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This photograph was taken about 1960 of the first Baptist Men's Fellowship Group. Left to right are: Garland Dwiggins, visitor,
visitor, Ed White, Al Waymire, Riley Duke, Leroy Spooner, James Waymire, Basil Street, Johnny Webster and Paul Taylor
Orestes church remembers 100 years
By Keri S. McGrath
Staff Reporter
May 1, 1998
ORESTES - One hundred years, 37 pastors, 127 recorded deaths, and countless births and marriages after the last brown
brick was laid on Orestes' Baptist Church, Pastor Ed Joyner and his congregation prepare for a weekend of celebration and
remembrance. The church, one of two in the small town of Orestes, will commemorate its centennial Sunday with a special service,
guest speaker and gospel concert. "These events will not be the end of our celebration," said Joyner. "They
will just kick off a whole year of celebrating. I'd just hate to see it come and go all in one day. It's more fun this way."
The festivities will commence with a 10:30 a.m. service in the church followed by a potluck luncheon in the fellowship hall
at 1 p.m. After the last of the punch is drunk and the potato salad is sufficiently digested, Orestes Baptist will sponsor
a 3 p.m. concert by nationally known gospel group The King's Four. "Everyone sure is welcome," Joyner stressed.
"We'd love to have them." The church's observance will continue through the summer with an ice cream social in June
as well as numerous chili, fish and chicken dinners. August will feature a tent meeting. Joyner constructed a "memory
tree" to honor those members of the church who have died from 1912 until recently. The tree, located in the church lobby,
bears brass apples with the names of 127 deceased engraved on them. "There is something special about belonging to a
small church," Joyner said. "It would be hard to do something like the memory tree if we were a big church."
According to Joyner, the church's attendance hovers in the mid 40s with a 15-member choir. "Our church is special because
of our size," Joyner said. "Big churches, they don't miss you when you aren't there. I notice when a member doesn't
show up on Sunday." Joyner calls his congregation "a close-knit family" which pulls together in times of adversity.
"We recently had a congregation member pass away and I have been flooded with calls all day. People ask what they can
do, how they can help," Joyner said. "That's something special. That's what we will be celebrating."
The Service
By Dave Dwiggins
May 3, 1998
The morning was overcast and the threat of rain was quite prevalent but nothing was going to keep the sun from shining
on the Orestes Baptist Church this morning. The church bell rang out 100 times this morning as Manny Smock tugged on the rope
below. Today the church would celebrate 100 years of history in Orestes.
As I approached Orestes, the steeple could be seen from the highway. Within a few minutes I entered the sanctuary to find
much of the decor as it was years ago. Three familiar lights hung from the tall ceiling over the aisle to the pulpit and the
four dimly lit lamps on each side of the church lit lit the side aisles. The pulpit, the chairs on each side of the communion
table, and the arched windows remained the same. The Christian Flag was draped on the left side and the good old red white
and blue were on the right. The two structural bars that stretched across the sanctuary for stability were still in tact.
The baptistery had some pretty olive green curtains hanging on each side and the wall behind the waters was decorated
with a beautifully painted or papered landscape mural done in pastel colors. The old clock we use to watch intently as kids
was gone but a new wooden clock hung in the same location. The clock was shaped as a church with the dial above the door and
below the steeple.
The church also had a sound system to amplify the voice of Pastor Edsel Joyner.
Many familiar faces filled the pews: Clyde and Dorothy Granger, Mary Ruth Harrison, Mable Blake, Jim Gray, Darrell and
Velma Bowlin, Margie Eden, and Carolyn Shettle and her daughter Erin, Barbara and Bennie DiRuzza, Robert Smock, Jerry Ward,
Margaret Eden, Herbert Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Devore, and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Pratt.
Olive Smock opened the service with a prelude on the piano and Jim Gray followed with the invocation. The congregation
sang "Blessed Be The Name" and "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" led by Rev. Joyner. Announcements and prayer
requests were made. Another testimony told of how Belle Devore had anxiously and faithfully awaited this special service but
passed away a few days earlier. I am sure she was with us.
The offering was taken and the Doxology was played as always.
Rev. Joyner had pledged to shave his beard if over 100 were in attendance for the special service. Much of the congregation
eagerly looked over the nice crowd attempting to count or estimate the gathering. Robert Smock had also pledged to shave off
his mustache and Bennie DiRuzza pledged to grow a beard or mustache. Bennie made the official count and there was well over
100 in attendance so Rev. Joyner and Robert Smock proceeded with their shaving.
Bennie DiRuzza passed out tokens to commemorate the occasion, a pen and a ribbon with inscriptions of the celebration.
Mary Ruth Harrison received an award for attending the church for the longest period of time. Opal Smock wasn't in attendance
but was honored for being the oldest member. Darlene Devore was handed a church program as she entered the building and it
had a special number on it. She was awarded a Gaither tape with some of their super music on it. Bennie also read aloud the
names of the past pastors and the names of those that had been baptized in the church. The special speaker for the morning
was to be Rev. Phillip Robinson, a past pastor of the church. He was presented a Holy Bible with inscriptions inside as well
commemorating the day's events. He concluded his presentation by stating that the church has had 37 pastors with T.C. Smith
the first. The church was built while McKinley was our United States President. He then introduced Rev. Robinson as the guest
speaker.
Rev. Robinson strolled to the pulpit and soon began to speak of pleasantries of the Orestes Baptist Church and the community.
He mentioned a songbook that fell to the floor where no one was sitting despite being placed properly in the holder. His sermon
was presented to the congregation commencing with scripture and he spoke often of his memories. "I walked away from here
years ago and it felt like home again with the love and friendship of everyone in attendance. I feel comfortable again in
the old sanctuary."
The invitation was given and concluded and the congregation filed past Rev. Robinson and his wife Meredith to greet them
as they entered the Fellowship Hall in preparation for the pitch-in dinner. A photograph board was constructed displaying
photographs of the past at the church.
An afternoon singspiration concluded the services for the day. It was truly a beautiful day.
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