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Cooleemee Presbyterian
Cooleemee Presbyterian Church Compiled Information from the Collection of the Martin-Wall History Room of the Davie County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina •^^Gople^ 3 — Rey. 7. W.^F^ster;lerian yp0iufnew-tnck^iwiiliSe-read y•t>c'^;;Six ,%eekSi^|pg;' :plant.i;5^^iSunday^choground .'^^ic^bC'Fou|cQ^t,; ,abput:i^(^e^^J^A;:''dbinmjssidn:i^[fbaking plans.-for-the^rganizarid|otf.J,t;![ierc;t^I'.^lace.'spou'iafterStlie %ibug h > c6;m ole^^l^dstdr/^readhfe^n?^^^^DG^«^<c. F-fi-tc^o-e^ C-S'(^3V- PAGE TEN THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER — Cooleemee Minister Does XOutstanding Church Work Rev. J. W. Foster. Davidson Aliininus, Triples His Own Congregation and ^Builds a New Cliurch in Neigliboring Community — Lord's Acre Plan Works. BY REV. NORVJN C. Hr.Nt AV, Conlofine is a cittonmill village, one of til" Ed'A'in Cotinn Mill group. It has a population of arOunri 2..'i60 fipople. and is the largest town in Davie county. U borders Rowan county, and secures some of Us operatives from "acro.s? the river." To this town the Rev. .lohn W. Foster. Presbyterian minister, came in 1921. finding a congregation of rs memhev.s. a Sunday school of al most a hundred members, and a plain frame church building. At ihe time the congregalioii was .#)ineuhat discouraged with the out look. With faith, enthusiasm, and vig orous effi'it Ihe Rev. Mr. FosIt and hi.s wife went to work, and the story is far different today. There are 222 members of the church: more lhan 200 enrolled in the Sunday school; a handsome and conimo'iioiis manse has been built alongside Ihe church build ing, and the church building ilselt has imdergotie exlensivc repairs, and had several additions for Sun day sciiool and recreation pur- pOSP.S. But this physical growth is only an outward and visible sign of the inner life of the concregalion and community. The people in the narish .arc proud of their achieve ment. are full of encouragement and deeper faith enriched by the salisfarlions of substantial achieve ment and healthy growth. Not only has this congregation profiled by the ministry of this clergvm.m. but the entire com munity has been helped. Mr. Fos ter does not belong to lhal group of minislrrs who regard "ringing of doorbells a.s a waste of time, lie and his good wife are on the go all the time, calling on their members, and visiting the sick, needy, and the unchurched. Nor, has any charge' ever beert lodged against Mr. Fojter that he builds up his own cohgreBBlion at the ex pense of other, communions. . He is In and out of these homes as minis ter aiid friend, hlit not for purposes of proselyling. n . n "The people 'in Cooleemee some how feeL without Jtegard to church afflllallon, that Mr. 'Foster belongs to. them,- -Such, a feeling Is notsttangc.'as.hls-inlnisery Is devoted. to"- unielflih- seevlco.. smd the com-; milniti ha-aTeamW that It gto call upon- hfmt-for the «enMces Pi. a, kindly -jisS^or, .and warm, sympa-i thelir frierid. Cooleemee Tresbyterlan .Church. REV. J. W. FOSTER, pastor of Cooleemee Fresbylerlan Church. Davje County Public L/o.a,y Mockswlle, NO builds new cuubch Shortly fo pr«»c» -in ,r«MMon some people away, on, "'^^^^Kovered that thirfs a ijaniied chiireh In there was people vrerothat comm^lW. ^^Qvlted himpleased with him ^ church 10 come out and „ for-them. He am, of a few >,ulslde, he hadanee from '"""fVrlch church andbuilt a handsom^ hricKhad the n"«^ congregationCrcgal on. Today ^ «.. »"""" "S;. v™.wn.k he hn^ ;r ho pupils of his he.e have ™isuale<l^ ^ l.ord. „( variedM,. vo-ter '^^,'„,,,;sh.i'onts and iiUore«'s ,ind a u'lnth he V.1II discovci someV, Uirii his I'd iributinn m his hios into s..mo chosr.i w'.i-h and Union' rtVufnUon ^ .... \\r> has ah- ThcoloCit^^l ' find wisdom inorhcd hnowlodce and ^ a v.idc expcilcP" j ^n^irs. ,_:,n. and as a S , j-avc alsoman. and as « """s ry have also(•„nlae1s in ho miius y '""im ■'=''''V''';VTl%o'''in'''so5"chtnKpmnt, and undorslandinS "II,P. iiitovesl '10 nrc the hmd his hs'eiiois. > daibwluoh help poop rc „ol alives, nut "«i\ '' would go tocood PtoaPhoT vlsilmg otbpni' hiiii- • ,. ppnplc in th-h'^ ;''vUls%d'ich iii-e, nocnriniiiinlb ~ ,. ■ i,,,. cnntaclR of. r.,.t„rv calls. 0 1 , _ir,i<;-ppvfunctory "Us ,pi,Uual minis- '»""""1 his fluiichhis flniich. ,v iiisTOfllES.BTUnlES EAMILY ^No man m his •_ gpnealogy . of,..,„..lr,lpp of tP®. ''..j ..iminlliCVnowlrdgo Ih®.