[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 113 (Wednesday, July 13, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1110-E1111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE GILFIELD M.B. CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2016

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
Gilfield M.B. Church in Doddsville, Mississippi. The church was founded 
and built by slaves on the banks on the Sunflower River located on the 
plantation of United States Senator James O. Eastland in 1894.
  The history of the church spans 122 years with records showing three 
structures as its home, each with its own fascinating and remarkable 
journey. Early records of the church were recalled and passed down by 
word of mouth from slaves down to the members of the church which were 
also relatives. The earliest written record of the church was around 
the 1980s. Many of the elders and other members were still attending 
the church, so Ms. Hattie Jordan, a member of the church, volunteered 
to be the church historian and keeper of the records. She gathered 
documents, recorded oral stories, researched ``leads'' of where she 
could get more information or someone who could corroborate the 
findings. One source of information she relied on were two cornerstones 
located on the existing church front in Doddsville. One of the 
cornerstones was once the original place of the church in 1894, and 
transferred thereafter to structures one and two.
  In 1894 the location of the first church was strategically planned to 
exist near water. It is believed but not recorded that the location was 
chosen because the river could be used to secretly baptize members, a 
practice not openly approved of by plantation owners. Ms. Jordan told 
the story of how she was baptized in the Sunflower River behind 
Gilfield M.B. Church in 1953 by Rev. McGee. Gilfield M.B. Church was 
allowed to exist only because Senator Eastland gave the slaves his 
approval.
  Gilfield M.B. Church--First Structure--1894 Year: The first pastors 
of Gilfield M.B. Church at its initial location were: Rev. C.C. 
Edwards, Rev. Hester, Rev. Hobbs, and Rev. Mose Watson. No written 
records were kept by slaves. The only source for handing down 
information was by word of mouth to the younger generation.
  Gilfield M.B. Church--Second Structure--1921 Year: The second 
Gilfield M.B. Church was built a mile down from the first site on the 
banks of the Sunflower River on

[[Page E1111]]

the Eastland Plantation. Rev. Mose Watson was the pastor. He continued 
to lead the church as he did while pastoring at the first location. 
After Rev. Watson, the church installed Rev. Issac as the new pastor 
until his death in 1947. Following Rev. Issac the church was led by 
Rev. Latson from 1947 to 1952. Rev. Latson left for the church to move 
to Chicago, IL. Immediately afterwards, Rev. McGee became the pastor in 
1952, but separated from the church in 1953. There was a short lapse in 
pastors because Rev. Fleming did not begin pastoring the church until 
1954. Records indicate he was the last pastor of the second structure 
listed as the home of Gilfield M.B. Church.
  Gilfield M.B. Church--Third and Current Structure--July 24, 1977 
Year: Rev. Fleming moved with the church to their third home beside the 
site of the second home, on the banks of the Sunflower River located on 
the Eastland Plantation. The sanctuary section of the second site was 
demolished leaving the backside section to be used for church 
gatherings, of which it still stands today. The pastors of the third 
site location in order of leadership were: Rev. Fleming, Rev. John H. 
Williams, Rev. Clarence Tolbert, and the current pastor is Rev. 
Theautry Winters.
  Church Members (Past and Present): Gilfield M.B. Church was founded 
by slaves, built by slaves, pastored by slaves, and handed to their 
descendants, of which many are still members. Please know that many of 
the member's names have yet to be recorded. Ms. Hattie Jordan is still 
researching the church history and compiling documents to be used in 
the recordings. Membership records show these individuals as the 
members: Sis. Hattie Young and family, Sis. Mary Pittman, Sis. Mary 
Ella English, Sis. Mahalia Jones and family, Sis. Lucy Williams, Sis. 
Lubertha Williams and family, Sis. Willie Ann Moore and family, Sis. 
Grace Brown, Sis. Bettie Jones and family, Sis. Louis Pittman and 
family, Sis. Celestine Wallace, Sis. Mirays Brown, Sis. Eddie Lee 
Barnes, Bro. Wiley Caples, Sis. Ruth Caples, Sis. Hattie Robinson-
Jordan and family, Deacon George Roby and family, Deacon Charlie 
Edwards and family, Deacon Glay Smith, Deacon David Williams and 
family, Sis. Susie Bowie and family, Sis. Bessie Williams, Deacon 
Howard Lawrence and family, Brother Thomas Hudson and family, Brother 
Joe Henry Pittman and family, Mrs. Hattie Byrd, Sis. Magnolia Wright 
and family, Sis. Rose Lee Lacy and family, Bro. W.C. Williams and 
family, Sis. Lillie Bell Robinson and family, Sis. Linnie Tripplet and 
family, Bro. Hays Robinson and family, Sis. Bessie Joiner, and Sis. 
Deloris Lawrence.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
Gilfield M.B. Church of Doddsville, MS located in Sunflower County 
inside of the Second Congressional District of Mississippi.

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