YOUNG HARRIS MH,IOIUAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

January 3, 1909 January 3, 1984

More than seventy-five years ago a group of Christian Men and Women were holding Sunday School on Sunday afternoons in an old abandoned ware­house or in their homes. There was no church in the Western Sector of Athens.

They decided there should be a church built.

Reverend Joe Y. Dunaway offered to give the group a lot ,on the east~rn

corner of Chase Street and Nantahala Avenue for the location of the church. Reverend Dunaway asked that the church be named Young Harris in honor of Judge Young L. G. Harris, a christian layman who had befriended him during his college career. His offer was accepted.

Miss Nola Mae Dunaway, daughter of Reverend Dunaway, visits Young Harris often.

Young Harris Hemorial Methodist Church was organized on January 3, 1909 with 112 charter members. One of those members, Miss Rosa Lee Prater, is still active in the Church today.

Four descendents of the founders of Young Harris are still active in many phases of the Church. They are Mrs. Cora Lee Conway Pendergrass, Miss Rosa Lee Prater, Miss Susie Prater and Miss Odessa Williamson.

On October 17, 1910 Bishop Warren A. Candler dedicated Young Harris Memorial Methodist Church; free of debt.

In 1911 the parsonage was built at 685 Boulevard.

In December 1912 the church was moved to the corner of Chase and Boulevard, at that time one of the most beautiful locations in Athens, Georgia.

The church membership continued to grow so in 1922 the square wooden building was remodeled under the direction of Reverend George Acree. Across the front was a pulpit with choir loft behind. A pastor's study on one side and a classroom on the other. A balcony on either side wall held ten class­rooms.

More room was needed so in 1930 an addition to the rear of the sanctuary was built and named Cobb Lampkin Annex in honor of one of the charter members.

Mr. Eustace Lampkin (son of Mr. Cobb Lampkin) became aware that the church property was in need of repairs and remodeling to accomodate the church's needs. He gave $10,000 to cover the repairs. The official board thought it unwise to spend a large amount of money on the wooden buildings. The church membership had grown, the lot was small and there was no room for parking.

The board sold the property on Boulevard and purchased Judge E. K. Lumpkin's home on Prince Avenue. It was in the parlor of this home that the First Garden Club of America was organized in 1891.

On January 1, 1946 the quarterly conference appointed a building committee: Mr. F. G. Bell, Chairman; Paul Saye; Hubert Bell; Francis Jackson; Hershel Stone; Robert Lesrer; Julius Bishop; Robert Stone; and Curtis Stephens.

The Lumpkin home was remodeled and renovated - consisting of a sanctuary, and permanent sunday school classrooms, kitchen and restrooms.

On May 5, 1946 the building was dedicated by Reverend Horace Smith, District Superintendent.

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September 15, 1946 Reverend R. J. Kerr dedicated the new ten room brick parsonage located at the rear of the Sunday School Building facing Prince Place.

On April 20, 1947, the new unit of the Church School was named the Cobb Lampkin Building.

January 12, 1949 ground breaking for the new sanctuary was held.

On October 16, 1949 the first service in the new sanctuary was held. The sanctuary was equipped with pulpit furniture, theater seats, carpet and an electric organ.

The Church was dedicated by Bishop Arthur J. ~Ioore on February 27, 1955. District Superintendent J. Clyde Calloway presided and Mr. Fred G. Bell presented the debt free church to the Bishop.

Construction on the connecting unit between the sanctuary and the Cobb Lampkin Building was begun on March 21, 1955. The building was to be named The Fred G. Bell Education Building. Mr. Bell had been a faithful member of Young Harris Church since March 4, 1909.

The building committee for this unit was Julius Bishop, Chairman; Fred G. Bell; Paul Saye; E. D. Flanagan; Till Huston; and Mrs. Curtis Doster.

The structure was opened for use on January 20, 1957.

On April 21, 1963 the entire church was air conditioned for the first time.

A public address system was installed on August 4, 1968. This was a gift from ~'Ir. Joe Miles Whittemore.

~1any other generous donations by Young Harris members and friends made it possible to purchase a pipe organ, designed and constructed for this sanctuary.

On April 24, 1968 the new organ was dedicated.

Members and friends contributed 230 new editions of the Methodist Hymnal in memory or honor of loved ones.

Organ chimes were installed in honor of Mr. &Mrs. F. G. Bell by Mr. &Mrs. Hubert Bell and son, Freddie R. Bell.

A Carilon Chimes was installed in the belfrey by Mr. &Mrs. Glenn Newton honoring their daughters.

In October, 1971 the original Young Harris Church Bell was refinished and mounted permanently on a site between the Sanctuary and the Education Building.

On the choir loft wall hangs a beautiful mahogany and gold cross.

The brass and gold communion services, collection plates, cross and candle sticks and bowl on the communion table as well as the urns on either side of the pulpit constantly remind us of the faithful members in whose names they were given.

In addition to these tangible gifts, many Memorial Funds have been established in honor or memory of former members.

In the past five years many improvements have been made to the church property. The parsonage has been remodeled; all church buildings have been painted; a church parlor has been completely furnished; a church library

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has been started; individual air conditioners have been placed in the parlor, nursery and choir room as well as in the kitchen; new metal folding chairs have replaced the old wooden ones in the classrooms; a new Baldwin Grand Piano has replaced the Upright Piano which was purchased in memory of Ben Crockett - the Upright has been placed in Fellowship Hall; shrubbery and trees have been planted on the grounds; a new church sign has been erected on the front lawn near the sidewalk on Prince Avenue.