^ 8,,^ 'adjoiniuC, f.amilies his hobbies isP.,unties. " and he canjiracing foi'llh j where many of-iraring ^ w'iiere '0?"^,"'',P,1 you off-h''"" ,,,„uicR m 'h®,,hP oulslnndinc "o ,bcir.PPiion rnnie fioi^' visit to him,histories. On a ipitevs 1,P showed the •*'"'®,,m,(i Slatesfrom disiingu.shod .hfrom disi nR i.a whi<-niSenators fro"i -porceialion fo*^,l,py Native to thmrsome Inrormalion r informa- family posscss- from Nor^h Carolina.^^^ coUcct-Anothcr hobPy o „ c*.ing |'«i,'®"id"®varuabte collection,tensive there was an }^'Hear Cm eejnw th Q,ey aeft dlan fording 1"^®®^-!!. tooU 8"^behind many of of hisImplements of hoia tn .which warfare..'• . , ,, «„«'Would. Hlitorlan that he ^,1,expect f« - hlitory-^e-library i^ea^hf. ,oclal. One "8'o«' innhediately -.of the book! ^ copyattracts ""es wte^obf Cro.o^a^»_^W<'^^ ChurchState and StmelnWj^ whlcK; was ia^nd irhTTan introduction by iy ill my good friend end his wifeThomas Gibbons. drove over 'he mountains to se^At the time the book was print- me. It was a long ''"aod there was no discernable love that only ? ®'"®®®,j ®J hrouehtIn.t between the English church real affection could have hroughta^d th^ Presbyterian church of them '®'-"-'' ''i® p'Scotland, and as we read together vis.t cheered ..some of the sharp langu.-igc I was mtich. This '"®'d®"' ^''' ^^tcdimpres.scd deeply by the fact thai light ®'''^rhelp c^here at least were two descend- above. It wu' sC'te to ncip saants'of those Episcopal and Prcs- plain why has been able to a^byterian fathers who could sit complish so much in a relativelydown, not only in good humor, but ^P®' h'"®- , *„ p,with sincere anection. and laugh "E^DS MUSIC ri-UB.at their salUes. though respecting ^ his haswLThcr or' not our respective been ?" ^®®P'^®^,^J,h®"^ork'®^Butcommtinions ever agree upon the ing piece of s_-i„jp ♦up mostproposed Concordat, we seem to statistics cannot include the mos^have hatched up a concordat be- important part ofiween us which is, workable. It every cmc movement he ha beenri-^rnf'Sh^E^Ts^^op"^ TcS-'n ni-'iiisrs,"?that I had the privilege of visiling said, one woman, is a fr endISJSlSHSfSgpSi ^ M".s.ated above, a new manse love and confidence ot everybodyhas been built since he look charge "® h® ^ tin is 1 have becii envious over Mr. Foster has a keen sense of Im-"ine" " woiic lit^'seriouf ptirpose and'"Another® nole musr be added with characteristic thoroughnesslierc OS part explanation for so does not mean that he is o"® Icoolcemee I moved to the extreme upset liver as P®®®®®!"'.®'.'®®Isoulhwestern part of the state, and valid and ®®f ' p^^pcrshortly thereafter suffered a severe "1"" ®'"S n man^«s to make the time when I was so desperate- ligion unpopular, Davie County Public Library Mocksville, NC First Presbyterian Church Cooleemee From Churches ofDavie County, North Carolina A Photographic Study by Thomas L. Martin Heritage Printers, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1957 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH COOLEEMEE This church was organized on October I6th, 1901, in the town of Cooleemee, where the Erwin Cotton Mills are located. The first -building was completed in the summer of 1904. New Sunday School rooms were added in 1955. Davie County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina BWaSBKflf-- ill page forly-four c: - yirivj;ift 1 li-'''M3%- OJv WI-JIii :?5 tai:'?fiCif'S3>r i.ii/I .V. mm ^'ilW.f.^ C HilX a c $ - p ftt -51av m £VP'7HJ:^W|>The-Rev. jSa^e^r:;:^^astor. of rKeriierwine'sr.^ri^st^resbytorianyOiurcb,'' began -lus iinej-vjwork ais Ipastdr oti^oleeniee Pres-l^teriah ^Church sin :^oleemee^. Sejp-.||embdr ijflScKay; serves ^as ^PonnaMIGjerk-oi^fie !P^|^pnsi1^e|;foi^^^^e;pieto^at^nte^^^^|(^he;;Mi^s|ivs3ew^^I ^exVjdobr^' ^.JVaCtOS^|iiymg^«t;^hbme/;Bill^^^^^^3^ange.vSliudent .^s;ibast sunui^.ln!|Bw^^an^y;!Ckw^^f~9 - (?CQtMe CttWW ?ubiicj.®at>Mocksvilie, HuJitlG^ledP^^lir5M)0tEEMfiI!--Ti)r*'sS>M^I.-IfBiicKay will -bevpistsilied as 4>ss-lltor of ^e ;SGodieelnee ;Presby-' itbrian Church 'at -li ta'.ia. ;Sun-1 Iday, Octiiif.V He "iwas .p&stortat "Heniersviile >il^esbyterianiPhur.ch:.;fdrSehvtog Aug/:^;'-—^ nl«%he !obmmissidh ^foi* in-^liaUatioh' vrfU^ af:|2a?he .^Rev. r JamesT^ »fijyMston-Salemy-exeeative'lsee^^^'^ai^ of the Wihston-Saleni.Pres-^ei^;^^the Revy.'