Maysville Baptist Church, Maysville (GA) Georgia, organized 1878

Pictured above is the original Maysville Baptist Church, built 1882-1883. When a new brick building was built in 1948, this wooden church was not torn down but was moved out of town and relocated on the Maysville-Jefferson Road near Interstate 85. Hurricane Grove Baptist Church occupied the building until its membership dissolved. The building still stands today, albeit in a much worse condition.

The Maysville Baptist Church was organized in 1878 by Rev. Wilkes and Dr. VanHoose of Gainesville, and Rev. Charles Campbell of Athens.

Was this Dr. VanHoose any relation to Professor Azor Warner VanHoose, b. 1860 in Griffin GA, who was instrumental in the development of Gainesville College, Brenau College and Shorter College?

The ten charter members were: Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Atkins, Mrs. Amanda Sims, Mr. & Mrs. James Lyle, Mr. & Mrs. J. T. White, Mrs. J. B. Hill, George Saville and W. M. Lyle. (More specifically: Hugh Atkins, Mary Sanders Atkins, Amanda Dunnahoo Sims, James Monroe Lyle, Annie Olivia Neal Lyle, John Taylor White, Elizabeth Saville White, Nancy Jane Reynolds Hill, George W. Saville, and W. M. Lyle)

Who was the W. M. Lyle listed as a charter member? Although James Monroe Lyle's father was named William Lyle, and living at this time, he was married to Eliza Yarbrough Lyle, who was living at the time as well. If it were this William Lyle, surely wife Eliza would have been a charter member, too. Did James Monroe Lyle possibly have a brother named W. M. Lyle?

Church meetings were first held in the homes of its membership under the direction of Dr. VanHoose. The Forest News noted Dr. VanHoose’s departure on January 23, 1880, “Our whole village is sorry to have lost the services of the Baptist minister, Mr. VanHoose, he having moved from Gainesville to Senoia. But the church will soon be supplied with another pastor.”

The first church was built on land donated by Rev. H. R. Bernard, as noted in the May 5, 1882, edition of The Jackson Herald, “Action is now being taken to build the Baptist church. Rev. H. R. Bernard, the pastor in charge, presented them with the lot on which the church will be built.”

Less than a year later, on April 20, 1883, The Jackson Herald reported “The Baptist church is near enough completed to hold services in.” The lumber for the new church was cut and hauled from the Nail’s Creek community, northeast of Homer, by John Taylor White and others. Stained glass windows were imported from England.

Construction of Maysville Baptist Church in 1947. Pictured left to right are: James Brooks, Billy Webb, Paul Webb, Verdell Lewallen, Ed Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, Frank Underwood, Joe Dunahoo, Joe Wingfield, Rev. D. C. Williams, Clyde Williams’ apprentice, Clyde Williams, Ray McClure, Hollis Jordan, Clint Gailey and Roy Brooks.

In 1947, with Rev. D. C. Williams as pastor, a new brick church building was proposed and construction started on the adjacent lot to the (facing) left of the original church. This lot is believed to have once been the site of a livery stable business to store horses. Services were held in the new church by 1948. The wooden church was not torn down but was moved a few miles away to a location on the Maysville-Jefferson Road near Interstate 85, where it still stands today (in 2008), having formerly been used by the membership of the Hurricane Grove Baptist Church.

On Homecoming Day in 1957, the bank note for the new Maysville Baptist Church was burned, after sacrificial giving by the membership coupled with outstanding guidance by Rev. Robert Scruton and Rev. Homer K. Albright resulted in the indebtedness being paid.

In 1961, a new pastorium was built on a tract of land one block from the church donated by Mrs. Ruby Joyce.

In 1965, a steeple was added to the church, completing its physical structure. Funds were not available to do this when the church was first built.

Does anyone have a picture of the old house that stood between the new brick church and the parking lot where the wooden church stood? Mrs. Irvin would look after the church nursery in that old house. Was it torn down when the classroom annex was added? Who used to live in that house?

In 1978, Maysville Baptist Church celebrated its centennial with special services by Dr. W. T. Watson, father of then pastor Robert W. Watson. The theme of the centennial celebration was “What God has done in the past He’ll do today and in the future.” The past was represented by presentation of the history of the church, the present by revival services throughout the week, and the future with a fundraising project for the $110,000 building program.

During 1982-1983, a two-story classroom annex was added under the leadership of Dr. Robert Watson, pastor.

In 1985, a $33,000 renovation of the sanctuary included expansion of the choir pit, new pews added throughout, new carpet and new lighting fixtures. The church’s membership numbered around 250.

In 19__, a brick fellowship hall was built adjacent to the church on the site of the original church building.

In 19__, the church extended its back property line by purchasing the Wade house. This small house was used for classroom purposes. The purchase of the Sailers House in 19__ extended the line again. The Sailers house was torn down to make room for additional church parking.

With the turn of the 21^st century, Maysville’s population began to rise steadily and the membership, once again, found itself in need of larger facilities. In 200_, under the leadership of Rev. Brian Stowe, a ____-acre tract of land on the Maysville-Jefferson Road was purchased for $____ from __________________ on which to build a new church “campus."

In 200_, construction was completed on phase one of Maysville Baptist Church’s new campus and the membership abandoned its historic location in the center of town on Homer Street. The old location is now home to a new, non-denominational church known as “The Prayer Center of Maysville.”

The above history of Maysville Baptist Church was compiled by W. Todd Dorsey with research assistance provided by Richard J. Chambers and the Sarepta Baptist Association.