In 1870, Rev. Joshua Parker
first held a religious meeting in the area. The small group called
themselves Shady Grove Mission. In 1871, the Conference granted recognition
to the mission. The following year, in 1872, Rev. Charles Downs was
appointed as pastor and received $50 from the Board of Missions and church
extension. The mission had 40 members at that time. It had
grown to 100 members by 1876. In the 1890s, the area held so many
great celebrations and balls that the name was changed from Shady Grove
Mission to Ball Town.
In 1901, tragedy struck when
Rev. Alexander Donaly and his daughter were killed in a mass killing during
an evening brawl. Rev. Donaly was followed by Rev. David Kilbourne
who came (as it was now called) in 1902. The first pastor of Live
Oak Church was Rev. T. W. Williams in 1913. The church was on the
Angie circuit.
Although we know that the church
was moved twice and rebuilt three times, the records lack much more detail.
We do know that it was rebuilt in 1926 while Rev. S. C. Willliams was pastor.
In 1963, the wood church was sold to Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Horn, and a new
block building was constructed. Rev. A. E. Franklin was pastor at
that time. A fellowship hall and restrooms were added in 1971 under
the leadership of Rev. Isaiah McCoy. The parsonage was purchased
from Oliver Brown in 1975.
In 1980, Rev. Robert Brown led
the congregation in starting new classes, renovations, and programs ...
such as Vacation Bible School. Rev. Eddie Francis was in charge in
the late 1980s as the church underwent remodeling and new hymnals were
purchased. In the mid 1990s, Rev. Oscar Tippin, Jr. led the congregation
in further church improvements (ie. exterior brick), the purchase of a
new organ, and the construction of a nursery and choir room. |
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