Good Friday was good indeed — great, even, for members of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Gordon, where the church and schoolhouse received a historic marker.
The fellowship was evident from the get-go; Houston County Schools Chairman Brandy White and Houston County Commissioner Tracy Adams were both present.
But the importance lies not in the big-name people — it lies in the congregation itself.
I rolled up in my my little hatchback and was met instantly with good nature the moment I was out the door and shoved my keys in the pocket of my Good Friday dress.
It didn’t take me introducing myself and announcing I was there for Rickey Stokes News for smiling folks to come up to me with hugs and handshakes and welcome my presence.
Chairs were set out, but the rising temperatures and blazing sun demanded people congregate under a large tree in front of the church.
The Hollinger family has a long history with the location — but they’re focused on preserving that history.
“This community was everything for (my family) so we need to preserve it,” said Cassandra Milton, the daughter of David and Betty Hollinger.
“We are about respecting history and trying to preserve it,” she said. “The people before us fought hard to bring this into the world.
“It’s up to this living generation to keep their visions and their history alive. This is worth coming back and cherishing.”
Furthermore, it’s important to the family that this event comes on Good Friday,
“This is one of the most important holidays to us,” she said. “Jesus died on the cross for us. and it’s very significant to us as a church, knowing what this church was built for. People have gone through some really hard times, and we can’t imagine what they’ve experienced. We are keeping His commandments to us to take care of each other.”
David Hollinger, Houston County Schools District 1 Board Member, said getting a historical designation was a labor of love years in the making.
Sharecroppers would construct a brush arbor — a shade shelter made from logs and leafy branches — to worship before J. Solomon bought the land.
Solomon allowed the people to continue worshiping before selling it to them for a dollar, donating another dollar to their cause; families were eventually able to build a church, where kids could also attend school. The church was later remodeled in 1992.
The cemetery was also previously grown up with weeds and trees, but the plot now looks clean and brand-new.
David was raised at the church, his grandmother bringing him there as a young child.
“This means a lot. Every day is progress,” he said. “We’re always trying to get more people to get behind the wagon and push it.”
The historical marker presents an opportunity for his family and so many others to retain their history.
“There’s a lot of history, so we’re trying to make sure we have some copy so maybe our grandkids can have something to go on,” he said.
David’s wife, Betty, was a huge part of organizing the historical designation.
But she was vocal in the fact she and her family cared immensely for what her ancestors provided her.
“They did a lot. They are the reason why St. John is where it is today,” she said. “The church went through a lot when they first started meeting.”
But families tried their best to make it through the tough times of the twentieth century — teaching their kids the same lessons.
“We’re trying to make sure our generation knows what the past generation did to get us where we are, and we can’t stop,” Betty said. “We have to keep pushing on and make sure the church stays grounded.”
The church now has a food program to help feed the needy and elderly.
You can attend their Easter Sunday church service at 9:30.
