HISTORY OF THE FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF KELLUMTOWN HUBERT, NC
The First Missionary Baptist Church of Kellumtown was formerly known as the First Baptist of Mills Branch. The First Baptist of Mill Branch was located midway between Marshall Chapel and Washington Chapel in the southeastern section of Onslow County. First Missionary Baptist Church of Kellumtown islocated ten miles east of Jacksonville, North Carolina, off Highway # 24. Sunday School and preaching had been held in a small frame building for about a year.
In the Spring of 1939 the people of Mill Branch were informed by the Trent-River Oakey Grove Missionary Baptist Association Executive Board to call for a Minister. The late Rev. Bill George Washington was sent. The Gospel call of Rev.Washington led three people to accept Christ, namely the late Sister Delithia Fonville Mills, the late Sister Dorothy Ray Hawkins Franks and the late Brother Dolphus Hawkins.
On November 26,1939, the Executive Board of the TROGMBA met at the building where services were being held. The church was organized in the name of the First Baptist Church of Mill Branch. Six members came in by letter, namely the late Bros. George Eleby, J. H. McClamy, the late Sister Lessie Tyrance and the late Sister Estella Eleby. The late Sister Pearl Fonville and Sis Mary Boone also joined by letter. The church was organized with nine members. The organization sermon was preached by the late Rev. J. N. Kornegay , with Bros. George Eleby and J.H. McClamy named as Deacons. Sisters Pearl Fonville and Lessie Tyrance were named as Mothers. Sister Estella Eleby as Church Secretary and Bro J. H. McClamy as Church Treasurer.Sister Edna Shepard joined by letter some weeks later.
In 1941 the church and its members were settled in the community of Kellumtown under the same leadership. The church now was a bush arbor in the new community. The name was changed to the First Baptist Kellumtown.
Worship services were held there until a frame structure was erected in March 1942. The building was used and served the purpose until the church no longer houses its program.
Through extensive hard work and prayers we were able to march into the present brick structure the third Sunday in August 1967. The leadership of the church was the Rev. T.J. Chadwick. Through the years 1939-2021 the pastors who served were: Rev. B.G. Washington, Rev. E.W. Wooten, Rev. S.L. Stanford, Rev. C.C. Johnson, Rev. I.N. Elliott, Rev. W.K. Raynor, Rev. T.J. Chadwick, Rev. I.T. Williams and Rev. A.M. Kelly. The present Pastor is Rev. Foster O Lee.
Deacons that served during this period: the late George Eleby, J.H. McClamy, Charlie Fonville, Norman Hawkins, Rev. Leo Chadwick ,S.F. Pickett, Charlie Boone, Jesse Pollock, James W. Johnson, Rev. Claude Chester, Melvin Bailey, Mack Berry, Joseph Graham, Rev. Joseph Dixon, Tony Redd, Fred Mazyck. Current Chairman of Deacon Board Buford Burrell
Mothers that served during this period: the late Sisters Lessie Tyrance, Phoebe Tyrance, Kitty Hamms, Lucy McClamy, Estella Eleby, Pearl Fonville, Viliner Pickett, Audrey Chester, Lucille Pollock, Mamie Hunter Current Mothers; Bertha Chadwick, Marie West, Georgia Williams, Lillie B. Hunter, Phyliss McRae, Linda Graham,Virginia Person, Virginia Cole, Betty C. Wilson, Wanza Williams, Mother Board Helpers: Sister Theta Pollock and Hythen Delarosa
Trustees that have served during this period are Brothers Joseph Graham, Sr, Hugh Hunter,Sr, Charlie Boone, S. F. Pickett , Jesse Chadwick, Purdie Wright, Rev. Claude Chester, James W. Johnson, Dan Chadwick, Donald Robinson, Melvin Bailey, James Bobbitt, Hugh Hunter, Jr. Rodney West , Isciner Johnson Robinson, Wanza Williams
Secretaries that have served in the church: the late Sisters Estella Eleby, Mamie Hunter, Edna Shepard, Velma Bell. Other that have served are Lille B. Hunter, Betty Wilson, Georgia Williams, Verta Henderson, Isciner Johnson Robinson, Sonia Graham,
Deaconess that served during the period: the late Sisters Mary C. Boone, Mamie Hunter, Edna Shepard, Rosie Graham, Lucille Pollock, Lela Frederick, Mary C. Wright, Ella M Johnson, Vilener Pickett. Currently serving Deaconess Linda Graham, Lillie B. Hunter, Bertha Chadwick
