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Its Beginnings and Growth
The following article was written by Mrs. Mavis Newton, a staunch member
of Bethel United Methodist Church. As well as the history of the church,
Mrs. Newton has shared her memories of people and events at Bethel.
I have broke it down to cut down on the loading time and provided an
index of the names mentioned in this article. If I missed anyone's
name, please let me know.
An article in the Parthion Press, 1966, by Gene Ramsey stated Robert Alexander was placed in charge of Chickasaw District which included Tallahatchie, Coldwater, and Chickasaw circuits. In this he states that the Tallahatchie Circuit was established by Mississippi Conference of Protestant churches in 1842(14). According to an obituary of Alexander C. Chisholm as recorded in the conference minutes in 1856, Reverend Chisholm served as pastor of the Tallahatchie Circuit in 1843. Reverend Chisholm was held in very high regard by all with whom he came in contact. He was referred to as loyal, affectionate, kind, faithful, useful man of God. He served in a ministerial capacity from 1827 to 1856 for about 17 different churches (12). Reverend Chisholm was probably the first Methodist Minister in the area around Bethel and served before the church was actually organized. Reverend Pittman stated in his article in the Democratic Herald that the church was organized at Bethel "about 1844". According to the minutes of the Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Association, Isaac B. Allen was appointed circuit rider for this area at this time(14). These facts give evidence that the Methodists were an organized entity in 1843 and according to Mr. Pittman, the Methodists were preaching near Bethel between 1840 and 1844(11). In another obituary recorded in the minutes of the Memphis Conference dated 1895, Reverend D.M.K. Collins was appointed to the Charleston Circuit in 1850. He served as a minister of God from 1849 to 1857, at which time he entered medical school and practiced medicine until 1863. At this time he reentered the ministry and preached until failing health forced him to retire to Camden, Tennessee. Here he carried on a limited medical practice until his death in 1895(17). When we first began gathering history on Bethel Church about 1970 it was thought that the new church would be the third building. However, in talking with others and more research, it seems there have been four church buildings. The first, according to Mary Newman, was a log structure located south of the present church, near the old Teasdale schoolhouse. Mary's father spoke to her of this first place of worship for the Bethel congregation(16). This piece of information agrees with the fact stated by Mr. Pittman in his article on the churches when he said the Methodists were preaching near the present site of Bethel in 1840 to 1844(11). Mrs. Daisy Sims wrote in a research project that the first church was made of logs and was constructed about 1845-1850, which she felt was the date the church was organized. This building, according to Mr. Cecil Stogner was located in the old cemetery, about where the Mosier graves are now. This building burned in 1869(15). Another remembers the church as located close to the magnolia trees. The third church was a new frame construction built near the present building site in 1890. It was finished in 1891(15). The pews were hand made and I was told by Gladiola Harris that a relative of her built the old pulpit which was used until 1973 when the new and last church was constructed. The pulpit is stored in the new church. The building committee of the third church was Jessie Sullivant, J.T. Sims and J.H. Horn. The first pastor in the white frame building was T.G. Freeman. Among the ministers who preached in the log house was Dr. Elie Buntin, from Halifax County, Virginia- Others were Rev.Keeler and Rev. Liddy. Mr. Henry Horn preached in the log church and was to have preached the dedication service in the white frame church but died before the building was completed(15). The pastor in 1937 was H.P.Lewis, the membership was 152 and Sunday School enrollment around 100. In about 1955 the building was remodeled. The outside was covered in asbestos shingles, Sunday School rooms added,pulpit area remodeled and the old pews from the United Methodist Church in Charleston replaced the hand made pews that had been in use since about 1891. Several years later, possibly around 1963, the old pews were refinished, floors sanded and painted and the piano and pulpit refinished. The place of worship had been greatly improved. In 1973 the congregation realized the building had to be repaired or replaced. It had sustained several break-ins. The gas heaters had been stolen a couple of times and the window air conditioners were unsatisfactory. It was discovered that the foundation of the church building was so deteriorated it could not be repaired so the decision was made to construct a new church. The officials of the church at this time were:
