Contributed by: Sheri Bartlett Gordon, JUN 1999
as taken from the Clear Springs Baptist Church 1977/78 Homecoming Program
( Note from typist, Sheri Bartlett Gordon: I have typed the program just as written. In spots that I could not read perfectly I have inserted what I think it says in ( ). If you have any questions or comments please let me know. )
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall
not want.
He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures; he leadeth me beside
the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; he leadeth
me in the paths of righteousness for
his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy
rod and they staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies: thou
annointest my head with oil, my cup
runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life: and
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
CLEAR SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH
56TH HOMECOMING
October 1977-October 1978
October 8, 1978
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
Song 259.......................................................’The Bond of
Love’
Prayer....................................................................Hinton
Smith
Song Green Book 22..........................’The Lord is My
Shepherd’
Welcome & Recognitions..........................................Jodie
Smith
Song 66...................................’There Is a Name I Love To
Hear’
Song 254...............................’Leaning on the Everlasting
Arms’
Dedication & Memorials.........................................Hinton
Smith
CSBC Choir Special............................’We’ll Never Say
Good-by’
CSBC Youth Special...........................’Rejoice, the Lord is
King’
CSBC Children Special.....................................Jericho and
Noah
Recognition of Honored Families........................Inez
McCollough
Song 165...........................................................’Amazing
Grace’
Offertory - 213......................’Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead
Us’
Special Music......................................................Leonard
Thorn
Introduction of Speaker.........................................Hinton
Smith
Message................................................Bro. Herbert
Summerlin
Invitation - 187...................................................’Just As I Am’
1978 HOMECOMING COMMITTEE
Inez McCollough
Hinton & Jodie Smith
Many thanks go to Gracie Adkison, Rose Haile, and
Betty O’Sheilds for their assistance in composing the
material contained in this program.
We extend special thanks to Sue and Leonard Thorn,
and Bro. Herbert Summerlin for their services during
today’s activities. We thank God for these people who
are so dedicated to the Lord’s services for their
graciousness for helping make our 56th Homecoming a
Special Day for the Lord.
FAMILIES HONORED AT HOMECOMING AT CLEAR
SPRINGS
1974 Brunson Family
1975 Harrison Family
1976 Grimes and Nall Families
1977 Lancaster, Cox, and Royal Families
1978 Summerlin and Radney Families
As most of you remember, in 1974, we started honoring
pioneer families of this church at Homecoming. Keeping this
custom going this year we’re honoring two more fine old
families, the Radneys and the Summerlins that have
contributed as much to this church and community.
The Radney family is one of our distinguished groups
today. John Radney and his wife, Eugene moved to Florida in
1919 and into the Clear Springs Community in 1929. They
lived on the Mike Lurie place, which is near William Worley’s
house.
The Radneys joined others in the community in attending
Sunday School and worship services at the Clear Springs
School in the afternoon. As different preachers were gracious
enough to come to help us, the services were held in the
afternoon so they could continue with their own church work.
The Radneys had a large family of nine children: Alma,
Sallie, Shelley, Clyde, Johnny Mae, Lousie, Willie Earl, McDonal
and Jessie. The only two to make the move to Clear Springs
with their parents were McDonald and Jessie.
As work started on the church building, Mr. Radney and
McDonald helped the other men and women of the community
to erect their much needed and wanted church. The work was
completed in 1922 and was established as a mission of
Florala First Baptist Church and remained a mission until
1936.
In 1923, under the leadership of Bro. Eiler, many new
converts were added to those that were members while the
church was still meeting in the school building. Among those
that were baptized in the school were Mr. Radney and
McDonald. Mrs. Radney joined by letter and was a very active
member teaching Sunday School and seeing that her family was
in their proper place of worship on Sunday.
In September of 1925, McDonald and Lu(l)a Gaoghagen
were married and were blessed with ten children, nine of which
are still living: Alcus, Alva, Johnny, Betty, twins Jacquelyn and
Josephine, James, Sarah and Peggy. They are presently living
in Lockhart.
Jessie Radney, the other child to move to Clear Springs
along with his parents never married and moved away to the
big state of Texas.
The other family members moved from the community and
church after living here around three or four years. It was while
Mr. and Mrs. Radney were living in Alabama that they went on
to be with the Lord.
Quitman (Babe) Summerlin, came to Florala in 1920 from
Holmes County, Florida, about six miles from Darlington with
his wife, the former Lottie Ann Powell and one of their six
children, John (Boy). They moved into the old Sellars home in
Florala. However, he was farming the Jerry Holloway place in
the Clear Springs Community. Living in town and farming some
distance away made it necessary to pass daily the CSBC then
being built. Mr. Summerlin and John would often stop to help
in the construction of the building. They then began attending
services. However, Babe and Lottie did not move their letters
of membership from the Hurricane Creek Baptist Church in
Holmes County. In 1936, John moved his letter to CSBC.
In 1922, the family moved onto the Holloway farm and
then later to the George Whittington place where Mrs.
Summerlin died in 1927.
Children in order of age: Mary married Quit Vaughn and
had ten children. We do not have much information on them.
Hester lived with her grandparents for some time after she was
grown. Vera later stayed with Charlie.
Dan married Mollie Powell and had four children: Pearl,
Cleo, Jewell and James Herbert. They later moved to Florala
and visited the Clear Springs Church. We are pleased to have
Herbert with us today as our guest speaker for the morning
service.
Walter came out of service and visited his parents, in
about 1923. He later married Spicey Cooper of Salem, North
Carolina and had four children: Mary Ann, Pauline, Lorraine
and Clyde. They moved to Clear Springs in 1930 and built the
house where the Brewers now live. They joined the Clear
Springs Baptist Church until 1939 at which time they moved to
North Carolina. While there, Spicey was pianist along with Mrs.
Brunson. She also taught Sunday School. Walter was a quiet
man but always there to do his part.
Louella (Doll) married Will Fleming of Holmes County and
had five children. We have no information on them. Doll lives
in Virginia.
John (Boy) lived with his parents during their lifetime and
with various relatives since. John lived with Charlie until his
death. He now resides with his nephew, Rufus Vaughn near
Tallahassee, Florida. John (Boy) was 81 years young on
October 4, 1978. He was a man who loves the Lord and whom
we all love and miss here at Clear Springs.
Charlie married Annie Mae Gavin of Esto, Florida and had
five children: Wilson, James, Lottie V., Wayburn and Carl.
They moved to Clear Springs in 1936 between the Whittington
and Brunson homesteads. After Walter and Spicey left, they
moved into their home until they built their own home near the
church which is where Mae now lives. (Pa) Summerlin lived
with his son, Charlie until his death in 1934.
Charlie and Mae joined Clear Springs Baptist Church on
November 2, 1938. Charlie was ordained a Deacon in 1959.
He and Mae were good workers and supporters of the church
for several years. Charlie passed away on March 6, 1976.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST YEAR
After a very busy and productive time in 1975-1977,
remodeling the Sanctuary and making necessary changes and
repairs, purchasing the new piano and windows, we decided we
should be a little conservative for a while and try to build up
our financial reserve.
Nevertheless, we are proud of our overall
accomplishments during the year and we wish to share some of
the highlights with you in this program.
We started off the new church year on October 1, 1977
with a full slate of teachers and officers, each with a positive
attitude and an optimistic view toward the future. They went to
work to engage in active service for Christ which proved to be
fruitful.
Sunday, October 9, with Rose (H)aile, Bessie Harrison and
Lovie Morgan as program leaders, we enjoyed a wonderful
Homecoming time with the Lancaster, Cox, and Royal families
as our honored pioneer group. Sallie Mae Fountain received
special recognition, as one of our dedicated members, now in
feeble health.
We are still on a solid schedule of worship on each Lord’s
Day: Sunday School, Church Training and Preaching both
morning and night. We’re proud to say midweek prayer
service is still in progress.
We are striving to become better informed by having study
courses as regular as we can, as well as individual study at
home. Two years in a row we were awarded a trophy and
recognized at the Associational Church Training Rally as being
the church who had the second most study courses in the area.
Our WMU as a whole was active until recently and the
Church met it’s goal for offerings to send to Foreign and Home
Missions during the two separate WEEK OF PRAYER sessions.
The good Lord granted us some growth during the year;
seven came for baptism and five by letter. However, in the
atmosphere of joy over the increase, we must express our
sorrow for the three who left us by letter to other churches, and
our grief is strong over losing two of our faithful members by
death. Through the win and lose process we are gratified with
a total gain of seven new members.
In November we sent our Pastor to the Florida State
Convention held in St. Petersburg.
Christmas was a gay and colorful occasion in our church
as Jodie Smith directed one of the best Christmas programs we
ever had.
In February we employed the services of Ronald Grooms
As our Youth Director for a trial period of four months. Under
Ronald’s leadership and preaching to the youth there was an
average of 16 who met for services downstairs. This proved to
be a huge success but, at the end of May we had to bid Ronald
farewell as he left us to return to his home in South Carolina.
April 2-5, we were privileged to participate to four nights
of World Missions Conference, with a different missionary
speaking to us each night. We were awakened to the needs of
many countries who are less fortunate than we and inspired to
contribute more to mission work.
April 9 was our SPRING ALL DAY GATHERING with
dinner and lots of good singing. Approximately 115 took part
in the pleasant day.
Christian people create ways to be together. We are
fortunate to have superb teamwork and cooperation among our
members. On several occasions during the year we had
fellowship gatherings. Hot-dog, marshmallow roasts, hay
rides, peanut boiling, ice cream, watermelon cuttings and a
barbeque on the church grounds. These are some of the great
socials we have shared with our fellow Christians.
Our purchase during the year were; a beautiful lamp for
the new piano, a glass panel to protect the top of the piano and
communion table, linen cloths for the communtion table,
chalkboards for all Sunday School rooms and an IBM typewriter
for the office.
July 17, Pastor Williams was hospitalized with a bad back
and three days later he underwent spinal surgery. He is
recovering very well but will be restricted from all activities for
at least three months. Considering this time period, he felt that
it was unfair to the church for him to be absent that long.
Therefore, he wrote a letter of resignation and suggested we
should start immediately to seek another shepherd.
We express our appreciation for his three years and three
months of faithful service and leadership to our church and
community. We also want to express our deep appreciation for
his wife’s support. Nancy was a special blessing to all and
shared the work of the Lord with her husband.
Our praise goes to God for another HOMECOMING DY AT
CLEAR SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH.
We’re glad YOU are here. As members of CSBC, we covat
your prayers all during the year and look forward to seeing you
again real soon.
IN MEMORIAM
Where Is the Heart That Doth Not Keep
Within Its Inmost Core
Some Fond Remembrance Hidden Deep
Of Days That Are No More!
Ellen Clementine Howarth
Dimple Worley, March 12, 1978
Monie Brunson, June 25, 1978
Alva Skinner, July 2, 1978
IN LOVING MEMORY OF DIMPLE WORLEY
who died in the Opp Mizell Memorial Hospital on March 12,
1978. Buried in the Worley Family Plot adjoining the Clear
Springs Cemetery.
She was the widow of Hardy Worley, who preceded her in
death 15 years. She is survived by two sons, one daughter and
seven grandchildren.
She shared life in this community over forty years; sharing
the joys and sorrows, she stood ready to help in any crises,
expressing her humble kindness to all humanity.
Dimple was a member of this church 19 years and four
months. There was a constant (fel)ling of the omnipresence of
God that gave her a daily confidence and a faith that enabled
her to carry on even under difficult health problems.
She was blessed with a valuable asset, the grace to bear
adversity with a smile. She was cheerful and bouyant no matter
how rough the path. Many of us have been blessed by her
positive attitude and optimistic views revealing a depth of
conscience and compassion; unassuming and expendable as a
soldier in battle.
Sunshine and hope was brought to these paths that
crossed hers and during her darkest hours of life she could
draw on the strength, support and love of her family and
friends.
Our grief is easier to bear when we reminise and
enumerate the good qualities of a loved one such as Dimple
who was a good neighbor and an excellent cook.
Her delicasies that was enjoyed during fellowship meals
and homecoming dinners such as her fried apple tarts, chicken
and dumplings and banana puddings will forever be
remembered. How people would rush up to the table to grab
her tarts before they were all eaten.
She was a warm and affectionate hostess and took pride
in her assignments: exemplifying the energy and bold
character of the American people.
Dimple has carved a niche for herself in this community
and nothing can take our memories away of her radiant smile
and gentle voice: her encouragment in times of struggle.
The kind n(o)rse of death has removed her from her
earthly duties and suffering. She no longer is seen in her pew
at the eleven o’clock hour on Sunday. We miss her physical
presence here and at Dimple’s store where she worked for
almost forty years and always had a pleasant greeting for
everyone who stopped in, whether it was to purchase something
or to just sit and talk.
We believe Dimple died in happy expectation of a glorious
inmortality and we look forward to the feel of the sleep of her
cordial handshake when we enter the place called Heaven.
To the family we say; “ May God in His enternal love hear
your every prayer and strengthen and sustain you throughout
your sorrow.”
AMEN
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MONA BRUNSON
who died June 25, 1978 in Gainsville, Florida hospital
after a lengthy illness. She was 87 years olf. Her internment is
in the Clear Springs Cemetary.