^Malcolin"-Ahder-'fton, ."'minister' pf.. Christian edu-^ationsat Highland Presbyterianl^hurch ^at tWinston-Salem; ,r theplev/; iWimam' Lpfqtfist atteaCher for the school of socialIwiork,"'University of North :Caro-|hna .iflChapel vHill, assijmed asstuifent training supervisor-for,p^drs^ • Cduhty^HomesticPela-^|ions' Court; .|^ox, Johnstone, ansoider. ."froin xRirst KPreshyterifiu -IChurch ^of tiMoclcS'rine;;''^^^^aidarshalli ,ahlhldCT. :frote;(CIem .^bhs preshyteWah'Ghurch; .andF;; Ridenhoufran te^^Iffie'-Cdbleemee }bhhrcK' 'll^e^evi/^;!^^'Shrith.v^pormet pastor ^^yferian y att^isV/msTon??^^^ <^Ud - now R\dttk dh.i«tteeteeht - at;stfib-^esbyterian^ome. iHighviuU/fbe,-;ahj;alten^aIat^S' cJ ou^{Lr^cJ^9 - 2-? - /? 4 6 CH4JH(ICH€S- P aw-cpcbtiti^y ^ut)ucMocksviiie,IresMtrran^liy-rnvrthe;: church > on;- Sunday, Sepi^ the-'' charter members., came;tember 26;;during the morning} froin;^:: thcr- South' ' Rivei^worship service.at 11 ajn..ThiS;:; Fresbyteriaiii. Qiureh in. Rowait.:is else the date scheduled fdr- .CbuntK The. South,^ River^-^f:.their annual homecoming; ^ v Church; wae dissolved; at thi^Ihe^:. Reverend ;. Gurney Pi--V timeiv-VVhitley-^ executive secretary.of^;^;5i.^the Winston Salem ■Presbyteryi>i^^;i|§^.s-;^^will'bein charge of the services. 1>;StatesviUe,. who served.. tWb^ ENTERPRISE- REGDR' T- f••.' £• i.y:.7-™7vvC\:-Uc>v,.Cobleemee church^- from-:. 1924^ br-^U.. .-s »home coming. ser.\dce, thehioming worsMp services; willbe hdd each week at;il a^; for-irthe next six months;A..: brie£ history of theCooleemee congregation wUl be^l;presented during this sarvice:The;Annual. Rally Day|^vil,will: be presentedregular Simchiy School"S^/llO^ajnC:; 1 A picnic dinner will be ser ved;the. fellowship hall- im-.. ^jnediately. following; the' morr^^'^'';;"3?^-|iing worship,-.:-S3; "^e Cooleahee Presbyterian^Church^ was organized on Oc- '•f■;^';;.|U)be^ 16, 1901 by the Concord; , e:i^i) ?resbytery under the leader-.;-V CUVV'-i •• MVIE COIMTV BWmRPRlSE RBCOSD, THyRSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1972 - 11 Minister And His Wife Leading A Double Life Aam the SoIUtiUfV felllftom the SelUbuty foil) IPefitititffWflter Patiliiie Fisher ttav>e i Meyas^dsOoiitlr^ Hops* igesii^i mmj^ heseme of the SsE or its t^iiiled O^Ery, but it mshe ibom aoPowbat iplgtisamojigmvie^simiy r^lienls. AniamtnigPiregbyterlii) mlisiii^ Espdillyi^lpn ikolDowis House is p a mofi^pells i3e8l2efil€!Qol0eins& ButtheiM^Eoveli' Wim Qsmpiny osm^ ^ as 11 aid in om ite Oirlslmss liolldap ^ Ih^e^sspaee&jpMty. .When is aeedei for Hoscoo^s ^itlag» It's there. . If site doesn't i'sst mm rfghti" be says, givleig fbe lie le tlii ihouibt in an aif^^ale smile aimed at bla ym%' 'and later of both ©eoleomei Fresly terian Cbireb and Bbsby Pre^yt^lan €har^ and InhaibltsM ieir |& m Mppensd bec^t^e the wmm choose bitwoeti iUf&i, R^eoe had t^.poparlily the M'. thu© minlsi^ to go ba# triebooiv His wUtng " es|}ecla]ly Ibe lite ef Life tnsi^rattoiial GDlama^M^ is isod tn ^e Sabsbury Fostand mimermsB olh^fapers tfironiilicut Ibe stoto had b^ome mere and mere important to him and he^anied iome j^esstonal itody at lha thdveialiy of Herlib €Ondtoa al Cbbpel HUS. lie then epnl several years working with ihe peve^pregramto Or^nsborEK Bat fhen the cbalieiige eame fi^m the Presbytoiy* - . - S^sieone was iieed^» Eosooe was told^ to take two eongiegatloiiB and make them one« t^ocKsvWie, ic uwarj MC NEWMANSE I , ' ~Bbtby^ u^iOh Is tecKtod near Advance, had aboQt 199 members ahd a com-, paratlvdy now rmudi-fltyle manse. Coob eemee had slightly over-lOO members and - .a #-year<etd large two'Story brick manse. BoUi had bela se^^Qpyortlag eongre-, 'gatlons for years, but Coueemee had mil into hard tbitos when Brwin MUl, which empioyed aboat l,OOQ peo^e, closed down, ^me of Ch^ had to move, and that left .•Oooteemee Fr^byterlan iCburch with a sEEielereDngr^ailoii andless iiioome. . !ilie two eburches are. 12 miles apart, a 'consldraable dtotoaee for a charge. And -they didfiH get together on where die jzilntiter woUld live. In fact, both |tjat HBSumed (hat die new. preacher: and his Yamdy woeld live ll|emt' ,ai^i|'diay■were eo sttrejmM'hbtB cbngregatioasmtoted the manses and put everythingpitiiproper ordorfor then^ tenants. Iliet left the FiBhers to a considerable bind, ' : And the Presbytery would give no help -atalt. ■ •,' "fhey rea^pul us on the spot right of!