LDS Church HistoryCHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
DAVIE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
By Marie Craig
SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Interviews with long-time members, the book, History of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Carolina, and pages from the scrapbooks of
Sarah Elizabeth “Lib” Koontz yielded this information.
As Ward Historian of the Tanglewood Ward in Forsyth County, North Carolina, I am
trying to compile a history of the LDS church in our area. I have interviewed many people and
have written descriptions.
1900 Census
An early date I found, quite by accident in researching my WWI book about Davie County, was
a listing of 2 missionaries in the northwest corner of Davie County in the 1900 census. I looked
for the family in the following census schedules, and I also contacted the Church History
Department in Salt Lake City about the two missionaries. They sent me several documents
which profiled the two. The missionaries were Job Adams and Horace A. Smoot (photo at left
sent from History Dept.) living with a Blackwelder family. Information from the History
Department: “Job Adams was set apart 15 Feb 1899. He was from Riverdale, Idaho. Horace A.
Smoot was set apart 11 October 1899. He returned from his mission June 19, 1901. He was
released on account of sickness and had spent much of his time in
Tennessee. From the Early Church Information File, I also found that
Job was born either 27 Sept 1872 or 27 Sept 1874, was at some point in
his early years in the Brigham City 4th, and that he was ordained a
High Priest on 5 May 1918. Also from the ECIF, I found that Horace's
middle name was Alma, and that he was married 11 June 1902 in Salt
Lake City to Edna L. Stubbs.”
Horace A. Smoot who served a mission in Davie County in 1900
Also, I was curious about the Blackwelder family. I felt inspired to E-mail my singing friend
whose elderly mother had helped me with research. My friend answered that she sent my E-mail
to her brother who is a genealogist and is married to a Blackwelder. I had no idea. They had
been to the Duke University History Library the Saturday before, researching that surname. He
sent me a lot of information about the family and exactly where they lived. A side road has that
name now, so I drove up that way recently to be near the farm house where in 1900 two LDS
missionaries were staying and preaching the gospel. I asked the History Department about the
possibility of LDS membership for the Blackwelders, but was told that the records are very
scanty for that long ago period.
1888 Newspaper Article
“Davie county seems to be an attractive spot for the Mormon elders. During the past year we
have had occasion several times to allude to the proselyting efforts being made there, and last
week another disciple, bearing the name of Elder Charles N. Hubbard arrived in Mocksville, and
the Times says it is understood that he intends to preach in that county, that being the mission
field assigned to him.” (found in the files at Davie County Public Library, Mocksville, North
Carolina, originally in the Winston Republican, 6 December 1888)
NC LDS History Book
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Carolina, by Wallace R.
Draughon, D.D.S.
Page 58: DAVIE COUNTY. Davie County received the traveling elders as early as September,
1888, when Elders J.G. Duffin and George M. Tanks were sent there to open a new field of
labor. Again as in many other counties of the state, many years passed before the Church
became organized in the area. The Mocksville Branch was formed in 1952 with T.R. Green,
branch president, and Clifford Keener and Billie Green, counselors. Regrettably this branch does
not exist today.
Page 68: The North Carolina Central District was created from the North Carolina West District
on July 11, 1948, with Surry, Yadkin, Davie, Rowan, and Mecklenburg counties’ west border
forming the boundary line. Elder Lavon Fife became president of the West District and James L.
Bennett became president of the Central District. On May 30, 1954, Joseph B. Dixon became
the first local member appointed as West District president since its division in 1948. Upon
President Bennett’s release W. Lamar Webb was sustained as president of the Central District on
May 20, 1956, with Eugene A. Gulledge and Kenneth L. Duke as counselors. Later Eugene A.
Gulledge became president when Brother Webb moved to Salt Lake City and Ivan A. Larson and
V. Talmadge Hiatt became his counselors.
Page 100:
1892 Baptism in Davie County: Hubbard Hercular Davis
1901 Baptism in Davie County: Thos. A. Clampit, Martha Melvena Enniss
1904 Baptism in Davie County: Cora Lee Pool
page 59: In 1906 at a missionary conference, Elder B.H. Roberts said, “stay where the Gospel
finds you” and to build up the church in one’s own locality. “There is propriety in establishing
wards and stakes of Zion in North Carolina.”
LOCATIONS IN DAVIE:
(Numbers in parentheses are latitude and longitude of buildings.)
