African-American Churches of Adel, Cook County, Georgia [c. 1967] [Source: The history of Cook County, Georgia and its municipalities Adel Ga.? : s.n.,: unknown, 1967] Transcribed by K. Torp NEW PROSPECT MISSIONARY BAPTIST Was organized in 1937 by Rev. L. K. Keaton and the first Church service was held in May of 1937 with Rev. Keaton serving as Pastor. The first contributor in the building of this church was the late Col. H. W. Nelson, member of the Adel First Baptist Church. Other Pastors serving this church have been Rev. Frank Johnson, Rev. D. D. Henderson, Rev. Henry Flowers and the present Pastor is Rev. W. Z. Thomas. Deacons serving the church since its organization include the following: C. S. Nails, Jim McKee, Mac Howell, W. C. Carter, Joe Mays, Mrs. Katory Witherspoon, Secretary, Queen V. Pitts, Secretary, Mrs. Katory Present officers: Pastor Walter Z. Thomas, Chairman Board Of Deacons, Warren C. Carter, Queen V. Pitts, Secretary, Deacons: Frank Pitts, Robert Calvin, Clifford Walton, Claude Johnson, Frank Johnson and Lewis Huntley. MT. MORIAH FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH Mt. Moriah Freewill Baptist is located on West First Street in Adel. This church was organized in 1890 and the organizers were Hilliard McDaniell, George Allen Davis, Ben Alford and William Reddick. The First Pastor was George A. Davis. Other Pastors have been: L. D. Williams, S.F. Sauls, Gus Waters, B. J. Williams, Bill Edmonson, S. T. Hobbs, C. J. Dozier, Y. W. Thomas and the Present Pastor is Eddy Hunter. The Present Deacons are: D. F.Sherden, Clarence Patterson, Joe Jackson, Sam Powell, W. M. Chessnutt, E. Bruington, Henry Robinson and Deacon Jones. Secretaries serving: Delzine Baker, Louise Nash and Mary O. Roberts. ST. JAMES AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH This church was organized in 1890's prior to the turn of the century and the church building was erected on West Fifth Street in Adel soon thereafter and it is believed that John Caesar was the first Pastor. If not the first, he was among the first. Other Pastors who have served the church havs been, F. D. Hightower, Rev. J. W. Hall, Rev. A. R. Cooper, Rev. B. Gay, Rev. J. E. Brown. In 1922 it was decided to erect a new and more modern Church building, a site was bought on North Maple Street and the building erected. This was done under the Pastorate of Rev. C. W. Harris. It seems some of the records are lost or misplaced and the names of the Pastors from 1929 through 1953 are the only Pastors we have been able to secure from the available records, which are the Reverends E. B. Anderson, I. M. Middleton, G. J. Purcell, J. W. Archibald, L. W. Hope, J. C. Vining, E. C. Robinson, W. A. Green, L. W. Brown, A. C. Danford,H. M. Moore, T. M. Walder. The present Board of Stewards: T. M. Alford, Connie Henry, Walter C. King, John L. Lavind, Ellis Jackson, Hollie Roberson, Alex Weatherspoon, Thelpo Slater and San Franklyn. Present Board of Trustees: T. M. Alford, Walter C. King, Connie Henry, Benjamin Blakney, Sam Wallace, J. L. Lavind, Thelps Slater and Artis Durden. BETHEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH Bethel Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1890 and was doubtless the first Negro church edifice erected in Adel, being at 501 West 6th Street. The Church was organized under the leadership of Rev. Wess Newsome, one of the earlier negro residents of the area, even before Adel was created. The records do not show how long he was Pastor, but it is believed he occupied that position for many years. Other Pastors following him were: a minister by the name of Hunter, Rev. E. Brown, Rev. Bright, Rev. Issac and the present Pastor Rev. J. J. Strickland who has served the church as Pastor from 1953 to the present, covering a period of unusual advancement in every phase of the church's activities. The present Board of Deacons, include: J. Ellis, Henry Caraway, T. R. McDonald, Texie McKinney and C. P. Pitts, with Mrs. Luberta McDonald, Corresponding Secretary. The present Board of Trustees include: T. R. McDonald, L. McMillian, I. Smith, J. Ellis, Henry Caraway, Fred Patterson and Miner Johnson. During the Pastorate of Rev. Isaac, an educational building was started, which was finished and a new parsonage has been completed during the Pastorate of Rev. J. J. Strickland. MT. PLEASANT C.M.E. CHURCH Mt. Pleasant Church is located at West First Street in Adel. It was organized in 1891, but the names of the organizers are unknown with the exception of the first Pastor who was Rev. Home. At that time services were held under an arbor and were continued to be held there for considerable time, eventually the first church building was erected. Then in 1910 a larger and more desirable church building was erected during the pastorate of J. H. Davis. Other Pastors serving the church have been: E. Sanford, G. W. Harris, H.H. Henderson, S.J. Alexander, G. F. Moore, N. T. Tinsley, H. Hill, R. Lamar, R.H. Lowe, C. D. Thompkins, J. H. Jefferson, D. D. Coffee, E. C. Johnson, J. A. Bushe, M. A. Davis, L. J. Peasey, R. R. McMillan and R. Rhone. The Present Pastor is R. Smith and the present stewards are J. C. Wilcox, D. A. Alston, Thomas Johnson, C. Patterson, William Fambro and Ludy Rountree. Other Officers are: Winnie Alston, Elizabeth Lewis, L. M. Mix, William Tambro, B. S. Lofton, Mary Miller. Copyright © Genealogy Trails