The Wylie News (Wylie, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 22, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 1, 1995 Page: 9 of 20
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First Baptist roots traced back to 1870
Wednesday, November 1.1995 - THE WYLIE NEWS - Section A - Page 9
(Editor’s note: In connection
with Sunday’s celebration of the
125th birthday of the First Baptist
Church of Wylie, the Historical
Committee has submitted informa-
tion upon which the following is
based.)
When the first settlers came to
this area, circuit riders and priests
came from near and far, preaching
and teaching at the little settlements
along the way.
Soon, combination school hous-
es-churches were rudely construct-
ed.
Possibly the first was St. Paul
Catholic Church, a forerunner of St.
Anthony’s in Wylie, which began in
1856 at the home of James
Gallagher.
Methodists met alternately at the
homes of M.L. Morris and William
Spurgin, and “Uncle Jimmy”
Russell hosted Christian Church
services.
Under the leadership of J.A.
Bishop, a local farmer and minister,
Baptists started meeting around
at Lee’s School House
VP>n present FM 544 East.
After crops were in each year,
old-fashioned revival meetings of
several days duration were held,
with Jimmie Seabourn and William
Marshall Lee providing the free
campground site.
The Elm Fork Baptist
Association presented a charter to
25 members on Sept. 12, 1872, and
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Callaway gave
land to build a church with provi-
sions that “the land hereinafter con-
veyed shall never be used for the
sale of intoxicating liquors or any
immoral purpose."
The site of the then Shiloh
Baptist Church of Nickelville, com-
pleted in 1884, is on present South
Ballard St. in Wylie.
The steeple bell is a proud pos-
session of the successor church,
First Baptist.
On June 13, 1904, Dr. G.C.
Kreymcr sold part of the present
land on North First to the church for
$300. The deed was signed by pas-
tor W.T. Newsom, clerk L.C. Burch
and deacons J.J. Munday and J.B.
N^illiamson.
Under the leadership of Rev. J.L.
WISD offers
Reid, the church grew to need an
“eveiy- Sunday meeting instead of
an every-other- Sunday meeting.”
Rev. W.P. Mears was pastor when
the first brick building was con-
structed in the early 1950s. Now
called Draper Chapel and Parlor,
the building has been completely
refurbished.
During the nine-year pastorship
of Dr. Gilbert Callaway (1958-67),
membership rose from 561 to 815
and mission giving exceeded goals.
He directed the construction in
1960 of a two-story Sunday school
wing added to the auditorium (now
Draper Chapel). It also included a
nursery, kitchen and dining area.
Earl Jones, a deacon and builder,
was overseer for the construction.
Wanda Butler was the first church
secretary while Callaway was pas-
tor.
In 1963, a four-bedroom parson-
age was completed at 401 Hilltop as
a residence for Calloway, his wife
Nora and their daughters Connie,
Carla and Kelly
When Callaway moved to
Lewisville in 1967, he recommend-
ed Rev. A.L. Draper of Justin as his
successor here. Draper, the current
pastor, and his wife Linda and
daughter Lori came in 1969, and a
son Derek was bom to them in
1971.
Lori was wed at Wylie FBC to
Scott Reuthinger on Aug. 6, 1988,
in a ceremony performed by her
father and Rev. Clyde Leonard. The
couple made the Drapers grandpar-
ents when Amy Reuthinger was
born in November 1994.
Derek Draper, ordained on Jan.
22, 1995, is youth minister of Justin
First Baptist Church.
When the Draper family moved
to Wylie 26 years ago, membership
of the church totaled 701, compared
to 2,132 at present.
Included in FBC's mission out-
reach program is co-sponsorship of
Southfork Baptist Church. The con-
gregation’s local mission focus
includes the Wylie Christian Care
Center.
In 1972, the church started a
"Together We Build” program
which led to the construction of a
new 668-seat auditorium that was
dedicated Feb. 24, 1974.
Sleep is the umbilical cord
that ties the individual to the
universe.
—Fiedrioh Hehhel
On the steering committee were
Harry Hbbals, Kathleen Shields,
Bill J. Davis, William and Ann
Martin, A.B. Simmons and Gail
Ripple.
The church celebrated its 100th
birthday on Dec. 6, 1970, Fred
Callaway, who joined the church in
1898, was recognized as the oldest
person in years of membership.
Medie Corbitt, who joined in
1921, was the person present with
the longest tenure of service.
Gail Ripple became secretary on
Feb. 19, 1970, replacing Wanda
Butler, who was moving. Since
then she has worked with many sec-
retaries.
A.B. Simmons was the first
chairman of the bus ministry that
started in 1973 with the purchase of
the “Blue Flash.” Since then sever-
al buses have been used to take
groups on mission trips and other
excursions.
The church’s “Happy Circle” of
senior adults was begun in 1974 and
has continued for 21 years under the
guidance of Retha Tibbals.
