Wilmore Baptist Church

 

 

The Wilmore Baptist Church was founded in 1907 with the Reverend Bailey as the pastor.  I haven't been able to get the actual years that each pastor was at the church but here is a list of what I believe were all the pastors to serve at the church:

       

The picture above is of the Men's Bible Class in 1931.  Sam Lawrence was the teacher of the class.  The gentlemen are (from left to right):  Lew Klutz (had an auto agency), Perry Wall (hardware store owner & rancher), Perry Barber, Bruce Snare, Jeff Forree, Van Lott (owned grocery store), Lawrence York (rancher), Daddy Summers, John Manahan (school superintendent), Sam Lawrence, Oscar Pinkston, Grandfather Ray, Tom Pepperd (had gas delivery truck & farmed), Shurd Smith (railroad section man), Lester Larimer (Sunday School superintendent & farmer).

       

This picture was taken at the 50th Anniversary of the Wilmore Baptist Church in 1957.  The attendees were:
Back Row:  Sam Lawrence, Tom Peppard, Noah Dillinger, Don York, Valtos Richardson, Glenn Dillinger, Warren Day
Center Row:  Stella York, Lester Larimer, Frances Ridge, Mrs Healan, Marie York, Gene Ann Lawrence, Pastor Ernest Lawrence.
Front Row:  Larry Lawrence, Lonna Lawrence, David Lawrence

            

The picture above is of the "Homemakers Sunday School Class".  The picture was taken in 1959.  Members of the class are:

Back Row:  Lawrence York, Don York, Charlie Pendergraph, Pastor Ernest Lawrence, Warren Day.
Center Row:  Marie York (holding Kathy & Don's son), Kathy York, Ruby Booth, Bertha Richardson, Wilma Lee Timmer, Helen Pendergraph, Lena Day.
Front Row:  Madeline Ewell, Valtos Richardson, Fred Booth, Dewey Healan, Mrs. Healan.  

  

The Wilmore Baptist Church Choir sporting their new robes in 1959.

Front row:  Ruby Booth, Lonna Lawrence, VanVranken (daughter), Gyneth Timmer, Nancy Metzger, Diana Weddel, Mary Jane Metzger, Norma York and Frances Ridge at the organ.
Back row: Hazel Boley, David Lawrence, Larry Lawrence, Jimmy Clayton, Kenneth Timmer, VanVranken (last name), Mike York, Kathy York and Pastor Ernest Lawrence

                                             

Pastor Lawrence and family just before leaving Wilmore in 1964 to go to the Mission field at the "Morrow Indian Children's Home" in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Back Row:  David, Lonna, Larry
Center:  Ernest and Gene Ann
Front:  Mat

After the Lawrence's left Wilmore the Pastorate was filled on an interim basis by Reverend Al Joe Waters.  I am not sure how long after this time that the Wilmore Baptist Church closed it doors.  I have many fond memories of our time in Wilmore and of being a part of the Wilmore Baptist Church.

 

By David Lawrence