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In 1870, shortly after the end of the Civil War, Jasper Missionary Baptist Church, one of the first African American churches in Walker County, was founded. The original founders were Billy and Eliza Spriggs, Addie fisher, Umpt Patrick, Jim Perry, Annie Reece, James Utley and Mariah Walker. The first place of worship was under a brush arbor. Prior to this time, church services were held in homes and, because of slavery laws, many marriages were not official. With the advent of the church, numerous marriages were performed within the first few years. Seeing the need for an adequate church building, members of the church hauled logs and built their first church under Reverend David Fischer. Members eventually built a frame church on an acre of land donated by Billy Spriggs. A school soon followed and became the educational facility for the youth of the community for many years. Students walked miles to achieve up to a seventh-grade education. On May 2, 1909, the first cornerstone for the new church was laid by J.J. Johnson who served on the Deacon Board for 22 years. It is still visible to anyone entering the church today. Committed to the youth, the church congregation gave its first scholarship in 1978, renaming it the Mabel Williams Scholarship Fund in 1986. The church has continued to award scholarships to deserving youth every year since. The current church was completed in 1994, under the leadership of Pastor L. R. Harrison. Jasper Missionary Baptist Church has continued to encourage fellowship, education and a sense of community in New Waverly for well over a century. |
