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Dolonah Baptist Church was started as a mission by Bro. and Mrs. Odis Allen from Union Baptist Church in Lipscomb.

Bro. Allen felt that it was his calling to go around to various communities to see if a church was needed and would be attended by the people. He started five or six other churches in this way.

On April 17, 1955 Dolonah Baptist Mission was organized From Union Hill Baptist Church. Having obtained a store building, piano, and benches the first services were held on Easter Sunday Morning.

“Have held 2 services each Sunday for 24 Sundays, regular prayer service each Wednesday night, also 7 home Prayer services.”

These classes are held in home adjacent to mission. All classes use graded literature.

On August 29, 1956 Donald Real Estate and Insurance Co. gave 2 lots for the present site of Dolonah Baptist Church. The church also bought 2 lots on each side of the church at a cost of about $500 each, $200 down and $20 per month. Most of the work on the church was done by Bro. Allen, members of Union Hill Baptist, and the people in the Dolonah community.

On November 27, 1960 the church was organized. The pastor of the church was Sam Jones Jr. There were also 6 deacons ordained this day.

Over the years we have had a total of 365 members and 113 baptisms. We have licensed 2 ministers: David Rickles, Dec. 1962; Larry Gay, May 1970. In 1968 we ordained Bro. A. J. Knight as a minister. We have ordained 12 of our 18 Deacons. We have had 13 pastors with 3 returning to serve at different times, 15 song directors, 15 pianists, 6 treasurers, 10 Sunday school superintendents, 8 training Union Superintendents, 3 WMU Presidents, and 4 Church Clerks.

Motion to adopt program as read by Bro. Gurley R. Bowen, secondary by Bro. R. L. Shields. Motion carried.

There were no questions from the council. The Church was admonished by the Moderator, Bro. Jas. B. Cambron, to enter into all Associational State, and Southerns Baptist Covention Programs and to help to carry the Gospel in any way possible.

MOTION TO CONSTITUTE CHURCH—Motion by Bro. Sid Smith, Pastor, West Highlands seconded by Bro. B. C. Bedsoe,

READING OF NAMES—Bro. J. W. Harden, clerk, Deacon from Union Baptist Church. Sixty-two names were listed,

people transferring membership from Union to the newly constituted church, Dolonah Baptist Church.

Discussion as to whether this is the complete list. Motion by Bro. Gurley R. Bowen that these persons

make up the new church, also to accept the list as read. Seconded Bro. Ralph Looney, motion carried.

SERMON—Bro. Gurley R. Bowen, Pastor, West Side Baptist Church. Scripture, Ephesians Chapter Four. A very good sermon.

INVITATION— Song—“Just As I Am”. This invitation given for any other persons to unite with the Dolonah Baptist Church as

DOLONAH BAPTIST CHURCH—called into the first business conference, by Bro. S.P. Jones, Jr. Motion to consider the church

RECOMMENDATION FOR CALLING OF PERMANENT PASTOR---Motion by Bro. L. D. McAvoy to call Bro. S.P. Jones,

READING OF RECOMMENDATION OF EXAMING COUNCIL—Bro. J.W. Harden, Clerk of Council

Recommended by Pastor, Bro. S. P. Jones, Jr., that all business be laid aside until regular business meeting night, Wednesday night of each month. Motion to accept this recommendation made by Bro. Richard Hewitt, seconded by Bro. Euel Cook, motion carried.

Motion to retain all present officers for this church year, unless otherwise deemed necessary made by Bro. James Buckner, seconded by Bro. Euel Cook, motion carried.

Motion by Bro. Cambron, to dissolve the Council, seconded by Bro. R.L. Shields, motion carried.

Motion to adjourn the business conference by Bro. Euel Cook, seconded by Bro. L.D. McAvoy, motion carried.

1. Mrs. J. C. Mazwell	34. Mr. Clyde Cole, Jr.
2. Mrs. Hazel Dennis	35. Mr. Charles Martin Jr.
3. Mr. Lee Wilson	36. Ms. Mary Jane Martin
4. Mrs. Lidia Wilson	37. Ms. Martha Jean Martin
5. Miss. Linda Wilson	38. Mr. David Templin
6. Mrs. Mary Clark	39. Mr. Coy M. Simmons
7. Mr. George Davis	40. Mrs. Emily Simmons
8. Mr. Sam Jacks	41. Mrs. Sally Pack
9. Mrs. Maggie Jacks	42. Mrs. Ruth Buckner
10. Ms. Elizabeth Jacks	43. Mr. J. B. Jerrell
11. Mrs. Flora Dennis	44. Mrs. Willie Jerrell
12. Mrs. Helen DeRamus	45. Mrs. Joan Hill
13. Mr. Cecil DeRamus	46. Mr. Milford Simmons
14. Ms. Pearl Bramlett	47. Mrs. Barbara Pate
15. Mr. H. P. Davis	48. Mr. Cecil Allen
16. Mrs. Josephine Hardeman	49. Ms. Linda Bentley
17. Ms. Mary Winslett	50. Mrs. Elaine Hubbard
18. Mr. F. P. Briggs Jr.	51. Ms. Tommie Sue Glover
19. Mrs. F .P. Briggs Sr.	52. Mr. William Joseph Hill
20. Mr. Walter Baldwin	53. Mr. Roy Patterson
21. Mr. Gene Knight	54. Mr. Richard Hewitt
22. Mr. L. D. McAvoy	55. Mrs. Sybil Hewill
23. Mrs. Elsie McAvoy	56. Rev. Sam P. Jones, Jr.
24. Mrs. Kaye Foster	57. Mrs. Betty Jones
25. Mrs. Zadie Pendley	58. Ms. Wanda Jones
26. Mr. Roy Lynn Clark	59. Mr. James Buckner
27. Mrs. Mary Payne	60. Mr. E. M. Cook
28. Mr. W. R. Templin	61. Mrs. Lorene Cook
29. Mrs. Virginia Phillipe	62. Mr. Wayne Dennis
30. Mr. Melvin Templin	63. Mrs. Carolyn Rushing
31. Mrs. Barbara Bracknell	64. Mr. B. C. Bedsole Jr.
32. Mr. Clyde Cole, Sr.	65. Mr. Abel Turner
33. Mrs. Mary Cole	66. Mrs. Abel Turner

Rev. Odis Allen- Mission Pastor 1955-1960

Rev. Sam Jones Jr.-Oct. 23, 1960-Oct. 6, 1963

Rev. R.C. Cherry - 1964

Rev. C.N. McDougal-Nov. 5, 1964-July 24, 1966

Rev. Huey B. Stone-Dec. 4, 1966-Jan. 28, 1968

Rev. Roby Black-Feb. 14, 1968-Interim Pastor

Rev. A.J. Knight-August 4, 1968-March 25, 1973

Rev. George Colburn-April 1, 1973-Interim Pastor

Rev. C.N. McDougal-June 17, 1973-August 18, 1974

Rev. George Colburn-September 29, 1974 Interim Pastor

Rev. Herbert Thrasher-Nov. 3, 1974-March 9, 1975

Rev. George Colburn-April 1, 1975- Interim Pastor

Rev. Tom Hosmer-April 27, 1975-Interim Pastor

Rev. Walter Johnson-July 6,1975-Dec. 23, 1984

Rev. T. H. Stone-Jan. 1985- Interim Pastor

Rev. Sam Fitts-April 1, 1985-Sept. 11, 1988

Rev. A.J. Knight-Sept. 18, 1988-Interim

Rev. A.J. Knight-Jan. 22, 1989-Jan. 1990

Rev. William Donaldson-Jan. 21, 1990

Our first deacons were ordained on November 27, 1960, the same day that the church was organized. They were:

