WARE COUNTY, GA -CHURCHES - METHODIST Multiple Churches Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Winge barbarawinge@yahoo.com Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.org/ga/ware.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.org/ga/gafiles.htm CHURCHES OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Waycross, Ware County, Georgia Contributed by Barbara Walker Winge. SOURCE: HISTORY OF THE SOUTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1866-1984, Marynell S. Waite, Editor, no copyright date, Taylor Publishing Co., Dallas, TX WAYCROSS, BROOKS MEMORIAL 400 Pinehurst Drive, Waycross, GA This church was organized in January 1955 in the home of Rev. Homer Summerall, and Rev. David Lastinger was the first pastor. The first unit was finished in 1955 and the church school annex constructed in 1970 This church is named for Rev. J. C. G. Brooks who served three different pastorates in Waycross: Trinity, First Church, and superintendent of Waycross District. When he retired he lived for many years in Waycross. ================== WAYCROSS FIRST Gilmore and Reed Streets, Waycross, GA Methodism came to Waycross with the preaching of Rev. H. P. Myers in the little house that served for school and church. At the close of his message, he opened the doors of the church and three ladies joined by certificate: Mrs. Susan Lott, Mrs. J. H. Redding, Mrs. W. H. Thomas. In 1874, the first building, wooden frame was erected at State and Oak Street. In 1892 the member-ship was 500 and a new church was planned. In January 1893 ground was broken and the first services were held in October. Rev. George Matthews was pastor and at the annual conference in 1894, held in the church he reported it was paid for. The Paul Harley Memorial Building was added in 1942 and contained a chapel named for Bishop Arthur Moore, who had been converted at the altar of the church in 1909. A new sanctuary was built in 1971. =================== WAYCROSS GILCHRIST PARK Washington Avenue, Gilchrist Park, Waycross, GA This church was organized in 1910 as the Washington Street Church, Rev. C. W. Snow was the pastor. The Conference Board Of Church Extension granted $150 to the church so that it could open for service, debt free. Rev. R. F. Owens was assigned to City Mission at that time. In 1911 it was listed as the Gilchrist Park Church, and Rev. W. T. Blevins was the pastor. The Sunday School was sponsored by First, and the original church had dividers hanging from the ceiling that were let down by ropes and pulleys to make classrooms. Rev. John Hays walked from Hebardville in order to conduct the services. The Church discontinued services during the depression but was able to build a white frame building in 1940. The first woman pastor in the Waycross District was Rev. Mrs. Annie Louise Johnson who pastured at the church. =================== WAYCROSS, HEBARDVILLE 509 Ware Street, Waycross, GA The church was organized in 1909 after the Sunday School organization in 1906. The community had been named for the Hebard Cypress Company was the Church changed its name from Deenwood to Habardville. Cypress was borrowed from the mill to use as pews for the first service. The women organized a "Golden Jubilee Society" in 1928, the fifty year of the Woman's Missionary Society. Classrooms were built in 1950, and in 1956 the Church became a station church. It supported a missionary family in 1964 and 1966 and assisted the Waycross District Youth Work Teams to Costa Rica in 1968 and 1969. ====================== WAYCROSS, JAMESTOWN Jamestown Section, Waycross, GA Rev. M. C. Austin was the first pastor of Corinth in 1890. In 1919 it was a part of the Hebardville Circuit; Hebardville, Deanwood, and Heyward churches with Rev. J. C. Jones as pastor . In 1931 it was listed on the Hebardville Charge as Jamestown with Deanwood, Hebardville, Ruskin, and Gilchrist Park, Rev. C. B. Ray was the pastor. In 1956 it became a station church with a new building and a fellowship hall and classrooms. E. N. Bazemore was the secretary-treasurer of the Sunday School for 42 years and was never absent. In 1976 a new parsonage was built. ============= KING SOLOMON Hicks and King Streets, Waycross, GA This church first met in a brush arbor when in was organized in 1872 Later it met in a house and then a church building. The first building was erected in 1891 on a hill with the steps facing the Brunswick and Albany Railroad. It was moved to the present location under Rev. Graham's pastorate. In 1940 it was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt. Rev. J. H. Lenon and Rev. John Crawley were among the first pastors. During the early years, the communion bread was made wafer thin by using two heated smoothing irons. The wine which was served in a silver goblet, was made from grapes growing in the area. ================== WAYCROSS TRINITY Church at State Street, Waycross, GA Methodism came to Waycross in 1870s by the preaching of the pastors on the circuits near by. Rev. H. P. Myers organized the first group in the Union Church in a school near the present site of Trinity Church. In 1873 a frame building was built, and in 1895 a red brick building was built facing Church street. In 1954 the present building was begun to the left of the old building. ================ WAYCROSS, WINONA PARK 1924 Ben Hill Street, Waycross, GA This church began as the result of a revival meeting conducted by Rev. J. C. G. Brooks, pastor of First Church. It was organized with 30 members on September 30, 1939, in services held in an old commissary building. The Church was named for the community in which is it located. Construction on the first unit began on July 04, 1941, with the members making the cement blocks. They purchased a few sacks of cement at a time and made hand-made blocks at Gibson Brothers Oil Company. The first service was held April 11, 1943 with Rev. W. A. Sedgwick as pastor. The parsonage was built partly from materials from the old Fairfax Church. A new educational annex was built in 1955-58. The Woman's Society of Christian Service was organized by Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Kellam of First Church. ===============