in 1981 while serving as our minister of Christian education and minister of music. We are proud of those who have gone from our church into Christian service. 92 Frederick McRay Wilson, who served overseas in a mission project, is now a teaching fellow at Duke University and working on his doctorate in theology. He grew up in our church, where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Wilson, have been active throughout their years in Kannapolis. Miss Mattie Lou Bible, once a member of our church staff, is a missionary in Brazil. Miss Maurine Perryman, who was active in our church while teaching school, is a missionary in Jordan. Miss Kathryn Bullard, formerly on our church staff, is now director of Baptist Women for the State Baptist Convention of Virginia. Dr. Kenneth Murray is on the music faculty at Wingate College. Orval Murray is minister of music at the First Baptist Church in Greer, S.C. They are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Murray. The daughters of Mr. and Mrs. CD. Hartness were active in the music pro- gram in our church while growing up — Virginia (Winecoff) as an organist, Martha (Siceloff) as a soloist. They have continued in church music in Hickory and Winston-Salem. Eric Slaughter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Slaughter, has assumed his duties as a missionary journeyman in Norway. David Wyatt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wyatt, is a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary at Wake Forest, as the first recipient of a Charles C. Coffey Scholarship. As we reflect on our heritage, our task is to look ahead, turn challenges into op- portunities, pray for guidance and go to work. Our church and our town are not what they were 15, 20, 40, or 75 years ago. Change has caused us to shift gears frequently — sometimes when we preferred to cruise along at a leisurely pace. When we have met change head-on, however, we have come out stronger than before. Kannapolis is going through a transition, following the sale of the backbone in- dustry, Cannon Mills, to David H. Murdock, a Los Angeles financier. If we take the long view, this can be exciting. Now in its 77th year, Kannapolis is seriously looking at the issue of incorpora- tion. A Charter Commission will complete its study by March 1984, publish its findings, hold public hearings. Then the people will decide "for" or "against" in- corporation in a referendum on November 6, 1984. Again, if we take the long view, this can be exciting. First Baptists serving on the Charter Commission in- clude Dr. Freeman Slaughter as vice chairman, Ken Argo and Melvin Rape. Mrs. Jane Kiser was a member of the task force that worked for the legislation that created the Charter Commission. What of the future, which is from this day forward? In the affluent 1980s, we have ideal facilities, situated in the heart of our city. We have the financial resources to attain any goal we wish to set. Our people are better educated than ever before, and our leadership is offered the best training ever made available through our conventions. There is no end to opportunities to reach out and touch someone. Within our membership are elderly people who crave an occasional visit, or a telephone call just to let them know somebody cares. There are people throughout the community, grasping for help in coping with problems that the "real world" brings every day. And children who are inwardly and silently begg- ing for words of encouragement from adults who love them and respect them, and care for them. In all directions, people are waiting to be visited and invited to our Sunday School and worship services. There are social ills that need to be addressed. Where will the First Baptist Church of Kannapolis be when we celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2008? Nobody knows. Anybody's guess is as good as any other. 