Pastor Rev. L.C. Kitchens Stewards Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Keelin Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Brett Mr. and Mrs. Amon Murphree Mrs. Leona Newman Mr. Wray Willis Building Committee Don Murphree Edwin Keelin Davis Newton Dewey Brett Mavis Newton Frank Newton
Bro. F.W. Ray (Charleston pastor) preached the dedication sermon. Harold Breedlove was the building contractor. Others helping with the program were Carol Ann Newton, pianist, and for special music, Pat Newton, Carla Willis, and Pam Dees. This was a very special occasion. The building was debt free because of the generosity of many people and God's hand had been evident throughout the construction of the church. One thing that stands out in my mind is the morning I measured the slab and realized the contractor had poured 4 extra feet of foundation in the church length. In panic, Mr. Breedlove was advised of the error. I feared that this would "bust" the budget. He smiled and said, "Well Mavis, we will just have a 4 foot larger church." God knew we needed the four extra feet. The very first service was held in the unfinished church on September 9,1973 with Mrs. Alma Willis teaching the Sunday School. There were 40 present and the offering was $50.00. The old church was torn down by Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church and moved to their property in September, 1973. They used the materials to construct a fellowship hall which burned several years later. Bethel Church has been deeded land by several different people. Some of the deeds were executed prior to the Civil War but were not recorded until the 1890's. Some of the deeds are incomplete and some overlapping. It is recognized that the church owns 15 acres surrounding the present church and cemetery. The last deed to the church was executed by Davis Newton and Russet Dennington. They had purchased the land from the C. O. Dennington estate. The part they deeded to the church was about 5.25 acres, May 28,1963. Bethel Church has been a nucleus for Teasdale community ever since it was organized. It has been the center of religious and social activities over the years and is remembered fondly for these lovely occasions. From the founding of the church until transportation became readily accessible to everyone, the church was the center of all activities. Ice cream suppers, picnics, singings, revivals, and regular church services were all attended for worship and socials. In reading news articles while doing the historical research the following news items caught my interest as published in the Democratic Herald.
1888. Charleston News: "H.M. Morrison, pastor at Bethel, held service for a goodly audience at 3:00 p.m. Sunday. Other churches on the charge are New Hope, Compromise and Charleston, Harrison, Mt. Hood and Black Bayou".
August 27, 1896, "J.H. Horn and family are camping at Bethel attending the meeting there. It is being conducted by Rev. W.D. Burroughs, pastor at Charleston."
July 12, 1900. "P.H. Nobel visiting in the area and he and Ada Dex visited Bethel Methodist on Sunday, July 12, 1900."
July 12, 1900. "Cicero Peters has bought him a new buggy. Will make it interesting for rivals dunton (might have meant downtown)."
August, 1900. "C.W. Neilson has bought some heavy equipment and machinery and has had a heavy duty wagon made to haul it from the railroad. It will run a 4 gin stands and will put in a round bale press."
August 1, 1900. "Ed Keelin and Viola Davis were united in matrimony at Jackson Grove Church last Sunday. Rev. Mr. Gambler officiated." (This is the parents of Edwin Keelin, Flora Hickey, Mayford Milton, and Fred Keelin.)
September, 20, 1900. "Rev. C.H. Pittman gave an excellent sermon at Bethel Sunday to a goodly audience."
September 6, 1905. "On September 4, 1905, Rev. C.H. Varner, pastor at Bethel held its regular meeting last week. He had Rev. Mitchell to help him during the meeting."
August 1, 1906. Picnic at Crevi. "The good people of Crevi Will give a picnic Wednesday, August 1, 1906, and everyone is invited to come and have a good time. Those who can are requested to bring baskets."
1906. Election year.
April 11, 1906. "Easter Service held at Bethel. Bro. Hall, pastor,has just married. New officers have been elected."
May, 1906. "Quarterly conference held at Bethel. Rev. James gave the message." And from the Tallahatchie Herald.
November 3, 1904. "Sullivant and Buntin-wedding. John Suilivant and Miss Annette Buntin were married on Monday. Bride was daughter of W.W. Buntin and groom the son of Jessie Sullivant who was on the building committee of the third church at Bethel. The groom is a leading merchant and businessman of Teasdale where he and his bride will reside in the future."
May, 1905. "The Ice Cream supper given at Mr. Josiah Selby's on Friday night was a complete success. The cream was served by Misses Susis Sims and Lacy Sullivant, two of our most charming young ladies.' In later years, (1913) Miss Susie Sims embroidered a quilt top to put a fence around Bethel Cemetery and was an outstanding teacher and church leader. Mrs. Annie Demnan wrote a eulogy in prose that so eloquently describes her attributes.
February 1926 or 1927. A tornado hit Teasdale about February 24, 1926 or 1927. Forty families in beat 1 were rendered homeless by the storm. A 12 year old girl, the younger sister of John Ward Martin, was killed. She, along with other family members, had taken refuge in the cellar when her mother decided she should put out the fire in the house. The child followed her mother and some debris from the storm struck her and caused her instant death. Another was severely injured, half a hundred houses were wrecked. Mr. Arendale had just completed a new house and it was demolished with only the foundation left standing. The storm traveled from west to east at 9:00 PM.
In the 1950's and 1960's "Clyde Mosier Day" was held on Mothers Day at Bethel. A special memorial and worship service were planned for morning with dinner on the ground and singing in the afternoon. This was homecoming for everyone and the grounds were covered with people, the cemetery with flowers and talented singers from over North Mississippi entertained all afternoon.
There were innumerable ice cream suppers held at the church and everyone was invited. This was also the social event to close out Bible School held every summer for many years. For the past 5 or 6 years there has been a charge-wide Bible School held at Shiloh.
In 1991, a special service at Bethel was planned to honor 5 outstanding servants of God for their dedication and faithfulness to the church. These individuals were Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Brett, &. and Mrs. Amon Murphree, and Mrs. Nina Deaton. The congregation presented a baptismal font to the church in their honor. Everyone enjoyed the glimpse into their years of service as their lives were reviewed by Brenda Murphree, Sandra Brett, and Mavis Newton.
In December of 1993 the congregation paid honor to two more good and faithful servants by presenting the church a beautiful pulpit Bible in their honor. This was done in a very impressive service in which all of Mrs. Alma Willis and Wray Willis' family participated. It meant so much to everyone that Wray was able to hold the Bible and know about the tribute before he passed away.
Another event that the power of God was so evident in at Bethel was the cleaning of the cemetery after the ice storm on March 12, 1994. People came from everywhere to assist in pruning the massive oaks, hauling the debris, sweeping the grounds of the church and cemetery. They arrived at daybreak and by late afternoon the grounds were broom clean and again God's place at Bethel was in order.
In the last few years two couples in the church have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there. They were Mr. and Mrs. Amon Murphree and Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Brett.
There have been innumerable weddings, christenings, showers, parties for the youth and meeting place for the water association.
Another group that some of the ladies in the church organized in 1993 is the Teasdale Quilters. This group is made up of ladies from the community and about 7 religious denominations are represented. It has helped to bring the community together and made each participant have more concern one for another. The original members were: Ann Wrenn, Irene Epps, Virginia Murphree, Ethel Beaird, Mavis Newton, Mary Crisswefl, Joan Kiihnl, Dorris Morris, Pat Leckey, Bernie Hodges, and Shirley Busby. New members include Elva Jean Crisswell, Inez Peters, Jackie Tennyson, Maxine Newman, Polly Newton and Jean Milam.
For the past three or four years the choir at Bethel has presented a Christmas cantata. The community has given great support to the event and everyone enjoys the music and fellowship.At present the church has three preaching services a month, prayer meeting on Sunday night, Sunday School every Sunday, quilting every Thursday and choir practice for special events. Bethel is a very special place in that God's presence can be felt there. The doors are always open to people of all faiths and everyone feels a part of this place. The church is small in number but large in love, generosity and interest in their fellowman. Dewey Wayne Britt wrote of his very special feelings for his home church and summed up Bethel is eight meaningful words. "You (Bethel are special and are blessed by God."
Since I have tried to cover mostly history of this area I was so grateful that Dewey Wayne Brett sent me some written memories of Bethel. He dwells mostly on people and families and anecdotes. I wanted to share a few stories I remember about some of the folks that were dear to me and I shall always. remember from Bethel. I'm sure some of my recollections are common knowledge remembered by all, but after thinking about it, so many of the wonderful folks are no longer with us and there are a lot of people that are too young to remember. These members of the past should not be forgotten. I would like to share a few recollections I have and forgive me because I cannot put them in any kind of order that will make sense. I will just jump from story to story. If you can use any of them in your program, please feel free. My earliest recollections are of the old white frame church surrounded by big ole Oak Trees. Where the newer part of the cemetery is located now was a grove of trees where we used to play as a children. I remember at times we would have to have service outside under the big trees because the wasps would be swarming around the front door of the church. The old frame church was very hot in summer. There was no air conditioning of course, no ceiling fans. The fans were the old cardboard fans with a picture of Heaven or Jesus on the front and I recall Rowland Hardware and Womble Funeral Home on the back. They are of course what is called all over the South, Funeral Home Fans. The pews were hard and very uncomfortable and usually the revival services were long. Some of those preachers would preach all night and the invitation would then be given. It was always "Just As I Am". If nobody joined the church, the preacher would say, "I know there is someone out there that wants to come forward and join the church but is hesitating, play just one more verse of "Just As I Am". Some of the preachers could go on for an endless amount of time if nobody came forward.
