| On June 13, 1909 a group of Baptist organized the Central
Baptist Church, then kown as the Central Baptist Tabernacle. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Shops had recently been
opened and Waycross was increasing in population. Calvin Parker and John W. McGee were discussing the
need for a new Church at the soda fountain in Scruggs' Pharmacy, the Phoenix
Hotel Building, when the suggestion was made to secure a tent and erect it as a place of worship for the
newcomers.
T. S. Paschal, C. H. Lowther and W. F. Easton joined Mr. Parker and Mr. McGee in purchasing a large ten. They obtained
permission from Richard G. Scruggs to place the tent on his property at the corner of Burnel and Reed Streets.
B. B. Gray donated a car-load of flooring. A platform was built at one end, providing space for a pulpit, a choir loft, and a
baptistery.
The Rev. W. H. Scruggs preached the first service on May 30,
1909. It was an overflow congregation. As new spread through out the city, interest grew. Two weeks late on June 13, the church
was organized with Rev. Scruggs as minister, and Rev. G. S. Baxter as presbytery. There were 109 charter members, among
these were Mrs. W. E. Bates, Mrs. B. M. Settle, Mrs. H. C. Thackston, and Mrs. Addie Bell Lowther Hiatt [all were still
Living at the time this article was written.] Douglas Morrison was the first member to be received upon
profession of faith and Thelma Smith was the first to be baptized in the tent baptistery.
The first elected officers were W. E. Bates treasurer; W. H.
Bullard clerk; Judge A. P. Perham, historian; Judge H. P. Brewer, Chairman of the
board of the following board of deacons: D. A. McGee, E. D. Carswell, W. E. Bates, T. H. Miller, G.
W. Gray, and D. O. Morton, T. W. Morrison, W. D. O'Quinn, and W. G. Sutton. Ground breaking for a
permanent building was June 20, 1910.
Winton E. Bates, Jr. and Thelma Smith, two of the youngest members held the shovels. The cornerstone was
placed on Dec. 09, 1910, and the first service was held in March 1911.The doorplates
were designed by W. H. Bullard. There are 109 stars for the charter members and one large star for the Rev. Scruggs.
On March 16, 1913, the congregation gathered to burn the mortgage in a large bonfire. The debts of
$2,455 for the original building had
been settled.
The first annex was built in 1924 to provide more Sunday School
Space. Additional building programs have kept the Church enlarging. A Church
pastorium, the former P. N. Harley home located directly behind the Church facing Reed Street, was purchased and Rev. H. L.
Walton was the first pastor to take up residency in 1920. The house was later moved to a lot facing Brunel Street .
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