93 There is no limit to what the First Baptist Church of Kannapolis can do for its people and its community if we, who are celebrating the congregation's Dia- mond Jubilee, make the same commitment our builders made. One thing is certain: we will not stand still, individually or collectively. We will climb to new heights in the next 25 years. Or we will slip backward. Our Leaders In 1983 Deacon Council Doug Truesdel, chairman Troy Day, vice-chairman Mrs. Martie Williams, secretary Leo Shull Dow Brinkley Pat Cloninger Mrs. Carl (Grace) Brown Mrs. Lillian Long Bernard Dayvault David Lear Tony Sloop Granville Wade Mrs. Madry Grant Mrs. Roselyn Mangum John Slaughter Perry Steen Bill Tarlton John Teague Mrs. Melanie Keziah Mrs. Alma Jackson Ken Argo Denford Oxendine Ned Robinette Mrs. Phyllis Odell General Church Officers Sunday School Director: Ned Robinette Clerk: Mrs. Dianne Overcash Financial Clerk: Dow Brinkley Treasurer: Lawrence M. Williams Trustees: Herman Harris Bernard Dayvault Dan Gray W.M.U. Directors: Mrs. Lillian Long Mrs. Joy6e Holman Brotherhood Director: Jack Lawrence Church Training Director Tom Hartis Parliamentarian: Miss Frances Bounds 96 Our Roll In 1983 A Mrs. Levie Adams Carl and Hallie Adcock Mrs. Margie Adcock Miss Roxie Akins Price and Bessie Alexander Mrs. Louise Allen Hal Allen Mrs. Nell Allen Mrs. Ellene Allman Miss Eula Anderson Herman Anderson W.D. Angell Ken and Patty Argo Miss Kendra Argo Patrick Argo Mark and Ann Argo Monte and Marsha Armes Mrs. Nora Ashworth Guy and Lavada Atkinson Todd Atkinson Brian Atkinson Mrs. Marie Atwood Lewis and Louise Austin Billie Wayne Adams Evelyn Adams Jimmy Albright Mrs. Phyllis Alexander Mrs. Floyd Allen Harold Allen Mrs. Jack Allen William C. Allen Mrs. Nancy Allison David Armstrong George W. Armstrong Jr. Bobby Austin Hazel Aycock B Bill and Betty Babb Kevin Babb Mrs. Jessie Baker Miss Kim Baker Mrs. Zettie Baker Mrs. Eloise Ballard Mrs. Ethel Ballard Mrs. Lois Barbee Mrs. Nancy Barbee Miss Monica Barbee James and Wilma Barber Mrs. Jo Barringer Kelly Morrison Roger Morrison Joseph Morrison Mrs. Kate Baxter Floyd and Elsie Beaver Walter L. and Cora Beaver Mrs. Nellie Beck Larry Belk Warren and Hazel Belk William Belk Gary and Donna Benfield S.W. Bennett Eugene and Annie Benton Ronnie Benton Randy Benton Mrs. Theo Benton John Benton Miss Mary Wallace Berry Mrs. Helen Blackerby Harold Blackerby Jr. George and Annie Blackwelder Mrs. Sally Jo Blalock Luke and Jan Blume Lloyd and Elizabeth Booth Miss Sherri Bost Walter and Ruby Bost Miss Frances Bounds Mrs. Glennie Bounds Mrs. Dari Bowlin Mrs. Johnnie Bradley Grier and Louise Bradshaw Phil and Kim Bragg Dow and Lela Mae Brinkley Raymond and Mildred Brinkley Norman and Helen Brisson Scott Brisson Miss Sheri Brisson Bob and Nellie Brooks Boyd Brooks Mrs. Ila Brooks Carl and Grace Brown Douglas Brown Miss Sally Brown Mrs. Grace Brown Mrs. Robin Bryant McNeill and Helen