DeKalb United Methodist Church

From "Kemper County, Mississippi - A Pictorial History", placed here with permission by the Kemper County Historical Commission.

Parsonage

DeKalb Methodist Church, winter of 1935. Front Row children: Peggy Calvert, John Oscar Mitchell, Mary Lou Turner, John C. Conner, Emmett Norris Creekmore and George Allen Calvert. Fron row adults: Jamye Haskins and Rev. Murray Cox. Second row left to right: Edward "Bill" Conner Jr., Helen C. Conner, Jean Prince, Fay Aust, "T" Calvert, Sammey Russell, W.D. Mitchell Sr. and Ed Conner. Third row left to right: Leo Calvert, Marion Creekmore, Linwood Cox and Sue Price. Fourth row: Stanton Daws holding son Tommy Ray Daws, Mrs. Murray Cox, Mary Hunnicutt, Lula Clopton, Emmie Sue Overstreet and Miss Gillis (teacher). Back row: first two unknown, Mattie Daws and Johnnie Hull.
The DeKalb United Methodist Church, located at the intersection of Church Street and Main Avenue, was founded in 1835 and thought to be the oldest congregation in DeKalb.

The latest history available, 1835-1984, written by Lois Tann, church historian, states the first church building was located on the south side of Scooba Street. This record also includes the following: With a seating capacity of 150 worshippers, furnishings included long narrow handmade pine pews and small upright pulpit. Kerosene lamps were placed on shelves about every six feet around the walls...The Masonic Lodge occupied the second floor. The approach of long straight-up stairs on the northwest corner of the building seemed ghostly to the young children as they neared the church.

According to research the following pastors served this church: William Gurley Bachus, James A Clement, 1852; John D. Hayes, 1857; James M. Gann, 1866; William P. Andrews, 1880; and Daniel G. W. Ellis, 1882.
The second church, a one-story frame building was built about 1884 on the present site. In 1886 the first parsonage was built. Rev. Robert Witt was pastor. This parsonage was replaced in 1925. In 1914 this church building burned and a two-story frame building was constructed the following year. .