Willie Jerrell

Audrey Patterson

Barbara Buckner

Peggy Buckner

Brenda Knight

Rita Beck

Eva Criddle

Lisa Cobb

Shelia Patton

Doris Moody

Barbara Pate

Becky Nicholson

Cindy Hardy

Tammy Tucker

Kaye Foster

CHURCH OFFICES HELD back to top

YEAR(s)	CHURCH CLERK	CHURCH TREASURER	S.S. SUPT.	BTY DIRECTOR
1960-1961	Sybil Hemitt	Emily Simmons	LD McAvoy	CM Simmons
1961-1962	"	"	"	"
JUNE 1962	J.M. Buckner	Resigned	E.M. Cook
JUNE 1962		Cecil DeRomus
1962-1963	J.M. Buckner	"	Steve W Todd	Mrs. S.W. Todd
1963-1964	Mrs. S.W. Todd	F.P. Briggs, Jr.	"	Ruth Buckner
1964-1965	"	"	"	Mildred Jerrey
FEB. 1965	Mrs. L.D. McAvoy		L.D. McAvoy
1965-1966	"	"	"	Cecil DeRomus
1966-1967	"	"	"	Steve Todd, Sr.
1967-1968	Mrs. S.W. Todd	Mrs. C.M. Simmons	C.M. Simmons	"
1968-1969	Mrs. L.D. McAvoy	"	L.D. McAvoy	C.M. Simmons
1969-1970	"	L.D. McAvoy & LK Buckner	Ben Hardy	L.D. McAvoy
1970-1971	"	"	"	"
1971-1972	"	"	"	"
1972-1973	"	"	H.P. Collins	Ruth Buckner
1973-1974	"	"	"	"
1974-1975	"	"	"	"
1975-1976	"	"	"	Terry ?
1976-1977	"	"	"	"
1977-1978	"	"	L.K. Buckner	L.D. McAvoy
1978-1979	"	"	"	"
1979-1980	"	"	"	"
1980-1981	"	"	"	"
1982	Mrs. L.D. McAvoy	L.K. Buckner	L.K. Buckner	L.D. McAvoy
1982	"	"	"	"
1984	"	"	"	"
1985	"	"	"	"
1986	"	"	"	"
1987	"	Emily Thompson	"	"
1988	"		A.J. Knight	"
1989	"	L.D. McAvoy	none	none
1990	"	L.D. McAvoy & Flora Dennis	Ben Hardy	"
1991	"	"	"	"
1992	"	"	"	"
1993	"	"	"	"
1994	"	"	Daniel C.	"
1995	"	"	Leon Love	"
1996	"	"	"	"
1997	"	Leon Love	"	"
1998	"	"	"	"
1999	"	"	"	"
2000	"	"	"	"

1) Vennie Mae Harrison – 7/95

2) Janie Walker – 4/94

3) Hoyt Brown – 8/92

4) James Buckner – 4/92

5) Richard Yawn – 9/91

6) S.W. Todd – 1/91

7) Charlie Walker – 11/90

8) Lillian Goodwin – 10/89

9) Zadie Pendley – 3/89

10) Emily Thompson – 3/89

11) Alice Buckner – 2/89

12) Lula Headley – 2/88

13) Gladys Hardy – 10/87

14) L.K. Buckner – 8/87

15) Roy Patterson – 1/87

16) Harry Webb – 1/86

17) Ella Mae Knight – 1/84

18) Enda Ruth Capps – 1984

19) Clyde Cole Jr. – 12/83

20) Pearl Bramlett – 1974

21) Coy Simmons – 9/69

22) Cecil DeRamus – 10/66

23) H.P. Davis – 6/66

24) Teddy Freeman – 7/64

25) Mary Payne – 3/64

26) James Edward Capps – 7/62

27) Lee Wilson – 6/60

28) Mrs. John Todd - ?

29) Lillian Freeman - ?

