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"PSALM 34"
"PSALM 34"
GREEN HILL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY
We, the Green Hill Family, fail to have a complete knowledge of how the first church
was organized. However, through the years, Green Hill has had many outstanding
pastors, deacons, and members. These individuals have aided in the success of
God’s house and in keeping our history alive. The printed history of Green Hill
Missionary Baptist Church below is based off of their memory of the historical
church fact:
1881-1922
The Green Hill Missionary Baptist Church was started by a group of visionary
believers 120 years ago. The worship services were held under a bush arbor from
1881-1891. During this time period, Reverend Moses Green and the deacons
purchased 4 acres of land for $100 and received the warranty deed from Henry P.
Fortson’s estate. These faithful believers called their first building Green Hill
Missionary Baptist on or about May 10, 1889. Rev. Green was the first pastor. Rev.
Jim Carter, Rev. Mercer, Rev. Shells, Rev. King, Rev. Doston, and Rev. Allen
followed Rev. Moses Green in pastorship respectively.
1922-1936
During this period, Rev. Isom Allen was the pastor, Rev. E.D. Cower was the
assistant pastor, and Stuart Tolbert served as Chairman of the Deacon Board.
Sister Clora Snell was the clerk and Jim Johnson was the treasurer. The church
burned down between 1922 and 1923 under the tutorage of Rev. Allen. The church
was rebuilt two weeks later. During this time, an elementary school was built on two
of the four acres that were granted to the Muscogee County Board of Education. A
missionary society and a worker’s club were organized. Sister Ellen Cover was the
president, Sister Mary Mobley was the secretary, and Sister Marie Pope was the
treasurer for the Green Hill Missionary Society. The president for the Green Hill
Worker’s Club was Sister Anna Terry, while Sister Lizzie Pitts and Sister Fannie
Rome were the secretary and treasurer respectively. Later, Rev. Allen established
an Usher Board. Phelix Rome was selected to be the president. The members were
brothers Jamie Rome, Emanuel Hammond, Bertha Jones, and Sister Emma Lou
Hammond.
1936-1949
Rev. T.L. Crantford was chosen to lead God’s flock from 1936-1949. Rev. Crantford’
s assistant pastor was Rev. William Hammond. Deacon Edmond Grier was the
chairman of the Deacon Board and Deacon Kidd Stinson succeeded him as clerk.
Rev. T.L. Crantford and Rev. Hammond organized a junior church and a penny club
for the junior church during this time. Also, a vocal choir was formed and Anderson
Hammond was president, Sister Essie Rome was secretary, and Brother Phelix
Rome was treasurer. In the years to come, Edmond Grier became the president.
The penny Club president was Sister Rebecca Powell. Rev. Crantford ordained
brothers William Hammond, Henry Thomas, and Douglas Powell as ministers.
Brothers’ Kidd Stinson, James Lakes, and Frank Parham from Greenville, Georgia,
were accepted and taken into the church as deacons under Rev. Crantford’s
leadership. Later the church was enlarged and changed from a wooden structure to
a brick building. Finally, a baptism pool was constructed on the church grounds.
1949-1973
During this period Rev. R.C. Gates served as pastor of Green Hill. A junior and
senior choir was organized during this time frame. Deacon Douglas Powell and
Emma Lou Thomas were the presidents of Green Hill’s senior and junior choirs
respectively. After the reorganization of the Usher Board, Deacon Phelix Rome was
president; Deacon Henry Thomas was vice president. Sister Flossie Harris was
secretary, and Sister Lennie Bell Rome was Treasurer. Later, a general mission
and deaconess club were organized with Sister Emma Lou Thomas as president for
both organizations. A Baptist Training Union was organized with Deacon Henry
Thomas, treasurer, and Sister Edna Dorsey, secretary. The faithful students were
sisters Mary Ann Grier, Lillian Grier, Mary L. Stinson, Emma Lou Thomas, and many
others. Under Rev. Gates’ leadership, Robert L. Releford and Deacon Fran Parham
were ordained into the ministry. Also, Rev. Gates ordained Jamie Rome, Henry
Pitts, Alexander Tolbert, Jacob Rome, Jr., and Common Pitts as deacons. Finally,
the church was enlarged, new furniture was purchased, and a floor furnace was
installed. A new front with a second steeple was added to the church. The church
repossessed the school building and the two acres with a warranty deed issued to
Deacon Henry Thomas at the aid of Myrtis Rome and many others.
1973-1976
Rev. Thompson led Green Hill from 1973-1976. Under his leadership, Deacon
Douglas Powell succeeded Deacon Henry Thomas as chairman of the Deacon
Board and Sister Evelyn Hutchinson succeeded Deacon Powell as President of the
Senior Choir. Sister Carrie Hammond served as treasurer and Sister Sylvia Rome
was secretary of the choir. Sister Ozie Bell Wilson succeeded Sister Emma Lou
Thomas as president of the General Missions. Sister Ivey Street succeeded Sister
Wilson. Sister Hildry Thomas succeeded Sister Emma Lou Thomas as president of
the Deaconess Organization. Junice Peterson served as president of the Usher
Board with Deacon Jacob Rome as vice president. Sister Myrtis Ann Adams was the
secretary and Sister Myrtis Rome was the treasurer. Also during this time, Sister
Doris Ingersoll succeeded Sister Emma Lou Thomas as the church secretary.
During Rev. Thompson’s years at Green Hill, an air conditioner was installed with
central heat, the ceiling was paneled and gravel was laid in the churchyard. A fund
was set up to install carpet on the floors, panel the walls, and paint the remainder of
the church interior.
1976-1990
Rev. Major Ivey was the pastor of Green Hill from 1976-1990. Rev. Ivey ordained
Eugene Lyles, Johnny Banks and Joe Cook as ministers. Also, he ordained Dave
McBride, Arthur Lee Rome, Edmond Grier, Jr., and Johnny Upshaw as deacons.
During this time, Sister Sylvia Rome was president of the Missionary Society with
Sister Mattie Powell as the teacher. Deacon James Lakes served as president of
the Building Fund Organization. Deacon Jacob Rome was president of the
Brotherhood. Sister Gloria Rodgers served as president of the Junior Choir. Sister
Lillie Gross was president of the Matrons. Under his leadership, a kitchen and office
was built, a bus was purchased, and a junior and senior choir was reorganized.
The baptism pool was brought into the church and the church parking area was
paved. A new piano was purchased, the pews were reupholstered, wall to wall
carpet was installed, and tables were bought for the dining hall. Finally a
beautification committee was organized for the upkeep of the church. In June 1990,
Rev. Ivey resigned.
1991-present
Rev. George Cofield, Jr. was called to pastor after the resignation of Rev. Ivey. As
pastor of Green Hill, he preached his first sermon on the first Sunday in February of
1991. Rev. Albert Sanders is the son of the church. Rev. Cofield has ordained
Tillford Thomas, Sr., Willie Walker, Kenneth Carter, Sammie Woods, Michael
Green, and Jerome Cannon into deaconship. Tillford Thomas, Christine Walker,
Bonita Hubbard, Lillie Gross, Frederick Harris, Billy Bailey, and Jerome Cannon,
were all called into the ministry under Rev. Cofield. Under the leadership of Rev.
Cofield, our fellowship hall and the church have been renovated. The inside of the
church has been remodeled with carpet, curtains, an office copier, a computer, and
even our fellowship has a new look with new chandeliers and curtains. Our
membership and youth involvement have increased. The youth and young adult
choir, the New Generation crew, the combined choir, male choir, pastor’s aide,
annual Christmas social, and vacation bible school were formed and reformed and
the mission and matrons retreated to the T.D. Jakes conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
A church van was donated to the church and a clavinova and organ was
purchased. The youth and young adult choir opened for Dorothy Norwood and
Dottie Peoples and the International Benevolent Society were reformed and IBS
youth camp #414 P.A.L.M.S. was formed. The IBS Youth Camp #414 P.A.L.M.S. are
very active in the community doing voluntary work, like the annual shoe drive,
singing at nursing homes, and giving out food baskets. Rev. Cofield constantly
strives for the advancement of our church through Christian Leadership and
fellowship with other churches, thus advancing the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. Today, the members of the church are living the Christian life, both
within and without the walls of the current building and are constantly striving to
honor God.
We, the Green Hill Family, fail to have a complete knowledge of how the first church
was organized. However, through the years, Green Hill has had many outstanding
pastors, deacons, and members. These individuals have aided in the success of
God’s house and in keeping our history alive. The printed history of Green Hill
Missionary Baptist Church below is based off of their memory of the historical
church fact:
1881-1922
The Green Hill Missionary Baptist Church was started by a group of visionary
believers 120 years ago. The worship services were held under a bush arbor from
1881-1891. During this time period, Reverend Moses Green and the deacons
purchased 4 acres of land for $100 and received the warranty deed from Henry P.
Fortson’s estate. These faithful believers called their first building Green Hill
Missionary Baptist on or about May 10, 1889. Rev. Green was the first pastor. Rev.
Jim Carter, Rev. Mercer, Rev. Shells, Rev. King, Rev. Doston, and Rev. Allen
followed Rev. Moses Green in pastorship respectively.
1922-1936
During this period, Rev. Isom Allen was the pastor, Rev. E.D. Cower was the
assistant pastor, and Stuart Tolbert served as Chairman of the Deacon Board.
Sister Clora Snell was the clerk and Jim Johnson was the treasurer. The church
burned down between 1922 and 1923 under the tutorage of Rev. Allen. The church
was rebuilt two weeks later. During this time, an elementary school was built on two
of the four acres that were granted to the Muscogee County Board of Education. A
missionary society and a worker’s club were organized. Sister Ellen Cover was the
president, Sister Mary Mobley was the secretary, and Sister Marie Pope was the
treasurer for the Green Hill Missionary Society. The president for the Green Hill
Worker’s Club was Sister Anna Terry, while Sister Lizzie Pitts and Sister Fannie
Rome were the secretary and treasurer respectively. Later, Rev. Allen established
an Usher Board. Phelix Rome was selected to be the president. The members were
brothers Jamie Rome, Emanuel Hammond, Bertha Jones, and Sister Emma Lou
Hammond.
1936-1949
Rev. T.L. Crantford was chosen to lead God’s flock from 1936-1949. Rev. Crantford’
s assistant pastor was Rev. William Hammond. Deacon Edmond Grier was the
chairman of the Deacon Board and Deacon Kidd Stinson succeeded him as clerk.
Rev. T.L. Crantford and Rev. Hammond organized a junior church and a penny club
for the junior church during this time. Also, a vocal choir was formed and Anderson
Hammond was president, Sister Essie Rome was secretary, and Brother Phelix
Rome was treasurer. In the years to come, Edmond Grier became the president.
The penny Club president was Sister Rebecca Powell. Rev. Crantford ordained
brothers William Hammond, Henry Thomas, and Douglas Powell as ministers.
Brothers’ Kidd Stinson, James Lakes, and Frank Parham from Greenville, Georgia,
were accepted and taken into the church as deacons under Rev. Crantford’s
leadership. Later the church was enlarged and changed from a wooden structure to
a brick building. Finally, a baptism pool was constructed on the church grounds.
1949-1973
During this period Rev. R.C. Gates served as pastor of Green Hill. A junior and
senior choir was organized during this time frame. Deacon Douglas Powell and
Emma Lou Thomas were the presidents of Green Hill’s senior and junior choirs
respectively. After the reorganization of the Usher Board, Deacon Phelix Rome was
president; Deacon Henry Thomas was vice president. Sister Flossie Harris was
secretary, and Sister Lennie Bell Rome was Treasurer. Later, a general mission
and deaconess club were organized with Sister Emma Lou Thomas as president for
both organizations. A Baptist Training Union was organized with Deacon Henry
Thomas, treasurer, and Sister Edna Dorsey, secretary. The faithful students were
sisters Mary Ann Grier, Lillian Grier, Mary L. Stinson, Emma Lou Thomas, and many
others. Under Rev. Gates’ leadership, Robert L. Releford and Deacon Fran Parham
were ordained into the ministry. Also, Rev. Gates ordained Jamie Rome, Henry
Pitts, Alexander Tolbert, Jacob Rome, Jr., and Common Pitts as deacons. Finally,
the church was enlarged, new furniture was purchased, and a floor furnace was
installed. A new front with a second steeple was added to the church. The church
repossessed the school building and the two acres with a warranty deed issued to
Deacon Henry Thomas at the aid of Myrtis Rome and many others.
