The Little Zion Baptist Church began as a little Sunday School in the home of Sis. Janie Gaither. Later she was given a place to have church service in a little courthouse on Cheshire Bridge Road, with Bro. Ed Dorsey as Superintendent and others. In 1923, Reverend J. T. Dorsey, Pastor of the Second Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and his staff of Deacons organized the Little Zion Baptist Church. The first revival was the second week in August 1923, and many joined Little Zion under its first Pastor, Reverend J. B. Davis. Baptism was the second Sunday in September 1923. Seven Brothers were set-aside for Deacons: Bro. Raymond Akins, Bro. Will Banks, Bro. Wylie Akins, Bro. Alvin Wright, Bro. Will Fleming, Bro. Randall Butler, and Bro. Will Glover.
The congregation served for a short time in that little courthouse but for some unknown reason was locked out and had to find another place to worship. With the help of the good Lord, the congregation purchased a piece of property on Piedmont Road that had a two room house on it. Reverend J. B. Davis, first Pastor of Little Zion, and some of the members did not come back to church. Reverend Howard Irvin served as leader until Reverend T. H. Hurley was called to pastor. He, with the help of the members built the first Little Zion Baptist Church. He then organized the Usher Board, ordained several Deacons and two Preachers (Deacon Will Banks and Bro. Virgil Oliver). He served for a short while.
Reverend T. H. Ford, Little Zion’s third Pastor, organized The Willing Workers’ Club, which did wonderful work for the church. He served a short while and resigned in favor of Reverend H. O. Hood.
Reverend H. O. Hood, Little Zion’s fourth Pastor, ordained two Preachers (Reverend H. B. Dix and Reverend C. C. Woods). He also ordained several Deacons. Sister Mary Kidd, Little Zion’s first pianist, organized the Senior Choir. Reverend Hood and Sis. Kidd served faithfully until death and were loved by all.
Reverend H. B. Dix, Little Zion’s fifth Pastor, served faithfully for a short time until death called him home.
Reverend H. Hall, Little Zion’s sixth Pastor, served sixteen years. He ordained one Preacher, Reverend Jerry T. Johnson, and several Deacons. He also organized the Pastor’s Aide Club, the Junior Choir, the Junior Ushers, and the Mission. Little Zion joined the Hopewell Baptist Association under his leadership.
Reverend J. C. Carter, Little Zion’s seventh Pastor, reorganized the Mission, the Junior Ushers later known as the Young Adult Ushers, the Junior Choir that became known as the J. C. Carter Gospel and is now the Little Zion Gospel Choir, the Pastor’s Aide Club, remodeled the Church (including the Public Address System, Central Heating, and porch railing) and under his leadership, the church purchased a bus and joined the Mt. Hermon Association.
Reverend R. L. Verden, Little Zion’s eighth Pastor, came to us in December of 1978. Reverend Verden started carrying Little Zion forward by organizing the Courtesy Guild, introducing Active Tithing and reorganizing the Pastor’s Aide Club.
Reverend C. Edwards, Little Zion’s ninth Pastor, served a short time.
Reverend Eddie L. Jones, Little Zion’s tenth Pastor, reorganized the Courtesy Guild, the Male Choir and the Junior Choir, formed the Nurses Guild and Brotherhood. In 1983, the Trustee Board was organized, a bus and piano were purchased, we began having printed morning worship service programs, and became a full-time church under his leadership. The following programs began under his leadership: Vacation Bible School, Financial Assistance for the Elderly, Sunday School Teachers Norm, Children’s Outreach Bible Class. The church added central air, published a community newspaper, had a softball team and re-emphasized the Mt. Hermon Association. In 1984, Reverend Jones formed a Junior Usher Board and reorganized the Mission. In 1985, Little Zion added Sunday School classrooms to its building and Reverend Jones ordained two Deacons (Bro. John Dix and Bro. Napoleon Wallace). Mid-week Prayer Service and Bible Study was held under Reverend Jones’ leadership. Reverend Jones resigned in September, 1987.
In February 1988, Little Zion called its eleventh Pastor, Reverend W. M. Kellings. He was a working man of God. Under his leadership, the parking lot was paved and the Children’s Chapel program began. He served until April, 1989.
In August 1989, Little Zion called its twelfth Pastor, Reverend Eddie Walker. He is a spiritual man of God. In 1992, Little Zion added to the church with the purchase of an organ and stained glass windows. In November 1993, Reverend Walker ordained Bro. David Cobb into the ministry. In 1996, upgrades were made around the church and a new piano was purchased. In January 2001, Reverend Walker ordained Bro. Lofette Hampton as a Deacon. Reverend Walker resigned in February 2002.
