Sarepta Quilt, Calhoun County, MS

The Sarepta Friendship Quilt

This page is dedicated to the memory of Routh Clarke Tackett.

Miss Evelyn Tackett, Jackson, Miss. has donated to the Calhoun County Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. a Friendship Quilt, given to her mother, Miss Routh [sic] Clarke. This webpage contains information about the friends of Sarepta, who made the quilt, and about the recipient, Miss Routh Clarke along with miscellaneous historical references {provided by Miss Tackett} about the Presbyterian churches in Calhoun County, MS., in which Miss Clarke served.

Miss Clarke and Miss Clara Laidlaw were among the list of workers introduced in “The Presbyterian Work in Mississippi” by Fred R. Graves, D. D. in the summer of 1927. He stated that "eight young women were graduates of the Richmond [Virginia] Training School." Miss Tackett explained that "this is a 2-year school for preparing young women to do Christian work wherever they were needed."

Miss Clarke was later assigned to a small Presbyterian church in Mississippi before marrying a Presbyterian minister, Jack Tackett in May 1933.

The Minutes of the Synod of Mississippi, 97th Session, October 4-6, 1927 at Memphis, Tenn. note that
“Two new churches have been erected and are out of debt. The contract has been let for the building of the Sarepta church, and we expect to be in it by Christmas.
We are now planning two other church buildings. We have secured three lots for a church at Bruce on the new railroad from the I. C., where we hope to do effective work.” From the Annual Report of Synodical Home Missions, November 20, 1928:
“…in East Mississippi Presbytery, at Bruce and Sarepta; … We were first on the ground at Bruce – which is a new lumber town in Calhoun County. The Superintendent preached the first sermon in the town, using a store building for an auditorium. The “Gospel Tent” was put up, and Misses Clarke and Laidlaw used it for a Daily Vacation Bible School. We organized the first Sunday School in the place, the first Young People’s Society, and have completed the first church building. The building is worth $4000.00 and is free of debt…”

In the minutes dated September 17-19, 1929,
“Miss Clarke has spent most of the year in Jackson, in establishing work at Fondren – a beautiful suburb of Jackson... She has returned to the rural work, which has always strongly appealed to her, and is now located at Bruce, and serving the four points in the Calhoun City group.”

The Minutes of the Synod of Mississippi, 97th Session, October 4-6, 1927 at Memphis, Tenn. note that “Two new churches have been erected and are out of debt. The contract has been let for the building of the Sarepta church, and we expect to be in it by Christmas. We are now planning two other church buildings. We have secured three lots for a church at Bruce on the new railroad from the I. C., where we hope to do effective work.”	From the Annual Report of Synodical Home Missions, November 20, 1928: “…in East Mississippi Presbytery, at Bruce and Sarepta; … We were first on the ground at Bruce – which is a new lumber town in Calhoun County. The Superintendent preached the first sermon in the town, using a store building for an auditorium. The “Gospel Tent” was put up, and Misses Clarke and Laidlaw used it for a Daily Vacation Bible School. We organized the first Sunday School in the place, the first Young People’s Society, and have completed the first church building. The building is worth $4000.00 and is free of debt…”


The May 11, 1933 issue of the Monitor-Herald carries the story: “Fire Destroys Bruce Church – Presbyterian Church Burned Sunday Morning – Defective Wiring Probably Cause The Bruce Presbyterian church was completely destroyed by fire Sunday morning between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m. The origin of the fire is not definitely known, but is supposed to have caught from defective wiring. The fire was first discovered burning in the loft of the church and there was no chance of saving it as the fire fighting equipment of the town does not extend that far. The Presbyterian Church was the first to be built in the town - in 1928. There were only a few Presbyterians here at the time and most all of them have moved away and no services have been held in the church for more than a year. The building was well constructed and furnished. A few of the seats were saved, also the organ. It is not known at this time where any insurance was carried on the building. The Rev. Jones, of Pontotoc, sponsored the building of the church and had charge of it until the time of its destruction.”

The pattern of this Friendship quilt is composed of blocks that have been embroidered with the names of several women and one son of the community of Sarepta, located in northern Calhoun County.

Color photo showing pattern of Friendship Quilt.

Even though this quilt has been well used, the historical value is a welcome addition to the collection at the Dennis Murphree House.

Numerous phone calls were made to obtain information, especially to Mrs. Woodrow Howell, a long-time News Correspondent for the Bruce Journal.

Mrs. Kathaleen Newman at the gravesite of Mrs. Noonie Phillips. Mrs. Kathaleen Newman {at left} went with me to the Old Antioch Cemetery in Lafayette County, just north of Sarepta, to get the death date from Mrs. Noonie Phillips tombstone.

To view the names that are embroidered on the quilt and to view further information about these friends that placed their name on the quilt for Miss Routh Clarke, click on this link. Sarepta Friends

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Monitor Herald Sarepta community news column (April 1934) – “Dr. Jones preached a very interesting sermon at the Presbyterian church Sunday …He will preach …each fourth Sunday afternoon at four o’clock. Everybody remember this date and come out to hear him next time. He doesn’t hold service but about an hour…”

Historical Society members view the Sarepta Quilt at the September 8, 2002 meeting. Annette Waite, Mable Gaston, Rita Stewart, and Sarah Hallum discuss the names embroidered on the quilt. Historical Society president, Karen Norman and Mr. Brassfield conduct a discussion at the podium. Photo taken in the courtroom of the Calhoun County Courthouse on 8 September 2002.

The quilt was also displayed at the Sarepta Homecoming on Sunday, 8 October.