Allen Stroud is in charge of the
program, and one of the five food
groups, under the chairmanship of
Gertie Douthitt, prepares the meals.
At present, attendance averages
275 to 300 each Happy Circle day,
and trips are taken by the group.
Under the leadership of G.M. and
Sarah Armstrong, a Sunday school
class was started at Hillcrest Manor
Nursing Home in 1975. Armstrong
taught the class for several years,
and Thomas Maynard is the current
teacher.
Allen Stroud joined the staff as
minister of music and youth in
1980, coming to this locale with his
wife Sandy and daughter Kristen.
Their son Garrett was born later.
In 1985, Bill Davis headed a
“Together We Build a Family Life
Center,” which provided the new
structure that was dedicated July
31, 1988. Tom Dance was archi-
tect; Salsman and Waller, contrac-
tors.
Memorials presented to the
church in the last 10 years include
the carillon, clock and bells, by
Tommie and Joe Douthitt in memo-
ry of her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas Williams, and an inspiring
ait glass made especially for the
space just outside the church offices
by Margie and Raymond Rowell in
memory of their son, Rudy Rowell.
The children and grandchildren
of Pat and Lucy Houscwright com-
missioned Wylie's famed artist,
John Pototschnik, to paint a picture
of all four homes of the First Baptist
Church with the mode of travel of
the time periods. In the left comer is
a portrait of Mr. and Mrs.
Housewright.
A number of men from First
Baptist have entered fulltime
church work after being ordained
by the church.
The Lunch Bunch was added by
the First Baptist Women’s
Missionary Union as an outreach
program in 1986, with members of
various faiths meeting each
Thursday for a covered-dish lunch
and entertainment.
Scott Brown became minister of
youth and activities in 1989. He
and his wife Terri have three daugh-
ters, Lindsey, Megan and
McKenzie.
Ray Richey joined the staff as
minister of education and adminis-
tration in 1993, moving here from
Gainesville with his wife Vera and
daughters, Jinna and Sarah.
Robert Franklin and Bill
Stevenson maintain the building,
and Tommie McBrayer recently
replaced Barbie Baugh as secretary.
On Mother’s Day 1993, a tornado
ripped through Wylie, destroying
193 homes and 36 businesses.
Among them were the homes of
several congregation members.
The church, which was open to
assist in any and all emergencies,
served the American Red Cross as
headquarters during the recovery
period.
People were fed and food distrib-
uted from the church by members
of various congregations that united
in the effort to help the needy.
“Today the church stands tall
under the capable guidance of Dr.
A.L. Draper. It is with deep humil-
ity that the members thank the Lord
for his grace in giving such wonder-
ful spirit of love and caring among
each other,” Mrs. Bebs Fulkerson
said.
SCHOOL OFFICIALS MAKE PRESENTATION—Wylie ISD
school board member Jim Hysaw (L), superintendent Dr. John
Fuller, and public information officer Betty Stephens are shown
following a session called “Dialoguing with the Public About
Facility Needs” which they presented at the Texas Association of
School Boards/Texas Association of School Administrators
Conference held in Houston’s George R. Brown Convention
Center. Wylie’s Board of Trustees was recognized during the
conference for having 100 percent member attendance.
Special to The News
Oldest members recall
First Baptist history
GED classes CCSSR to
To subscribe call
The Wylie News 442-5515
By Beb Fulkerson
The oldest member in the service
of the First Baptist Church of Wylie,
which will celebrate its 125th birth-
day Sunday, is Jack Parr.
Not counting seminary students,
Jack can recall that he has served
under 23 pastors.
It was in 1923 that Jack began
bringing his mother to the First
Baptist Church in his 1920 Model T
Ford which had no top and was pur-
chased for the sum of $235. At that
time, most members made it to
church in hacks and buggies.
The old church had a white,
wooden exterior, and at the north
and south front sides were six steps
each. Two coal stoves, one at the
front and another at the back, heated
the members in winter days as they
tried to sit nearer the stoves to keep
warm.
Hand-held fans and windows
raised to the maximum provided all
the cool air available in the summer-
time. An old pump organ stood in
the ante room.
Times were hard financially, and
the offerings were small. Jack, who
has been assistant treasurer for many
years, recalled once when the
monthly offering totaled $28.65.
Another time, the church body voted
to pay the pastor $40 per month if
they could raise it.
There are two ladies to be hon-
ored as the oldest in membership at
First Baptist. Alma Goen and Agnes
Dempsey both joined in 1931, and
both remain very active in different
phases of the church.
Alma was one of nine children
born to Steve and Verna Bates.
Following their move to Wylie from
Copeville, Mr. and Mrs. Bats took it
for granted that their children would
join the church with them.
“Daddy was a deacon, and Mama
stressed that she raised her children
to love God and mankind by making
them sit with her in church,” she
said.
