H.R. No. 290
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Members of Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church in Quitman are
celebrating the 150th anniversary of their church's founding in
2011; and
WHEREAS, Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church is thought to be the
oldest African American church in Wood County and was organized
around 1861 under the leadership of the Reverend Austin Davis, the
church's first pastor, and the Reverend Jeff Warlick; the members
originally met and conducted services outside, beneath a brush
arbor, but in the fall of 1861 Bob Johnson, Sr., donated land where
the church cemetery is now located; a church edifice was built by
the Reverend Henry Brown, and the congregation continues to possess
a bench and a bell that were part of the original church fixtures;
and
WHEREAS, Through the decades, Mt. Shiloh has benefited from
the dedicated efforts of many outstanding members of the clergy; in
the early 1960s, the Reverend C. Alexander became the pastor, and
during his tenure he restructured the morning services and planned
an evening service and other functions; he was succeeded by the
Reverend Beverly Montgomery, who assisted the church in securing
new pews and remodeling the entrance and sanctuary, as well as in
organizing the Baptist Training Union; and
WHEREAS, Numerous other area churches began as branches of
Mt. Shiloh, which is led today by the Reverend Troy Miller, who has
served as pastor for more than two decades; he is the grandson of
the late Reverend Alexander, while his wife, Yolanda Miller, is the
granddaughter of the late Lee A. Mabry and Fleetie Mabry, both
longtime members of Mt. Shiloh; and
WHEREAS, On June 26, 2011, the church marked its
sesquicentennial anniversary with a special celebration featuring
guest speaker Linda McCullough of Brocks Chapel United Methodist
Church in Quitman; and
WHEREAS, Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church has long served as a
source of spiritual enrichment to those who worship there, and its
continued existence is a tribute to the unwavering commitment of
its members, both past and present; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 150th
anniversary of the founding of Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church and extend
to the congregation sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Hughes
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 290 was adopted by the House on June
28, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House