Bullard Phil and Elaine Bullard Miss Barbara Jane Bullock Miss Pamela Dawn Bullock Johnny and Bessie Byerly Carroll Bailey Miss Rose Marie Ballard William Clifford Barber Dorothy Barrett Mrs. Eula Barrett Johnnie Barrett Mrs. Thelma Basinger Miss Tonda Beam Mrs. Ester Beaver Mickey Blackwelder Mrs. Unia Boone Jimmy Brewer Mrs. Robert Lee Brown Sam Broyles Mrs. Bill Bullock Emma Burge Mr. and Mrs. George W. Butler Paul Byrd C Keith Campbell Mrs. Hattie Campbell Terrel and Kathryn Campbell Miss Tiffany Campbell Miss Angela Cannon Mrs. Louise Canup Howard and Ruby Cashion Mrs. Clara Cashion Mrs. Brennie Caton Mrs. Elsie Caudle Roger and Mary Anne Chambers Brian Chambers Mrs. Lorene Chance Richard and Terri Chaney Mrs. Gladys Chapman Akins and Janet Chastain Miss Lisa Chastain 97 Mrs. Polly Chatham Marshall and Eva Cheek Millard and Idelle Cheek Earl and Betty Childers Larry Clodfelter Lester and Florean Clodfelter Marshall and Louise Cloninger Mrs. Annie Ruth Cloninger Pat and Betty Cloninger Jarvis and Mamie Cobb Edwin Coffey Mrs. Bertha Coggins Gaither and Lorene Coggins Miss Marie Coggins Julian and Lorraine Coggins Fleet and Nell Collins Rev. Guthrie and Swannie Colvard Claude and Eunice Colvard Gary Colvard Mrs. Beulah Connell Walter Nelson Cooley James M. and Sibby Cooper Mrs. Dollie Corn Mrs. Kim Coughenour Mrs. Helen Crepps Bob Cresson Mrs. Pauline Crisco Raymond J. and Essie Critz Robert and Margaret Cronan Charlie R. and Grace Crowe Robert and Lois Crutchfield Paul and Evelyn Currin Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Cagle Miss Marsha Campbell Reid Campbell Rondy Campbell W.C. Canipe Keith Cannon Nellie Mae Carriker John Carter C.E. Cates Ralph Thomas Chapman Nancy Chappelear David Chatham Maxie Cheek Mrs. Williams Clenner III Troy Cline Charles Richard Coffey Mrs. Mary Cole Mrs. Sam Corriher Floyd Covington Mrs. Mary Crisco D Mrs. Maude Darnell Don and Margaret Davis Mrs. Bea Davis James W. and Rachel Davis Mrs. Jane Davis Michael Davis John and Louise Davis Mrs. Berniece Davis Mrs. Loma Davis Mrs. Ruby Davis Brevard and Beryl Day Troy and Pauline Day Miss Sandra Day Bernard and Sarah Dayvault Tom and Judy Dayvault Mrs. Dema Deese James M. and Nell Deese Lloyd E. and Daisy Dennis Ruby Donaldson Bill and Mildred Dove Mrs. Nancy Dry James C. and Helen Drye Mrs. Faye Duffell Bernard Duncan Henry and Virginia Duncan Tommy Duncan Edward Duncan Ronald and Emily Dunn Miss Linda Dunn Mrs. Ray Daniel Fred Daniels Eddie C. Davis Sr. Eddie Carroll Davis Mrs. Johnnie Davis J.W. Davis William Davis Miss Jan Deese D.F. Delmont Miss Millicent Ann Dennis Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Dennis William Dove III Mr. and Mrs. John DuBose Miss Ruth Torrence Duncan Geneva Dunlap Mrs. H.B. Durham E Ira and Geneva Earwood Mrs. Sheri Earwood Mrs. Verla Evans Ronald Evans Mrs. Hazel Eide Miss Laura Engle Miss Shari Jo Ennis Mr. and Mrs. George Ervin F Melvin and Bryte Faggart Mrs. Joyce Farrell Miss Joy Prevett Jerry Fields Mrs. Olga Fisher Miss Gladys Fisher Mrs. Juanita Fisher Miss Nell Fortner Millard T. and Floretta Foster James and Claudine Fowler Robert and Imogene Francis Alvoid Freeman Mrs. Norine Freeze Mrs. Emma Frieze Mrs. Ann Fritts Joe Frye Miss Sarah Frye LonnieE. Funderburk Mrs. George W. Farabee Miss Amanda Fields Mrs. Don Flikied Homer Fisher Jr. Paris Fisher Lenual Forsyth Steve Foster Carl Francis Mrs. Roy Freeze