Cobbtown Baptist Church was organized in 1906 by Dr. J. C. Brewton. The first pastor was B. F. Hogan, in 1907, and charter members were: William M. & Lucy Bird; Marshall & Mattie Hattaway; Mr. & Mrs. Luther Mills; Stiles A. & Roxie Ann Sikes; and Henry & Laura Yeomans. The present structure was completed in 1944. E. L. Harrison was the pastor at the time and the building committee was: W. L. Brown, Chairman; E. L. Vaughn, Treasurer; T. D. Slater, Construction Superintendent; R. L. Collins; and R. C. Coleman.
Cedar Grove Methodist Church was established circa 1892 by a small congregation in rural Tattnall County. I first photographed it three years ago. It’s located near the old Employee’s Clubhouse of the Rogers State Prison (formerly known as the Georgia State Penitentiary). The building is presently owned by my good friends, Janisse Ray and Raven Waters, who are leading an effort to save it for future generations. Janisse is best known for her writing (Ecology of a Cracker Childhood; Wild Card Quilt; Drifting into Darien, among others), but she’s also a champion of community and for giving rural communities a voice they might not otherwise have.
The pews have been removed for protection and all that remains inside is this old piano.
Repairing the roof is the most crucial fix that’s needed now, as structural damage is becoming a real threat. Windows will also be needed. Cedar Grove was abandoned in 1975 and though efforts were made to revive it in the early 1980s, there just weren’t enough members to do so.
A small cemetery is located behind the church.
The earliest burial I was able to locate in the adjacent cemetery was that of Johnnie Harden, who died in 1891. Most burials date to the 1920s.
Rear view of Cedar Grove
Thanks to Peggy Anderson and Laurinda Norris for the identification and information.
The South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church notes: The Hopewell Methodist Church grew out of a prayer meeting conducted by Mother Stafford. Ezekiel Safford and his wife, Mary Jane, were born in South Carolina around 1800. Near 1825, they came to Georgia and settled on the banks of the Altamaha River, six miles from the nearest neighbor. Ezekiel was an infidel. Mother Stafford was raised an orphan, but her early training was decidedly Christian. She saw the religious needs of her distant neighbors and began prayer services among them…Eventually, Ezekiel was converted and joined the church. A log (church) home was built in 1860, and the present building in 1890…A sign at the church notes that it was established in 1817. That date seems to be in conflict with the history provided by the South Georgia Conference, but the new information may be based on more recent research.
On the first Sunday in September, since 1955, they have held the Edward Anderson Reunion, in memory of J. Miller Anderson, Mamie A. Dasher, and others of the church who have passed away.
Pearson’s Chapel Methodist Church was organized by Reverend W. M. C. Conley in 1868 and the church is thought to have been built shortly thereafter. The congregation is small, but still active; meetings are held the first Sunday of each month and the public is welcome to attend.
