Published: August 22, 2008 10:57 pm            

DeSoto Baptist Church: 150th anniversary

On Oct. 17, 18, and 19, 2008, DeSoto Baptist Church, located in DeSoto Community, Clarke County, Mississippi, will proudly celebrate its 150th Anniversary. The motto for the anniversary is “150 Years Of Living God’s Word.” The church will sponsor a catered meal for current church members and guests on Friday, Oct. 17. On Oct. 18, at 6 p.m., “Chuckles the Clown” (Rev. Chuck Overby) will give a children’s performance, which will be followed by a gospel sing by the Providentials. An Anniversary Service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 19 beginning at 10 a.m. Dr. Jim Futral, the executive director-treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, will be the keynote speaker. Reverend Mike Everett, representing the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission, will present the church a commemorative plaque during the service. The Sunday service will be followed by dinner on the grounds.

Six Baptist families founded DeSoto Baptist Church sometime between 1856 and 1858, with 1858 used as the official anniversary date. At first, there was no church building and the small congregation met in the two – story DeSoto school building, located by the Gil Carmichael house. (The Woodsman of the World, Odd Fellows and Masons used the second floor as a lodge). Reverend Peter Parker served as the first minister for at least 10 years, and he is buried nearby in the DeSoto Cemetery. For over 90 years the Church could not afford a full-time minister, and often formal Sunday worship services were held only once or twice per month. But the congregation held weekly Sunday School and Wednesday night prayer meetings, often meeting jointly with the local Methodist Church.

Throughout the 19th century, DeSoto Community was hardly the peaceful little community it is today. On the contrary, in that era it was larger than Quitman, boasting one sawmill, several stores, two churches and …several saloons! (Later, in the early 20th century, Quitman grew but DeSoto declined both in population and commerce.) The recorded minutes of the local area Baptist association – the Chickasahay Baptist Association - contain many unfavorable references to the evils of liquor and saloons! Their efforts in combating the liquor trade eventually paid off – today Clarke County is a dry county.

In the mid 1870’s, the church finally constructed its own sanctuary building next to the DeSoto school and built a small pastorium, raising money through ice cream festivals, oyster suppers, fish fries, and picnics. In fact, the saying arose that DeSoto Baptist Church was “built with a spoon.” (Sometime in the early 20th century, a new DeSoto school was built next to Highway 45 and the old school was torn down.)

DeSoto community also has a Methodist Church, which also was founded in the 1870’s. Until the middle of the 20th century, the two churches shared a choir, and hosted prayer meetings at each church on alternate Wednesdays. In fact, the Methodists rebuilt their church three times. Their first Church building was condemned, the second burned down in 1920. The third church building is still in use today. Each time, DeSoto Baptist church lent its facilities to the Methodist congregation until they could rebuild. The Methodists worshiped at DeSoto Church on the fourth Sunday of the month, the Baptists on the second Sunday.

In 1945, DeSoto Baptist Church held its first Vacation Bible School to provide the Desoto community’s children with Christian education and wholesome recreation activities during the summer. In 1946, the church finally was able to afford a full time pastor, and Sunday worship services now were held weekly.

In 1955, under the leadership of Reverend Al Finch, Deacon Cicero Sellers, and other faithful members, Desoto Baptist Church purchased the now-vacant DeSoto School building (the community’s children now attended school in Quitman) and remodeled it into a sanctuary. The old church building was demolished, and in 1977 the Church built a pastorium nearby to provide a home for its pastors.

But by 1985, the old school building/sanctuary had become structurally unsound. That same year, under the leadership of Reverend LeBron Matthews, Deacon Billy Gene Glass and a church Building Committee, the church built a brand new sanctuary for its members, replacing the old sanctuary that had served its members for so many years. It remains in use today.

In 1997, under the leadership of Reverend Norman Robinson and a church Building Committee, DeSoto Baptist Church built a Family Life Center to provide adequate space for its growing family activities, Vacation Bible Schools, and on-going children and youth activities.

Today, under the current leadership of Reverend Keith Tankersley, DeSoto Baptist Church continues its mission of living God’s word, and continuing to reach out to the adults, youth, and children in the surrounding community, offering both spiritual guidance and whole, Christ-centered activities to all. The church has 168 members, and 101 enrolled in Sunday School.

Dawn Early, a member of Church’s Historical Committee, researched and wrote a Church history in preparation for its 150th Anniversary. Dawn and the Historical Committee wish to thank Mary June Reese and Bobby Sellers for their assistance.

        

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