Mrs. Calvin Freida Charles Frye Miss Cleo Frye Ina Rose Funderburk G Colie and Mary Lee Gainey Mrs. Barbara Gardner Mrs. Johnsie Goble 98 William and Thelma Godfrey Thomas and Carolyn Goldston Mark Goldston Miss Lisa Goodale Eric and Rejane Goode Miss Julie Goode Miss Betty Jean Goodman Preston and Annie Goodman Monroe and Emily Gordon J.W. and Brenda Graham Michael Graham John and Beulah Graham Mrs. Madry Grant Dan and Myra Gray Miss Lori Gray Danny Gray John Gray Miss Loraine Gray Arley L. and Annie Graybeal Denver Graybeal Mrs. Faye Graybeal Boyce and Pauline Griffin Jerry and Lib Griffin Miss Kelly Griffin Barry Griffin Lee Griffin Mrs. Doris Freeman Griffin Miss Loretta Freeman Mrs. HallieGroff Mrs. Lisa Grooms Grady and Jane Gulledge Ralph Gaddy Virginia Gaston Carl Gibson Jr. Alex Murle Goodman Miss Angela Goodman Miss Deborah Ann Goodman Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Riley Goodman Joseph Rickey Goodman Steve Goodman Mrs. Harold Gordy Raymond H. Grass Mrs. W. Hamilton Groscup Mrs. J.D. Gunter David Bruce Gutherie H Bill and Linda Habetz Scott Habetz Miss Shelley Habetz Thomas and Tucker Hackett Chris Hackett Vernon Hackett Mrs. Ernesta Haithcock Herbert and Kathryn Hall Miss Cathy Hall Eugene and Hazel Hampton Miss Lisa Hampton Herman and Sarah Harris J. Irvin and Louise Harris Ricky Harris Thomas and Barbara Harrison Miss Alicia Harrison Miss Marcia Harrison Tom and Shirley Hartis Tommy Hartis Jerry Campbell CD. and Renda Hartness Mrs. Hazel Hastings Charlie and Wanda Haynes Scott Haynes Miss Lisa Haynes Mrs. Ruby Hearne F. Randy Hearne Mrs. Mildred Helms Phil Helms Spurgeon and Kathleen Helms Mrs. Jackie Henley Miss Pam Henley Ralph and Shirley Henry Mrs. Irene Herrin Mrs. Minnie Hester Miss Audrey Hethcock Harold and Mary Higgins Morris and Nancy Hildreth Miss Amy Hildreth Clyde and Rebecca Hill Harold and Eva Hinson J. Ed and Bessie Hinson Larry and Doris Hinson Miss Pearl Hinson Beryl R. and Allie Hobbs Mrs. Effie Hollar Mrs. Christine Holman David and Joyce Holman David Holman Jr. Miss Shannon Holman Frank R. and Betty Honeycutt Mrs. Glennie Honeycutt Keith and Anne Honeycutt Charles and Sue Hord Mrs. Norma Howard Mrs. Hazel Hubbard Herman Hudspeth John and Gail Huffstetler Mike and Billie Jo Huffstetler Miss Michelle Huffstetler Mrs. Ada Humphries Mrs. Flora Huneycutt Mrs. Phyllis Hall Sidney Hamilton Larry Wayne Hampton Robert Hampton Mrs. David Hardin Mrs. Larry Hare Mrs. Ralph Harrington G.A. Harris Jesse L. Hayes J.L. Head Larry Hearne Bobby Helms Miss Janice Herrin Mrs. Gordon Lee Hilburn Donald Hinson R.M. Hinson Donald Hobart Bobby Hollar Charles Holman Jr. Ancel Holtzclaw Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Holtzclaw Mrs. F.W. Honeycutt Robbie Honeycutt Mr. and Mrs. George Hope William Howard Mrs. Russ Howell Stephen Hubbard T.E. Huss Mrs. Guy R. Huskey I Jim and Dean Icard Mark Icard Brad Icard Claude and Leona Ingram Bill Irby Mrs. Geneva Irby J Mrs. Alma Jackson 99 Andy Jackson Jr. Basil R. and Gladys Jackson Mrs. Pauline James Wayne and Loretta James Chester and Hazel Johnson Mrs. Sandi Johnson Mitchell and Susan Johnson Joseph C. and Virginia Johnston Ben and Ruby Jones Ben Jones Jr. Glenn and Kathryn Jones Mrs. Lucy Jones Mrs. Grace Jones Jim and Mary Ann Jordan Jimmy Jordan Miss Julie Jordan Mrs. Ruth Julian Sherman and Margaret Julian Newmoon Jung Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Johnson