50 Years Ago
May 1966
FBC Montgomery member Bettye Jennings is named Mrs. Alabama. She said it was a great thrill for her to be named, but the greatest moment of her life was when she accepted Jesus. Jennings shared this testimony as she sat before television cameras in Montgomery following a selection that made her “the outstanding homemaker in the state.” Next for Jennings was to compete in the Mrs. America competition in California.
100 Years Ago
May 1916
Several meetings highlighted this month in Alabama Baptist life.
W.F. Feagin, state superintendent of education, spoke to students of Howard College on May 3. He urged them to take a more active part in ending illiteracy in Alabama, where more than 350,000 men and women could not read or write in 1916.
The 30th annual session of the Carey Baptist Sunday School convention was held at Mount Olive Church on May 20–21.
Second Avenue Baptist Church, Opelika, hosted evangelist W.J. Ray and singer “Jack” Johnston. The services continued throughout the week at the courthouse.
150 Years Ago
May 1866
After the war many African-Americans who were now freemen chose to stay with the white churches where they had worshipped for many years.
However, with the ending of the war came a Southern a redefinition of what being a “freedman” meant and this began separations in churches that were already struggling to remain whole.
In May 1866, African-American members of a Eufaula church “applied for their letters” to begin their own church.
The church granted the request and offered to allow the black members use of the building until they could build a church of their own.
Eventually the African-Americans offered to buy the building, which became the home of their separate church.
Share with others: