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Eulia Church Memories
For this book, we had our cherished older members complete a survey telling of some memories of Eulia church. These memories are truly a blessing to us. A special thanks goes to these wonderful members. The poem below is dedicated to them.
If you are ever going to love me
Love me now, while I can know
The sweet and tender feelings
Which from true affection flow
Love me now while I am living
Do not wait until I am gone
And then have it chiseled in marble,
Sweet words on ice-cold stone.
If you have tender thoughts of me,
Please tell me now.
If you wait until I’m sleeping,
Never to awaken
There will be death between us,
And I won’t hear you then.
So if you love me, even a little bit,
Let me know it while I am living
So I can treasure it.
Bro. L.V. Bonds: As a child, I attended Maple Grove Baptist church. I was saved when I was thirteen, felt the calling to preach when I was eighteen, and answered the call when I was twenty-eight. I have had a good ministry with several souls saved throughout the years. I pastored Eulia General Baptist church two separate times. The first time I came to pastor Eulia church was from 1964 to 1965. The second time I pastored the church was from 1993 to 1998. I have enjoyed each revival, each program that has been presented to the church, and have come to love and appreciate all of God’s people in Eulia Church. I miss all the ones that have gone on before me and look forward to seeing them when this life is over.
Sis. Frances Gregory: I attended Siloam Church when I was a small child and I was eighteen years old when I got saved and joined Siloam Church. After I got married, I attended Siloam church and Eulia Church with four children. As they were growing up they wanted to know, by asking Mama and Daddy, which church we were going each Sunday. I joined Eulia Church (I don’t remember what year).
My experience when I got saved: I went to the altar one night and I prayed until I got saved. We had lamplights back in those days and I thought that was the brightest light I had ever seen. I wanted to laugh, I wanted to holler, I wanted to stomp my feet. My sister thought I was crazy. The next night she got saved and she said she knew what I had and how I felt.
I remember when the present Eulia Church building was built. I also remember the first funeral to be held in it, it was Burford’s Pa Harrison. I don’t know how Eulia got its name. I liked all the pastors that we have had since I became a member of Eulia Church.
Bro. Burford Gregory: I’ve attended Eulia Church all of my life. My parents carried me to Eulia Church when I was a small boy and the church house was located where Westside School now sits.
I got saved at Eulia Church in 1946 on Tuesday around 12:00 o’clock, united with the church 1 year later, and was baptized along with several others in a creek in front of Uncle Caltron Harrison’ house. Bro. Dolon Pruitt was pastor at that time.
I remember when the present building was built. There were a few that hated to see the old building go, but everything worked out as the Lord would have it be.
I’ve served on several committees, also served as Church Clerk, Church Treasurer, Sunday School Superintendent, and Sunday School teacher. I’ve been in several Christmas programs and one I remember best was the one I played as a crippled man. I thank God for Eulia Church and all the good Christian people I’ve worshipped with and had a good fellowship with for many years.
Bro. Carl Scruggs: From a child I have a lot of memories of Eulia Church. I will soon be 70 years old. So the memories are my church home. The old church that set where Westside School is now, is where my mother was converted when I was child. These are precious memories.
The church now was built in 1943. This is where I was converted. What a happy time on September 14, 1943. I still enjoy telling about it, PRAISE THE LORD.
I have a lot of memories of teaching Sunday School. I taught the Young Adult Class in the early 1950’s. Then I was called into the ministry and had to give up teaching Sunday School. In the year of 1960, I was ordained to the full work of the ministry. I pastored Eulia church from 1965 to 1966.
My hope would be that Eulia church would always stay in the straight and narrow way so boys and girls could have the gospel that was preached when I was a child. Eulia church has made my life what it is today. The elderly people in those days set an example for me to pattern my life after. So they are gone now. I hope my life will mean as much to the people today both young and old alike. May God bless today and for evermore. Your brother in Christ.
Bro. Embrey Cook: As a child I attended New Zion General Baptist Church. At about the age of 12, we moved and we started attending Eulia church. I have early memories of these older members: Alfred Leath, Jimmy and Nellie Stone, Maggie Leath, Scruggs, Mr. Lois Gregory.
I was saved in the back of the house. Dolan Pruitt was pastor. Several tried to get me to go to the altar during the revival. I was asked to go to the altar to pray and after prayer I went to the back of the house. Aubrey Sloan started to sing “Are You Ready for That Judgement Day?” I started to stand up and say “no, but I am going to get ready”, but when I stood up, I got saved.
Sis. Marie and Bro. Ottis Robertson: I, Marie Doss Robertson, did not attend Eulia Church as a child. I went to Oakdale General Baptist Church. I was saved at 13 years of age in 1934. I had a knocking at my heart that made me realize I needed to go the altar. When my uncle, Elisha Whittemore, came to say something to me there on the altar, that is when the Lord came into my heart.
I was married in 1941 to Ottis Robertson, and then we started attending Eulia church. Ottis was saved at 11 years old at Green Grove church. He is now 80 years old and one of the oldest members still attending Eulia church. His parents, Selma and Odie, were faithful members of Eulia church and were janitors of the church for many years. Selma enjoyed cooking meals for sometimes the whole church. They would load up their 3 children in a wagon and go to Eulia. Once, when Ottis was a baby, they forgot and left him in the wagon for a short time in the rain.
My mother, Dona Doss, my husband Ottis, and I joined Eulia church in 1943 and were baptized in a creek at Epison Creek. My father, Hobart Doss, later joined Eulia and was baptized. Hobart and Dona went to other states to several meetings about Sunday School.
Eulia General Baptist Church was organized in 1875 in an old school house located on Eulia Lane near a spring. The first pastor was Rev. Ephrim Stinson. Later that year, in 1875, the first church house was built about ¼ mile from the present location. After 35 years, the second church house was built in 1910. It was located where the Westside School building is today. This house was used until 1943 when the present brick house was built, with the location being moved to the Eulia cemetery where it is today. This church had 95 members. Rev. H.S. Jenkins preached the first sermon in the present building on August 14, 1943. This last church site is where we joined the church.
In 1949, Sunday School was organized. I taught Sunday School for about 20 years. My father, Hobart Doss, taught Sunday School about 30 years. My daughter, Darlene White, has taught for about 28 years and is still teaching the small children.
There were no Sunday School rooms at first. The classes were all in different corners of the auditorium. We also didn’t have indoor restrooms.
We have had a Christmas program at Eulia Church for about 50 years. We had to use sheets and wire and string them across the pulpit and on each side of it. We had a huge live cedar Christmas tree where the A-woman corner is now.
I was director of the Christmas programs for several years. Sometimes I had to write the play myself. We have always had wonderful programs with the smallest child to the older adults participating. I have fond memories of these programs . Once we had a little trouble with one of the shepherds falling off the stage, and another time the Kings had to go around the church house to come in the front door. It was snowing and one of the kings slipped on the snow and slid under a car. Everyone was easy to get to participate in the program and we all enjoyed meeting together to rehearse and decorate the church.
The Sunday School conventions were held at different churches so I would take a carload of the children to the convention for our programs. Once I remember we had a flat tire on the way and a man was kind enough to stop and help change the tire. The jack fell off and hurt the man’s leg, but we made it to the church in time for our program.
I am now 78 years old and have been a Christian For 65 years. I still enjoy going to an oldtime church like Eulia.
Sis. Margaret Carr: My parents, Jimmy and Nellie Stone, were members of Eulia church when I was born and we went regularly. I was saved as very young child, but didn’t join the church until 1940 as I was afraid to be baptized.
Eulia did not have money to do things as they do now. I can remember after electric lights came through, the light bill was $1.50. My daddy would get up in the A-man corner and say, “We have got a light bill to pay and no money in the treasure.” We always came up with the money.
Some of the pastors didn’t have a car to come to church in. the men of the church that had cars would go get them and they spent the night and went home on Sunday afternoon. They lived as far away as Scottsville, KY. Bro. H.S. Jenkins came to pastor and the church wanted to buy him a suit. Again, not enough money. Someone came up with the idea that the women would all donate an old hen. Virgie Vance had a car. I went with her around the neighborhood to get the hens. Her husband ran a store. He sold the hens and we met Bro. Jenkins in Lafayette to buy his suit. We paid for it with the hen money.
When we had all day services, we spread our dinner on the ground. When the old church got in bad shape, Mr. Hearod Robertson gave the land and a new church was built.
One year we had a woman evangelist to help with the revival. People would come from all around to hear her preach. She wore a white hat while preaching.
I taught Sunday School for a number of years and saw a lot of children saved.
Rev. W.L. Meador: I did not attend Eulia when I was a child. I went to Siloam church until I married Betty in 1949. I started going to Leath’s Chapel Methodist Church. I got saved at this church in 1955, July. The revival was going on. I had been running form the Lord for a long time. We was having a good revival. I knew I needed to go to the altar. I thought I would go outside. The Lord spoke to me and told me this would be my last chance. So instead of going out, I went to the altar, obeyed the Lord, and he saved me. Later in 1955, the Lord called me to preach. In 1956 I joined the church at Eulia. I pastored the Church from 1967-1970 and had 3 wonderful years with 29 saved, 19 joined the Church, and 16 baptized. Two of my children were saved and baptized.
I have enjoyed many good Christmas programs. One I remember I
was a wise man. It was a bad rainy night. I had borrowed a nice robe from Mr. Mayo Leath. I was running around the house, fell and slid under a car, I got real muddy and tore the set out of a new ring I had just got for Christmas.
I have a lot of memories of those who have already passed away. My mother, father, father-in-law, my brother, and lots of friends.
Sis. Betty Meador: I did not attend Eulia Church when I was a child. I attended Leath’s Chapel Methodist Church. I got saved in 1945. The revival was going on at Leath’s Chapel. I had been going to the altar for 2 years, but I really got under conviction at this revival. The Lord saved me at one of my uncle’s houses. I really had something to tell when I went to church that day.
I joined the church at Eulia in 1956. I have a lot of good memories of Eulia when we pastored the church for 3 years. We had some good revivals. Two of our children got saved.
We have had some wonderful Christmas programs. I remember one year W.L. and I were Mary and Joseph. We enjoyed it so much. I have a lot of friends and loved ones who have already passed away at the church, especially my Dad that I miss so much. I remember years ago when Buck, Junior, my Dad (Russell Gregory) and I sang in a little quartet for a while and Wanda Harrison Dobbs and Ruth Stone Hale played the piano for us.
Sis. Vennie Gregory: I did not attend Eulia when I was a child. I attended Siloam. I started going to Leath’s Chapel Methodist Church when I married Russell in 1930. I went there until I joined Eulia Church in 1956. I got saved at Siloam church when I was about 13 years old. I have a lot of memories of those who have done passed on, my mother, father, and sister. I can almost see my sister singing at the Church. I have precious memories of my companion. He loved his church. He is just waiting for me to join him.
Sis. Marie Bradley- I did not attend Eulia church as a child but in my teen years I did attend some singings, in particular a Singing School held there. This was all in the old church on the hill. During the Singing School, usually held for ten lessons, at night there was no other piano players or organ. I played for group singing following each lesson. The people of the church gave me some money for the help that I may have been. I took that money and maybe a little more and bought a blue rocking chair. That chair was one of the few pieces of furniture I had when I married in 1945.
As a child, my home church was Pleasant Grove Methodist Church in Sumner County. During my childhood and teen years we went to a lot of different churches often.
Prentice and I joined Eulia Church about 1954. He had lived in that area until we married. I was working with friends who belonged there. We did not live in the Eulia Community at any time but knew we would be happy there.
Jesus came into my life at an early age. I was swinging all alone on the porch singing “Rock of Ages” when something happened to me, hard to explain.
As far as I know the first Christmas program began in the middle fifties. I had a close neighbor, Nora Shaw Troutt, who was an excellent painter of scenes on canvas. She did some biblical scenes on canvas. I put the painted scenes one at the time on an easel using a colored wheel of light rotating as Aubrey and Hattie Sloan along with Willard and Agnes Harrison sang Christmas carols that each picture depicted. Since that time the Sunday School classes and teachers have given programs each year.
I used to hear of an incident that happened many years ago when all day gatherings would spread dinner on the ground. One day some event was held over on the hill, perhaps the General Baptist Association, when dinner was spread on pretty white tablecloths on the ground. All at once a big dog came parading across the table of food. The man who owned the dog looked very surprised and said; “I wonder whose old dog that could be?”
Sis. Lorell “Toopy” Bentle- I came to Eulia some as a child more to special days like decorations, revivals, singings, etc. I attended Pisgah Methodist Church more as my aunt (my mom as I called them) Daisy Key raised me along with my uncle Joe Key as my mother died when I was 1 month old. Then I joined out there when I was very young, but I enjoyed coming to Eulia at the old church. That was where Winford, my husband, said he first remembered seeing me was at some all day gathering. Someone would have a concession stand with homemade ice cream, drinks and whatever.
He (Winford) said my Uncle Joe was buying me some ice cream. We didn’t have a lot of treats then like we do now.
As to when the Lord came into my life, I got confused which is a bad condition to get in, but I never gave up. I just couldn’t get satisfied, kept praying, and just didn’t give up. One night I got this sweet peaceful blessing. I hardly knew what was happening, but I never felt that way before. I was up in the altar at the new church. It was the most beautiful peace and most beautiful group of people that I’d ever seen. I say this and maybe it will help someone that is having a hard time to never give up. The Lord is always there when we fully believe, but I still get in the valley so much. The old church was over where Westside School is, but I don’t know where Eulia got it’s name.
I guess we could all think of a lot of things happening at revivals and just church services. The one thing I remember was when my family got saved. Sherry was here and Tony told it here and Winford was going up at the revival but we went on to New Zion and he told it over there. We all joined the church at the same time. I got a letter from the Methodist Church. I guess we all know a lot of funny things that have happened over the years and lost of serious things too.
Sis. Katie Law: I went to New Hope Church on the hillside as a child. I started to Eulia in 1958. When I got saved I went to the altar on a Friday during a revival at the Old New Hope Church. My Mamie asked if I felt like going to the altar. I went and got saved. I was 10 years old and it was in 1940. I did not continue to go when I was young, I was in and out, but started back in 1958 at Eulia and have been going ever since then.
Memories from Ms. Katie: I remember and appreciated Bro. Willard Harrison teaching me in Sunday School for many years. I remember when the children were little, I was in one of the Christmas programs, my part was playing an angel. When we got to the church and as I was going up the steps, Roger said, “Mama, did you know you had your house shoes on and do we have time to go back home for you to change?” I said no and I just wore them. I remember Aunt Pearl Love shouting. I always wanted to shout like her. Another memory is when one Sunday night a snake came in the window and Mr. Dewey Hammock went over and got it with his pincher on his arm. All the women were standing in the seats screaming!
Ms. Katie’s son-in-law Donald seems to think that Eulia got its name when a man could not say “Julie” so he called it “Eulia”. There is no evidence to back this up however! HA!
Sis. Betty Sue Bentle: The first that brings back memories of coming to Eulia was I lived just below the old church and on decoration day or another big day my dad would have a concession stand at the church for Uncle Joe Vance from his store. Also, when I was dating my husband. Mr. Martin Love would be standing at the steps and kid me about my dolls that were still in his barn loft.
The Lord touched me after I was married and the 3rd Sunday of July in 1943. It seemed weak because it came different than I thought it would. But after the Lord led me to join the church I knew then I was saved for I don’t think my heart would have quit knocking if I hadn’t joined and it has never done that anymore.
The new church was being built when I got saved in 1943 and I don’t know how the name Eulia came from, but it has been ever since I can remember.
The older members that always stood out to me were Mrs. Nellie Stone, Mrs. Maggie Leath, and Mrs. Pearl Love for when they would shout it would be like they were floating on air.
Some people don’t know whether they are saved or not. If they would do what the Lord wants them to do it might help them to know. For I wasn’t aiming to join the church and when I was lead I knew then he wouldn’t have lead me if I was not saved. I was never in the Christmas programs, but Kay was in some of them. I remember one where a big snow came when they were having one.
Sis. Frances Harrison: I did not attend Eulia as a child, instead I attended Bledsoe Creek Missionary Baptist Church. I began attending Eulia in 1949. In August, 1947, at 15 years of age, I got saved and joined Buffalo Springs Missionary Baptist Church. I kept my membership here until 1956, when I moved my membership to Eulia. I only remember the present building we use now. I became a minister’s wife when my husband owned his calling to preach in 1958. In 1966, I was appointed custodian of the church, which I kept until 1978.
Some of the members of the church who have passed on and meant so much to me were: Mrs. Pearl Love, Mrs. Nellie Stone, Mrs. Maggie Leath, Aubrey and Hattie Sloan, Rudolph Stone, Kenneth and Gladys Leath, Mrs. Delma and Hazel Hall, Woodrow and Ivy Gregory, Herley and Young Gregory, Mr. Hobart and Mrs. Donnie Doss, Mr. Odie and Mrs. Selma Robertson, Russell Gregory, Uncle Loss and Aunt Zella Gregory, Mr. Virgil and Mrs. Eunice Akins, Rulene Cook, and Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Harrison.
Rev. Forrest Harrison: I attended Eulia some as a child. I was about 5 or 6 years old and I remember people shouting all over the house. I can still see the horse and wagon teams travelling along the road picking up others to go to church. I remember parents putting their children in their wagons to sleep during night service, and one night, Uncle Loss Gregory put the wrong child in his wagon.
On the first Sunday night in August, 1945, I was visiting Old New Hope Church. During this revival service, Brother Bledsoe was preaching, and I turned my heart over to God. There were about 12 people to get saved, and there was so much shouting, the wooden pillars fell from under the church. In July, 1947, I joined Eulia General Baptist Church and was baptized.
My first memories of Eulia Church are of the old Church, which was located where Westside School now stands. The present building was built in 1943, and the first funeral held in the new church was for my Grandfather, Vester Harrison, who had helped collect donations for the building of the new church.
I owned my calling to preach in September, 1958, and I was ordained to the full work of the ministry on the fourth Sunday in September, 1962. This was during the Mount Union Association at the Scottsville Tabernacle. Brother Woodrow Gregory preached the ordination sermon. I remember seeing some wonder programs and I especially remember when my children participated in them. Some of the members of the church who have passed on and meant so much to me were: Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Laws Gregory, Mrs. Pearl Love, Mrs. Nellie Stone, Mrs. Maggie Leath, Aubrey and Hattie Sloan, Rudolph Stone, Kenneth and Gladys Leath, Delma and Hazel Hall, Woodrow and Ivy Gregory, Herley and Young Gregory, Mr. Hobart and Mrs. Donnie Doss, Mr. Odie and Mrs. Selma Robertson, Russell Gregory, Mr.and Mrs. Virgil Akins, and Rulene Cook.
Bro. Jr. and Sis. Mary Jo Gregory: We (Mary Jo) went to Eulia as a child, as my grandparents that raised me, David and Mahala Hammock were members of the church there. Junior’s parents and grandparents were members also. His dad (J.L. Gregory) served the church as a deacon until his death in 1974.
Junior’s grandfather auctioned off some church property on a Saturday afternoon in Aug. 1943, on his way home from church that afternoon, had a stroke where he crossed a fence and died a few days later. His funeral was the first one held in the new church. Junior’s uncle Toy Harrison also served the church as a deacon. His daughter Louise H. Simmons was the first conversion in the new church.
Our memories of the old church, that sat on the hill where Westside School sets, was the decorations. On the second Sunday in June, as boys and girls were on the road from the church to the cemetery. This went on all day long with spreading cloths on the ground for the dinner, and the children sleeping on pallets on the floor, when the revival was going on.
We were saved on the third Sunday in July 1947 and joined the church that revival. We were baptized with six more people by Rev. Dolan Pruitt, in a pond of water on Old Highway 52 (in front of the Catron Harrison house.
Junior’s brother preached the ordination sermon in September 1962, when Junior was ordained as a deacon, at the old tabernacle in Scottsville, Ky. He is still serving the church as a deacon at this time. Junior was Sunday School Superintendent in the late 50’s and early 60’s. He served as church clerk a few years and at the present time is church treasurer. He sang with the Eulia-aires in the late 50’s. He sang with the Golden Tones from December 31, 1972 to June 27, 1982, having 152 Singings. Junior sang and played guitar with the Happy Hearts for several years. And has also helped sing for 125+ funerals.
I (Mary Jo) taught Sunday School in the mid 60’s. One Christmas program, we had the class to march. Marie Bradley helped me with this. We lost a lot of sleep, I dreamed about it, talked in my sleep, but it was beautiful. Jr. and I played Mary and Joseph 2 years, having to memorize a lot in one program.
Junior served as Mt. Union Association Treasurer from 1968-1978, also Mt. Union’s clerk 1987-1991.
Some unusual happenings: One Sunday night service a snake came out of the flu. On a Sunday during the revival, lightning struck some people as they were coming from the cemetery to the church (Hattie Sloan had to be taken to the hospital). When Junior was small his parents put him on the back of a wagon during a night revival service. Several other children were also sleeping on the back of this wagon. Johnny Casteel came along and picked up Junior thinking it was his son, Calvin. When they all arrived home the mix-up was discovered. Also, one time after the singing had stopped, Bro. Herley Gregory and Mrs. Delmer Hall just kept on singing.
Sis. Carrie Sloan: Eulia Church has always been dear to me, although I have only been a member for about 8 years. When I was growing up I went to Eulia as much as anywhere; because church was only once a month and we went different places.
I remember clearly when I realized I was a sinner. It was at Long Creek Baptist Church when the song leader made the statement that anyone that was not a Christian could not sing Amazing Grace with it’s true meaning. It hit me so hard I almost choked. When altar call was made, I went but was not saved then, but I never missed an altar call. One night at Eulia my burden was so heavy, afraid I might die without salvation, I did not leave the altar until I made peace with my Lord and Savior precious to my soul. This night is still very clear and sweet even though it has been many, many years ago. This makes Eulia more dear to me.
The old church on the hill that sat where Westside School now sets is where I was saved. I have a lot of memories of the one-room house, the wooden benches, the water bucket and dipper, the open doors and windows used to help cool the house, and the wagon loads of people that came both far and near. We can’t forget the good Christians that filled the Amen and Awomen corners and their shouting would bring the hillside alive.
I remember teaching Sunday School at one time in the old church and the great revivals that were there. The house could not hold all the people at times. The many brothers and sisters that kept the church going are no longer in our midst. With their passing heaven grows more precious.
Bro. Forrest Brandon: Yes I did attend Eulia as a child. I remember all the good revivals and preaching of the gospel in the old-time way. An old fashion preacher was preaching when I went to the altar. Through the prayers of the old-time Christians, I found God precious to my soul. I remember the first church was where Westside School is now. The church we attend now was built in 1943. I remember too many good revivals to count them all. My advice to the future generations is to keep the mourner’s bench in the church, preach the Bible, and hold on to the old-time way.
Rev. Raymond Adcock: I was saved in July of 1950 at Leaths Chapel Methodist Church. I had been to the altar all week at revival. On Friday night, after we got home, my wife (Effie) asked if she could pray with me. We did and I was saved on Saturday morning at the service. Bro. William Rippy was doing the preaching. I united with Leaths Chapel Church and was baptized in Bledsoe Creek. On December 11, 1955 I united with Eulia Church by letter. I have always enjoyed being a member with the good folks at Eulia.
The Lord called me to preach as I was walking into Texas Boot Company where I worked in 1954. However, I did not accept the calling until 1959. I preached my first sermon at Eulia on the first Sunday in September 1959. I was ordained in 1963 at Pleasant Grove Church in Kentucky.
I remember so many good services at Eulia. I couldn’t name them all. My son Gary was saved at Eulia and my 4 grandsons; Trevor, Troy, Nathan and Griff. My daughter Jean was saved at Oak Dale. She was the first person I ever baptized. All of my children and grandchildren belong to Eulia. I was privileged to pastor Eulia Church from Fall of 1980 to 1986. 3 of my grandsons were saved here while I was pastor. I baptized all of them. I certainly enjoyed being pastor at Eulia, the people treated me so good. I will never forget them. May the good Lord bless each of you.
Sis. Effie Adcock: I went to Eulia Church when I was a child until I was a teenager and my mother died. My daddy died when I was 7 years old. So my mother brought me to church. We went to church on a wagon pulled by horses. We didn’t go on meeting days in the winter because it was so far to travel. We had to go up Phillips Hollow Hill and it always scared me to death! Sometime they would let us walk up the hill.
We always look forward to Decoration Day. One reason for this is we always got a new outfit to wear. Mama would carry flowers for our family member’s graves. She brought lunch to spread on the ground. I always looked forward to the ice cream and cokes they sold. Sometimes I got both (not often). On this day we would all walk to the Eulia Spring for water. People were everywhere walking to and from the spring.
We always went to revival at Eulia. Two or three families would go together on one wagon. We would sing on the way back home from church. One night there was a lady standing in front of her house. She stopped us and gave us a “good talking” about our singing. One lady on the wagon thanked her. (We didn’t sing any more in front of her house).
I will always remember Bro. Aubrey Sloan and Hattie singing. He would sing before preaching and after as long as anyone was on the altar. When I was small I thought only the old women sat in the Awoman corner. (I was wrong because my mama sat there and she was only in her 30’s and early 40’s). These are some I remember: Aunt Maggie Leath, Mrs. Pearl Love, Mrs. Nellie Stone, Mai Scruggs, Mrs. Ezma Scruggs, Mrs. Selma Robertson, Mrs. Delma Hall, Mrs. Pearl Brandon, Mrs. Hattie Sloan and my mother Lizzi Eden. So I decided later that some of the best women in the world sat there.
I married and moved farther away but Eulia was always my home in my mind. I was saved at Leaths Chapel Methodist Church and joined there because it was close to my home. I thank God for those good Methodist people who prayed for me. My husband got saved after that. We both joined Eulia in 1955. We have 2 children and 4 grandsons who are members here as well.
Some of my happiest years were the 6 years my husband pastored Eulia Church. Everyone was so good to us.
Sis. Agnes Harrison: I attended Eulia all my life (1931 Dec.) The old church was built in the early 1800’s or late 1700’s (I was told). The old church was on a high bank with a lot of trees. It was swayed in the middle with oil lamps on the wall and a water bucket in the corner. My dad told me that the sign for the church had the name Eulia “burned” into it. All families came to church on a wagon or buggy. Finally some got some old cars, nobody knew how to drive. Our old dog Frank came with us on the wagon and stayed until we went home. We cleaned the church for years. We hauled water on a wagon and scoured the floors. We mowed the cemetery for years with an old-time push mower. We cut around the stones with a pocket knife.
I remember our parents having a quilt on the floor for us all to sleep on when the revival was going on. I remember Hearod Robertson giving the land to build the new church. The cemetery had been there for many years, it had been there for as long as my grandmother could remember and years before that. We heated both churches with a stove and carried water for the church from the Eulia Spring.
When we lived at Aunt Maggie Leaths we all rode a 2 horse wagon to church, got stuck in a creek and had to push to help the horses get it out. We then moved to a yellow house this side of the old church (where the old rock house is now). We kept all the preachers during the revival, washed their clothes on a reef board and cooked for them. The first car my dad had was a T-model. He ran it up a bank and turned over. It nearly knocked mom’s teeth out, he had never driven a car before. The old church had low windows. One time I was up in front of the church singing with my dad. We heard my mom through the window saying “Aubrey, hand her down to me!” Well my dad informed her that I was helping him sing. Finally he did as he was told. The problem was I had on a beautiful blue satin dress. I was told to wear the matching “blue drawers” with it. Instead I wore “green drawers” with red boats. I was “flashing” the whole church. Well, I got a real spanking and I didn’t do that again.
Helen Robertson was a best friend a little older than I was. She asked me to go the altar (in the new church). I got saved on the 2nd Sunday of the revival. I joined the church and was baptized July 1946.
In order to build the new church we made quilts and sold them, cooked and sold sandwiches, and even sold chickens to help on the church. Several of us cooked for the men working on the church. I always heard that Eulia got the name after the Eulia Spring. The Eulia Community got the name from people (named Eulia) traveling there in a covered wagon from Virginia and settling here.
I have a lot of memories, too much to write. I would love to tell anyone more of these if they want to call me. Two especially fond memories were when Larry got saved and Willard joined the church. Willard and I met at a baptizing and married in 1948.
Sis. Lois Gregory: I attended Fariview Church as a child. My first memories of Eulia were going to the Decoration at the old church. People would go on wagons. The wagons would be out back of the church.
My husband, Herley Gregory and I were married in December, 1941. We attended the revival in 1942. This was my first revival at Eulia. Bro. Gee and Bro. Bledsoe (both Methodist preachers) helped Bro. Horace Jenkins in the revival. We walked out of the Love Hollow to attend the revival. Herley’s Aunt Pearl Brandon lived in the Scruggs Hollow at that time. Sometimes we would ride on a wagon with her family.
I was on the altar that year seeking the Lord but never got saved. I wasn’t saved until a few years later. Herley was called into service for World War II in December, 1942 and was in service until 1945. It was during this time that the new church was built. I stayed at Herley’s parents (Loss and Zella Gregory) part of the time. I remember when Mr. Loss was helping on the church, he would come home so tired.
At the first Conference meeting in the new church in August, 1945, Herley’s grandfather, Vester Harrison, attended the service. While walking home to Westmoreland (he lived on George Akins Rd where Larry Hammock’s home is now) he was stricken with a stroke and died the following week. His funeral was the first funeral in the new church. Our older son, Young, was born the day after his funeral.
My testimony: When I was a very small girl my mother would tell me the Bible story about Moses and when he was a baby. She told me how his mother made the ark and saved him from being killed. The day the Lord saved my soul Bro. Charlie Alexander preached on Moses leading the children of Israel across the Red Sea.
I was gloriously saved at Fairview, July 26, 1949. I got up early that morning, walked out on the little side porch of our home and looked down across the field. It was a day that I won’t ever forget. I felt like everybody was going to Heaven but me. I loved my family so much and I was on my way to hell. Herley and I left our two little boys (Young and Carl) with my sister, Jean, and grandfather, Jim Cook. We went to church; I was so troubled. I went to the altar when the invitation was given. I sat on the mourner’s bench still not getting saved, not until Sis. Georgie Williamson said, “Lois, do what ever the Lord wants you to do.” I stood up on my feet and at that moment I put all my trust in Jesus. The next thing that I knew I was hugging Mrs. Lucy Hammock’s neck. My Uncle Oakley and Aunt Octavia Cook had gone on from church to my home but they didn’t tell my grandfather what had happened. They waited for me to tell him. What a happy day it was!
I joined Eulia Church five years later on the creek bank at Epperson Springs at the annual baptizing. I was baptized by Bro. Woodrow Gregory.
I remember when my children were small, the Sunday School teachers would teach them around the stove at church. I remember the years that my husband was Sunday School teacher and the hours that he would spend preparing to teach the class. I remember his devotion to the church. I remember him telling of promising the Lord if he would let him return home from World War II that he would faithfully attend church. He kept that promise because he rarely missed a church service.
Herley was ordained a deacon September, 1954 under the tent at Pleasant Hill. Embrey Cook, Willie Brandon, and Raymond Moore were ordained from the church at the same time. Bro. Joe Powell preached the ordination sermon.
Herley and I played the part of Joseph and Mary in the Christmas play the Christmas that our boys were both in Vietnam. I have many memories of revivals. Most of all I remember the Sunday night that 8 were saved. One of them, my son Carl was down between the seats in the A-men corner. The Sunday night singing in which our grandson, William, was saved. I remember how happy Herley was because his prayer had been for the Lord to let him live to see William saved. Other memories: (1) Young and Carl joining the church and being baptized. Bro. Horace Jenkins baptized Young and Bro. Haskel Akins baptized Carl. (2) The Sunday that our service started before Sunday School classes met and never broke up until afternoon. (3) Bro. Carl Hall preaching and walking the back of the seats to the back of the house. (4) Mrs. Pearl Love and Sis. Bea Keen getting happy and shouting and dancing together in the altar area. They seemed to be as light as feathers as they danced. (5) Bro. Dolan Pruitt coming to conference and spending the night with members. He spent the night with us. (6) Bro. Sam Taylor singing “Wayfaring Pilgrim.” (7) Sis. Delma Hall singing “Royal Telephone.” (8) Bro. Aubrey and Sis. Hattie Sloan singing. (9) Bro. Dewey Hammock on the front seat and singing during the revival. (10) Sis. Nellie Stone and her testimonies. (11) Sis. Maggie Leath coming to church and being led because she was blind. (12) Bro. Hobart Cook wanting the parking lot paved around the church and asking the children to bring their pennies so that they would feel that they had a part in it. I have always remembered something Bro. Cook would say. “If you don’t know if doing something is right or wrong; don’t do it. If you have a question about it, it’s wrong.”
I remember Bro. Aubrey Sloans’s testimony of the time that the Lord saved him. He lived in the Sullivan Hollow at the time and he and Mrs. Hattie would walk out of the Sullivan Hollow and up the Love Hollow and out to the revival. He told of the night that he got saved about him and Mrs. Hattie walking back home carrying Wilford and how bright and beautiful the stars were. The next morning he was helping someone top tobacco and that he was still so happy from being saved that he was tearing up more tobacco than he was topping. The person that he was helping told him to get out of the tobacco patch and go back to church. As he walked out of the Hollow to church, he told everyone that he saw about the Lord saving him. One of those that he saw was my grandmother, Nancy Cook. She was in the garden by the road gravelling new potatoes. He said that when he told her, she threw her pan of potatoes in the air and ran and hugged him.
One funny thing that I remember was the time that Herley forgot and went home from service and left me at the church. Someone carried me home, I believed it was Jerry Stone. Herley’s reply to someone when they asked him about it was “The Lord said bring your troubles to me and leave them and that is what I did!”
Sis. Gertie White: When I was a child my daddy was a share cropper and we moved around a lot. I remember us walking and going to church at Siloam. We finally moved close to the church there at Siloam. We would also go to other churches. A bunch of us would get together and go to revivals on a two horse wagon. We went to Eulia, New Zion, Rocky Mound, Fairview, New Hope, Buffalo Springs and they would have Grove Meetings. I remember one they had across the road in a Grove of trees where it was shady, across the road from Hortense Overton. It came up a cloud and everybody had to go home. We just barely made it before it hit. I think that was a sanctified preacher.
In later years we moved where Goldie Meador lives and we went to Eulia in the old church. They had to get their water from the Eulia Spring down the road from the church, which was destroyed when the highway was put through there. You had to go up several steps to the front door. One thing that stands out in my mind is a revival one year and they had a lady preacher by the name of Sis. Butcher. My daddy (Aubrey Lyle) got saved, not at church, but during the revival. He was on his way to my sister’s house when he got saved. There were several saved that year.
We moved to Sumner County we were closer Siloam and we went to Siloam. I was going there when I got saved. By then I had gotten married in 1938. In 1939 or 1940, during the revival at Siloam, I got saved. One night Douglas Curtis, 10 years old, got saved and he came and climbed up on a seat beside me and got me around the neck and that tore me all to pieces. I hadn’t been saved. That night I couldn’t sleep and I prayed all night. The next morning I was washing dishes and praying and all at once the burden left me and when I came to myself I was singing to the top of my voice “Lord, I’m Coming Home.” The next day when I went to church a Thompson man was leading the singing and he was singing that song. Ora Lambert was sitting in the amen corner and I was singing. He got up and came back to me and said,”Gerite have you got saved?” I guess he could tell that something had happened. It’s good to be saved in church but the Lord will save where ever you are when you trust Him and turn everything over to Him. I didn’t join the church until 1960. Bro. Haskell Akin baptized me. He was our pastor at Eulia at that time.
I have read in the General Baptist History where Eulia had their first meeting in 1875 in an old school house and the church was built in 1875.
I taught Sunday School. I don’t remember if it was called primary class, anyway the children were small. It was in the main part of the church and then in the new part. I am now in the Bible class.
Bro. Willard Harrison: I did not attend Eulia as a child, I attended Siloam Missionary Baptist Church. I started attending part time while Agnes and I were going together, about 1947. After we married, June 4, 1948, we atarted attending both Eulia and Siloam on a part time basis. I believe Siloam was on quarter time with no Sunday School at that time. Eulia was on half time with Sunday School. When our son Larry James reached an accountable age he was saved at Eulia during a regular July revival. He did not join a church anywhere for some time, I figured because his mom belonged to Eulia and his dad Siloam at this time, may have had some bearing on his decision in this matter.
I started going to an altar of prayer during Siloam’s August revival when I was about 12-13 years old. I was not under conviction to start with. I was invited by other people and I felt it was the right thing to do. In the summer of about 1946 my dad, Wiseman Harrison, along with others was working on the Siloam Church building. He said I could come along with him and help to carry mortar, bricks, etc. I was about 15 years old by this time. Then, the yearly revival started on the 1st Sunday night of August as it had done for as long as I can remember.
Conviction was in my heart, but they would go to about Wednesday day service before starting to invite people to the altar (morner’s bench) as they called it then. How I wanted to go to the altar before then is hard to describe now. But the traditions were something we were taught to keep. I had not been on the altar too long on this day, when Bro. Floyd Lambert came over to me. He may have sat down on the seat by me, where he began to talk to me. He said, “Son you have been coming to this altar for a long time, do you believe the Lord is going to save you?” and I said, “Yes!” Then he said, “When do you believe he is going to save you?” I said, “Right now.” That was the very moment I believed. The next thing I remember, I was upon my feet praising the Lord and hugging and being hugged by those around me.
I especially remember these two older brethern (Christians), Hamp McKinney (General Baptist) and Walter Cothran (Missionary Baptist) who had been praying on each side of me. Neither one was handsome in this life, but after the Lord picked me up off this altar, they were two of the prettiest faces along with a lot of other people that I had ever seen at this time. As I write this testimony, I am 68 years old, but I remember it as if it was yesterday. Many things have come and gone, many I don’t remember about. But, to who ever may read this, (it may be after God has called me home from this life), folks this spiritual birth is what I am depending on to carry my soul back to God who gave it.
I remember my dad talking at home about helping to work on this building. I do not remember what type of work that he did as he was a carpenter and painter.
Being a Sunday School Teacher has occupied many of my Christian years, somewhere near 40 years. In my younger life I was Sunday School Superintendent of Eulia Sunday School I don’t remember how long, maybe a couple of years. In the years of trying to teach I have had every class level except the smallest ones. My thought on teaching leads me to believe if you plan to teach anything you have to study. In my later years, I find it harder to be pleased with the amount of time used in the study of God’s word and am only pleased when I feel confident that God puts His stamp of approval upon our efforts. In my prayers I ask God to help all teachers of God’s Word to give us more knowledge to understand better, that we might say those things that nee to be brought out, and leave all others off.
There are many people through the years that I have fond memories of that attended Eulia Church who have now gone on to their rewards. I won’t try to name any one person for fear of leaving someone out. The people that I will mention something about in their memory is my dear departed in-laws, Bro. Aubrey and Sis. Hattie Sloan, who were acitve, dedicated, loving members of Eulia church all of their Christian lives. Bro. Sloan was an outspoken person as a deacon, teacher, song leader, or whatever position he held. always giving his opinion in an outright manner, guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, without fear of man.
The majority of the time if it was a matter that could be discussed by the whole church, Bro. Sloan would say,”Let the church vote on it.” My prayer would be that our church would continue to operate along these lines. The Word of God teaches us to do those things that would be the best for the whole body of believers and not ourselves only. Bro. and Sis. Sloan sung for revivals, funerals, etc. many times taking off from their jobs for some people they hardly knew. Because there was a need they took care of it. We believe that those deeds done in our bodies will be rewarded in Heaven. So says the Word of God. It is very easy to forget the Saints of God when they depart this life.
Whether you are a young person who has not reached the age to understand being lost, or an older person who has just put off seeking the Lord as your Savior, the Word of God says, “We must be born again by a spiritual birth.” After this we should follow the Lord Jesus in baptism, to show the world that we have had a spiritual birth, and have started a new way of life. As we progress in our Christian Faith we should find a church to attend as this will help us to grow in our faith and help prepare us to be ready for th problems on life that are sure to come. God does not promise us a problem free lifd, but by studying of His Word, fellowship with other Christians, learning to work for the Lord in helping owther people His love will prepare us to endure whatever problems that come our way.
Bro. Hilton and Sis. Willie Mai Scruggs: We did not attend Eulia as children, only at revivals. We attended other churches at revivals, too. In 1951, we started more regular.
Testimony: We had gone to the altar for years. Hilton was saved first. Finally I repented. We remember going to the old church. We remember when the present church was built. My grandmother’s funeral was there in the new building in August 1945.
In the 60’s I was a Sunday School teacher. Hilton was ordained as a deacon in Sept. 1958. We always enjoyed the Christmas programs. All of our children and 3 of our grandchildren have been saved at this church, one was saved at home. Now 3 of our “great” grandchildren have been saved here at the church. These are our great memories.
Ms. Clemmie Brandon: I did not go to church much as a child. My mother died when I was a little girl. We lived too far from church to walk and go. What little I went was after I was a teenage girl. I would go with some of our neighbors on a wagon to Missionary Baptist Churches; Fairview and Cedar Bluff. But one night I went to Eulia at the old church and people were shouting all over the church.
I started going to Eulia about 1943 or 1944. As time went on I started going more often. On Thursday night of the revival in 1952 I made peace with God and joined the church and have been going since then.
As far as I know Eulia has occupied two churches but as to how it got its name, I do not know. I have memories of old people that have gone on to rest and some of them that have meant so much to me, and revivals and especially the one when I was saved.
Sis. Mary Stone: I did not attend Eulia church as a child. There was not a church near us, and as transportation was difficult for us, we did not attend any church regular. We usually attended some of the revivals (riding there on a two-horse wagon).
I was saved at one of these revivals at Rocky Mound Missionary Baptist Church. Back then, denomination didn’t seem to be such a big issue, especially during the revivals. The people were eager to pray and work with any sinner, as if they were one of their own. My family then moved and I attended New Zion General Baptist Church for a few years. I joined Eulia Church July 1946. The baptizing was in Trammel Creek in the Epperson Springs Community. A man from that community by the name of Lee Livingston had a silent movie camera. He filmed the baptizing. When they put me under (Rev. Dolan Pruitt-pastor) my feet came up. An old saying was “If your feet came up, you would not hold out.” I took a lot of joking about that, but after 53 years, I am still on the road.
I can remember the old church on the hill, where Westside Elementary School is located now. I didn’t go there many times. Since I’ve been a member here, I’ve seen some changes. There was only one large room, with a pot-bellied stove on the a-woman side. When the weather was cold, everyone gathered around near the stove during service. I remember Mr. Odie and Mrs. Selma Robertson being custodians. They got paid $5.00 per month for cleaning the church and building a fire when it was needed. There was a lot of funerals at the church then, as the funeral homes didn’t have a chapel and the families carried the bodies home for visitation till time for the funeral.
We had two sermons a month. One, on Saturday afternoon before the 2nd Sunday in the month at 2:00 p.m. This was also the conference to take care of the church’s business. Then, the following day we had another sermon at 11:00 a.m. No Sunday School. We took advantage of the extra time on Sundays to visit other churches or sick friends.
I have been privileged to sing in gospel groups with other members of this church for a number of years. I intend to be a member of this church for the remainder of my life. Our only daughter, Barbara Blankenship and her family are members here also.
Bro. Hillis Stone: I attended Eulia church as a child. The first pastor I remember was named Bob Lewis. He had big hands. I very well remember how he would point that big fore-finger when he really got in the spirit. My family attended services in the old church on the hill, before the present one was built. We had an a-man and a-woman corner on opposite sides of the house. That is in the area next to the pulpit where the seats are turned facing each other. Mostly older people occupied these pews. On the women’s side the benches didn’t go all the way to the wall, leaving a space in the corner. During revivals, someone would spread a quilt in this space, on the floor. All the small children that went to sleep was laid on the pallet. Who knows, maybe some of us got swapped (no, just joking). If the spirit was moving in a big way and someone was shouting toward the corner, people would gently guide them in another direction.
For a lot of people the only means of transportation was a two horse wagon. One family would leave home and gather up neighbors on the way till the wagon was filled with people. I’ve seen people start shouting as the wagon pulled up on the church yard, as though it was “holy ground,” even before the man got his team hitched.
I remember a young preacher came to help in the revival, I don’t know his name. It was during World War II, he had received notice to report for duty. He said his text was “The Holy Bible”. He never opened his Bible, but he really preached a spiritual sermon. When the old church was torn down, we took off the roof and some other things, and I hitched a team of horses to one corner and pulled it down.
The present church was built in 1943. The main carpenters were Joe Mays and his son-in-law Ethredge Dotson. They had others helping. The brick layers were a Mr. Crowder and his son. A lot of volunteer work was donated by members of the church and people in the community. The land was donated by Mr. Herrod Robertson. Moving the site of the church was a lot better, as the old church was about 2/10 of a mile from the cemetery and the new church yard joins it.
The first funeral was help before the building was completed. It was the funeral of Mr. Vester Harrison. He was a member of the building committee. The building was not completed in time for the revival to be held at regular time. (Beginning the 2nd Sunday night in July). So it was held later, September, I think. the Lord save me during this revival.
As a child, my family often visited other churches especially during revivals. The one we attended most was Mt. Pisgah Methodist Church, which was also located in our community. Then when revival time came, the members there came and helped us at Eulia. I married my wife, Mary Simmons, on May 1946. We joined the church in July of that year and was baptized together with several others being baptized with us. Over the years I have served as Sunday School Superintendent, and on different occasions, have taught the adult class, of which I still remain the substitute teacher. I was ordained to serve as a deacon in 1987. I am proud to be a member of this body, and expect to be a part of it the remainder of my life.
Sis. Betty Haskins: I have attended Eulia Church all my life. I have many memories of this church, but I guess the best memory was when the Lord saved me. The Lord saved me when I was fifteen years old during the revival. I can barely remember when the old church was where Westside school is now. But, yes, I can remember when this building was built. We have had many wonderful Sunday School teachers, deacons, and pastors. I loved them all and I think we have had some of the best Christmas programs anywhere.
Bro. Gene Haskins:I did not attend Eulia as a child. I attended Oak Dale General Baptist Church. I started going some to Eulia around 1951. I joined Eulia in 1956. I got saved in 1946 at Oak Dale General Baptist Church. Bor. Floyd Freeman was the pastor and Bro. Raymond Woods was helping in the revival. I don’t remember when this church was built. However, I did help build the additions of the Sunday School rooms and the front restrooms. I was ordained as a deacon in September 1974. I remember during a Christmas program in the late 1960’s a group of men were in the basement waiting to go to the front of the church to enter. (They were playing wisemen and shepherds.) It was raining and they were running to get around to the front. The ground was slick and Bro. W.L. Meador slid down and in under a car