Alan Johnston Mrs. B.M. Jones Kineson Jung K Mrs. Ann Keen Charles Keen Mrs. Evelyn Kerley Robert and Minnie Ketner Rick and Melanie Keziah Mrs. Peggy Kimball Miss Susan Kimball Miss Cherie Kimball Mrs. Lynn Kindley Bryan Kindley George and Jane Kiser Miss Elizabeth Kiser Lee Kiser Mrs. Kaye Kluttz Mrs. Lillian Kolacinski Miss Gayle Karriker L.D. Kerley Henry Kidd Neill King Miss Alfreda Louise Kohan Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Koontz Lee Kratz L Charles V. and Ruth Lackey Mrs. Enola Lagle Carl and Juanita Lambert W. Albert Lambert Doug and Nan Langley Tim Langley Miss Vivian Langley Jack and Sharray Lawrence David and Lillian Lear Bill Lear Mike Lear Mrs. Thelma E. Lefler Perry and Marsha Lephew Miss Carol Link Miss Leesa Link Elbert and Phyllis Lippard Earl Litaker Miss Frances Litaker Ray Litaker Evans M. and Mary Logan Mrs. Lillian Long Charles and Shirley Long Chuck Long Ervin and Mable Lowder Mrs. Addie Lowder Jack and Irene Lowder Jeff Lowder Ned and Varina Lowder Tony Lowder Wade and Joan Lowder Jeff Lowder Chris Lowder Miss Erika Lowder J. Herman and Dorothy Lumsden Mrs. Mattie Lou Lunsford Mr. and Mrs. I. W. Lackey Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Latimer Mrs. W.P. Law Mrs. Jerry LeQuire Mrs. R.L. Leonard I. Albert Leonard Margaret Lewis Mrs. Sandra Linker Miss Laura Lockey Michael Logan Mrs. Fred Lomax Beatrice Lovett Milton Lowe Mrs. Earl Lumsden M Maynard and Roselyn Mangum Ralph Mangum Heath and Marian Marsh Monroe and Ruth Maulden Mrs. Ruby Mauney Mrs. Gray McCarn H.A. and Minnie McCreary Ray and Arlene McKinney Miss Nancy McKinney Larry and Cynthia Medford Herman Miller Mrs. Agnes Miller Mrs. Mildred Mitchell D. Hack and Pearl Mitchem Mrs. Edna Moore Mrs. Gay Moore James and Mae Moore Jim and Terry Moore Todd Moore Joel Moore Max and Eunice Moore R.D. and Dot Moore Mrs. Ollie Morris Mrs. Glenna Morris Miss Dawna Morris Nathan Morris Mrs. Alice Mullis Mrs. Artie Munday Mrs. Elsie Munday Larry Munday Miss Lucille Munday Wayne and Linda Murdock Todd Murdock Mark Murdock R.P. and Gertrude Murray Mrs. Amanda Mallett Charles Wayne Marlow Miss Annette Mason Jackie Mason Miss Janie Mason Kenny Mason Miss Lauri Mason Mr. and Mrs. Roy Mason Junior Melchor Lucille Menscer David L. Mesimer Miss Rebecca Mesimer Marvin Metcalf Jimmy Michael 100 Mrs. Jane Miller Mrs. Minnie Miller Mrs. James Mitchell Frances Powell Mitchell Mrs. B.H. Moore Dorothy L. Moore Mrs. Samuel M. Moore Jr. Chuck Morgan Kathleen Morgan Mrs. Tony Morteuccio W.E. Mortz Edward Moss N F. Lee and Coleen Nance James and Plydene Nash Ryan Neal Melvin Lee Nichols Mrs. Marguerite Noel Miss Marylene Noel Mrs. Geneva Nussman Frederick Lee Nance Mrs. Gene Nance Tim Nance Larry Stephen Nelson Mrs. Howard B. Nichols Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Norris Miss Jan Nussman Mr. and Mrs. John Nussman Johnny Nussman Bruce Nussman O James and Phyllis Odell Eric and Dianne Overcash Mrs. Amy Lou Overcash Monk and Myrtle Owens Denford and Bess Oxendine Miss Laura Oxendine Miss Sarah Orrin E. Wallace Owen H.W. Owen Jr. J. A. Owen P Michael Peak Mrs. Arlene Peele Mrs. Kathleen Perry David and Linda Pettyjohn Bill and Pat Phillips Miss Alicia Phillips Mrs. Vergie Phillips Bill and Terry Pinnix Mrs. Doris Plowman Douglas and Jackie Potts Miss Janet Potts Hoyle Presslar Clarence and Claudine Price Miss Heather Price Mrs. Elaine