Members’ Homes
The church met in people’s homes, but there was not enough room. Families took turns keeping
the missionaries. Phyllis’ parents let the missionaries have their bed. Phyllis said that the
missionary men walked everywhere but finally found a big car, maybe a Buick, to buy. David
Hiatt, Mount Airy, was an advisor and helper in establishing and maintaining these church
members. (Phyllis Green Williams)
Ruth’s grandfather, John William Green, died when Ruth was only 6 months old. The
missionaries had come through this area and asked him to read the Book of Mormon. He was
busy with crops, but took the book and promised to read it when he wasn’t so busy. He put it in
his trunk and later read it. He was baptized, along with his wife, Fannie Jones Green, and several
other family members. Ruth’s father was baptized first. Ruth was baptized at 12 in a pond,
Green Pond, on the family farm. John William Green had become friends with David Hiatt of
Mount Airy who conducted their funerals later. (Ruth Green Foster, sister to Phyllis, above)
Tobacco Pack House in Davie County (35.877, -80.607)
A tobacco pack house was next used. It belonged to Buruss Green. He made benches and a
podium. They would use it for storing cured tobacco and then clean it out for church on
Sundays. It was on the land at Phyllis’ parents’ farm. (Phyllis Green Williams)
Small White House in Davie County (35.879, -80.605)
Phyllis’ uncle, Burss Green, Greenhill Road, donated a little white house which was remodeled
for a church. It is on Greenhill Road, south of Dot Green’s house, east side of road, about 0.5
mile from County Home Road intersection. Baptisms were in Hunting Creek. There were 3
rooms: Gospel Doctrine, youth, Primary. Sacrament meeting was in the evening. It was about
1922. Theodore Green was Branch President. Children had matured into young adults and had
married non-LDS members and the church decreased in size. Phyllis was 15 (1949) when she
was baptized. She was 4 when her parents were baptized. (Phyllis Green Williams)
Mocksville Branch, 869 Hardison Road, Mocksville (35.884, -80.568)
Fifty to sixty members met at a two-story house at 869 Hardison Street in Mocksville which the
church bought plus 4 surrounding acres. Primary (children) met upstairs at first. There were no
pews downstairs, just padded folding chairs. Later, there was a double-wide trailer installed in
the back with a connecting deck. The Primary and Nursery meet out there in the morning; and
then the sacrament meeting was held there on Sunday evenings. (Phyllis Green Williams)
Ruth Green Foster had many callings in the branch; she was Relief Society president, prepared
the bulletin, and taught Seminary for four years at the same time.
Vern Mecham was branch president for 4 years. Vern home taught 9 families and was his own
clerk. Bill Green was a counselor; also later Frank Koontz was a counselor. Also, Ward Hall
was a counselor and then moved to Sparta. Bill Ezra was his last counselor. He only had one
counselor at a time.
There were about 25 people at this time. Vern said, “This was tough, but the most spiritual time
of my life.” Bruce Smith was stake president. Bruce Smith called Bill Ezra to succeed Vern as
president, and he served for four years. Vern served as Melchezidak Priesthood leader for 4
years. Adam Green was an active member and served a mission to Chile. He is Bill’s second
cousin, son of Johnny Green. David Green was also a member. 35 people attended at this
time. Phyllis Mecham was Stake Young Women’s President and also president of the branch’s
Young Women.
The men met upstairs – some were very heavy, and they were concerned about the weakened
condition of the sagging floor. The Relief Society sisters met below them. A double-wide was
placed behind the church so that the upstairs did not have to be used. (Vernon Mecham)
The minutes of sacrament meetings were kept and in July 2016 upon reading them in the Church
History Library in Salt Lake City, this information was found. “On 1 August 1957, the branch
started meeting in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina as guests. On 6 October 1957,
the Lexington Branch was formed which included the Davie County members.”
Previous LDS Church on Hardison Road in
Mocksville
DAVIE MEMBERS’ CHURCH
LOCATION MOVED TO FORSYTH COUNTY IN 1994
4780 Westchester Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (36.066, -80.342)
This church was built in 1971, and became a stake center in 1979. On 4 September 1994, Davie
members began meeting at the Stake Center for a year and a half while the Tanglewood building
was being finished. They were called Tanglewood Ward. D. Euell Hinsdale was Stake
President. Starr Eckholdt was Bishop; counselors were Bill Hansen and Joe Low. Bishops since
that time have been Gary DeLozier; John Marsh, Joseph Whitaker, Scott L. Snow, and Todd
Eldredge.
4260 Clinard Road, Clemmons, NC (36.014, -80.393)
The new structure was completed, and the first sacrament meeting was 21 June 1998, Fathers’
Day.
4780 Westchester Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (36.066, -80.342)
In January of 2010, members returned to the Stake Center for their meeting place while the
Tanglewood building was remodeled and doubled in size. They met there for 1.5
years. Tanglewood Groundbreaking ceremony was held on 16 January 2010.
4260 Clinard Road, Clemmons, NC (36.014, -80.393)
The first meeting in this newly remodeled building which became the new Stake Center was on
Stake Conference, 5 June 2011. Two congregations meet there.
PHOTOGRAPHS STARTING IN 1994
In December 1994, members met on the property on Clinard Road to work and to enjoy a cookout.
In March 1997, construction was begun.
In April 1997, the walls were up.
In July 1997, some of the members came to inspect the new building and to tend the gardens that they
sowed.
In August 1997, more progress.
In January 1998, the back wall is finished with a temporary surface so that the building can be
enlarged easily.
In April 1998, the Tanglewood building is almost complete.
In June 1998, the landscaping and windows are complete.
On October 17, 1998, an Open House for the public was given. Feature articles in the Winston-Salem
newspaper highlighted the church and the new building.
March 2002. Aerial view -- Google Earth image
On January 16, 2010, a ground-breaking was held for remodeling and doubling the size of the building.
Shown with shovels are Bishop Joseph Whitaker, former Stake President Bruce Smith, First Counselor in
Stake Gary Smith, Stake President John Marsh, and Bishop Rick Green.
July 2010. Enlarging the building. Aerial view -- Google Earth image
In May 2010, walls are up for the addition to the Tanglewood building.
2016. Finished Stake Center. Aerial view -- Google Earth image
LOCATIONS OF PREVIOUS NEARBY LDS CHURCHES
Colfax Church, 8934 West Market Street, Colfax NC (36.103, -79.995)
YWCA, 1201 Glade Street, Winston-Salem, NC (36.097, -80.261)
Wall-Glade-Hill Funeral Home
City Baptist Church, 536 Barbara Jane Avenue (36.102, -80.206)
Lexington, Davidson County, funeral home and other Davidson sites (used briefly by Davie
members)
Statesville, LDS Church, 426 Jane Sowers Road, Statesville NC (35.835, - 80.850)