Cousin Mildred-Keelin will always have a warm spot in my heart. She was our MYF leader and greatly interested in the young people. I'm positive I tried her patience many times. I recall one time someone dared me. to put a tack on the bench where she sat and played the piano. Of course I couldn't take a dare and did this dastardly deed. Cousin Mildred sat on it, leaned forward, got the tack, and looked directly at me but never said a word. She should have come out and tore my backside up right there in church. She would come to your defense in a minute if she thought you had been wronged . One time a group of us young boys, including Don and his brother Ray camped one Saturday night back in the woods. Somebody in the community started the rumor that I had brought a couple of cases of beer in and we all got drunk. She found out who started the rumor and told them what she thought of it. Cousin Mildred also gave me a party the night before I went off to the Army.
Uncle Percy Beard was one of the pillars of the church when I was growing up. Uncle Percy would be responsible for bringing the ice and tea for our "dinner on the ground Sundays". They used to tell the story about Uncle Percy that one of the preachers asked Uncle Percy to dismiss service one Sunday. Uncle Percy replied, "Preacher, that is what we are paying you for." Most folks aren't aware of this but Uncle Percy used to loan money to young people so they could go to college. I am one of the ones that used to borrow from him and I know of several others. He never charged us any interest.
Mr. Jessie Wray was another person that is stuck in my memory. I shall always have him embedded in my mind up in front of the church choir singing "Bringing in the Sheaves". I used to think it was bringing in the sheeps and always thought it was a mistake listing sheep with an S. What Mr. Jess lacked in ability, he made up in enthusiasm and volume. Mr. Jess was a World War I veteran and I shall never forget a letter I received from him while I was in Germany. He took time to instruct me of what I should do in Germany and what I should steer clear of. I've heard my Dad tell the story of how Mr. Jess used to be quite a rounder in his youth and when he joined the church stayed away from that type life. Mr. Jess said he was approached by some folks wanting him to donate some money to rebuild the old Tacowwa Springs dance pavilion. Mr. Jess was offended and told them he didn't go to places like that anymore so why should he help rebuild it. One of the women replied, Mr. Jess, you ought to help rebuild it, you shore danced enough to help wear it out."
My Dad got in the dog house one time when I was a child in the old church by pulling a joke. I had this ole rubber spider and Dad knew Mr. Russell Dennington was afraid of spiders so Dad carried it in his pocket to church and right during the middle of the preacher's sermon, threw it across the aisle on Mr. Russell. He jumped and yelled and it was quite embarrassing to my mother. I also recall during my early high school years that Dad had a contract with a pipeline planting kudzu along the pipeline and was staying in Holly Springs and the weekends he couldn't come home in the pickup. In order for my mother to go to church she would drive the ole Ford tractor.
My mother tells a tale on my Dad he doesn't particular like her telling but she tells anyhow. In the earlier days of the church, evidently Mr. Edward and Miss Annie Lou Newton, parents of Hayden, Davis, Ann and Mildred enjoyed working with the young folks of the church and they would visit the Newton home quite a bit. Seems the night my folks were married they came back to the Newton house for a party. Mr. Edward made some comment to my Dad that just because he was now a married man to not get too big for his britches. Knowing my Dad, I'm sure he had a "bright remark" to make to Mr. Edward, so Mr. Edward proceeded to wrestle him down and roll him under the bed. Strange I've heard my mother tell that story so many times but I have never heard my Dad tell it.
