BLACK FAMILIES: Vol 2, Sec 2, pages 56-59
GREENE COUNTY ARCHIVES BULLETIN NUMBER FORTY-FIVE
Page 56
History of Reedy Chapel A.M.E.
Weaver Street, Springfield MO
From undated handwritten drafts, one on letterhead of Harmony Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, Office of Mrs. Stella M. Anderson, Grand Worthy Chaplain.
In the year of 1916, Rev. NASH was sent to Springfield, Missouri, by the annual conferences of the A.M.E. Church to build a church in the west part of town. Rev. Nash organized a church in Mrs. Annie CLAY’s home on Broad Street. Mrs. Clay was the mother of Mrs. Willie DEEDS and the grandmother of Mrs. Clara MILDON. Sister Clay, the only member, and Rev. and Mrs. Nash held prayer meetings every night. The neighbors came to enjoy the services. After Rev. Nash, Rev. NICKLES and wife came. Their stay was very short--6 months. He went back home to Colorado and died shortly after arriving there.
In 1918 Rev. A. PHILLIP and wife came to take over. They met the one member they had and held meetings every night. Rev. Phillip was a God fearing man and his wife had a voice like an angel. He preached and she sang and Sister Clay prayed until the doors opened and people came in. He organized the Stewards board and the trustees board.
With two other men of the neighborhood, Brother Green FULBRIGHT and Brother Woody REED, Rev. Phillip started a building on this very spot. They had prayer meetings and services in Sister Clay’s home until the building was finished. Rev. and Mrs. Phillip’s daughter, Mrs. Savanah MCBRIDE came to help.
The Church was filled with the Holy Ghost. People began to join the church. A choir was organized and was one of the best. After organizing the church, Brothers Fulbright and Reed became trustees. These men had furnished the money to build this church. A rich white woman named DICKERSON paid the mortgage of $600. The church was named after Brother Woody Reed.
The church thrived under the pastorate of Rev. A. Phillip seven years and he was sent to Kansas City, Mo. Rev. CHANDLER was sent who helped build the parsonage and held school in the church. We struggled along and bills mounted. The mortgage on the parsonage was paid by Brother Isman HIGG, and then the church worked and held rally after rally and paid him back. Rev. Chandler stayed five years.
Rev. Frank HARRIS was sent to pastor. He stayed only one year. Rev. PAGE was sent, who was a man of God and interested in the children of the neighborhood. He made a playground for them and children came from near and far. Rev. ELLISON came to us and did a lot to keep the church together. He organized a glee club of three small girls in his church called the Clara Lea Florence. The girls were Clara DEEDS, Lea Etta ADAMS, and Florence ANDERSON. He also organized a men’s choir and quartet.
Rev. BYRD came, then Rev. TIMMON who beautified the yard by planting all kinds of flowers. The Anna Rush Mission was formed.
{Notes are sketchy beginning here.}
COATES; DANCY, under Rev. {Dancy} the church and parsonage were remodeled; TOLLIVER; DANIEL; MCDONALD Paneling the church, new heat and pulpit furniture.
{The notes end at this point.}
Page 57
For reference: additional information on pastors at Reedy Chapel found among the materials:
Rev. C. V. Page’s signature is found on a copy of 1926 Sunday School Teacher’s quarterly (see scan on following pages.)
Salary paid to Rev. Dancy recorded in the 1959-1960 Treasurer’s Book. Rev. Dancy listed as officiating clergy at Reedy Chapel funeral service May 1960.
Rev. M. H. Toliver listed as officiating clergy at Reedy Chapel funeral services Mar 1965 through Aug 1973.
Rev. J. Silas Daniels listed as officiating clergy at Reedy Chapel funeral services Jul 1974.
Rev. Triggs listed in minutes of Trustees’ meetings, 1976.
Rev. L. C. Thomas listed as officiating clergy at Reedy Chapel funeral service May 1980.