I do not remember the date but I do remember that Easter Sunday when we held the first service in the little store building. It was cold and damp but the Lord was there with us. I do not remember either the people of Dolonah who were there since we were strangers, but I do remember the warm welcome we had. Bro. Otis Allen, Mrs. Allen (Bema), Cecil Allen, Bro. Able Turner, Roy, and I.

I do not know the date either when the church building was started but I think Mr. Prince donated the land.

Our group was small but very sincere and true Christians and the Lord certainly blessed those years that we were all together. I certainly do remember when Mr. Lee Wilson gave his heart to Jesus. Later Roy and I ran into Mrs. Wilson downtown one day (after Mr. Wilson’s death). She said something that has been a great blessing to me through the years. She said, “Do you mind if I hug his neck?” I said, “Be my guest.” She said, “If Lee Wilson is in heaven today, this is the man who showed him the way.”

I have cherished those words for I loved my husband so very much and still do. I am so grateful to the good Lord for the privilege he gave me to serve in my small way, in His vineyard as my music was the only talent He gave me for I had very little training.

Those were good years, and I thank Him every day for giving them to Roy and me and I really do love the people there.

Dolonah Baptist Church has meant so much to me and my family for forty years now. The most important thing that ever happened to us was when we (Butch, Kaye, and myself) were all saved here. We were baptized at Union Baptist on 3/30/1958 before the church was organized and Dolonah had no baptistery. Later on 10/7/79 Kim and Wendy (our granddaughters) were also saved and baptized here in Dolonah Baptist.

Kaye has been raised in this church, our grandchildren have been raised in this church, and now the great grandchildren come here.

Butch has had the privilege of serving as a deacon here, being ordained the day the church was organized November 27, 1960.

We have known and loved all of the fifteen pastors, their families. We have known most all of the members, present and past.

We give God all the glory for the great things He done here at Dolonah Baptist Church.

I was invited to preach at Dolonah in 1988, in the absence of their pastor who was sick. I found a church, small in number, but large in love for each other and who shared a love for God and their Church.

When I became pastor of Dolonah in January of 1990, they were still small in number, but had a heartfelt desire for their church to reach people for Christ, and to see their church grow. They were a loving and caring people.

In the past 5 ½ years, our fellowship has grown. Several have been saved and others have moved their membership to Dolonah. The fellowship among our congregation is growing sweeter each year.

Several improvements have been made and is in the process of being made to our building. We hope to have new carpet in our auditorium in a few months. It is truly a blessing to see how God is supplying our needs, not only in money but people who have come and joined with us in our work.

I feel that I have matured in my spiritual life and in my preaching, since I have been at Dolonah. God has truly blessed Jo Ann and I in the past 5 ½ years. Our love for you has grown warmer and more tender, in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Dolonah has truly been a blessing to the Donaldson family.

I came to know about Dolonah through Bill and Jo Ann Donaldson, pastor. When I started attending Dolanah, I came to feel that I was wanted, needed, loved an appreciated.

During an illness with my back, I had phone calls from several members of my Sunday School class telling me that they missed me, even though I had missed only one Sunday. This helped me feel that I was a part of Dolonah Baptist Church.

The fellowship of our church helped bring Mike (my husband) to the point that he realized that he needed to be saved, and he was saved.

Dolonah has meant a lot to my family. I am very happy as a member of our church.

Dolonah Baptist Church was built in the late 50’s. The first pastor the church had was Otis Allen. I lived in Dolonah for 3 or 4 years, and want to church a few times there. I did not go all the time because I was going to Houston Chapel Methodist Church at the time with some school friends. I do not know many of the pastors after Bro. Allen, I started going to Dolonah all the time in 1965. The pastor at the time was Huey Stone, after Bro. Stone we had Roby Black. After Bro. Black, we had A.J. Knight, after Bro. Knight we had C. N. McDougal for 4 years. In 1974 we had W.H. Thrasher for a few years. Then came Walter Johnson, he stayed with us for ten years, the longest a pastor has stayed. Then after he left we had Sam Fitts. Sam and I went to school at the old Bessemer High School second time. Then in 1990 Bro. Bill Donaldson came to our church he is the best we have had. I have been at Dolonah for 30 years. I have seen 70 to 80 people in the church at one time. I am praying that we can win those people back in church, and praying for good things to come.

