Brushy Creek Primitive Baptist Church is the oldest congregation in Irwin County and remains one of the largest churches in the area. Its historic cemetery is the final resting place of many Irwin County pioneer families and its setting, surrounded by vast farmlands, is idyllic. The church itself is a fine building.
The following history is from a 1958 historic marker, and gives insight to the early foundations of the congregation: Dorminy’s Meeting House was constituted December 17, 1831, on a site 1 mile Northwest of Irwinville, near the home of John B. Dorminy, Sr. The Church was of the Primitive Baptist faith, and the elders constituting it were the Rev. J. Baker and the Rev. John Marshall. Organizing members were: John Dorminy, Sr., Rachel Dorminy, Samuel Goff, Tabitha Goff, Susan Jernigan, Richard Tucker, Thomas Woodard, Nancy Woodard, Sarah Smith. John Dorminy, Sr., was Clerk.
The Rev. Archibald Odum was the first regular pastor, beginning his pastorate February 21, 1835.
In 1836, by unanimous agreement of the members, the church was moved to Young’s Meeting House in the 3rd District of Irwin County. The church remained at the Young’s Meeting House site until 1853. On March 26, of that year, upon motion duly made and carried, it was agreed to move the church to Brushy Creek, the present site. Only the old cemeteries remain to mark the locations of Dorminy’s Meeting House and Young’s Meeting House.
The description on this photo seems to be the duplicate of the information for Bethlehem Baptist Church. We visited Bethlehem cemetery yesterday to tend to the gravesites of my wife’s grandmother, two great-aunts, and their three husbands.
Clayton, the churches have a connection, as noted by the historical marker.
Then our understanding has been wrong. We believed that Ozias Church was located on the spot where the Bethlehem church and the marker are now located.
Clayton, I am unsure. I have friends in both congregations and will try to find out.
I grew up just down the road from this church. Walked to Sunday School and Church many Sunday mornings. The first time I was “Santa Claus” was at the church. I am sure the Lord forgave me for telling fibs to all those kids. Lots of good times there!
So touched to see the picture of the church…my Gramma and most of her people are buried in that church yard. I remember you used could see a relative’s house off to the back across the field behind the church..now sadly they too are both buried there. My first trip back was in 2008, 20 yrs after Gramma passed, and I took the time to walk around the cemetery. We took several pictures of stones and markers as time is not being kind to some. Thank you for such a wonderful blog..it means alot to see so many places my Gramma and aunt lived, saw, and explored.
Beautiful setting…… My wife’s grandmother is also buried there. We live in Raleigh, NC and doubt we will every get down that way. I was wondering who to contact concerning the burial records for Brushy Creek Cemetery? We’d like to verify she is indeed buried there and if so, would like to have someone take a picture of her grave stone and e-mail it to us. Her name was Susie Inman Cook and she died January 28, 1919. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
All this time later and I just saw this. I’m hoping to drive up this summer to see my Gramma’s grave, Did you ever reach out to the church, or get a photo?
Yes thanks Teri, we found a contact at the Church via Facebook last year. It turned out to be the Pastor’s wife. She was VERY helpful but after a search of the entire cemetery of reading tombstones she could not locate the grave. We have drawn the conclusion that my wife’s Grandmother is in an unmarked grave. Her Grandfather was a farmer and money was tight in 1919 so I guess he didn’t have the money to purchase a cemetery monument or footstone.
Thanks for the note, however, if you should run across a Susan Inman Cook (1892-1919), we’d be grateful if you could e-mail a photo. Thanks again! -Bob
Fletcher and Young, Irwin County descendant remembers the tobacco barn — your photo made me recall the site and scent of the tobacco leaves hanging there!
Thanks!
Sincerely
Thank you, June! That’s the best compliment any photographer could receive…