1973-1976
Rev. Thompson led Green Hill from 1973-1976. Under his leadership, Deacon
Douglas Powell succeeded Deacon Henry Thomas as chairman of the Deacon
Board and Sister Evelyn Hutchinson succeeded Deacon Powell as President of the
Senior Choir. Sister Carrie Hammond served as treasurer and Sister Sylvia Rome
was secretary of the choir. Sister Ozie Bell Wilson succeeded Sister Emma Lou
Thomas as president of the General Missions. Sister Ivey Street succeeded Sister
Wilson. Sister Hildry Thomas succeeded Sister Emma Lou Thomas as president of
the Deaconess Organization. Junice Peterson served as president of the Usher
Board with Deacon Jacob Rome as vice president. Sister Myrtis Ann Adams was the
secretary and Sister Myrtis Rome was the treasurer. Also during this time, Sister
Doris Ingersoll succeeded Sister Emma Lou Thomas as the church secretary.
During Rev. Thompson’s years at Green Hill, an air conditioner was installed with
central heat, the ceiling was paneled and gravel was laid in the churchyard. A fund
was set up to install carpet on the floors, panel the walls, and paint the remainder of
the church interior.
1976-1990
Rev. Major Ivey was the pastor of Green Hill from 1976-1990. Rev. Ivey ordained
Eugene Lyles, Johnny Banks and Joe Cook as ministers. Also, he ordained Dave
McBride, Arthur Lee Rome, Edmond Grier, Jr., and Johnny Upshaw as deacons.
During this time, Sister Sylvia Rome was president of the Missionary Society with
Sister Mattie Powell as the teacher. Deacon James Lakes served as president of
the Building Fund Organization. Deacon Jacob Rome was president of the
Brotherhood. Sister Gloria Rodgers served as president of the Junior Choir. Sister
Lillie Gross was president of the Matrons. Under his leadership, a kitchen and office
was built, a bus was purchased, and a junior and senior choir was reorganized.
The baptism pool was brought into the church and the church parking area was
paved. A new piano was purchased, the pews were reupholstered, wall to wall
carpet was installed, and tables were bought for the dining hall. Finally a
beautification committee was organized for the upkeep of the church. In June 1990,
Rev. Ivey resigned.
1991-present
Rev. George Cofield, Jr. was called to pastor after the resignation of Rev. Ivey. As
pastor of Green Hill, he preached his first sermon on the first Sunday in February of
1991. Rev. Albert Sanders is the son of the church. Rev. Cofield has ordained
Tillford Thomas, Sr., Willie Walker, Kenneth Carter, Sammie Woods, Michael
Green, and Jerome Cannon into deaconship. Tillford Thomas, Christine Walker,
Bonita Hubbard, Lillie Gross, Frederick Harris, Billy Bailey, and Jerome Cannon,
were all called into the ministry under Rev. Cofield. Under the leadership of Rev.
Cofield, our fellowship hall and the church have been renovated. The inside of the
church has been remodeled with carpet, curtains, an office copier, a computer, and
even our fellowship has a new look with new chandeliers and curtains. Our
membership and youth involvement have increased. The youth and young adult
choir, the New Generation crew, the combined choir, male choir, pastor’s aide,
annual Christmas social, and vacation bible school were formed and reformed and
the mission and matrons retreated to the T.D. Jakes conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
A church van was donated to the church and a clavinova and organ was
purchased. The youth and young adult choir opened for Dorothy Norwood and
Dottie Peoples and the International Benevolent Society were reformed and IBS
youth camp #414 P.A.L.M.S. was formed. The IBS Youth Camp #414 P.A.L.M.S. are
very active in the community doing voluntary work, like the annual shoe drive,
singing at nursing homes, and giving out food baskets. Rev. Cofield constantly
strives for the advancement of our church through Christian Leadership and
fellowship with other churches, thus advancing the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. Today, the members of the church are living the Christian life, both
within and without the walls of the current building and are constantly striving to
honor God.
