Historic marker tells of Evergreen Baptist Church's past

This week’s featured historical marker is the marker in front of the Evergreen Baptist Church in Evergreen, Ala.

The marker is located on Park Street and can be found on the church lawn to the right of the church’s main entrance. It’s across the street from the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library. The City of Evergreen erected the two-sided marker in 1999. What follows is the complete text from both sides of the marker:

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“EVERGREEN BAPTIST CHURCH: The church was organized March 15, 1845, in the home of George Brown. The organizing council consisted of Alexander Travis, Keidar Hawthorne, J.J. Sessions. Charter members were George and Mary Brown, Elbert and Louisa Joiner, Philoligas and Sarah Land and Richard Shipp.
“The sanctuary building was constructed in a Tudor Revival style and dedicated Feb. 2, 1908. The Education Building was completed in 1950, with an extension, Croom Hall, dedicated in 1968. The Activities Building was constructed in 1974.
“The Louise Short Widows and Orphans Home was founded on Main Street under the leadership of the church’s pastor, J.W. Stewart, in 1891. It moved to Troy in 1923 and was renamed the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home.
“Castleberry Baptist Church began as a mission of the church in 1892. The Bower Mission began in the home of M.V. Bower on Pecan Street in 1958 and was dedicated as Bower Memorial Baptist Church in 1963.”

“EVERGREEN BAPTIST CHURCH: Evergreen Baptist Church has ordained 16 men to the ministry, including Luther Moye, a missionary to Chile.
“PASTORS: G. Longmire, Alexander Travis, A.W. Jones, W.C. Morrow, J.J. Sessions, J.S. Abbott, J.D. Kendrick, Andrew Jay, Frank Brewner, W.G. Curry, J.E. Bell, B.H. Crumpton, J.W. Stewart, W.D. Hubbard, S.P. Lindsey, Dr. A.G. Moseley, Dr. Richard Hall, Dr. J.G. Dickinson, Earl Powell, Alfred A. Staples, Dr. Samuel A. Granade, P. Jackson Williamson, Phillip E. Weaver.
“Long-term pastorates: Dr. J.G. Dickinson, 1914-1943; Dr. Samuel A. Granade, 1948-1973; Rev. P. Jackson Williamson, 1973-1995.
“This memorial is placed to God’s glory in loving memory of dedicated deacon, Thurmond H. Gilmer by his wife, Marjorie, and daughter, Thurmond Ann Gilmer Boles.”

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One name that jumps out at me on this marker is that of one of the church’s early pastors, Alexander Travis. Travis, who died at the age of 62 in 1852, was the uncle of William Barrett Travis, the ill-fated commander of the Alamo. Alexander Travis was born in South Carolina an moved to Alabama in 1818. He moved to Conecuh County in 1819 and helped establish the communities of Sparta and Evergreen. He served as a Baptist preacher for decades and helped establish a number of churches in Southwest Alabama. He was also considered an influential and prominent member of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another local historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.