The beginning of a new millennium inspired a special celebration of memories among women at First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa.
According to Jane Batson, director of first ladies missions and ministry, a telephone call from her cousin prompted the idea of honoring women in the church who were long-term members. Batson said the leadership of the women’s ministry naively expected to find only a few women who had been members more than 50 years.
A check of the church’s membership indicated 26 women had been at the church that long, but that was only the beginning. Realizing the computer information was outdated, announcements were made in the church newsletter and in Sunday School classes in an attempt to identify other long-term members. Within three months, the number grew to 60.
Nov. 7, 1999, was declared “Legacy of Love Sunday,” with the women recognized in the morning worship service and at a luncheon following the service.
In preparation for the celebration, honorees were asked to write down some of their memories.
The comments, along with pictures of each woman, were combined with a history of the early church, written by Angie Mills Cooper. Copies of the printed book were given to each family attending the luncheon.
Cousins Anna Brown, 91, and Marine Brown, 94, hold the record for longest membership, along with Marine’s brother James, 96.
They joined the church during a spring revival and were baptized May 4, 1919, by Pastor L.O. Dawson.
Anna Brown said church services now are very similar to church services years ago, although there is more music in the Sunday morning worship service, along with different types of music that incorporate praise choruses with traditional hymns.
Another change at First Baptist is the addition of a second worship service on Sunday mornings, Brown said.
The luncheon included other memories both humorous and controversial.
Nancy Norton shared a memory of an incident that occurred when she was director of Girls in Action.
Nancy said she was in charge of a coronation ceremony, and was unable to find rose petals to scatter down the aisle of the church. She settled for geranium petals, unaware of the stain they would leave on the carpet. Norton said the head of the building and grounds committee was not pleased.
Many of these longtime members recalled that when the new sanctuary was built in the 1950s, the architect thought the stained glass windows in the old building were too small to be used in the new building. Two women successfully waged a campaign to enlarge the windows by adding side panels to retain the windows for the new building.
The casual dress worn by many worshipers today is also a major change for the women.
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