The 70 Year Legacy of the Smithville Church of God to be Celebrated Sunday, August 11 (View video here)

August 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The legacy of the Smithville Church of God will be celebrated Sunday, August 11 as the congregation commemorates 70 years of the church’s ministry in this community.

(Click link below for more church photos)

http://www.smithvillecog.com/church-history/

The special service, which begins at 10:30 a.m. will include a video presentation on the history of the church along with recognition of members who have been with the church for 60 plus years and the only surviving charter member from 1949, Louise Bryant Knowles. Bishop Wayne Daugherty, State Overseer of the Church of God will be the featured speaker. No Sunday School will be held but a homecoming meal will follow the service. Everyone is invited including former pastors.

The following is a summary of the church history as it appears on the Smithville Church of God website.

“Our beginnings were with worship services being conducted under a canvas tent, located on Highway 56 with Reverend T. M. Martin as the very first pastor. The small congregation worshipped here for several months. Some services were conducted in the DeKalb County Courthouse due to weather conditions.

In mid August 1949 the Smithville Church of God was organized with 8 charter members, under the leadership of Reverend A. R. Parker as pastor, and Reverend Harry O. Kutz, district overseer. The charter members were: Virginia Emberton Young, Joe Emberton Barber, Algie Lee Vanderpool, and with Dora Kay LeFever Vanderpool, Hoyt Cripps and wife Sue Underwood Cripps, O’Fallen Bryant Young, and Louise Bryant Knowles.

The year 1951 was a glorious year. Reverend A. R. Parker preached the Word and many souls were won to Christ and the church. A good growth was realized by the church. A concrete block building was erected on the Old Nashville Highway or Highway 70. the people moved into a shell of a building with only sub flooring. Reverend James Harold Kear was the next pastor. He completed the building and soon afterwards built a parsonage located on the lot behind the church.

Upon Reverend Kear’s departure came Reverend Cecil Raymond Stansbury. The church was then bricked along with other improvements.

In 1960 the congregation under the very capable leadership of Reverend Walter P. Atkinson decided to relocate. Land located on West Broad Street was purchased and a new sanctuary and education plant was erected. Mrs. Lena Whaley, a friend of the church, gave the church the lot located directly behind the new sanctuary. This was converted into Whaley Park. Later a Fellowship Hall was built on this property. The land was purchased by the church on Whaley Street and a nice brick veneer parsonage was constructed.

The church continued to grow spiritually and numerically. In 1974 another much larger sanctuary was added to the existing building. The was done under the leadership and design of Reverend Carl L. Sifford.

During the pastorate of Andrew J. Crawford, the old sanctuary was converted into Education facilities.

Many noteworthy and progressive endeavors have been accomplished under the leadership of each pastor.

Previous pastors in succession:
1. T. M. Martin
2. A. R. Parker
3. James Harold Kear
4. Cecil Raymond Stansbury
5. J. L. Underwood
6. L. A. Brannon
7. Marshall Poplin
8. Walter P. Atkinson
9. James Bandy
10. Billy Ray Hedgepath
11. Jesse Lavender
12. Carl Lynn Sifford
13. Cecil Raymond Stansbury
14. Andrew J. Crawford
15. Richard Blackburn
16. Wayne E. Wicker
17. Norman Ray Simms
18. Donnie Dwayne Kelly
19. T. Michael Farr
20. Jeff Armstrong
21. Chris Moore

The Smithville Church of God remains a strong and committed congregation, due to the dedication and consecration of her membership and an intense desire to be the “Ecclesia” called out ones. In the Power of the Spirit!”

http://www.smithvillecog.com/church-history/

August 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man arrested in December for stealing an automobile was sentenced Monday in Criminal Court.

Judge Wesley Bray presided.

30 year old Timothy William Patrick entered a plea to auto burglary and received a sentence of two years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The term is to run concurrently with a sentence he is presenting serving. Patrick was given jail credit of 238 days and he must make restitution of $180 to his victim.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 Patrick broke into and stole a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser valued at $2,000. The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.

A Doyle man charged with stealing a carry on trailer from a residence on Backbone Road in June was also sentenced Monday.

33 year old Timothy Ryan Bouldin entered a plea to burglary other than a habitation and received a 4 year TDOC sentence to run consecutive to cases against him in Van Buren and Warren Counties.

Bouldin was given jail credit of 41 days and he must make restitution of $1,800 to his victim.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 22 Bouldin broke into a building on Backbone Road and stole a 5x 10 foot carry-on trailer, valued at $1,450 and in the process destroyed the trailer lock, causing damage less than $1,000.

The case was investigated by sheriff’s department detectives.

August 5, 2019
By: Robin Pafford

Sam is our WJLE/DeKalb Animal Coalition featured Pet of the Week.

“After animal control picked him up from the garden center in Walmart, he was given the name Sam after the famous Sam Walton. They contacted us to come and get him and once he realized we were there to save him, he was able to relax and has since become one of the best cats. He is between 4 and 5 months old and is very well socialized with other cats. Sam would make a great addition to anybody’s home,” said Shelter Director Megan Moore.

If you would like to give Sam a home call or come by. The shelter is now open for business Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12pm-4pm and Saturday 10am-12pm. and the new phone number is 615-597-3647 (DOGS).

The shelter is located at 186 Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive.

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