Agnes Dempsey recalled that her
parents, grandparents and great-
grandparents were members of the
church. At the age of 12 years,
Agnes was saved at a revival held by
a converted Jew, Hyman Appleman.
Twenty-eight persons were saved
at this time and 44 came into the
church membership. They^ were
baptized in Gayler’s Stock gqnd on
July 31, 1931.
Agnes’s mother, Ida Griffin
Burns, and sister, Naomi Burns
Thompson, were baptized, too. The
man whom she later married,
Herman Dempsey, joined the church
in 1931 also.
Wylie Independent School Dis-
trict is offering classes in prepara-
tion for taking the five tests leading
to a certified high school general
equivalency diploma (GED) issued
by the Texas Education Agency.
Classes are held at Wylie High
School in Room 329 on Monday,
Tuesday and Thursday evenings
from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wylie High
School teachers coordinate the pro-
gram, which offers individualized,
self-paced instruction and features a
computer curriculum.
For more information about the
FREE classes and an opportunity
leading to a brighter future, call 442-
meet Nov. 8 Community
craft fair set
for Nov. 11
The Collin County Social Service
Association will meet on Wednes-
day, Nov. 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1
p.m. at Kountry Steak Out on Hwy.
5 in Plano.
This month the main speaker will
be a representative from North
Texas Legal Services. The Spotlight
for this meeting will be Consumer
Credit Counseling.
Membership is open to any social
service agency and/or interested
individuals. For more information,
call one of the following numbers:
542-4697 or 422-2911.
Tim The D.J.
• Weddings • Parties • Dances • Proms
Truck Shows • Grand Openings
Plan Now for xnur Christmas Parties
rfc New Year’s Eve still available &
Tim Smithson - Reasonable Rates
Phone 442-7947 Beeper 655-4420
Community FHA will be hosting
their 5th Annual Craft Fair on
Saturday, Nov. 11. Booths featuring
local artists and craftsmen will be
open from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The fair will be at Community
High School in Nevada. The school
is located on FM 1138. From Hwy.
78 exit onto FM 6 and FM 6 will
cross FM 1138.
Booth spaces are still available.
The cost is $20 for a 10 x 10 booth
with a table provided. Last year the
fair hosted 46 booths.
125 Yeans op
1870 -1995
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
WYLIE, TEXAS
Sunday, November 5, 1995
Lunch 12:30 p.m. $6/person
Call the church for more information (442-2261).
21-21-172
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WYLIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1995 CHRISTMAS PARADE
"HOLIDAY DREAMS"
WE WOULD LIKE YOU AND/OR YOUR GROUP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL
CHRISTMAS PARADE TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1995, AT 10:3(1 AM IN
DOWNTOWN YVYLIE.
YVE ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY REPRESENTED;
MERCHANTS, SCHOOL GROUPS, MUSICAL GROUPS, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS,
CHURCH GROUPS, ADULT CLUBS, RIDING CLUBS, E IC. PLEASE CONSIDER BEING A
PART OF THIS YEAR S PARADE.
THE STAGING AREA WILL BE OAK AND BIRMINGHAM NEAR HIE RAILROAD. PLEASE
GO YVF.ST ON OAK FROM BALLARD TO ENTER TI1E STAGING AREA. THE LINEUP
TEAM WILL DIRECT YOU TO YOUR RESERVED POSITION IN THE STAGING AREA.
UNITS SHOULD START ARRIVING BE'TWEEN 9:0(1 AM AND 10:00 AM, AND IN POSITION
NO LATER THAN 10:15 AM. THE PARADE ROUTE FOLLOWS OAK EAST TO BALLARD,
NORTH ON BALLARD TO BROWN, EAST ON BROWN TO SEX ONI) ST. WALKERS F.X11
ON SECOND. FLOATS, VEHICLES PROCEED TO IIYVY 78.
FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, THE CHAMBER IS REQUESTING THAT NO CANDY ETC. BE
THROWN TO T1IE SPECTATORS FROM THE PARADE PARTICIPANTS. WALKERS
IIAND1NC CANDY TO SPECTATORS IS PERMITTED. THE CHAMBER WILL PROVIDE
HIE SANTA CI.AUS FOR THE PARADE.
PLEASE FILL OUT THE INFORMATION BF.LOYV, AND RETURN IT TO THE CHAMBER
OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24. YVE WILL ASSIGN A NUMBER TO EACH ENTRY AND WILL
NOTIFY YOU OF YOUR NUMBER IN TIIE LINEUP IN ORDER FOR YOU TO GO RIGHT
TO YOUR POSITION.
NAME
CONTACT PERSON_
PHONE(WORK)__
(HOME)
MAILING ADDRESS
TYPE OEENTRY
(FLOAT, WALKING UNIT, VEHICLE, HORSES ETC)
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Cook, Margaret. The Wylie News (Wylie, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 22, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 1, 1995, newspaper, November 1, 1995; Wylie, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth749427/m1/9/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Smith Public Library.