I have had occasion to attend church in many states and a few foreign countries. I have been in some beautiful cathedrals large enough to put a football field inside. I've been in some that were just log cabins, with logs for pews. I've heard preachers and Bible scholars with a string of degrees that look like an alphabet behind their name. Never have I heard anyone come close to Mrs. Alma Willis in teaching and knowing the Bible. Mr. Wray Willis was awful good and I enjoyed hearing him but his mother had a true gift from God to understand and teach the word of God. I regret she was a little before the time any of us had camcorders and could record some of her lessons.
Cousin Buck Newman once remarked that the old Bethel Church had its two biggest crowds as a result of his two kids. The happy occasion was the wedding of Peggy. The sad occasion was the funeral of George Elton, who drowned at Sardis Dam. I understand it was an overflow crowd on both occasions.
A wonderful couple was Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Beulah Sanders. They were probably as different as any two married folks you would ever see. Mr. Charlie wore old clothes, chewed tobacco, drove an old pickup and was not concerned with how he looked or what he said. With Mr. Charlie, "what you saw was what you got. Mrs. Sanders always looked like she came off the cover of a fashion magazine. She was dressed fit to kill and always looked like she just left the beauty parlor. Both would do anything in the world for you. While I was in the Army in Germany, she sent me cookies and candy at least once a month. I would go see them when I came home on weekends from college and she would make Mr. Charlie talk to me for 20 or 30 minutes until she got. just the look she wanted before she would come talk. Mrs. Sanders always drove a car and the story was she wouldn't let Mr. Charlie in her car until he cleaned up and changed clothes and put his tobacco away.
Mr. and Mrs. Murphree, two of the nicest people.this church have ever called members. My parents have commented many times that they were the best neighbors they ever had. I am honored to have the church engrave the names of my parents along with Mr. and Mrs. Murphree on the fount in the church.
No history of our church could be complete without mention of Bethel Cemetery. That is where the vast majority of our family and friends now rest and where most of us now plan to be placed to rest. Each time I come home, I walk through the cemetery and visit the graves of loved ones and old friends. What memories they bring back. I think of ole Dick Ashmore and the story told of Dick when he found some folks from another community removing, stealing is probably a better word, flowers from the graves of some of our deceased friends. Ole Dick made a citizen's arrest and the folks were brought to justice. Each time I walk by the marker for Billy Clarkson, a teenager in the U.S. Air Force, shot down over Germany in WWII and never found, forever to be listed as Missing in Action, gave his life for our country, the supreme sacrifice that we could enjoy our freedom. Uncle Walter Keelin, my grandmother's older brother that raised his younger brothers and sisters when their parents died. He told me so many stories as a child ,and as an adult, one I remember fondly was seeing covered wagons coming by on the way to Texas in the late 1800s and Uncle Walter lived to hear on the radio of man walking on the moon. What a life span from covered wagons to man on the moon! My Dad told me that Hayden Newton used to say about Uncle Walter, when you were in your nineties, you could tell any story you wanted as the truth and nobody could challenge if you were telling the truth or not. I think of the brothers of Virginia, the Hodges boys, the times we played ball together at the ole Teasdale school field. I shall never forget ole John Lewis coming to see me in the hospital at Charleston not long before I was married when I was hospitalized with pneumonia for a week. He came from Memphis and spent an afternoon with me. He told me he remembered me getting out of bed one night and taking his parents to Grenada to see him when he had had a wreck. It wasn't long after that until John Lewis lost his life at a railroad crossing.
J.D. and Frank Newton have always been here to help folks in the church. My ole teacher, Miss Polly and you, Miss Mavis always helping folks. I know there are many others we are honoring and I feel bad that I can't recall the names of all of them but please forgive me, I have been away for many years. This church was and is made up of people that are more than family, closer than family, even as far away as I have been and am now, I know that if I need help, Bethel Church will be there. It is a feeling most of you folks that have lived in our community all your lives take for granted that all churches are like that. Let me assure you from personal experience that is not true. You are special and are blessed by God.
I feel strongly about this and could go on all day about Bethel. I'm sure after reading all this stuff you would say I have gone on an day. Just be glad I typed it, with my handwriting you would never be able to read anything else again. Thank God for word processors. As you notice though, sometimes they even mess up. Couldn't be the person using it. God Bless.
REFERENCES.
1. 'Early History of Tallahatchie, Chapter VIII. "The Tallahatchian,. October
19, 1894.
Our deep appreciation to Mrs. Mavis Newton for this material and for "Bethel Cemetery Listings".
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