Price Harold and Elizabeth Propst Joe Propst Mrs. W.W. Patterson Mrs. Thelma Chapman Paxton Ava Perry Mrs., Beth Currin Phillips Donald Phillips Mrs. Betty Jo Poole Mrs. Emory D. Poole Miss Robin Poole Mrs. Robert Presslar Tony Medlin Presslar Mr. and Mrs. G.T. Price McConley Pruitt R Melvin and Lynda Rape Miss Connie Rape Miss Julie Rape John Rape Mrs. Evelyn Ratliff Carroll Ratliff Mrs. Ruth Ratliff Mrs. Jo Reece William Fred Reece Mrs. Frances Reid Mrs. Blanche Riddle Mrs. W.H. Riddle Doug and Jill Roach Ernest and Barbara Robinette Ned and Jeroline Robinette Miss Debbie Robinette Miss Donna Robinette Jimmy and Barbara Rock Tim Sechler Bob and Gail Ross Alan Ross Craig Ross Mrs. Mary Ross Cecil Rouse Jordan K. and Helen Rouse Linton and Ruby Rowland Mrs. Miriam Rumsey Lindsey and Mildred Russell Hoyt Rutledge Mrs. Carl Reece Kingsley Reid Ruby Reynolds Cora Lee Roberts Mrs. Clara Dean Robinson Dorothy Rodden Gordon Rogers R.P. Rollins Mrs. Carol Roughton Bert Dee Rufty Mrs. Ruth Rule Ruby Rush Madge Rushing T.E. Russ Jack Russell S Bob and Nancy Sane Miss Robin Sane Paul Sane Mrs. Gladys Scarborough Mrs. Bertha Seaford Mrs. Jill Seagraves James and Carolyn Sexton Miss Ginger Sexton Jon Sexton Miss Wrenn Sharpe John and Arlene Shaver Mrs. Margaret Shepherd Alden A. and Mary Sherrill Brent Sherrill Dana Sherrill Norris and Jo Sherrill Ray and Lillian Sherrill 101 Leo and Delia Shull Ralph and Lucy Shull Danny and Pat Shuping M.S. and Estelle Shute Mrs. Mable Sikes A. P. and Evelvn Sills Richard Sills Eric Sills H. Durwood and Gladys Simmons Mrs. Beulah Sinton Don and Sylvia Slaughter Eric Slaughter Miss Susan Slaughter Freeman and Genevieve Slaughter Tom Slaughter Jim Slaughter John and Gladys Slaughter Mrs. Margaree Slaughter Andrew and Lyda Slawson Bruce Slawson Walter rj. and Lottie Slawson Tony and Martha Sloop Miss Leah Sloop Brandon Sloop Harold and Marcie Smith Miss Sabrina Smith Miss Kim Smith Reginald and Judy Smith Miss Andrea Smith Tommy and Jennifer Smith Marshall and Eleanor Smithers Robin Smithers Thomas and Brenda Snipes Stephen Snipes H.C. and Edna Solomon Ted and Lucille Solomon Mrs. Jean Stackleather Harvey and Martha Steelman Miss Susie Steelman Miss Sonja Steelman Fred and Betty Steen Brad Steen Fred Jr. and Tena Steen Perry and Dot Steen Donnie Stewart Pete and Becky Stone Ed Y. and Flora Sweet Mrs. Irene Schnibben Mrs. Lena Sechler Miss Joy Shell Richard Sills Mrs. Brice Slawson Miss Julie Sligh Mrs. Blanton Smith Mrs. Mike Smith Ted Solomon Jr. Mrs. J.D. Steele J. P. Steele Miss Beverly Steen Mrs. J.W. Stokes Timothy Michael Stokes Mrs. Charles Suther T Bill and Inez Tarlton Miss Willeree Tate Mrs. Wilma Taylor Wade and Lucille Taylor John and Charlotte Teague Miss Gina Teague Mrs. Mary Tevepaugh Bryant and Lucille Tillman Dr. Miriam Tillman Miss Naomi Tillman James and Peggy Tomlinson Miss Donna Tomlinson George and Luana Toney Miss Kimberly Toney Troy Toney Mrs. Audrey Torrence Miss Loura Torrence Miss Emily Torrence Jim Torrence Mrs. LucyTroutman Mrs. Betty Troutman Doug and Jane Truesdel Mike Truesdel Kevin Truesdel Edmond and Jean Trull Jeff Trull Miss Evelyn Trull Harley and Alice Tucker Mrs. Teresa Tucker Mrs. Macie Turner Doug and Linda Turner Miss Annette Turner Doug Turner Mrs. Lillie Turner Harold and Betty Turner Miss Melissa Turner Miss Amy Turner Charles Michael Tarlton Miss Janice Elaine Tarlton Robert Lee Taylor