Chapter Thirty-One

Marion County Churches

by Mrs. Bernice Johnson

Churches of Christ

Church of Christ in Fairview

Page 500-502

By: Earl Berry

This congregation of the Church of Christ was first set in order at Wild Cat and met for many years in the school building known as Wild Cat District #13 near the then Wild Cat Cemetery. It was probably organized about 1900. Early elders in the congregation were G. W. Jenkins and W. J. Parker. Deacons were J. R. (Uncle Richmond) McCracken and J. G. (Jones) Osborne. later both Elder Jenkins and Elder Parker became ordained ministers of the Church of Christ. Inserted herein is a copy of the Ordination Certificate of G. W. Jenkins:

"TO ALL THIS LETTER OF GREETING MAY CONCERN:

BE IT KNOWN that the Church of Christ working at Stone, Arkansas, do on this the 17th day of September, 1910, set apart G. W. Jenkins to the ministry of the Word of God, knowing him to be worthy of this high calling and pray that he may be faithful and be the means in the hands of God of saving men from their sins, and pray the brotherhood to receive him and support him in the good work."

Recorded on October 3, 1910, in Record Book "B", page 47.

Among the early members of the congregation that worshipped with the church at Wild Cat were the families of: Dr. M. B. L. Matthews, Daddy and Aunt Josephine McCracken, Bunk McCracken, W. J. Parker, Silas Parker, Doc Osborne, J. G. and Aunt Martha Osborne, Aunt Mary McCracken, G. W. Jenkins, Dink Berry, J. R. McCracken, G. W. Parker, Sr., George Sanders, Elder Beckham, Waggoner and some members of the Stone family. Perhaps, there were others who cannot be recalled. At one time this was, perhaps in membership, the largest church in Marion County. Though it did not have a full-time preacher, some of the most able preachers of the Church of Christ at that time did preach there and conduct revivals. Among these were: Elder J. A. Rose, G. W. Brand, Tom Nowlin and Elder Beckham. Elders Jenkins and Parker preached for the congregation once a month. Many were converted to Christ while this congregation met at Wild Cat, and many were baptized in James Creek near the building.

Later the congregation moved to the old Malidda schoolhouse with G. W. Jenkins and W. J. Parker as Elders. After the death of J. G. Osborne, Dink Berry, W. A. (Arthur) Moore and J. R. (Uncle Richmond) McCracken served as deacons. Among the evangelists who conducted revivals at Malidda were: Joe Blue, S. C. Garner, W. C. Rise, Willie Flippin, Bro. Brumelow and Walter Leomius. At one such revival there were some fifty conversions.

After the death of G. W. Jenkins and W. J. Parker, Dink Berry, G. W. (Dump) Parker, and S. R. Osborne were chosen as elders. Uncle Richmond McCracken continued to serve as deacon and was the song leader for the congregation, until his death. Names on the church roll at Malidda included members of the Manse Holden family, Grandpa and Grandma Coots, Jim Coots, W. J. Kirkland and several members of his family, Uncle John and Aunt Mary McCracken, Rex and Lizzie, Mart and Pearl, Edd and Ernie, and Ethel, wife of Johnnie McCracken, Roscoe and Goldie Jenkins, Dewey and Della Mitchell Jenkins, Elmer, Guy, and the Jenkins and their sister Zella, now Mr. Othel Coots, the Marshall family, Vester Smith and Julia, Grandma Smith, Eva Smith, Tilden Flippin family, several members of the G. W. Parker, Sr. family, Aunt Hannah Ann Mitchell, Frank, Ed and Leonard, Wallie Parker and Delia, C. C. (Doll) Treat, Charlie Parker and Nellie, Jim Kirk McCracken and wife, Pat McCracken, Fred and Zella Payne and others whose names cannot now be recalled. This remained a large congregation until after the close of World War I. Following the close of this war, a large number of the families of this congregation migrated and settled in Oklahoma-in the Wetumpka-Holdenville area. Among these were the families of Bud, Cam, Elza, Ellis, Joe and Wallie Parker; the families of John, Jim, Ealum, and Joe Osborne; the W. J. Kirkland and Frank Kirkland families; Roscoe, Elmer and Dewey Jenkins families; Rommie Sanders and wife. Many members of these families were members of the Malidda congregation and with their moving the congregation declined in membership. Bible study was conducted each Sunday and preaching was usually one Sunday each month. Among those who preached were J. R. (Raleigh) Matthews, W. C. Rice, J. A. Henry, and C. C. Parrott, Sr.

With the building of the Fairview schoolhouse, the congregation came to be known as the Fairview Church of Christ with the elders and deacons as referred to above in the Malidda congregation. G. W. (Dump) Parker served until his death in 1937, Dink Berry until his death in 1942, and S. R. Osborne until his death in the latter part of the 1960's. Uncle Richmond McCracken served as deacon until his death in 1938. At the present time the congregation is small and has no ordained elders and deacons but meets regularly on each Lord's Day for worship. Preaching services are conducted on the first Sunday of each month and the Saturday night preceding. A revival meeting is usually conducted each year. Among those who have preached in these revivals were: Leland H. Knight, Paul Knight, Ervin Waters, Homer L. King, Tom Smith, Joe Deal, Earl Berry, Silas Dean, Joe Howard and Bro. Woody Wood.

Among those who have worked hard to keep the congregation alive, credit must be given to Roy (Buck) McCracken, Willie Bailey, and Floyd Kirkland. There are others including many of the ladies who have shared in the work. In 1975 death took four of the faithful-Paul and Nora Flippin, Aunt Mae Osborne and Uncle Bill McCracken.

This small group of people still is interested in carrying out the Great Commission and our hope is that it will ever continue to be as a city set on a hill whose light cannot be hidden.