/* Ros<»e says, ''leaving .11 up to tis to dedde."I "And nob^y^v^ould glyp m any.li^p/'..jiPaulineadiis. ...; So they debated, and'debated', atid^' d^ted: Vi.AndPaultoegimeupwitotbejoiutloti. ^ . ; "We had a large family and plenty ofyufaiture. Why iifotllve to both mansea?" the Fishers* .tour daughters are allmarried now and living away, the only chEd sllU at home U yilher, a aenlor atDavto (kiunty High School, the fact that.. Davle has ohty one hlgb ^toooi made the det^aion easier. ^No matter whieh%oose *(hey Uveiit'-or both—butherstlli atlanttor< Ihosamesc^ooi fhemanaeatBixbyhad a bullt-Mstove'and iKlrigi^tof' with a freeser^so'the ' Fishara put fbelr own stove and t%fng< orator at ftodeemee. Since the Cooleemee house was torger, to ey decided it wouldalso be right for the dining' room set andthe good ^a and glasawear. They'd do th-^c formal eatertetnitia there. And therewasap^e^e^tfortSepiano. Four bedrooms were Ihml^ed at Bk-by and two at Oxdeemee, and there was DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 20. in - li eziitjttgh living room anS den and oflice fiiraiture for the livlRg room atCtwIeemee and a living room and den at Blxby and at^dfee — lined with boolts at botb tdaoes. '*• " i. to it didn't take.lona fw them,to be . aettlcdand In busing at cow addresses. It's worked especially mil for* both It wouldmake us feel more Uke'!a pastor and family,"' and It's dtme exafitly Wat Orlglnaliy We plan was for Hoicoe to .preach the u o'clock service at the church he chose to live near and We 9:3aservlceat the other, which would be a sateitfte csngregatlon. But now that both are TuH-Oedged ocngr^allons, W^ d^ dd^ they'd shift every six months, ^nd Wat's what Wey've been doing for the past twoyears» ' ^ ^ ^ , , The ibeglriniiig and end of We week is spent in Bfxby and We middle of the week, WcFlahers pack a small suitcase and go to Cooteemee. Members of hoW churches know when he'U be around apd can ^ to see him, and In the meantime, it makes pastoral wlls a much better sUuadon."Aster apart as thetwochttfchesare, If we'd iUHt stayed at one and went to the other for thedav. there wouldhavebeen no place to go in to fix a bite to eat or anything." OTHER USBB The Oooleemee, house^has also been opened to the congregation for Wdr use for c&de meetings tor We women who don't have enough room In their homes and for ufty other church meetings that can be/ more conv^lcntly hdd there. And Pauline hasn't found any problem atail housekeeping in two houses. She does her shopping In Gsoleemee, because she likes the "supermarket there, and her laundry In Blxl^ because Wat manse has a washing machine and dH^. They keep toothbrushes in both houses, but generally carry Weir doWes back and forth as Wey go. The biggest problem is kitch en utensils, "iusl plain old pots and pans. I really didn't have two sets. Sometimes 1 have to pick Warn 'bp and take them back and forth." Not only does living in both manses make it better for ministering both congre* gatloRs, but it also helps We family tre mendously when company comes. At Christmas, for example, only one daugh- iett her husband, three children and moW* er and fatherin^Iaw had arrived by Christ* mas Eve » ao Wey had Christmas Eve dinndr In the smaller eaftng space at Bixl^# But by ChrlBtmee Day alt four dau^* tera and their femities v^e Were, so Wey went to the big dining room table In t^leemee. And it's great having twoguest TOoms and a complete house ready Idr overnight company. Two of the girls and their families stayed at Cooleemee during Weh<^days. The Bresbyie^ looked a little askance at the whole idea, Roseooe says, when th^ first came up with it, but no one's com* plaining now. The Bixby cengt^gatlon has grown by 19 membera slnceRosooe got there, end 49 new members have been added at Goolemee. And as for We Fishers themselves? "We like it a lot better than at one After ell, it's not every Presbyterian preacher who has a Town House and a Country Home. C" CO w €3 O S3 ^ ,o O (S3 Gu ^ ■jC ^ » o O o a> £J2 \C) C V^ Cqc tfc fe iT^^vE-.-')7i;i;^n^.iii.*s« JKi'tf .7^mi ^■-. 22 - DAVffi^ CPUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, THURSDAY; JANUARY 11, 1973 _iSSfSl^S..-.:?£>.-"-.|i3T>. , - Cooleemee Presbyteri^^jrtCttlTBSQtiC: ChTOtmas Greeting Card when covered by the snow - •'}. j which fell in Davie County all day Sunday and most of i-l- -• v: -■- ..-Monday."--^ , - ■■ •' ^r:i.'J.DAVIE CO. PUBLIC LiBRARYMOCKSViLLE, NC . C.HaftcH^s-" - Cooittf.6B - DA VIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECOj^;-THURSDAY. DQTOBER 24, 1974;'n f n :-■«!hirwifA^Hlif.; minister of the Cooleemee Presbyterian church withJim B^ngS) ^ months and Nathan. 