She was the widow of Mose Brunson, who preceded her in
death 25 years. She is survived by fine sons, four daughters
and numerour grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Out of the clouds of sorrow which overshadowed us by her
death, and as we look throughout memories, there are moments
which will grow brighter and sweeter as time steals away.
Thinking of our departed friend, one word comes to mind:
indomitable. Some of us knew Mrs. Brunson well when we
were growing up with her ten children during the grim
depression. The way she won this trial, never complaining one
can’t imagine her ever being defeated. She was a victorious
person even in death.
One of the most outstanding things to remember about her
was her high standart of right and wrong. Always willing to go
the second mile for her friends and neighbors. She encouraged
her children to have faith in life and to live for Christ and trust
Him to help them accomplish their goals in life.
Our admiration and respect for this fine lady has
continuted to grow throughout the years. A lasting bond of
friendship was forged in the CSBC and community. She helped
to establish our church in the early 20’s and was a part of our
team for 32 years. She was a charter member and was never
found lacking in a spirit of cooperation, whatever the task, she
performed it well.
The great joy of her life has been the opportunity to teach
God’s word. She exercised her stewardship responsibilities
and with the Bible as her namual, and the Holy Spirit as her
strength, she majored on the saving and keeping power of God
and tried to instill in her class members a love of God’s Holy
Word.
We’ve been blessed in this church by her beautiful
example of Christian strength and her untiring selfsacrificing
neighborliness. Her life was interwoven in the life and need of
others. After moving away from Clear Springs to Gainsville 25
years ago, she never forgot us with her prays and finacial
support. Even to this day we feel the power and infulence of
her dear soul.
We at Clear Springs cannot look forward to seeing her at
iyr Church Homecoming again, but we can prepare to meet her
at the Great Homecoming in the sky where we can once again
embrace her.
Her task was completed: her prayers were offered in the
evening of old age, life’s sun has slipped behind the horizon of
earthly things but the fruits of her labor will live on.
AMEN
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF DEACON ALVA SKINNER
who died in the Opp Mizell Memorial Hospital July 2,
1978 at the age of 71 1/2 years. His remains are deposited in
the Clear Springs Cemetary. He is survived by his wife, Nellie,
one daughter and one son and two grandsons.
Alva was born December 20, 1906 in Dade County,
Alabama. When he was 15, the Skinners moved to Paxton. Mr.
Skinner was a farmer. Alva soon obtained a job with the
Franklin-Ferguson Shirt Factory in Florala and worked there in
different capacities until he retired.
September 23, 1933, Alva married Nellie Fay Nall
daughter of Bunnie and Peralie Nall of the Clear Springs
Community. They soon would have lived together for 45 years.
As we look through our memories today, let us gather up
some characteristics in the life of this man who rendered
valuable selfsacrificing service to our church and to the
community.
Alva joined the Clear Springs Baptist Church in 1959.
After receiving salvation, he struggled toward the goal that is
the cross: the goal of love, of unselfishness, of a life nobley
lived.
At the call of the church he was set apart and ordained
into the Deanconship in 1962: faithfully fulfilling his
assignments and giving lierally of his time and money to help
worthy causes.
Alva was a small man in statue but God made him
wondrously large. He stood tall among friends and neighbors.
He had a zest for living which helped him have an optimistic
spirit, filled with a deep humility and love for those with whom
he worked.
It must be recorded that Alva had a unique sense of
humor: was sensitive to what was going on around him: never
cared for popularity; was expecially gifted at making friends;
was never afraid to take a stand on moral issues; took every
situation in stride because of his assurance that everything in
part of a devine plan and he trusted his creator.
Alva was a lover of music, fond of flowers and enjoyed
bird watching. Spring held a special spell for him as the earth
bounced back into life after the dormant period of wintertime.
He was adept at encouraging young people to use their
special talents to the glory of God.
His last days were a season of protracted suffering but in
spite of many setbacks in health, he would spring back with
enthusiam and zealously pick up where he left off, with fresh
ideas to carry on with peace of God’s promise in his heart.
Eventually, however, he was weakened down physically in a
battle with bronchitis and had to give up most of his activities
but he continued to attend church regularly right up to the last
few days of life.
He was a staunch mason, a useful citizen, a tender and
loving parent, husband and friend and a wise counsellor. Alva
was known by these virtues throughout his ability and
dedication.
Let us rejoice for his past life and be glad for the present.
To his wife and children whose love and understanding
sustained him, we offer our sincere condolences. Trusting they
will find comfort in the realization that death is sometimes a
merciful release from suffering and misery; the beginning of
everlasting peace.
AMEN
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