Holt Baptist Church is one of several historic congregations in the Holt community. It was founded by George Washington Freeman (1855-1930) and Susan Amanda House Freeman (1863-1968) in 1916. It’s likely the church building was constructed around this time. The Freemans came to Irwin County from Wilkes County. I believe Mrs. Freeman was a native of Lincoln County.
I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, because my grandfather, Prentice Veal, moved there in the late 1920s. But his parents, Annie Ennis and Elton Veal arrived in Ocilla around 1926 from Deepstep, and attended Holt Baptist along with most of my Veal family. I remember visiting for many family reunions and weddings and this church was part of it all. ~ Betsy Veal Jones