Gravel Creek Baptist Church and School

Wilcox County, AL

Bobbye C. Winston

Gravel Creek Baptist Church and School was located next to Gravel Creek/ McDowell/ Capell Cemetery in Wilcox County, AL.  This old unpainted structure has been gone for many years but a row of crepe myrtle still exist that was at the back of this structure.  When you are facing the cemetery, the church/school was located on your right. The front door faced the road that turns in to the cemetery and not the public highway.  The building was used as a church on Sunday and a school during the week.  In later years, church services were held on Sunday afternoon. 

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The following records were transcribed by Nancy S. Bell from Samford University church records:

Source: "Bethlehem Baptist Association Minutes 1827-1967 and Beckbe
Association Minutes 1826" on microfilm at Samford University. Microfilm can
be ordered through inter library loan.

Note: The Bethlehem Association was known as The Beckbe Association until
1827.

" Ministers, Licensed Preachers, and Messengers (delegates)":

* =Ordained ministers
**=Licensed preachers
(a)=Absent

1837:

Gravel Creek: Isaac Brittanham. Samuel Dehay(a)

1838:

Gravel Creek: John P. Vaughn**, James Cree

1840:
Gravel Creek: J.P.Vaughn**, J.F. Russel**

1841:
Gravel Creek: J.D. Pritchett, J.P. Vaughn**

1842:
Gravel Creek: J.P. Vaughn**, Thomas Blackmon

1843:
Gravel Creek: James Cree, J.F. Russell**

1844:
Gravel Creek: James Cree, Albert J. Sadler

1845:
Gravel Creek: J. Cree, Isaac Brittenham

1846:
Church: Gravel Creek
Minister(s): -----
Clerk: John Cree
Post Office: Camden
Messengers: Isaac Brittenham & Rob't Henderson

1847:
Church: Gravel Creek
Post Office: Camden
Resident Pastor: -----
Other Ministers, Members of the Churches: -----
By Whom Supplied: John C. Jones
Clerk: Leroy Henry
Messengers: John Richards, Levi W. Henry

1848:
Church: Gravel Creek
Post Office: Camden
Resident Pastor: -----
Other Ministers, Members of the Churches: -----
By Whom Supplied: Jno. C. Jones
Clerk: L.W. Henry
Messengers: Jas. Cree, Leroy W. Henry

1849
Church: Gravel Creek
Post Office: Camden
Resident Pastor: -----
Other Ministers, Members of the Churches: -----
By Whom Supplied: J.C. Jones
Clerk: L.W. Henry
Messengers: James Cree, Robert T. Henderson (a)

photo  taken 1867 or 1868 is believed taken beside this old church/school.
Top Row l-r:  Sarah Isabella "Belle" Rayburn dau of William R and Frances Ann Henderson Rayburn; Amanda C. Rayburn dau of William R and Frances Ann Henderson Rayburn; Apparently wife of the minister of Gravel Creek Church; Apparently minister of Gravel Creek Church; believe next two men are brothers Oliver Spencer Henderson and George Allen Henderson; Lewis Greenberry Henderson son of Robert and Elizabeth (McCowan) Henderson; possibly DeKalb Rayburn, son of Hiram and Pheriba "Ferry" Rayburn - this could be another of the Henderson brothers if living there at that time.

Bottom Row l-r:  Elizabeth Demaris Rayburn dau of William R and Frances Ann Henderson Rayburn; this may be Pheriba "Ferry" Rayburn Holley widow of Hiram Rayburn and Lewis Holley; William DeKalb Rayburn is seated at the feet of his grandmother; possibly Margaret Adline Rayburn dau of Hiram Rayburn and Pheriba "Ferry" Rayburn - Margaret never married and lived with her mother until her mother died - she then lived near DeKalb Rayburn (her brother) for support until her death; Willie Ella Rayburn dau of William R and Frances Ann (Henderson) Rayburn - she died prior to 1870; Apparently dau of the minister and his wife - (Note:  this girl is wearing shoes and is much better dressed than the Rayburn children.); Mary Sedonia "Donie" Rayburn dau of William R and Frances Ann (Henderson) Rayburn;  Hiram Greenberry Rayburn son of William R and Frances Ann (Henderson) Rayburn. Note: Hiram Greenberry Rayburn later changed his surname to Henderson. 

Identities made by Ernest David  Rayburn, Texas, a grandson of William DeKalb Rayburn