In October 2002, Little Zion called its thirteenth Pastor, Reverend Reginald R. J. Williams. He is a Bible-based teacher and leader. The following Ministries have begun under his leadership: Outreach & Clothing Ministry, Willing Workers Ministry, Prison Ministry and Class On Problem Elimination (COPE) Ministry. Leadership Training sessions were instituted and the Sunday School Scholarship Fund began in 2004. Little Zion has re-established its membership with the Mt. Hermon Association. He has also set a vision and goals to move Little Zion forward. Pastor Williams ordained Bro. Darryl Hale into the ministry in 2004. Under Pastor Williams guidance, the Mass Choir was established.
The Little Zion Baptist Church has had six Chairmen of its Deacon Board: Raymond Akins, Luke Holsey, Henry Hart, Wilmer Harris, who served from 1976 until 1980 when he decided to resign. Peter Scott, Sr. was voted in as Chairman of the Board and served until 1982 when Deacon Harris again accepted the position. John Dix began serving as Chairman in January 1999.
Little Zion has had four Secretaries: Sis Nellie Akins, Sis. Rosella Butler, who served a short time and moved away, Bro. Wilmer Harris, who served until 1977 and Sis. Bertha L. Jackson. In 1980, the Board of Deacons changed the Recording and Corresponding Secretary title to Assistant Clerk of the church. Sis. Jackson held this position and Deacon Peter Scott, Jr. served as Clerk, and Bro. James Brown was Financial Secretary. In 1981, Sis. Dorothy Sanford accepted the office of Assistant Clerk when Sis. Jackson resigned. In 1982, Sis. D. Sanford was voted in as Clerk of the Church and two new positions were formed: Finance Chairman, held by Deacon C. Clifford Sanford and Church Secretary held by Sis. Laurie (Scott) Mathews, both of which were voted on by the church. In 1986, Sis Carrie Julian was voted in as Assistant Secretary. In 2003, Deacon C. Sanford and Sis. D. Sanford resigned their positions. In December 2003, Sis Marie Hale was voted in as Clerk and served for one year and Deacon Henry Scott was voted in as Finance Chairman. In 2008, Sis. Barbara Shaw volunteered and was accepted to serve as Clerk.
In May 1980, shortly after Little Zion’s 57th Birthday, tragedy struck in the form of a fire. The beloved old building was burned almost beyond recognition but the fire did not destroy the spirit of Little Zion’s members. With a burning drive, the members joined forces to rebuild Little Zion and by August 1980, the members were back in their church home, strong in spirit and praising God.
Little Zion had many faithful members to start its growth with, and many have gone, but over the years, God has led others to unite with its church family. In February 2004, God called home Deacon Luke Holsey, who was a great student of the Bible, a leader, teacher, and a solid foundation of Little Zion for many years. We thank the Lord for those who started its growth and the ones that are helping us to keep going strong.
The congregation served for a short time in that little courthouse but for some unknown reason was locked out and had to find another place to worship. With the help of the good Lord, the congregation purchased a piece of property on Piedmont Road that had a two room house on it. Reverend J. B. Davis, first Pastor of Little Zion, and some of the members did not come back to church. Reverend Howard Irvin served as leader until Reverend T. H. Hurley was called to pastor. He, with the help of the members built the first Little Zion Baptist Church. He then organized the Usher Board, ordained several Deacons and two Preachers (Deacon Will Banks and Bro. Virgil Oliver). He served for a short while.
Reverend T. H. Ford, Little Zion’s third Pastor, organized The Willing Workers’ Club, which did wonderful work for the church. He served a short while and resigned in favor of Reverend H. O. Hood.
Reverend H. O. Hood, Little Zion’s fourth Pastor, ordained two Preachers (Reverend H. B. Dix and Reverend C. C. Woods). He also ordained several Deacons. Sister Mary Kidd, Little Zion’s first pianist, organized the Senior Choir. Reverend Hood and Sis. Kidd served faithfully until death and were loved by all.
Reverend H. B. Dix, Little Zion’s fifth Pastor, served faithfully for a short time until death called him home.
Reverend H. Hall, Little Zion’s sixth Pastor, served sixteen years. He ordained one Preacher, Reverend Jerry T. Johnson, and several Deacons. He also organized the Pastor’s Aide Club, the Junior Choir, the Junior Ushers, and the Mission. Little Zion joined the Hopewell Baptist Association under his leadership.
Reverend J. C. Carter, Little Zion’s seventh Pastor, reorganized the Mission, the Junior Ushers later known as the Young Adult Ushers, the Junior Choir that became known as the J. C. Carter Gospel and is now the Little Zion Gospel Choir, the Pastor’s Aide Club, remodeled the Church (including the Public Address System, Central Heating, and porch railing) and under his leadership, the church purchased a bus and joined the Mt. Hermon Association.