22 months. (Photo by. ; . r7lCooleemee Church Has New Minister'" Rev. James P, Knight of" He is married to the former-^Charlotte- has accepted the Helen Honea of Jonesboro, duties as pastor of the (Georgia and they have two sons'Cooleemee Presbyterian James Nathan, 22 months ofJ^, Church, effective October 1. He age, and Joel Andrew, 7 mon-i^• recently moved his famUy into ths. ' -f;<the manse, located next door to,, prior to being called to^!the church on Watr Street. , ^ieeraee. Rev. Knight served IA native of Atlanta, Georgia, as AssisUnt Minister of thelRev. Knight graduated from Thomasboro Presbyterian.ik^eorgiaTechln ISTOwithaB. S. Church in QiarlotteHe wasV, in-Industrial Management and, <• installed as Minister of the. a- , c. , »....... AMii^iavca U4 iiie''-*'j^tJordomeonwell rheological' Cooleemee /f^reSfjyterihn^Seminary,- in , S.. Hamilton, ■'<:hurch by a dimmission of J« • '7" 1 t '^"iuiiuaaioij oi; .Massachusetts where he earned Concord PrMbytery on Sunday -''^W»^Maste'-Qf Dfvfthty^degw.' 'Octobers./' ' ■/ 0 - 2^ .jCj Missionary Named Cooleemee Pastor By Virtie Strotip Stsif Rtporttr A Presbyterian missionary oi ,/to Brazil, recalled when the P church cut back its staff due to B finances, has beep named ir pastor of Cooleemee Z Presbyterian Church. ' He is the Rev. D. Reyis. C 44. He will be examined by the m Presbytery of Concord on C Tuesday when it meets at First Presbyterian Church of Lex ington. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and in addition to examin- • jng„ ministers entering the T presbytery, the group will ex amine a candidate for the ministry, set goals for the next three years and elect com mittees and commissions. The presbytery will be asked to endorse a proposal from Mount Holly Presbyterian | Church that its churches be en- | - couraged to give more than J usual to prevent further cut- ' back in overseas missionary * ; staff; ' ' f • ' Church Fledge * ( The Mount Holly church has ; pledged an additional $500 per ; year for three years toward a fund to restore missionaries to their stations and is asking j other churches within the Presbyterian Church in the i U.S. (South) to do likewise. The presbytery also will receive a proposal for building i a scale of compensation and I professional allowances for its : ministers, especially in con nection with the cost of living, ' The study shows that the me dian family income within the 26 counties of the presbytery, adjusted to the current rate of inflatiqn (5.7'per cent), is 912,700, This amount is reduced by 20 per cent if housing is provided or increased by 20 per cent if a 'housing allowance is paid, and further reduced if life and medical insurance and annuity are provided. This means that. the approximate base salary or' lowest allowable salary for a se^tinary graduate in his firsb^ ;> year of ordination would be n $8,011, This figure would be ad- justed for tlie type work and . length of experience the ' rT\ini8ter has^ gained since or- I dlnation. Workshop on Worship ! • T*he presbytery's Coor- ' dlnallng Council will unnounce i a workshop on worship from 9 , on Nov. 17 at Little Joe's Presbyterian Church at Barium Springs, a retreat for international missions for Oct. 24-26 at Camp Grier youth rally ' ,at Highland Presbyterian Church here Feb. 13, and a weekend with missionaries at Camp Hanes here April 15-17. I ' A report will be received . ' proposing guidelines for deal ing with churches which desire to withdraw from the presbytery and the Southern Presbyterian Church. A sec- tion of the paper also suggests preventive measures to avoid- withdrawals. EvangeliBtic Work Revis was in evangelistic work in Goinia, Brazil, for. three years. He went there from a pastorate in Greenville, S. C. He also has done inner- city work in Atlanta. A native of WeaveEVille, he is a graduate of Mars Hill College, Kings College and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. He also took a year of theological study in Glasgow, Scotland. . He and his wife, the former Ruth Rostron of Houston. Tex., a former teacher, have five children, including a Brazilian they adopted. Revis began his work in Cooleemee in August. He will be installed at 7:30 p.m. next Sunday. Dr. William Williamson of Fir$t Presbyterian Church in Salisbury will preach the ser mon; the Rev. Malcolm Bullock, pastor pf Unity Presbyterian Church in Woodlief, will charge the ; pastor; the Rev. John