Mulberry Baptist Church Photo

MULBERRY FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH

Pictured above is the Mulberry Freewill Baptist Church. The Mulberry Freewill Baptist Church is located near Gravelly in Yell County, just a little ways over the county line. The location is on part of the W 1/2 SW 1/4 of Section 19 of Township 3 North of Range 25 West in Yell County. It has served members from both Yell and Scott County. According to O. Alden Smith’s book Scott County: Gateway to the West, George Garner donated the land for this church. The exact date that the Mulberry Freewill Baptist Church was organized is unknown, but it is believed that Reverend Sabe Lofland established it in 1880. Reverend Benjamin Christopher "Chris" Harris was the second pastor. The third and fourth pastors were Rev. Bud Wilson and Rev. C.C. Kitchens (1911.) It is said that the first church was a log cabin, but the first confirmed church building was a box building with strips to cover cracks. This building was torn down in 1907 and a drop-sided building was built. This church building was blown away by a tornado in 1942. The present building was first built with drop-siding in 1943 and was only 28 X 40 feet big. Over the years rooms were added to create the church as we see it now. In 1966 the Mulberry Church honored Aunt Lizzie Hunt for being the oldest member at that time. She joined Mulberry Church in the year 1888, and was baptized by Rev. Chris Harris (Benjamin Christopher Harris). The Mulberry Freewill Baptist Church met on July 27, 1980 for its Centennial Year Celebration. Benjamin Christopher Harris, the second minister of the Mulberry Free Will Baptist Church was my great-great grandfather. My great grandmother, Melvina (Jones) Morrow also attended this church, as did her daughter and son-in-law, Alice and Jacob Dolphin Hale. I want to thank Jerry Watha Ferguson who so kindly sent me material on the history of the church.

Contributed by Charlene Holland