Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church
The church was organized in May of the year 1890. The first Sunday School was held in the Old Hickory Chapel School House. Bro. John Waters was the Sunday School Superintendent and Bro. Garrett Reid was his assistant. A fall revival was held that year by Bro. Jim Oliver, who later become Pleasant Hill's first pastor. As a result of the revival Bro. Oliver baptized Samuel S. West, Ida West, Sally West, and Sally Browning.
The original charter members were Sally Browning, Charlie Davis, William Dobbins, John Fitts, Joe Gray, James Patrick Hall, George Jones, Mrs. George Jones, Sally Money maker, Pete Purtle, J.J. Stovall, John Waters, William Waters, Ida West, Sally West, & S.S. West.
Through the faithful works of James P. Hall, John Waters, and others the church was organized. Bro. John Spurlin delivered the ordination sermon, and the church was named Pleasant Hill ,since it sat on a pleasant rolling hill, by Bro. Jimmy Spurlin. Then Bro. James W. "Jim" Oliver was received as pastor with NO SALARY! As years passed the organized body built a church on the land of Bros. James P. Hall & Jim Oliver. The members and others donated supplies needed for the church to be built. Those donating were Bros. John Fitts, James P. Hall, Henry Clay Pierce, Will Scott, & John J. Stovall.
The foundation of the church building was laid around the year 1892 by Bro. Henry Marshall. The church was totally finished by 1898 and was dedicated in the fall of that year. The first home coming was held in October of 1917. In the year 1938 the church had progressed from the 16 charter members to 100 members.
At first Pleasant Hill was a member of the Little River Association, but in 1925 joined the Caldwell/Lyon Association of Missionary Baptists. The association celebrated it's 75th anniversary in 2000.
Mr. James Patrick Hall gave the land for the "Old Cemetery," and in return was the first person buried in the cemetery. Mr. Barrett gave land for the "New Cemetery," which gave more room for plots. We should especially rememember Mr. J.P. Hall, and Mr. Jim Oliver for their original contributions of land to the church, which without there could not have ever been a Pleasant Hill Church.
There have been many pastors of Pleasant Hill. Here is a list in chronological order to the best of our knowledge. The list: Jin Oliver, W.R. Gibbs, C.L. Roberts, T.E. Ritchey, W.W. Pugh, Adam knoth, R.C. Ramey, H.A. Egbert, G.H. Marshall, S.S. West, Guy P. Hall, J.R. Rhodes, L.B. Hooks, E.G. Mayhugh, A.F. Hanberry, Arthur Holland, J.W. Hansen, H.T. Darnell, M.R. Ramey, L.J. Knoth, C.A. Smith, Henry Rowland, D.F. Wigginton, Roy Marquess, B.J. Bland, Carl Noel, Paul Butler, Herman E. Groves, A.M. Johnson, M.R. Ramey, Travis Terrell, Leon Oliver, Ronnie Wingo, Edgar Taylor, Bill Lady, Edgar Taylor, & Mickey Lewis.
Church Clerks in chronological order: 1st Clerk was John S. Hall (son of James P. Hall), R.W. Prince, J.R. Jones, James B. Dobbins, Chester McCracken, Arthur Davis, Leslie Dunning, R.C. Gray, Ray Fowler, Preston Oliver, and Rebekah Dunning.
Deacons of the church past & present: John Fitts, J.J. Stovall, William Waters, Herman E. Groves, T.E. Gray, Arthur Davis, Chester McCracken, Bert Gray, Floyd Oliver, Louis Dobbins, Young McCarty, George Holsapple, George Barrett, Emmett McKinney, Woodson Oliver, Preston Oliver, Robert Lee Gray, Grover Campbell, Cecil Stovall, Wayne Aldridge, C.J. Gresham, Paul Grubbs, Paul Frederick Groves Sr., Robert Hall, Athal Bell, Tom Garris, Richard Parker.
Informants were: Rebekah Groves Dunning, Trela McCracken Oliver, Herman Edward Groves, William Waters, and John C. Espie. Thank you for reading, Jordan T. Carroll
Source:
Jordan T. Carroll 2001
Picture taken by Debbie West Nov 2011
Jordan T. Carroll 2001
Picture taken by Debbie West Nov 2011