By Linda Holloway
Most congregations would be upset if it took 23 years for a member to finish a church project, but not Big Sandy Baptist in the Tuscaloosa Association.
In fact, they recently honored J.B. Davis for a job well done. On Jan. 26, Davis, who is the church historian, was presented a certificate of appreciation and a gift certificate for his dedication to the history project.
Davis was assigned to Big Sandy’s Historical Committee in 1980 and began several projects to piece together the missing historical facts of the church. One of the revelations has sent committee members into a much earlier planning stage of the church’s 150-year anniversary, according to Pastor Bob Ehr. “Because the church joined the Tuscaloosa Baptist Association in 1857, many thought that was actually the date that it was established. It was not until J.B. uncovered some new sources that we found the date had been incorrect.”
Davis considers finding the church was established in 1854 was the most significant of all the findings. “I had read an advertisement in The Moundville Times for the book, ‘A Cheerful Sadness: A Diary by Benjamin Mosely, 1868–1869.’ The book was written and annotated by James H. Walker, and I credit James’ book for clearing up the exact date,” Davis said. Davis had been searching for the correct date for 22 years.
Davis also used the book to clarify where the original site of the first church was located. For many years it was thought the first church was located at a place then named Mink Slide Hill, but it was actually built on the Martin Staggers property on the south side of Big Sandy Creek, Davis said. The congregation soon decided to relocate across Big Sandy Creek to an area near the church’s present location because a large number of members could not attend church during floods.
The present building was built in 1963 and is the third sanctuary built since the church was established. Davis also learned that a pastor was killed in 1915 in an automobile accident near the church and two early pastors married while at Big Sandy Baptist Church.
In 1982, Davis completed the church profile, but the other volumes of work represent more than two decades of dedication. The two thick bound books display minutes, chart church pastors, membership rolls, photos and memorabilia. The historian also completed a “Summary of Church History.” He credits his wife, Betty, for helping him with the project.
“I began looking for minutes in old file cabinets at the church, but I also located some of them at the homes of former clerks,” Davis said, noting he continues to search for some minutes.
Two rows of photographs of pastors from 1911 till 1998 in the church are also the result of Davis’ research. Another project under Davis’ supervision is finding the burial plots of all the former pastors. “For three hot summers, my wife and I visited cemeteries, but we only found one former pastor’s gravesite,” he said. “A request in The Alabama Baptist newspaper prompted a reader to relate another gravesite location in Choctaw County.”
This type of dedication does not surprise Big Sandy’s pastor, Ehr. “J.B is the epitome of faithfulness and integrity; a man who lives out what he believes,” Ehr said.
Davis, a 40-year member of the church, also serves as adult Sunday School teacher, deacon and church clerk.
Church member Paul Jones said, “I don’t think I have ever met a man who is more dedicated to the church than J.B. The history search took him as far away as Birmingham and Montgomery, but he did not want any recognition; he is a very humble man.”
Pastor Ehr believes Davis has helped to better understand the church’s story. “Every church has a story to tell, a story of the trials and struggles they have faced that have shaped them for who they are today. I don’t know if we can properly determine where we need to go in the future until we can better understand where we have been in the past,” said Ehr.
“As church clerk, I am now recording all the historical facts in the minutes, and I will encourage future clerks to do the same,” said Davis.
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