Handley of Barium Springs, associate general presbyter for ministers of tiie presbytery, will preside, and Grier Wallacp, Robert Creason and Albert Boger, ruling elders at . Revis' church, will read the scripture, charge the con gregation and give the in- vocation, respectively., ! lo~ le- MVt Pastor To Be Installed By Cooleemee Presbyterians ' The Installation Service to install the Reverend : James D. Revis, as pastor of the Cooleemee Presbyterian Church, was conducted Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. The Reverend William W. WlUiamston, , pastor 01 the First Presbyterian Church in Salisbury.Sreached the sermon. Tne Reverend John M. Han- ley. Associate Executive Secretary of Concord . Presbytery, presided. The Reverend Malcolm I Bullock, pastor of (he Unity Presbyterian Church, , delivered the charge to the pastor. Three elders from the Cooleemee Church. Mr. Albert Boger, Mr. Robert . Creason, and Mr. Grier Waller, also participated In I the service. "The Believers" sang three songs: "Bless I the Lord", "Say I Do", and "It Won't Be Lcmg." Mr. ; Revis is a graduate of King College and Cmumbia ; Seminary. He has servea churches In Atlanta, ' Georgia, Greenville, South Carolina, and has served a I three year term as a missionary in Golania, Brazil. He is married to the former Rutn Merry Rostron from ' Houston, Texas. She is a graduate of Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. They have five children, Christy, Holly. Julie, faul, and Peter. nyx § g y u? n ^ ^ Uavia Co.Public liLiai) Mocksviiie, N. C. cL t. Jji^S 1« (v' - C' o o<r f"/'CooleemeePresbyterian ChurchI Has New Addition; The new educatiooa] building of theCooleemee Presbyterian Ctanrcb b wellunder constmctioa and much of thew<N*k bas been donated by members intfaeir spare time. Jack Athey, chairmanof the building committee, says(M'ofessional help was used in areas. where they had no skilled or qualifiedpersons available. At thb point, thechurch b not in debt, however, the 40' x: 70' building b yet to be completed inside.Upon completion, the first floor will; contain a kitchen, banquet room andI' restrooms. The second flom' will provide"■ the much needed space for nine newclassrooms and restrooms. The coat ofj the building tbos far b approximatelytSS.ooo, which was provided throaghfund raising prajects and personal' contribotions in OM commaaity> (Photoby Jim Barringer), I",jr4^,Dcv'ic J'2n- fi'jjDAVIE CO. PUBUC UBRARYNC - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, THURSDAY. JUNE 26. 1980 z \A U V <b O 0 o Always Helping Others 'J.D." And His Family Whenever there is a need anywhere in the conununity - J.D. is always there. Whether it be in case of sickness, death, an elderly person just ne^ng a ride to the doctor, or a teenager in need of a friend. J.D. always finds time to visit the hospital or home anytime day or night. Affktionately known throughout the community as "J.D." by the young and old alike, he is the Rev. J.D. Revis, pastor of the Cooleemee Presbyterian Church...and he prefers to be called "just J.D." It's not at all unusual to ^ his station wagon filled to capacity with youngsters and their dogs trailing along behind. If a kid wants to go skating with his church group, or attend "Joy Club" at the church, no matter where they live, he willingly goes out of the way to pick them up and take them home. "He's on the go eight days a week. " teased Ruth, his wife whom J.D. says has patience in letting him be gone from home so much. "A lot of wives would have packed their bag and left by now." he added. Ruth has also made quite a con tribution to the communi^ during the four years they have been here. She is a cub scout leader, holds Joy Club, teaches a Sunday School cl^, leaM a youth group on Sunday nights, choir director and until Christmas did volunteer work at the school. Not only does J.D. and Ruth give so freely of their time to others who neea them, they also have five children of their own and they are never neglect^. There's Christy. 13; Holly 12; Julie, 11; Paul. 9; and UtUe Peter who is six. Peter was adopted when he was only two Mys old in Brazil and has continued to be a blessing to the entire Revis family, l only wish we could adopt three more, says J.D. quite sincerely. Prior to accepting the pastorate in Cooleemee. J.D. was a missionary to Brazil where he served one term of about three years. The children all went to school in Brazil and J.D. and Ruth also went to language school and could speak enough Portuguese to com municate. While in Goias. Goinia in central Brazil. J.D. was instrumental in helping start a church. "We first held our meeUngs in a man's yard...He was a taxi driver. We then rented a store front, right b^ide a beer joint, and had ser vices there for a little over a year." J.D. says building the actual church building consisted of "knocking on doom for contributions" and of course they did as much of the labor as they could. The actual construction work was hired out. Since coming to Cooleemee, JJ). has worked towards a new educational building and fellowship hall and everyone has been very cooperative. This building is being put to good use now. "The Lord did it all." says J.D...."He is the One who made it aU possible." J.D.. Ruth and the entire Revis family have willingly made sacrifices for others during the four years they have been a part of the Cooleemee com munity. Ruth and the children by giving their time and sharing her husband and their father with so many others...And J.D. by always being willing and eager to help anyone in need or those less fortunate. The community doesn't want the love and sacrifices this family has made to go unnoticed. A group 8°^ together and decided to hold a J.D. Revis Family Day" on Saturday, Jime 21 at the Ridenhour Arbor on Center Street Ext.. in Cooleemee. It was wishes of the citizens of Cooleemee to raise enough money to finance a vacation for the Revis family. They haven't taken a vacation during the years they have been here. J.D. was very reluctant to accept, but since it would be for his entire family. he had little choice. Always in the past, if anyone tried to give him any financial assistance, he would put it into the church building fund. He has always trusted God to provide the necessities and never asks for anything more. He believes in ministering wherever there is a need. He takes his turn at holding services at the prison camp and Davis County Public Library (ylocksvBte, NO O \ S lililwmhk: 'ij.f/!.'•• The Rev. J.D. Revis of Cooleemee--a busy man in the community who says the credit for all accomplishments goes to "the Lord." makes regular visits to the beer joints and places where he feels the need. In these places, .J.D. says he is treated with respect and "the men are just as friendly as when I walk through the church doors." He is especially happy when working with the youth of the community. For quite some lime, he helped to keep the "Light House" open and he continuously strives to find things that will create an interest for the young people. With sports and other activities he says it is easier to relate to the youth. Whether in Brazil or here in Cooieemee, J.D. says young people are basically the same. A native of Weaverville, J.D. attended school in Glasco, Scotland where he studied Theology. He graduated from Mars Hill, Kings College and Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, He served as pastor of a church in Greenville, S,C. for five years prior to his mission work to Brazil and was an associate pastor of George Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta when he was just out of seminary. This is where he also met his wife of 14 years. Ruth was teaching school. J.D. and Ruth are always willing to help those in need, but are very reluctant to ask for anything. Ruth has just recuperated from undergoing surgery for thyroid cancer, which is hereditary. A sister and brother also underwent the same surgery...And two of their children, Julie and Paul, are scheduled to undergo the same surgery in Augus^ "Tfs very rare," said Ruth, "but if you have to have cancer, it's very slow and the best kind to have." Chances of inheriting it are 50 per cent, which is apparently quite an accurate per centage. The family is accepting this just as they do every other problem that arises. J.D. is a vivacious and exciting person and Ruth says this is why the youngsters like him so much. He has a great relationship with his family, also, Sometimes they all gather around the piano and since each of them have had music lessons, (except J.D.) they just about have their own band. The children all do their part around the house and church. And Christy is an excellent babysitter. In fact, most of the things that happen in the Revis home, are considered to be a "family affair". Story by Marlene Benson Photos by James Barringer DAVIS COUNTY B Feature l-D June 26,1980 Ubrarv DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD. THURSDAY, JUNE 26. l<?80 - DAVTE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, THURSDAY. JUNE 26, 1980 DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD. THURSDAY, JUNE 26. 