SMITH GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY, Pickens County, SC a.k.a. > Version: 3.0 Effective: 11-Aug-2006 Text File: P140.TXT Image Folder: P140 ******************************************************************************** It's believed that the usage of any original work submittals contained within these webpages such as articles, compiling, photographs or graphics, conform to Fair Use Doctrine & Copyright Guidelines. COPYRIGHT NOTE: (1.) Works published before 1923, are considered to be public- domain. (2.) Works published 1923-1977 without a copyright notice, are considered to be public-domain. (3.) Unpublished non-copyrighted works will have Author permission for public-domain. Facts, names, dates, events, places & data can not be copyrighted. Narration, compilations and creative works can be copyrighted. Copyright law in the U.S. does not protect facts or data, just the presentation of this data. REPRODUCING NOTICE: These electronic pages may only be reproduced for personal or 501(c) Not-For-Profit Society use. Use the following names, if, you would like to give any author compiling credit. AUTHORS: Paul M. Kankula-NN8NN & Gary L. Flynn-KE8FD *********************************************************************** 05-01-15 CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ > GPS = Latitude N x Longitude W CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ In the summer of 1913, a meeting was called among the people of the community at the Mullinax Family Cemetery, to discuss a place to worship God. The nearest church to them was a union church, four miles away near the rock quarry between Easley and Liberty. After some prayer and discussion, it was decided to accept the land donated by Mr. T. Nathan Smith to build a church. Several months later, after the money was raised, this group of people began construction on the church building. By the grace of God, church was completed late in the year of 1914 and was officially organized as The Smith Grove Baptist Church, named in or of Mr. T. Nathan Smith. The first pastor was W. M. Walker of Six Mile, South Carolina. Since that humble beginning, 26 men have served faithfully as pastor of this continuously growing church. By the end of 1915, the membership was 100. Ten years later the membership was 125 and in 1935 the membership was 160. In 1965, there were 235 members. By 1985, there were 319 members and the present membership is 525. The present building was started in 1960 and completed in 1961, with a nursery, 17 Sunday School rooms, pastor study, and restrooms. The mortgage was paid in full and the church had a mortgage burning celebration in 1972. Since then, some remodeling has been done to accommodate growth and make necessary changes. In 1970, a fellowship building was built across the street from the church on a piece of land donated by Wyatt Williams. In 2001, plans were made to move the fellowship building beside the church. As the years have passed, Smith Grove Road has become more traveled, making crossing this road dangerous. So, for the safety of our members and visitors, the fellowship building was moved beside the church. God has been good to Smith Grove. We have had our share of ups and downs, but with faith in our Lord, we have overcome everything the devil has tried to do. We continue to experience revival and growth. By: Piedmont Baptist Association 2003 o----------o The Mullinax family cemetery, located about two and a half miles east of Liberty in the Smith Grove Community, was the site of a meeting in the summer of 1913 of interested persons who gathered to discuss and plan the building of a Baptist church. The meeting led to the establishment of Smith Grove Baptist Church in 1914. The building was completed in 1914, and the church was named in honor of Tillman Nathan Smith (1877-1954), who gave the land. W.M. Walker of Six Mile was the first pastor of the church, and Henry Higgins was the first Sunday School superintendent. Pastors following Walker include T. E. Durham, H.A. Newton, Fulton Sylvester Childress, W. Johnson Sheriff, J.A. Davis, Seabrook Atkinson, J.E. Burts, R.F. Jones, Fred Hunter, J.E. Graham, Clyde Johnson, Wilton Conner, Esley McJunkin, Clarence Chastain, J.W. Spellers, and Wyatt League. As the years passed, the 1914 structure deteriorated while the membership continued to grow. In March 1961, a new structure was completed while Wyatt League was pastor. Following League's eighteen years of service as pastor of the church, James Hampton was called. He served until the year 1968. During Hampton's ministry the church built a parsonage in 1963. Tom A. Walton assumed the duties of pastor of the church in June1968. During that year the church's fellowship building was completed. Charles Kirby was the next pastor of Smith Grove Baptist Church; he served in that capacity until September 1975. Contibuted by: Anne Sheriff TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife