Lovewood Baptist Church Began In 1800's
Gravestone Oldest Record
_________________
by
Jody Richter, staff writer, The
Graceville News, July 18,1996
The
oldest record from Lovewood Freewill Baptist Church is available only through
gravestone records. The oldest grave in the Lovewood Cemetery is that of
Barbara Schupe from 1870.
There
is a written history of the church in the possession of members Mr. and Mrs.
John Amerison. This history, written by Chester Pelt, describes the church
membership in several Freewill Baptist Associations.
It
was first associated with the Liberty Freewill Baptist Association which was
organized in 1888. Lovewood church later joined the Salem Freewill Baptist
Association in 1897.
The
property where the church now sits is on Lovewood Road. Early records indicate
that the property was deeded to John Underwood from the U.S. Patent Office in
1859. There is no indication of when Mr. Underwood sold the property but it was
sold by N.T. Eldridge to W. C. O'Neal in 1898.
O'Neal then sold the property to William R. Hayes in 1900. It was deeded to Lovewood Freewill Baptist
Church on June 13, 1914.
The
name for the church and the road that runs beside it comes from the combined
names of the first co-pastors of the facility, Mr. Lem Love and a Mr. Wood. The
historical record indicates that these two men and their families moved near
Cottondale to establish just such a church.
The
Love-Wood Church eventually evolved into simply the Lovewood Church. Lovewood
Road was later named for the church.
There
is a historical documentation that
there was a school held on the site of the present day church in or near 1888.
There is no indication as to weather it was a church run school or whether all
area children attended.
Wayne
Love, a descendent of Lem Love, indicates that more information about the
church is available at the Love Memorial Library in Dothan, reference number
277.61.
The
present pastor at the church is Rev. Henry Matthews who preaches to a small but
faithful congregation.
______________________________________________________________________
This is the
Permission to use email from the Graceville News. Whit Gainey
The Graceville
News wrote:
Whit Gainey wrote:
Sharon
I spoke with you Friday about the article on
Lovewood Church which
appeared in the Graceville News a couple of
years ago. I am a volunteer
gathering info to help the Jackson County
GenWeb Project. This article
appears to be in line with the aim for
information on area churches.
This is to request permission for using the
article and also other
articles on area churches which may also be
suitable.
Thank you
Whit Gainey
1038 Jackson Place Road
Cottondale, FL 32431
Mr. Gainey,
You have the permission of The Graceville
News to use the article on
Lovewood Church. If we can be of other
assistance, please let us know.
Sharon Taylor
Editor
The Graceville News