So many memories of Dolonah Baptist Church, I could write a book and it would be a Best Seller.

I will never forget the first day we attended all 6 of us and soon Mrs. Todd, Steve’s mother started for Sunday morning service.

It was and still is so peaceful when one turns on the street you feel a joy deep inside.

The greatest memory would be hard to pick but Steve being ordained as deacon my son’s small but beautiful wedding, the children, I had in different classes over the years the many jobs I held in the Church, learning so very much myself and once we almost tied Sunday School in attendance when 2 Sunday nights we had over a hundred when I was director of Training Union. My young peoples class in Training Union most Sunday nights, 15-18 when Mrs. Buckner was director. We nearly always had high points.

Our Homecomings with oh so much food and sometimes hardly standing room in the afternoon. Dolonah is Home on Earth to me and always will be.

It’s hard to express in words what this church means to me. This church is as much a partof my life as breathing. I became a member of this church when I was 12 years old. I was baptized along with my mother and my daddy. We hadn’t attended church regularly before. I am so thankful for Bro. Allen and Mrs. Allen for listening to the Lord’s call to start this church. When I was talking to their daughter, Mona, I came to realize how many lives these people touched. They not only started our church, but they started five or six more. After Bro. Allen had suffered a stroke, he tried to learn to speak again so that he could continue to preach. Even though Mrs. Allen is now in a nursing home, and does not remember her daughter or anyone most of the time, she still has that same kind and sweet disposition.

Writing this history, and reading back through the minutes of the last 35 years. I have had so many emotions and memories of people that I had forgotten. There were a lot of good times and some bad, but because of the church the good times were better, and the bad times made me stronger.

I was married in this church, have raised my children in this church, and now my grandchildren are being raised here. I am so proud of Kim and Leon for bringing Lauren and Brooke and taking such an active part in the church. I can see the Lord blessing them everyday. When I was thinking of writing this, I wondered what my life would have been like if Dolonah had not been here. It really scared me. I know my life would have been a real disaster without the Lord and this church. I am so thankful for my Mother and Daddy bringing me here and raising me in a Christian home. This church has been a real blessing to me.

July 09, 2000 was wonderful day for the people of Dolonah Baptist Church. In 1995, we were told that Dolonah would have to give up its property and church building to build an access road from Interstate 20-59 to Vision Land. Before we even thought about what we could or would do, we began to pray that Dolonah’s ministry would not die. We prayed that God would provide a way that our ministry would grow into a fruitful one.

On July 09, 2000 we knew God was answering our prayers. N.H.B.C. proved to be a loving, caring church who welcomed and accepted us as their own. They also had the same vision to have a ministry that would grow and be more fruitful that ever. When we view the construction of our new building on 15^th Street Road, our hearts are thrilled to know that God is still answering our prayers. We really are one church with a ministry that is and will be reaching more people that ever.

In a business meeting on April 16, 2000, Terry Simmons made a motion to accept the offer of $175,000.00 from the State of Alabama for the property and building of Dolonah Baptist Church except for a small strip of land about ½ acre in size. Mike Jenkins second the motion. The motion passed. On August 24, 2001, we received $6500.00 for the ½ acre strip of land from Richard Smith who owned the property joining Dolonah’s land. That money plus $40,000.00 from Dolonah’s treasure was put with the $175,000.00 to start a new church.

Over the next few years we discussed what our options for the future would be. We came up with 5 options:

4. Buy the old Glenn Memorial Baptist Church which had disbanded earlier in the year.

May 21, 2000 the relocation committee recommended to consolidate with N.H.B.C. with intent to start a new satellite church, if the two churches agreed on certain conditions we had talked about previously. A motion was made by Terry Simmons to consolidate with N.H.B.C. and second by Mike Jenkins.

