Bradley County Churches, North Oak Grove Presbyterian Church


Bradley County, Arkansas Churches

North Oak Grove Presbyterian Church

North Oak Grove Presbyterian Church

Photo submitted by Jann Woodard and provided by Brenda McNeil. She is a descendant of Robert John Ferrell who was a member of North Oak Grove Church.

        North Oak Grove Presbyterian Church was organized on Sabbath, the 26th of August, 1906. For the space of two years services were held at Oak Grove Neighborhood by the Rev. B. E. Wallace, pastor of Warren Presbyterian Church. He also succeeded in erecting a church building on a site of three acres, granted by Mrk. W. T. Hardie through his agent Mr. W. R. Watson. The church stood just across the road from the old Howard Thompson road, in a field of pine trees.

        Special meetings were held in the church by Rev. T. C. Johnston, (Synodical Evangelist) when twenty members made profession of faith and united with the church.

        Charter Members of the Church were J.W.McDowell, Mr. Robert Bradley, Mrs. Robert Bradley, Miss Ethel Bradley, Mr. Ernest Bradley, Mr. Henry Bradley, Mr. R. Frank Thomason, Mrs. R. Frank Thomason, Mr. William Brinkley, Mrs. Mary Brinkley, Miss Maggie Lowe, Miss Louise Whitman, Miss Odis May Saint, Mr. John H. M. Brown, Miss Gracia Bola Brown, Miss Birdina Brown, Miss Jennie Miller, Miss Willie Miller, Mr. Charles Ezell, Mrs. Lela Brown, Miss Lillie Pearl Hobbs, Miss Maggie Beard, Miss Leslie Hobb, Mr. Code Durham, Miss Geneva Durham, Mr. John Brown Jr., Miss Willie Blanche Calhoun, Mr. Samuel Heath, Mrs. Molly Heath. Signed--Rev. Thms. C. Johnston, Synodical Evangelist., Warren, Ark. August 30, 1906.

        Other members were Miss Bobbie Brown (West), Mr. Charley Seay, Mr.Claud Halley, Mrs. Plume Blankinship, Virgil Brown, Mrs. Marthey Thomason, Mrs. Linnie Sudberry, Miss Helen Hobbs, Miss Roxy Hobbs, Mr. R. J. Ferrell , Mrs. R. J. Ferrell, Oma Ferrell, Verna Ferrell, Zelma Ferrell, Jewell Thomason, Elmer Thomason, Oscar Thomason, Aurelion Thomason, Archie Reep, Mrs. Pearl Reep, Mr. S. D. Crockett (resigned as elder of the Oak Grove Church Jan 17,1915.)

        Members by letter were Irma Blankinship, Charles Seay, Ruth Bradley, Osazie Lee Hobbs, Anna Smith, Curtis Reynolds, Carl Reynolds, Lloyd Wallace, Hugh Guynn, Dewey Thomason, Beth Guynn, Robert Bradley, Carl Reynolds, Howard Hobbs, Lawrence Cassinger. Members by Confession were Hattie Mae Reep, Clara May Ferrell, Myrna Blankinship, Harry Blankinship, J. L. Guynn, Mrs. E. A. Guynn, (Mrs. J. L.), Joe E. McLeod, Houston Hobbs, and Jenette Kemp.

        A congregational meeting of the Oak Grove Presbyterian Church was held Oct. 7, 1906 and the following officers were elected ELDERS; J. M. McDowell, Sam Heath, Frank Thomason DEACONS; R. L. Bradley, William Brinkley, and Charles Ezell. The above officers were duly ordained and installed on the same date by Rev. B. E. Wallace, chrm. of Home Missions. Signed Rev. B. E. Wallace, chrm.

        The 1915 register included; J. M. McDowell, Mrs. Robert Bradley, Miss Ethel Bradley, Mr Ernest Bradley, Henry Bradley, R. F.Thomason, Mrs. R. F.Thomason, Dewey Thomason, Arrelion Thomason, Mrs. Martha Thomason, Elmer Thomason, Oscar Thomason, J. F. M. Brown, James Wallace, Mrs James Wallace, Early Hobbs, Fred Hightower, Wm Brinkley, Mrs. Wm Brinkley, S. D. Crockett, Mrs. S. D. Crockett, John Brown,jr, Mrs Mollie Heath, Mrs Bobbie Brown West, Charlie Seay, Mrs Lillie Sudberry, Helen Hobbs, R. J. Ferrell, Zelma Ferrell, Clara Ferrell, Arch Reep, Mrs. Arch Reep, Irma Blankinship, Ausas Lee Hobbs, Miss Anna Smith, Curtis Reynolds, Lloyd Wallace, J. L. Guynn, Mrs. J. L. Guynn, Hugh Guynn, Beth Guynn, Robert Bradlely, Carl Reynolds, Howard Hobbs, Hattie May Reep, Myrna Blankinship, Harry Blankinship, Joe E McLeod, & Houston Hobbs. .Dr. W. F. Rogers was pastor as early as October 1915

        The 1916 register included; Tom Wallace, Mrs Tom Wallace, Mrs Mary Baggett
        The 1919 register included; W.S.Davis
        The 1920 register included; Willie Bob Ferrell, Connie Ferrell, Claude Bradley, Mrs Caddie (Carl) Gibson
        The 1921 register included; George Guynn, Ruby Reep, Katheryn Heath, Miss Molly Smith (sister of James Smith, Mrs Anna Smith Brown�s Aunt.) Dr. Marion A.Boggs held a meeting in 1921.
        The 1923 register included Birdie Lee Ferrell, Gillie Wallace
        The 1927 register included; Walter Tanner Ferrell, Mildred Gibson, and Vivian Gibson.
        The 1929 register included; Claud Mitchel, and Aubrey D Woodall
        The 1937 register included; Wesley Stedman, Mrs Wesley Steadman, Wilburn Steadman, Laverne Steadman, Mary Dean Steadman (Mrs Hoyt Castleberry.) Rev. W. T. Stewart was pastor 37 & 38.
        The 1942 register included George W Hoffman, Ira Lula Hoffman, Carrie Lee Hoffman, Thelma Hoffman, George T. Hoffman, Thelbert Steadman
        The 1947 register included; Zula Mai Steadman. Ray Kmbrel,Mrs Ray Kimbrel, BruceCell Steadman--also members
        On March 22, 1948 the Oak Grove Church was made a Chapel of the Warren Presbyterian Church.

        Mrs Steadman says as best she can remember the first preacher was Rev. Pat Easterling. Next Rev. McFearson. then they began getting preachers from the College 1950 Emmit Elers, 1951 Bob Smith, 1952 Tom Young, 1953 Jim Henderson, 1954 Bob Hyth, and 1956 Ronnie Davis.

        Information from Mrs Birdie L. Beard to Mrs. Hazel Steadman to Bettye Bond.

        In 1997 Pauline Parnell & Katie Young Reep drove me (Bettye Bond) over to see this little Church which has been made into a barn. I could only take a picture and choke back a cry.



Information submitted by Bettye Hogue Bond



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