Page 58
Partial Membership Roll
Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church
from list of contributions for 1954-1955, Nov. 7 to Jan 7
Howard R. Anderson, Treasurer
| Anderson, Stella | Johnson, Ida Mae | Assoc. Members |
| Anderson, Howard | Johnson, Mary F | Davis, Lawrence |
| Adams, Billy | Leftwich, Tonella | Stephenson, R. J. |
| Adams, Betty | Lee, Betty A | Roberts, Edith |
| Adams, Kenneth | Lee, Betty J. | McCluer, H. F. |
| Adams, Walter | Looney, Flora | Duncan, Arthur |
| Adams, Mary Sue | McAdams, Lea Etta | Todd, Margarite |
| Adams, Nathaniel | McClelland, Ethel | Green, Lucille |
| Adams, Elsie | McGee, Tom | Bixlers |
| Bedell, Thelma | McGee, Wm. H. | Ranson, W. R. |
| Bonner, Thelma | Murphy, Alice | Culp, Charles |
| Bonner, Joseph | Needem, Johnnie | Lee, Nettie |
| Clay, Anne | Simon, Etta | Thomas, D. L. |
| Culp, Ada | Simon, Naomi | Ferguson, M. |
| Cravens, Elnora | Smith, Joseph | Jackson, Ethel |
| Cooker, Ruth | Stephenson, Ossie | Watson, Helen |
| Dalton, Mary J. | Spencer, Frenzalla | Dabney, Connie |
| Duffie, Johnnie | Robinson, Nettie | Ransom, Callie |
| Duncan, William | Williams, Maggie | Elam, Ruby |
| Duncan, Florence | White, Beverly | Munday, Margaret |
| Frierson, Lillian | Woodrow, Kenneth | Ruth, Ethel |
| Franklin, Rush | Woodrow, Winifred | Bedell, E. A. |
| Fisher, Ida | Winston, Helen | Ellis, Flora |
| Harden, Willa B. | Weaver, James | . |
| Harden, Donald | Weaver, Elizabeth | . |
| Harrison, Helen | Yancey, Marie | . |
| Harrison, Archie | Yancey, Emma M. | . |
| Hayford, Joseph | Yancey, Daniel | . |
| Hayford, Ester | Yancey, George E. | . |
| Jackson, LeRoy | Yancey, Zenobia | . |
| Jackson, Maud | Weaver, Sylvester | . |
| Johnson, Elmore | . | . |
Page 59
Miscellaneous Items
Following are abstracts of some papers found inside pulpit Bible from Reedy AME Church, stored in outbuilding at home of Howard and Stella Anderson:
Notice: there will be a Revival and Band Concert at Benton Ave AME church Friday August 1st 1930 for the benefit of the Trustee Rally now in progress to end the second Sunday in August. The public is cordially invited. Signed by: Geo. ABERNATHY, Capt.; Hallie ABERNATHY, Asst.; and Rev. M. S. SMITH, Pastor. {Handwritten in pencil--too light to scan} Program Womans Mite Missionary Society: Paper, Mrs. Nancy DUNCAN; Solo, Mrs. Clella HANKS; Resitation, Mrs. Mandie HARRINGTON; Sermon, Rev. S. M. ELLISON; Finance Committee, Bro. Chas PAYTON and Bro. Leonard HARRINGTON. {Handwritten, no date} Program: Invocation, Pastor; Selection, Orchestra; Scripture Reading, Pastor; Chorus, Mixed Voices; Sacred Reading, Miss ROBINSON; “Jesus Savior Pilot Me”, Male QUARTETTE; Selection, Orchestra; Selection, Girls Glee Club; Sermonette, Rev. C. V. PAGE; Solo, Prof. W. B. E. HUGHES. Offering with music either by Male Glee Club or Orchestra. {Handwritten, no date} Printed announcement, performance by Master Gerald Mayo FINLEY (The Prince of the Violin) See scan on following pages. Program: Third Annual Session of the South-West Missouri Conference Branch Woman’s Mite Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, June 1929. See scan on following pages. Page from The Teacher’s Quarterly, 1926, belonging to Rev. C. V. PAGE. See scan on following pages. Flyer advertising THE WOMANLESS WEDDING at Washington Ave. Baptist Church on Friday, August 27 {no year given} Managers are Miss N. Corinne GOINS and Miss Roberta THOMAS. See scan on following pages. A couple of sermon notes were found on the back of the following advertisement:Back to Friends and Family of Howard and Stella Anderson
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