Reverend R. L. Verden, Little Zion’s eighth Pastor, came to us in December of 1978. Reverend Verden started carrying Little Zion forward by organizing the Courtesy Guild, introducing Active Tithing and reorganizing the Pastor’s Aide Club.
Reverend C. Edwards, Little Zion’s ninth Pastor, served a short time.
Reverend Eddie L. Jones, Little Zion’s tenth Pastor, reorganized the Courtesy Guild, the Male Choir and the Junior Choir, formed the Nurses Guild and Brotherhood. In 1983, the Trustee Board was organized, a bus and piano were purchased, we began having printed morning worship service programs, and became a full-time church under his leadership. The following programs began under his leadership: Vacation Bible School, Financial Assistance for the Elderly, Sunday School Teachers Norm, Children’s Outreach Bible Class. The church added central air, published a community newspaper, had a softball team and re-emphasized the Mt. Hermon Association. In 1984, Reverend Jones formed a Junior Usher Board and reorganized the Mission. In 1985, Little Zion added Sunday School classrooms to its building and Reverend Jones ordained two Deacons (Bro. John Dix and Bro. Napoleon Wallace). Mid-week Prayer Service and Bible Study was held under Reverend Jones’ leadership. Reverend Jones resigned in September, 1987.
In February 1988, Little Zion called its eleventh Pastor, Reverend W. M. Kellings. He was a working man of God. Under his leadership, the parking lot was paved and the Children’s Chapel program began. He served until April, 1989.
In August 1989, Little Zion called its twelfth Pastor, Reverend Eddie Walker. He is a spiritual man of God. In 1992, Little Zion added to the church with the purchase of an organ and stained glass windows. In November 1993, Reverend Walker ordained Bro. David Cobb into the ministry. In 1996, upgrades were made around the church and a new piano was purchased. In January 2001, Reverend Walker ordained Bro. Lofette Hampton as a Deacon. Reverend Walker resigned in February 2002.
In October 2002, Little Zion called its thirteenth Pastor, Reverend Reginald R. J. Williams. He is a Bible-based teacher and leader. The following Ministries have begun under his leadership: Outreach & Clothing Ministry, Willing Workers Ministry, Prison Ministry and Class On Problem Elimination (COPE) Ministry. Leadership Training sessions were instituted and the Sunday School Scholarship Fund began in 2004. Little Zion has re-established its membership with the Mt. Hermon Association. He has also set a vision and goals to move Little Zion forward. Pastor Williams ordained Bro. Darryl Hale into the ministry in 2004. Under Pastor Williams guidance, the Mass Choir was established.
The Little Zion Baptist Church has had six Chairmen of its Deacon Board: Raymond Akins, Luke Holsey, Henry Hart, Wilmer Harris, who served from 1976 until 1980 when he decided to resign. Peter Scott, Sr. was voted in as Chairman of the Board and served until 1982 when Deacon Harris again accepted the position. John Dix began serving as Chairman in January 1999.
Little Zion has had four Secretaries: Sis Nellie Akins, Sis. Rosella Butler, who served a short time and moved away, Bro. Wilmer Harris, who served until 1977 and Sis. Bertha L. Jackson. In 1980, the Board of Deacons changed the Recording and Corresponding Secretary title to Assistant Clerk of the church. Sis. Jackson held this position and Deacon Peter Scott, Jr. served as Clerk, and Bro. James Brown was Financial Secretary. In 1981, Sis. Dorothy Sanford accepted the office of Assistant Clerk when Sis. Jackson resigned. In 1982, Sis. D. Sanford was voted in as Clerk of the Church and two new positions were formed: Finance Chairman, held by Deacon C. Clifford Sanford and Church Secretary held by Sis. Laurie (Scott) Mathews, both of which were voted on by the church. In 1986, Sis Carrie Julian was voted in as Assistant Secretary. In 2003, Deacon C. Sanford and Sis. D. Sanford resigned their positions. In December 2003, Sis Marie Hale was voted in as Clerk and served for one year and Deacon Henry Scott was voted in as Finance Chairman. In 2008, Sis. Barbara Shaw volunteered and was accepted to serve as Clerk.
In May 1980, shortly after Little Zion’s 57th Birthday, tragedy struck in the form of a fire. The beloved old building was burned almost beyond recognition but the fire did not destroy the spirit of Little Zion’s members. With a burning drive, the members joined forces to rebuild Little Zion and by August 1980, the members were back in their church home, strong in spirit and praising God.
Little Zion had many faithful members to start its growth with, and many have gone, but over the years, God has led others to unite with its church family. In February 2004, God called home Deacon Luke Holsey, who was a great student of the Bible, a leader, teacher, and a solid foundation of Little Zion for many years. We thank the Lord for those who started its growth and the ones that are helping us to keep going strong.