A lightning strike took out the historic Red Hill Christian Church near Richland on 21 June 2023. By early December, the congregation had already rebuilt it in the same manner as the original, and it looks like they’re nearly ready to move back in and begin holding services.
The first Christian Church [Disciples of Christ] in Georgia was constituted at this site in 1837. Services were held early in the 1830’s by Rev. George Lynch Smith, first in a brush arbor and later in a log schoolhouse. It was first known as Providence Chapel. The structure lost in June was built in 1857 during the pastorate of Rev. Smith’s son, Dr. Jubilee Smith, who served the congregation until 1895. It was originally a two-story building, with the second floor serving as home to Smith Lodge No. 233, F. &. A. M. Dr. Smith organized Co. I, 17th Georgia Infantry here in August 1861. The second floor was removed much later; I’m not sure when the name was changed to Red Hill.
John & Mrs. Coker’s Baby, 1900 – Red Hill Christian Church Cemetery
I never get tired of finding grave houses. Though they’ve been around nearly as long as human history itself, in one form or another, most of the examples I’ve found in Georgia have a decidedly Victorian appearance, like this one in Stewart County’s historic Red Hill Christian Church Cemetery. Elements of the grave house have probably been restored or replaced, as is often the case with these curious monuments.
The simple ledger stone that marks this burial reads: John & Mrs. Coker’s Baby – 1900. Presumably, the child died in infancy. Mr. Coker’s obituary in the Stewart-Webster Journal, 25 March 1943, notes that John Martin Coker (1866-1943) had lived in or near Richland most of his life, and was well known as a miller.. He was in charge of the Usher mill near Lumpkin for a long period and for many years operated the Richland gin. He had been a member of the Christian Church for more than fifty years. Mrs. Coker was Fannie Coker, but that is about all I’ve learned about her.
According to the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church: This church is thought to have been constituted in 1834. Henry Audulf gave the land for the first church, but there were no recorded deeds so, on May 7, 1845, W. A. Scandrett paid Henry Audulf’s son, John, one hundred dollars for the land. The first building was constructed on half an acre north of Broad Street but it was destroyed by a tornado… The second building was also destroyed by a tornado. Services were conducted in the school building until a church was built north of the present business section. The sanctuary was used until 1912. Under the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Allen, a new lot was purchased on the corner of Phillips Street and Hamilton Avenue and the present sanctuary was constructed.
Richland Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
I believe part of this house was removed but it still has the appearance of a middle class house type, popular from circa 1890-1920, known as a New South Cottage.
In a town with few grocery options, a butcher shop was an important business. I’m not sure if this building always served that purpose, or if it’s included in the historic district, but it probably should be by now.
Lumpkin Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This building located beside the old jail in downtown Lumpkin has always caught my attention, though it turns out to be a newer arrival to this historic community. Our friend Mac Moye relates that it was the Mathis Store, originally located at nearby Louvale. He notes: It was going to be torn down, and Bill Singer bought it and moved it to town.
The only information I’ve been able to locate on the history of Wesley Chapel, in the forgotten community of Beatrice, is that it was established in 1838.
That date comes from the old South Georgia Conference-provided sign at the front of the church. The sign is of a type used by the conference in the 1930s-1940s or thereabouts.
An architectural survey dates the present structure to 1890. The stained glass windows appear to be later additions.
Perhaps as interesting as the church itself is the historic cemetery which lies adjacent to the structure. The earliest burials I noted dated to the early 1840s. The cemetery affords excellent views of the surrounding countryside and is characterized by two large enclosures made of local stone. They are great examples of early vernacular funerary architecture.
The shady respite of the Sims Plot is enclosed by a local stone fence, abundant with Resurrection Fern.
The Sims family were early members of the Wesley Chapel congregation.Sarah P. Sims [22 October 1827-8 June 1845]Elizabeth S. Sims [14 November 1846-3 February 1859]Martha A. Seabrook Sims [2 February 1814-25 October 1854]
The plot of pioneer Thomas Turner House [18 April 1787-14 June 1851] & Elizabeth Young House [20 Jun 1787-5 December 1863] and family is made of local red stone and is a massive enclosure.
A gate once guarded the plot but is long gone.
The fence was well built and has survived largely intact, though this section has collapsed. It is likely descendants have made repairs over the years.
Update: I drove past this site in early December 2023 and the church has been demolished. There’s just a patch of red clay where it once stood.
On 24 July 2021 I was honored to attend the dedication of a mural designed by nationally renowned artist Lonnie Holley and painted by his son Ezekiel, on the side of the Singer Hardware building on the square in Lumpkin. Mr. Holley’s work is often classified as Outsider Art, though The New York Times called him “the Insider’s Outsider”.
The work actually comprises two individual works of art. The image on the left is “Born into Color”, and the image at right is “Black in the Midst of the Red, White, and Blue”.
According to his website, Lonnie Holley began working by the time he was five years old. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1950, and lived in a whiskey house, the state fairgrounds, and several foster homes. Holley notes that his early life was chaotic and he never got to experience a real childhood. Perhaps this explains why the artist has such an infectious good spirit today.
Also from Mr. Holley’s website: Since 1979, Holley has devoted his life to the practice of improvisational creativity. His art and music, born out of struggle, hardship, but perhaps more importantly, out of furious curiosity and biological necessity, has manifested itself in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, performance, and sound. Holley’s sculptures are constructed from found materials in the oldest tradition of African American sculpture. Objects, already imbued with cultural and artistic metaphor, are combined into narrative sculptures that commemorate places, people, and events. His work is now in collections of major museums throughout the country, on permanent display in the United Nations, and been displayed in the White House Rose Garden. In January of 2014, Holley completed a one-month artist-in-residence with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation in Captiva Island, Florida, site of the acclaimed artist’s studio.
A nice crowd turned out for the dedication and braved excessive heat for the opportunity to meet Mr. Holley.
This young man kicked off the ceremony with a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem.
Annie Moye, who organized the event and helped secure the mural, speaks at the dedication.
Mike McFalls, an Associate Professor of Art at Columbus State University and Director of Pasaquan, gave context about Mr. Holley’s place in the art world and a brief overview of his life and career.
Mr. Holley was quick to join the improvisational street dance and shared some good moves with the crowd.
Spontaneity was the order of the day.
Carlonie Holley putting the finishing touches on her chalk art
Mr. Holley also took time to visit with anyone who was so inclined and personally answered many questions from those in attendance.
He also gave a demonstration of his process to local 4-H members.
I want to personally thank Annie Moye for inviting me to document the event.
The hand of the artist
I owe a special thanks to Lonnie, Ezekiel, and the entire Holley family for allowing me to photograph them. They were really nice folks and I’m honored to have had the opportunity.
