The Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church was organized the
fourth Sunday in July 1893. The names of the charter members were as
follows: Tillie NICHOLS and wife; Marion BROOKS and wife; Rebecca MORRIS,
Henry RICHMOND and wife; Lon LEAHMON, Mary CAMPBELL, Frank CAMPBELL, Billie
REAVIS and wife; Jane and Sarah BUTCHER, Chip COOK, Elizabeth MALLARD, John
SMITH and wife; Ben and Sarah SMITH, Cap RICHMOND, Willie BROWN, Billie MINCHEW,
Jennie WALSTON, Cornelia LEE, Robert HILL, R.L. KEY, Doll DAYS AND WIFE, and
Marian LAWSON.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Frank Marsh; the second, Rev.
E.N. Parrish; the third, Rev. Clark Stevens; the fourth, Rev. G. W. Yancy: and
the fifth, Rev. Walter Freeman. The first deacons were: Henry Richmond,
John Reavis, Doll Days, and Frank Campbell, Gilliam Walston was later ordained
as fifth deacon. The following members have served as church clerks;
Willie Nichols, Billie Minchew, William Walston, John Brooks, John Hill, and
Gilliam Walston.
In 1898 the church split up over the Gospel Mission Plan. Part of
the members organized the Concord No. 2 church, which is located in the Sand
Flat Community. The remainder stayed with the Good Hope Church.
At one time there were eighty members belonging to the old church;
however, only six of the old members are living as far as we know. The
rest have past to their reward.
Sister Nancy Brooks gave the name by which the church is called.
This name bloomed as a rose and was called Old Good Hope Church. This name
lives in my heart today, even though I was only 17 years old when that good
Christian Mother gave the name that reached from earth to Glory.
The present members are: Mr. and Mrs. Gilliam WALSTON, Mr. and Mrs. John
BROOKS, Mollie WALSTON, Mr. and Mrs. Willie SIMPSON, Buell LAMONS, Mary HART,
Lottie RIDINGS, Maggie YANCY, Fannie WESTBROOKS, Gilliam Gene WALSTON, Ellis
BROOKS, Mattie HUGGINS, Fannie ROE and Mr. and Mrs. Austin ROE.
REFERENCE::
This article was written and presented for publication in a booklet written in
November
1937 by Rev. J. W. Recknor jr., Missionary, Trinity River Baptist Association.
copied by: Marletteco@aol.com 8-16-03
Betty Hobby descendant of: MARION BROOKS & wife NANCY, JOHN BROOKS, & Ellis L.
BROOKS