Mrs. Ann Taylor Miss Robin Michelle Taylor G. A. Thrift Alton Todd Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Todd Mary Frances Todd Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allen Treece Miss Starr Treece Robert Clinton Troutman D.G.Tuck Mrs. Judy Dove Turner Mrs. JohnTutt U-Z Mrs. Ellen Upright Arthur Upright Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Urban Robert Urban Mrs. Ruth Vaughn Bobby Verble Mrs. Royster Verble Granville and Nell Wade Richard Wagner Mrs. Terry Wagner Mrs.Leona Waller Harrison and Lucille Walters Charles and Thelma Watkins Michael and Julie Ward Andy Ward Albert and Kathryn Watson Jessie D. and Rachel Watson Miss Lena Watts Roland R. and Mickie Watts Mrs. Sarah Weaver Ranny and Marilyn Welton Mrs. Clarice Whicker Paul and Doris White Mrs. Louise Wike Ken and Martie Williams Lawrence and Muriel Williams Dudley G. and LaRue Wilson Fred L. and Anne Wilson James A. Wishon 102 Mrs. Grace Wood Ronald and Janet Woodward Miss Jamie Woodward Miss Susan Woodward Bill and Lucy Workman Blain Wright Floyd Thomas Wright Harold and Murline Wyatt David Wyatt Mrs. Eula Wyatt Gertrude Walden Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Walker Mrs. Lillian Waller Mrs. Libby June Walters Mrs. Juanita Walters Callie Watson David Watson III Miss Nancy Carol Watson S.E. Watson Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Watson Mrs. Frances Weaver Leslie Weaver Mrs. B.L. Westmoreland Mrs. Ina Whatley J.D.White Jessie B. Williams Mrs. Lewis M. Williams Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Williams Miss Katherine Williamson Frederick McRay Wilson Mrs. Lewis Wilson Mrs. R.L. Wilson Mrs. Johnny Withers Rachel Wood Mrs. P.C. Wood Conrad Woodward Lew Wrenn Charles and Myra York Mrs. Margaret York Clayton and Ruby Young Mrs. Richard Young Don and Anna Zimmerman Mike Zimmerman Ronnie Zimmerman 103 Although he cherished newspaper assignments, ranging from covering hard news to writing editorials and a folksy column, Workman never gave a second thought to writing a book. In fact, he once vowed that he never would. The 75th Anniversary Committee decided that it would be appropriate to produce a history of the Kannapolis First Baptist Church during our observance in October 1983, and ask- ed Workman to write it. Workman said he would like to have a couple of days to think about it. He envisioned an easy-to-read ac- count of our church and Kannapolis growing up together. His response From January through June of our 75th Anniversary year, he spent his Mondays off from work going through newspaper clippings and historic documents, searching his own memory, talking with the old timers in our congregation, and putting these reflections in type. "This book was written by a lot of people," Workman said. "I simply put the words together . " The Cover As we were wondering what would be appropriate for the dust jacket for our history of Kannapolis" First Bap- tist Church, this picture was found in the basement of The Daily Indepen- dent, along with others the newspaper photographers had made through the years. Miss Donie Norville, pictured with the steeple of our church rising in the background, became a charter member of our congregation in Oc- tober 1908. She was a young woman then, having been born on August 2, 1882, according to our church records. She remained active in our work until her death on March 1. 1966.