The last service at Dolonah was July 02, 2000 and our first with N.H.B.C. was July 09, 2000. That day we saw God bringing together a wonderful future ministry that will grow until Jesus comes.

Dolonah Baptist Church was a small congregation who loved God and who loved one another. We were a church who supported Baptist missions and gave help to local people who was in need. We were helping meet the physical and spiritual needs of people that other churches could not meet. We had a great fellowship.

When we were told that the state of Alabama needed our property for an access road from I-20 to vision land, our hearts was broken. We began to pray that we would be open to God’s leadership for our future.

We begin to explore our options. We ruled out disbanding for we wanted our ministry to grow and not die. We looked into relocating and building another church building. The cost was too high for a small congregation. If we had been able to relocate on our own, it would not have been a building or in a location that could grow into a fruitful ministry.

Then we considered purchasing Glenn Memorial Baptist Church in Bessemer who had disbanded earlier. We felt like this would be easier and would let us remain together. God would not give us peace about relocating to this place. We felt our ministry would not grow there and in a few years we would have to move again.

Next we considered an invitation to join with West Highlands Baptist Church. Dolonah and West Highlands worked together in the past with a joint world missions conference and a joint revival. The people in both churches knew and loved each other. It was at this time our struggles really began. We were small and West Highlands was more our size and we felt more comfortable going to another church that was more our size and whom we knew and respected. One time we voted to give North Highlands $100,000.00 to help them with building a satellite church and merge with West Highland, but God spoke to some of our hearts that this was not His will. We then went back to the church and rescinded that vote and vote to go with N.H.B.C. We had peace in our hearts that this was right. We still know that this was what God wanted us to do.

I heard that N.H.B.C. was interested in starting a new satellite church. I called Bro Doug O’Brien and expressed an interest in becoming a part of N. H. We talked about Dolonah and the vision that our ministry would not die. We also talked about the vision and plans for N.H. I believed that the visions of both churches were pointed in the same direction. We felt that if Dolonah’s vision were to become a reality, going with N.H. would bring our visions together and help both of our visions come into being quicker.

There was fear that N.H. was too big and we wouldn’t fit in. I really did not know Bro. Doug or Bro. Gwin or hardly anyone else and wasn’t really sure that N.H. would really accept us. But God gave most of us peace in our hearts over our decision. During this time we still did not want to move and continued to pray that God would not let them build this road.

When it was almost time to purchase property and we needed to commit to the merger with money, we were feeling that the state would not be building the road and we decided not to proceed with plans to merge at that time. When we were told that the road would be built, we recommitted to consolidating with North Highlands.

Looking back we can see where God has been in this relocation for a long time, even before we learned that a road would be built. The time we spent praying and the delays we experienced, and in deciding not to proceed with the merger was God working his time table with us, so that we came together with perfect timing. It is amazing to look back and see how God has work through us in such wonderful ways.

We found that N.H. had a great staff starting with the ladies in the office. Bro. Doug and Bro. Gwin were men who was truly committed to God, their church and really loved their people. Then Bro. Ronnie who was doing such a wonderful job with the music ministry. I have been blessed in seeing the rest of the staff working together with the pastoral staff. We still know that God led us to North Highlands.

After coming to North Highlands we learned of a new congregation in Lincoln, Al, who was constructing a new church building. We gave the New Hope Baptist church all of the pews, pulpit furniture, organ and piano, which was a great help to them. Jo Ann and I attended the dedication of their new church home. The furniture we gave them fit their sanctuary just right. They cleaned and put padding on the pews, which Jo Ann had tried to get us to do for a long time.

God blessed a new congregation through the consolidation of Dolonah and North Highlands. God blesses so many people with the obedience of His people. God is so good.

I have never seen so many miracles and wonderful things happening as I have for the time we have been here. It is a thrilling experience to see how God has worked in bringing about the construction of phase one in the first building. We still know that coming to N.H. was right and good.