1980 ••■ .■C-r- The church that waa built in BrazU before J.D. and his family left. jrarnsr « aftumn • m. ■_j'. cmn 4s njBA H tf MMiit A y:! 11= ^ -Vifa4 if4^,5' - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD. THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1980 7^ station wagon loaded with yoiinesteJs just not room enough for the sometimes therePage l-D (Photos by BarrSige?®' " . -i**. ■$m Cooleemee Presbyterian Church Watts St., Rev. Robert J. Goforth, pastor Oswie County MocKsviU*. wb DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Sept. 27,2001 ^Ifemee Pmsbyterian To Church will celebrate its 100th lie^«'^'°-n "®®- Mniversary and homecoming on mSSunday, Sept. 30. """S morning wor- The speaker will be the Rev ^ 'aCharles Murray, former pastor feulT^K T o 9^^ Members of Cooleemee Presbyterian Church ceiebrate the church's 112th an niversary, Davie Ccj.'ay r-ublic Liu Moc'{S7m'iP. i\C dwixacHe'^-pREse^Tgn.iP.bJ-CcoL.eernetS'W^'mjimDAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, April 26,2018 - 9Members SportSpry, Gail Bivins, D. Lancaster: back - Tom Cornatzer, Pastor John Groff, Mike Spry, Sally Hampton, Peggy 35 ^Q^ms.Mays, Jean Snead."V dhuticHLS- ?'^^sibyTe)))10 - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, Aug. 19,2021Retiring pastor thankful for time in CooleemeeBy KC SmithCooleemee CorrespondentJohn Samuel Groff, pastor at Cooleemee Presbyterian Church, will be retiringSunday, Sept. 26 on Homecoming Day,Eighteen years ago thechurch didn't just receive anew pastor, but instead received a family.Groff's wife Ruth anddaughter Gina always accompanied him on visitation days, overnight stays athospitals to support familiesin need and whereever elsehis pastoral service tookhim.All members of hisfamily have experiencedhealth issues, including hislate daughter Wanda whopassed away with cancer sixyears ago.Back surgeries, shouldersurgery and knee surgeryare times the church congregation really supportedthem.Their daughter Wandahad a tonsillectomy, lateran appendectomy and Dec.23 last year she had an operation to remove a tumorin her brain. The tumorwas so closely located tothe brain stem they took outonly part.When the doctor later didanother scan to see if the tumor had made changes, thetumor was gone."I don't want to retire, butit's time," Groff says. 'Thechurch has been very supportive; been right there forus."Groff said he was calledto be a pastor in Octoberof 1975. He was in the AirForce and decided to stayon.After working 18 yearswith Boyle's furniture asoperational manager indata processing, Mike Sprycalled hiin to share pastoral services with anotherpastor. He accepted theoffer and later became thechurch's full-time pastor."It was the greatest thingI ever did. Our time here hasbeen a blessing. It has givenme time to grow up and getmore into the word of Godby reading devotions andthe word. I'm so pleasedGod touched me and turnedmy life around. If he didn'tI don't know where I wouldbe today."With 25 members whenhe started the attendancerose to 60. The youthministry was successfulwith confirmation classesand baptisms, to makingChrisman's, having funsleepovers and making puppets.Groff has a beautiful giftof whistling and can oftenbe heard in WalMart whistling gospel songs that inspire shoppers to seek himout to tell him so."We aren't leaving herelonely because we have alot of fantastic memories.What happened in thischurch, God gets the credit,always."Cooleemee First Presbyterian Church is havingits homecoming Sunday,Sept. 26. Everyone is invited. This will be Groff'sfinal day of preaching as thechurch's pastor. Cool €vrut)10- DAVIK COUNTY ENTERPRISI^ RECORD, Thursday, Aug. 19,2021njI—:a—JI- -kTn uC) oOgnjQn -sPastor John Samuel Groff with his wife Ruth and daughter Gina at Gooleemee Presbyterian Church. ) )10 - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD,Thursday, Aug. J9,2021M'l.Groff holds his hands togther while talking about his time at Gooleemee Presbytenan. ) )to -' DAVIE COUNTY ENTr.RPRISE RUCOkl),Thursday.Aug. 19.202J''r"'''"'Vf^"''"rf—. .~v.-The puppets were a popular part of the Cooleemee Presbyterian ministry: as demonstrated by Gina at right.