[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E829-E830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING GREATER GROVE STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 2015

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
pillar of the community, Greater Grove Street Missionary Baptist 
Church. Greater Grove Street M. B. Church has served as a catalyst for 
the African American growth in Warren County and the State of 
Mississippi.
  Greater Grove Street Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1908 
in the former home of the late Cosby family on the lower West end of 
Grove Street. The church was known commonly as ``Cato's Church,'' a 
name noting the leadership and zeal of its principal deacon at the 
time. Deacon F. Jackson and family donated the Cornerstone.
  Rev. Willie Wood was elected as the first pastor of the church and he 
served until death. The next pastor, Rev. George S. Lewis, served 
aptly, with deacons: William Fair, E. Sparkmen and W. Wilson serving 
faithfully under him.
  In 1948, Rev. W.C. Porter was elected pastor; and under his 
leadership, the following officers served: Sing Robin, Lieutenant 
Bradley, Charlie Hunt, Jessie Ware, Theadore Shaw, Rufus Britten, James 
Williams, Rufus Price and Tom Neal.
  In 1962, the church came to a major crisis. The City of Vicksburg 
began widening Grove Street. Grove Street M.B. Church laid in the path 
of the city's improvements. As a result, the church was torn down. The 
concrete baptismal pool remains on the old lot, and is the solitary 
reminder that the church ever existed there. In our hour of need, the 
Pastor, Rev. E. E. Tutt, and the members of Ebenezer M.B. Church proved 
to be our friends indeed, as they shared their church building with 
Grove Street M. B. Church over three years as they struggled to rebuild 
the church.
  West of the old site, a new property on Pierce Street, was selected. 
On April 27, 1965, at a cost of $13,000.00, the congregation moved into 
its newly built tabernacle. First, the old pews from the old church 
were shed. At a cost of $600.00, more comfortable pews were purchased 
from Fisher Funeral Home. In 1972, at a cost of $2,400.00, the members 
added 534 square feet of floor space to the rear of the church, which 
consists of the Fellowship Hall and the kitchen. On June 28, 1975, a 
chapter of their struggle and movement ended with the death of Rev. 
W.C. Porter, their pastor through their trials.
  Rev. Albert Price succeeded Rev. Porter. Under his leadership, the 
march resumed for the church. They installed a public address system 
and added brick veneer to the building at a cost of $10,000.00. This 
brief chapter ended in the death of Rev. Price after only serving 
eleven months as pastor.
  In 1977, God blessed the congregation with the energetic leadership 
of Rev. John L. Brown. Under his leadership, the members were able to 
free themselves from the mortgage and all indebtedness. In 1979, a new 
central air unit was installed. However, there was still work to be 
done. For example, they purchased a Baldwin organ in 1979 to enhance 
the song service and installed a central cooling system for $4,056.81; 
and in 1985, landscaping and drainage work was done which cost 
$5,350.00.
  In this description of the establishment, struggle, and movement of 
Grove Street M.B. Church, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit 
motivated them to have a place set aside for the many souls that were 
added to the church; and He motivated them to actively seek to grow 
spiritually and to inspire future generations with the spiritual 
mission. As Dr. John L. Brown continued to lead and direct the church, 
it was hoped that Grove Street M.B. Church would continue to grow.
  Dr. John L. Brown was a native of Utica, MS. He is a graduate of 
Alcorn A&M College, in Lorman, MS, where he received his B.S. degree in 
Elementary Education. He did further study toward his M.S. degree in 
Elementary Education at Jackson State College, Jackson, Mississippi. He 
received his Ph.D. degree from McKinley Theological Seminary, Jackson, 
MS, in 1981. Dr. Brown was a teacher and principal in the Hinds County 
Public School System, Utica, MS, for twenty years.
  As a community leader, he served as an adult leader of the 4-H Club, 
Mixon Junior High School, Utica, MS, for five years. He served as 
president of the N.A.A.C.P., Utica,

[[Page E830]]

MS branch, for twelve years. He served on the Board of Directors of the 
Mississippi Baptist State Convention for ten years, and the Community 
Services Association and the Hinds County Community Action Agency, 
Jackson, MS for eight years. Dr. Brown honorably served his community 
as a community voter registration coordinator, advisor, civil rights 
activists, social worker, and community organizer.
  He was a pastor of three other churches: Orange Hill Baptist Church, 
Bolton, MS; Rock of Ages Baptist Church, Vicksburg, MS; and Mt. Olive 
Baptist Church, Lorman, MS. He was in the ministry for over 30 years. 
His loving and devoted wife, Mrs. Lucille Brown, supported Dr. Brown in 
all of his efforts. Their union was blessed with six children, four 
girls and two boys.
  Under his leadership, the members altered the way services were 
conducted. Instead of posting the Order of Service on the wall, printed 
programs were disseminated to the congregation. The practice of roll 
call (where each member's name was called and one stated the amount of 
his tithes/offering) was eliminated and the practice of distributing 
envelopes was implemented. In 1987, land was purchased and donated to 
the church, which were forty-seven lots (North side of the church) to 
be used for additional parking. In 1993, two more additional corner 
lots were purchased. Also, the wooden steeple on the church was 
replaced with a fiberglass steeple. In 1996, the church van was 
purchased due to the increased attendance in Bible class. Ceiling fans 
were also purchased and installed in the sanctuary and fellowship hall.
  In January 9, 1999, Pastor Casey D. Fisher was elected pastor of 
Greater Grove Street a M.B. Church. At the time he began this ministry, 
the church had a membership of approximately sixty-five souls. Soon 
after becoming pastor, Rev. Fisher adopted his motto, ``Making this 
church the best church this side of Heaven,'' and his theme, ``This is 
the Church where the gospel is preached, love is practiced and people 
are changed.'' Under his leadership, the church congregation has grown 
from the initial sixty-five members to over six hundred. Pastor Fisher 
began his ministry in September of 1998, which he was ordained under 
the pastorate of Reverend Willie L. Lewis of Jackson, Mississippi.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Greater 
Grove Street M. B. Church for its rich heritage and dedication to 
serving others and giving back to the community.

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