Cohutta First Baptist Church
Cohutta
, Whitfield County GAGenWeb
Many, many thanks to Peggy Whaley and Sue Crawford (need an updated email address please for Sue) for their efforts to bring this together!
Original church building
Cohutta First Baptist Church has been on a long, strong and colorful journey. The church was organized the first Sunday in April 1906. However, many meetings took place prior to the final organization. It is a monumental achievement that the church has survived over a hundred years. The foresight of the inspired and spiritual persons who began Cohutta First Baptist Church has had an impact on many souls over the years.
Thankfully, there are footprints of previous happenings with Cohutta Baptist Church. Some of the Church’s history is recorded in John Parrott’s book, “A Brief History”. The story is that Rev. W. C. Haddock, a Baptist minister residing at Cohutta began to dream of a Baptist Church in the area. The 1905 recorded Associational minutes states, “Rev. W. C. Haddock addresses the body on the subject of building a Baptist house of worship at Cohutta, Georgia”. Another person who had the same interest was J. H. Bridges, who had been a Baptist Sunday School Superintendent before moving to Cohutta. These two men should probably be called the fathers of the Cohutta church. It was Rev. Haddock’s continual topic of conversation that finally led local families to move their membership to Cohutta village and constitute a Baptist Church.
Being serious about its ties to the community and other churches, Cohutta Baptist Church united with the North Georgia Association in September 1906. The original minute book of the church has long been lost but it was constituted in 1906 with the following charter members:
From Hopewell – Mrs. William Millard Filmore (Martha) Morgan; Thomas Lafayette and Susie Burns Williamson, Thomas J. and Catherine (Cattie) Webb Bagby.
From Little Prospect – Rev. William Caswell and Mary E. Boone Haddock; William Holland David and Minerva (Nervy) Phillips Haddock;
From Varnell – Rev. Joseph Columbus Parrott, Licena Stewart Parrott, Miss Nora Parrott, Dr. William Forrest and Cora Pauline Parrott Holland from Bloomberg, Texas.
From, we suppose, Sugar Valley – John Hamilton and Dickey Ann Jones Bridges and maybe some of their children.
A short time after the organization of the church, Mr. & Mrs. T. J. Cooper and Mrs. Cornelia Cooper united with the church. J. H. Bridges became the first Sunday School superintendent and Thomas L. Williamson the first clerk. Those persons involved met for preparatory meetings and all regular meetings until some time during the summer of 1908 in the local Presbyterian Church. That building had been previously used, for fifty-four years, as the Lee Shugart residence. The Presbyterians met at their regular hours and the Baptist met Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Rev. John Morgan Wooten was pastor of the Presbyterian Church during this period of time.
Something very important happened on April 28, 1908. This is when Melinda Pitner (Mrs. Major T.H.) deeded one half acre of land to the Missionary Baptist Church. T. L. Williamson, a charter member, was the Justice of Peace who wrote the deed. The men of the community built a one room building. The ends for the seats were cut out in Tom Bagby’s wood shop. T. L. Williamson did the brick work. The auditorium was built about 1921 during the pastorate of the Rev. W. J. Hinesley.
The summer of 1916 brought about a Training Union with Lee Routh and a group from Dalton First Baptist Church assisting with the organization. Mrs. W. F. Huffaker was the first president. Mr. J. H Bridges was one of the vice presidents of the Sunday school Convention of the Association the year the church was organized. In 1908, Miss Annie Bridges, his daughter acted as secretary for the first Associational W.M.U. meeting – but no records exist of this. In 1918, the first mention of a missionary society in the Cohutta Church in the Associational minutes show Mrs. W. F. Webb as president with twenty enrolled.
For many years the church remained a part time church with services Saturday morning and Sunday morning. About the time of World War 1, it changed to two Sunday services. In 1922 the church called Rev. W. F. Hinesley as its first half time pastor, splitting the services with Concord Baptist. This continued until 1946 when
Rev. L. C. Smartt of Chattanooga was called as the first full time pastor.
The pastorium was built in 1946 while the Rev. L. C. Smartt was pastor and finished between his pastorate and the coming of Rev. A. A. Anderson. A new educational building of seventeen rooms with kitchen and fellowship hall was added in 1962 and the Sunday School departmentalized, under the direction of Rev. B. B. Dawn, Jr. The pastorium (148 Wolfe St.) served the church 53 years until it was sold April 21, 1999.
