[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 25, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E421-E422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING BELLE FLOWER CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 2015

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable historical church, Belle Flower Church of Grenada, 
Mississippi and the great leadership it is under.
  In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred sixty-eight (1868), the 
first Black Baptist Church was established in Grenada--then a part of 
Yalobusha County.
  The newly organized church was known as the Colored Baptist Church. 
Members were led by Rev. Larry Patterson, who served as pastor for a 
number of years.
  In September 1872, Lot #119 was deeded to the church by George W. 
Ragsdale. The lot was situated in the West Ward of Grenada. Ragsdale 
said that members of the Colored Baptist Church could continue to 
possess the land as long as the site was used exclusively for church 
purposes, if members conducted themselves with good behavior and if 
they paid taxes. If they misbehaved in an unbecoming manner or failed 
to pay taxes, the land would be seized.
  In 1876, the church was pregnant with many possibilities. Due to the 
severe labor pains of an unknown dispute among church members, Belle 
Flower gave birth to a daughter. She was named First New Hope 
Missionary Baptist Church.
  A.H. Stevens was encouraged to open a high school at the church in 
1888. He planned to offer the basic courses of study, as well as 
instrumental music.
  Since its establishment in 1868, the Belle Flower flock has been led 
by nineteen shepherds. They are Reverends: Larry Patterson, George 
Wright, S.P. Martin, Jerry Weathers, Augustus Nabors, D. Higgins, A.L. 
Hills, Joseph Peterson, Willis Varnado, Robert Varnado, J.B. Webb, W.H. 
Turner, A.D. Banks, H.L. Barnes, S.T. Cunningham,

[[Page E422]]

Tommie Lee Miller (1968-1984), Booker T. Moore (1985-1988), Melvin 
Montgomery (1988-2004), and Randy Jackson (2004-present).
  From the inception until 1959-60, services were held only on the 
second and fourth Sunday.
  The church was re-built in 1917 under the leadership of Rev. Augustus 
Nabors and committee members: Jeff Banks, Rev. Jas Bostic and Rev. R.S. 
Bostic. The annex was added in 1945 led by Rev. J.E. Webb. The 
committee members were: Rev. L.E. Smith, A.U. Fields, W.H. Bostic, 
(grandfather of Belle Flower member, Mrs. Dannette Woods), F.H. 
Johnson, T. Person, James Clark and Rev. B.S. Bostic, who was the 
designer of the annex.
  Belle Flower has always been a trendsetter and a trailblazer in this 
community. When the Civil Rights Movement came to Grenada in 1966, the 
church was poised to take its rightful place in history.
  Because the Belle Flower Church membership believed in binding up the 
broken-hearted and setting the captives free, this edifice became the 
headquarters for the Grenada County Freedom Movement (GCFM). The 
Southern Christian Leadership Conference's (SCLC) local staff offices 
were housed in the Sunday School rooms of the church. Mass meetings 
were held at the church nightly. Key civil rights leaders spoke at the 
church, including: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Andrew Young, Rev. 
Ralph Abernathy, Rev. Hoses Williams, and folk singer/activist Joan 
Baez.
  Belle Flower's pastor, S.T. Cunningham, served as treasurer of the 
GCFM. Members of the congregation followed his leadership in the quest 
for freedom by serving in many capacities. They demonstrated and 
marched; provided housing for civil rights workers; and cooked for SCLC 
staff. Melzina Cook (sister of Belle Flower's member, Thomas Cook) 
served on the GCFM steering committee.
  Some members went to jail (Tommy Lee Green, Melzina Cook, Estelle 
Lemon-Cox, Paul Williams, Andrew Hooker, and others) and some members 
lost their jobs (Lottie Williams, Mother of Belle Flower members, 
Gloria Lott and LaRita Brown; and Emma Lemon, mother of Estelle Cox) in 
the struggle for their basic human rights. Night after night people 
marched out of Belle Flower Church to face down mobs of hate-filled 
racists. Their efforts and their bravery should never be forgotten.
  On January 22, 1967, Belle Flower was fire bombed because of its role 
in the Civil Rights movement. While repairs were being made to the 
facility, services were held at First New Hope Church.
  In 1968, several Grenada citizens participated in the Poor People's 
Campaign (also known as The Mule Train) to Washington, D.C. The 
southern leg of the Mule Train began on May 13, 1968, in Marks, Miss. 
The Mule Train's third stop was Grenada. The pickup point for 
participants was Belle Flower Church.
  During the years following the Civil Rights Movement, the church made 
many modern improvements. They included: purchasing and bricking the 
parsonage, adding a new finance room, adding and remodeling the 
fellowship hall, refurbishing the sanctuary, (cushioning benches, 
carpeting floors) purchasing new pulpit furniture, purchasing a public 
address system and adding the conic.
  In 2004, the members purchased the block adjacent to the church.
  The church has added ministries over the years to meet the needs of 
the members. A Young Adult Choir was added to the Music Ministry in the 
1970s. The Nurse's Guild was established in the 1980s. Programs for the 
needy provided food and clothing for area citizens. Programs for the 
children included: the Red Circle, YWA, Sunshine Band and Youth 
Brotherhood. In 1993, A Daisy Girl Scout troop was established for 
five-year-old girls in the community.
  In 1976, the organ was purchased through the efforts of Mrs. Mary E. 
Caffey, who sponsored a Bicentennial Baby Contest.
  Belle Flower has always had a welcoming and liberal atmosphere. The 
members set spiritual standards for the Belle Flower children and took 
pride in the success of its youth.
  Knowing that they needed to leave a spiritual legacy, adults trained 
the churches' children according to scripture (Proverbs 22:6).
  Belle Flower created an environment for its children to grow and 
flourish spiritually. The fourth Sunday of each month was set aside for 
the youth. The youths' commitment and zeal for this church was so great 
that college students would return home monthly to fulfill their 
obligation as youth choir members, musicians, junior ushers, junior 
deacons, youth Sunday School teachers and youth superintendent.
  Church families and ministries have given their time, talents and 
treasures as a testament to the love they have for ``The Flower''. Some 
of these gifts included: brass candle holders, steps for the water 
fountain, the marquee, Bibles, choir robes and uniforms, a piano, the 
minor over the baptism pool, a podium for the fellowship hall, the 
drapes over the baptism pool, tables and chairs.
  For generations, this church has stood as a pillar in the Grenada 
Community. It has been a shelter in the time of a storm, a rock in a 
weary land, and a cornerstone of the community.
  Because of the love, training and support members received at Belle 
Flower, they have made an indelible mark on the world as medical 
personnel, authors, beauticians, administrators, soldiers, 
manufacturers, teachers and ministers. More importantly, however, for 
137 years, this church has gifted the world with saved, sanctified 
souls dedicated to preparing others to see the kingdom of God.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Belle 
Flower Church for its contribution to the black community and black 
churches.

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