The Cobb Lampkin Building has been redecorated and furnished. On June 27, 1982 it was rededicated as The ~1ax Whittemore Education Building. A brass plaque on the front door designates this change. The Hall Committee was Pauline Benton, Mildred Brackett and Charles Phillips.

The Annual Conference appointed Reverend Willian H. Jackson as Young Harris's first Associate Pastor, July 1, 1982.

A wide range of activities have become traditional: Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service; An Advent Wreath and Candles as well as a China Nativity Scene and the Chrismon Tree adorn the Sanctuary; Homecoming the second Sunday in October; Chicken Bar-Be-Cue the first Wednesday in October and May; a church bazaar is held every other year; Easter Lillies are placed in the Sanctuary in memory or honor of those we love; the U.M.W., U.M.M. and M.Y.F. conduats a Sunday Morning Worship Service; Graduates are honored with special service in June; tapes are made of Sunday Morning Worship Services and carried to shut-ins of the church and every spring we have Vacation Bible School.

A pictoral Directory of Young Harris members was published October 1979.

In 1981 the U.M.W. published a cook book; Family of God's Hymnals were given and placed on bookracks. These books are used on Sunday evenings.

Pew Bibles were purchased by different people. They are found in the pew racks.

The children coming out of third grade in Church School are presented a Bible at morning worship service. This tradition was started in 1948 when Roger Hazen was School Superintendent.

The Greetings has been mailed each week since 1942. This carries the church news to all members.

February 5, 1976 the church bought a van. There are efficient drivers ready to carry the various groups to church, retreats and conferences.

On April 13, 1983 a ~1emorial Committee was set up to decide what would be done with Memorial Gifts that are not designated for a certain purpose. The committee is composed of Jackie Parsons, Hoy Edwards, Martha Emerick and E. P. Mize.

In May 1983 a Church Conference was held. A majority of voting members voted Yes to increase the Church Budget in ,the next few years until as much is spent on Missions as on Local Finances.

Twenty-four of Young Harris members have gone forth into active, meaningful christian service: Alonso Adams, Bird Betts, Jessie Warwick, Bennie Moore, R. C. Whitten, Beve Jones, Gordon G. Thompson, Wesley Stephens, M. H. Conway. Ray Cox, Herbert Sharp, Jr., Mickie Stephens, Ralph Bowden, Luther Fouche, Ronald L. Bowie, Marion Dunn, Max Wall, Lee Braham III, Robert Prince III, Wiley Crockett, Mike Harwell, Mike Roper, Tom McTier and Barry Brown.

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Over the 75 years, 30 ministers have served Young Harris with dedication and devotion:

NAME DATES DECEASED

Rev. Frank S. Hudson 1909-1910 1947 Rev. George D. Stone 1910-1911 1961 Rev. Sherman R. England 1911-1914 1929 Rev. R. M. Dixon 1914-1915 1928 Rev. Virgil P.Scoville 1915-1916 1940 Rev. A. J. Sears 1916-1919 1939 Rev. H. M. Qullian 1919-1921 1931 Rev. George M. Acree 1921-1922 1966 Rev. M. S. Williams 1922-1923 1933 Rev. B. Postell Read 1923-1927 1939 Rev. L. A. Partridge 1~27-1928 1949 Rev. L. B. Jones 1928-1935 1972 Rev. J. W. Brinsfield 1935-1936 1950 Rev. George W. Hamilton 1936..,1938 1957 Rev. Thomas J. Shackelford 1938-1941 1956 Rev. Roy P. Etheridge 1941-1943 1979 Rev. Max M. Whittemore 1943-1946 Rev. Gaines M. Spivey 1946-1952 Rev. Henry G. Walker 1952-1953 Rev. Ewell H. Blackburn 1953-1955 Rev. William A. Tyson 1955-1960 Rev. Lee Branham 1960-1964 Rev. W. Thomas Smith 1964-1966 Rev. G. Robert Gary 1966-1968 Rev. Zack C. Hayes 1968-1970 Rev. W. Mack Tribble, Jr. 1970-1974 Rev. Richard Lumpkin 1974-1978 Rev. L. Archie Hayes 1978-1980 Rev. Jack L. Summers J980­Rev. William H. Jackson 1982­

(Associate Minister)

The present Church Staff is: Senior Pastor-Rev. Jack E. Summers; Associate­Pastor-Rev. William H. Jackson; Emeritus Pastor-Rev. Max M. Whittemore; Church Secretary-Miss ~1ildred Fulcher; Choir Director-Mrs. Letitia Colglazier; Organist ­Mrs. Tom (Sue) Berry; Janitor-Johnny Hull; Maid-Sue Lee Hull.

The Church has a membership of 60~. Church School enrollment if 235; United Methodist Women 90; United Methodist Men 40; Methodist Youth 16; Senior Citizens 30 and Boy Scout Troup #19-12.

The growth and achievements of Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church in its 75 years shows conclusively that the Lord is in the work and His faithful laborers in this part of the Vineyard are doing their part to help advance His Kingdom. The history of the Church is replete with interest, and its triumph calls forth praise and continued dedication and devotion by it's members.

This is Our Church and We Love IT with the faith of our fathers who organized it 75 years ago. We can do greater works than these God Being Our Helper.

History Committee:

Miss Rosa Lee Prater Mrs. E. D. Flanagan Mr. Charles Phillips Miss Odessa Williamson, Chairman

January 3, 1984