A committee was appointed October 1970 to make a report to the church on the possibility of building a new sanctuary. In February 1971, a building committee was appointed. Committee members were: Roy Maples and Glenn Cooper, co-chairmen, Willard Cooper, Doug Henderson and Johnnie Riddle. They proceeded to find suitable plans for a new building. In January 1972 the church voted to continue with building plans while Rev. T. D. Hooker was pastor. Odell Riddle was appointed chairman of the building finance committee. In June 1972 the old sanctuary was torn down. The first Sunday in October 1974 the new building was completed to the point that the first service could be held in the new sanctuary. The building was dedicated on July 20, 1975 while Rev. Jack Self was the pastor.
Following Rev. Jack Self, Rev. J. W. Barday served as interim until Rev. O. Ted Page came in June 1977 and served until March 1984. During his pastorate the parking lot was paved, the walks poured, landscaping completed and flowerbox-sign-church bell placed out in front of the church.
Rev. Bill Barker was called as pastor in May 1984 and served until November 1989. Under his leadership and prior to his leaving, a significant and much needed remodeling of the pastorium was accomplished by the membership. On November 24, 1985, the church had a special Thanksgiving service and burning of the church note. Glenn Cooper gave a prayer of praise and Thanksgiving during the service. The theme was “We enter to worship and depart to serve.”
In 1988 the church remodeled the Education Building, enlarged the Fellowship Hall, and the kitchen. Many new members were added and by October 1987, an oil painting of the “old church building” was presented to the church in memory of Rev. J. C. Williamson and hung in the vestibule.
Rev. James. L. Burnham was called as pastor July 1990 and served until 1998. He and his wife, Mary Ann, were missionaries to the Jews in Israel for almost 20 years prior to coming to Cohutta. Mary Ann died with Ovarian Cancer March 1997 and is buried in the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, Cohutta, Georgia.
Rev. Keith Dempsey was called as pastor in 1998 and served until 2002. Rev. Dempsey and his wife, Amy and two children Kristen and Kyle moved from Cartersville, Georgia. The church had sold the pastorium and Rev. Dempsey moved to Highland Forest.
Rev. Jake Carroll served from 2003-2004. Rev. Carroll and his wife Rhonda were in ministry in Chattanooga, Tennessee before coming to Cohutta. They resided in Chattanooga during the time he was pastor.
Dr. Billy Nimmons was interim pastor of Cohutta First Baptist Church 2004-2005 and son Truett Nimmons accepted the call of the church in October 2005 and was pastor until September 2011. Currently Rev. Dewey Boyd is interim pastor while the pulpit committee searches for a new pastor. Deacons are John Parrott, David Rose, Leo Whaley, Jim Keener, Kevin Turner, Ray Knittle, Larry Coker, Dean Thompson and Joe Williams.
The church’s heritage has come from a long line of spiritual leaders who have served God at Cohutta First Baptist Church. There were many years of struggle and growth but the church has continued to increase in membership and support from a range of programs and activities.
While every New Year brings development and change, the church’s mission remains the same - To proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ! From 1906 until today the church persists in the journey of looking to the future with confidence and excitement, while remaining deeply committed to providing spiritual leadership.
One Hundred Year Dedication (April 2006)
Senators Thomas of the 54th and Mullis of the 53rd presented a Senate Resolution to Cohutta First Baptist Church which was adopted in the Georgia Senate February 1, 2006 and adopted in the House of Representatives February 3, 2005. For its formal dedication, Cohutta First Baptist Church met April 9, 2006 11:00 a.m. to celebrate 100 years of Serving the Lord. After much rain it became a beautiful day.
Attendance was beyond expectation (probably close to 400) and the isles were filled with extra chairs; present and past choir members were sitting two to a chair. Beautiful flower arrangements that adorned the sanctuary and foyer were given by Ellen Durham. Many ushers were hard at work directing traffic and seating the multitudes of people.
Elegant programs of winter white with gold cord and tassels around the edge were given to everyone. Ellen Durham, Music Director and Jane Williams, Pianist arranged inspiring musical selections: “Sweet Sweet Spirit” – “He Keeps Me Singing” and “O God Our Help in Ages Past” and an awesome medley that included “Victory In Jesus”-Nothing But the Blood”-Are You Washed in the Blood”-There is Power in the Blood” and “To God Be the Glory”. Choir special was “Bless This House” – this was also sung at the dedication of the new church in 1972.
Pastoral prayer was given by Rev. Truett Nimmons. John Parrott gave the Welcome and Recognition of Special Guests, also reading of Pew Donations. Donations were $1000 per pew and were given by members in memory or honor of a member, past member or in memory of a deceased member.
Rev. Bob Bagley, North Georgia Baptist Association Director presented Rev. Nimmons with two plaques. They read as follows:
Georgia Baptist Convention
Witnessing & Working to the ends of the Earth
Congratulations to Cohutta FBC Cohutta, Georgia
On the Happy Occasion of its 100th Anniversary
April 1906 – April 2006
Presented to Rev. Truett Nimmons, Pastor
Sunday April 9. 2006
J. Robert White
Executive Director
Georgia Baptist Convention
Congratulations to
Cohutta First Baptist Church
For 100 years of Spiritual Guidance
And leadership to this community
And to the
North Georgia Baptist Association
1906-2006
Bob Bagley, Association Missionary
North Georgia Baptist Association
Dalton, Georgia
April 9, 2006
After the service everyone enjoyed a delicious meal. To accommodate the over flow crowd a tent was set up by Chattanooga Tent Company that had seating capacity for 168 people.
Items available for purchase were Cohutta FBC cookbook, John Parrott’s book “A Brief History”, Video’s of the service, Old Church Pictures and the newly published Cohutta FBC Heritage Book.
The Heritage Book research began by Sue Crawford who spent many hours and months in the Dalton and Chattanooga Libraries researching obituaries on micro film of past members, and in the Whitfield County Superior Court deed room and Probate Court Marriage Records. She made phone calls to libraries in other cities, members and past members and searched census records to put together the articles of past members. Glenn Cooper (member 85 years) was invaluable in helping with additional information about past or deceased members. Ellen Durham, Johnnie Riddle and Oradia Grant helped with information about past members. Current members furnished their information. After the research and information was complete, Peggy Whaley wrote the Cohutta First Baptist Church Heritage Book. The Heritage Book’s front cover showcases a picture of the old Church with Rev. W. M. Kelley, Thomas Cooper and Earl Copeland standing on the porch. The back cover shows a picture of the new church.
COHUTTA FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTORS 1906-2012
W.C. Haddock 1906-1907
W. H. Rymer 1908
William Bridges 1909-1911
W.E. Gray 1912-1916
C.C. Maples 1917-1918
B.F. Hunt 1920
W.F. Hinesley (first half time pastor) 1921-1923
W.M. Kelley 1924-1933
Beryl Roberts 1934-1935
Jimmy Parker 1937-1938
W.A. Anderson 1939-1940
George Hyler 1942-1943
L.C. Smart (first full time pastor) 1946
A.A. Jackson 1947-1950
Charles Conley 1951-1954
Curtis Gravely 1955-1956
J.L. Clegg 1956-1959
Bennie Dawn 1960-1963
B.A. Buchanan 1964-1966
J.C. Williamson 1966-1968
T.D. Hooker 1969-1972
Jack Self 1974-1975
J.W. Barday 1976
Ted Page 1977-1984
William Barker 1984-1989
Jim Burnham 1990-1998
Keith Dempsey 1998-2002
Jake Carroll 2003-2004
Billy T. Nimmons 2004-2005
Truett Nimmons 2005-2011
Dewey Boyd 2012-
NOTE: Information on the early pastors was taken from other sources and John Parrott’s book, “A Brief History.” Mr. Parrott’s information came from the annual minutes of the North Georgia Baptist Association and he noted that in some cases alternate spellings were given which are not included. Also, two other pastors not included were P.D. Longley and W.F. Huffaker. They could have been interim pastors or not shown in the records for some reason.
(No pastors were listed for the years 1919, 1936, 1941, 1944-45 and 1973)
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This page was last updated on -03/17/2024
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