History of Oaklawn Baptist Church

The historic Hundred Oaks Castle, home of a former Governor of the State of Tennessee, Albert S. Marks, was the first meeting place of the New Baptist Sunday School, which is now Oaklawn Baptist Church.  Sixty-eight people met Wednesday night, April 11, 1962 for the first prayer meeting.  These agreed to start a new Baptist Church.   Sunday, April 15, 1962, Sunday School attendance was 108, and Training Union was 80, with Dr. Albert McClellan speaking at both services.  Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Bradshaw, owners of Hundred Oaks Castle, graciously permitted the new Baptist church group to use the vacant portion of their home as its meeting place.  Reverend Wendell W. Price became pastor.

With the First Baptist Church of Decherd, Tennessee as a sponsor, the New Baptist Sunday School was constituted into a church May 20, 1962 as a member of the Duck River Missionary Baptist Association, the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.  Mr. Leslie Baumgarter, a member of the Sunday School Board, was the speaker with the Reverend H.D. Standifer, Duck River Associational Missionary, assisting.   Nineteen members composed the start of the new church with charter membership closing with 85 members.  Shortly after becoming a church, Oaklawn was chosen as the official church name.

The first major financial step taken by the new church was to buy a house to be used as the church pastorium.  This home on 211 Sharps Springs Road was remodeled and repaired to meet the needs of pastors and their families until it was sold in August 1993.

The church received its 100th member on October 29, 1962.  Sunday School averaged 111 and Training Union 58.  The church moved on November 1, 1962 to the Anasarcin building, located at 108 North College Street.  The men's Sunday School classes met at the Oldham Theater with permission from manager, Mr. Ernest Martin.

Four acres of land located at 108 Memorial Drive were chosen as the permanent site for Oaklawn.  Otis (Doc) Hice, John Porter Sr. and Bob Carle, who were the first Trustees, attended to the necessary legal matters, secured the loan, and this parcel of land was purchased from Bill Shirley in June 1962.  A ground-breaking ceremony was held May 5, 1963, for the building of the first unit designed by architect Leo Gueringer, who was a member of the church.  The building was completed and the church moved to this location February 9, 1964 and held it's Dedication Service May 17, 1964. 

The Reverend Price resigned on June 27, 1965 to accept a position with the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, in Nashville, TN.  Dr. W.W. Philips, dean of students of Belmont College, became interim pastor. 

The Reverend Jerry Smith was selected as the next pastor and served from September 30, 1965 until January 5, 1967. 

The Reverend Earl Waldrep of the Sunday School Board became interim pastor until the Reverend Paul D. Harding accepted the call as pastor on June 27, 1967 and served in the capacity until October 29, 1970, when he resigned to become pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church, Hazel Green, AL.  James A. Sears surrendered to the ministry during Rev. Harding's pastorate. 

Mickey Glance, a student at Belmont College, filled the pulpit until the Reverend Ray Gardner came June 28, 1971, from Hickory Grove Baptist Church.  Soon after, the church installed a baptistery and started a church-wide visitation program.   A bus ministry was begun with two buses donated by Mrs. Gladys Buchanan and Mrs. Helen Sisk.  A children's church was also started with Mr. Ronal Judge and Mrs. Sandra Syler conducting the services.  In 1994, the children's church was divided into a junior church for third through sixth graders and a young children's church for 4 years through second graders.  In 1997, the children's and junior church was brought back together into one service. Serving in Children’s Church over the years include: Mrs. Dottie Baxter, Melany Stewart Gardner, Mark Gass, Mitch Gass, Kristie Hall Stewart, Brenda Rankin, Karen Powers, Bryan and Jennifer Norwood. 

From the beginning, the church has been blessed with talented and dedicated members to conduct the music.  Lloyd L. Smith III, a student at Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was called as the first part-time minister of music in February 1975.   After Mr. Smith's resignation in July 1976, Herschel R. (Bobby) Taylor accepted the call to become the next minister of music in October 1976.  He still serves in this capacity.  Under his leadership, the sanctuary choir has performed special music at each morning's worship service and cantatas have been presented at Easter and Christmas.   Mr. Taylor has been ably assisted by instrumentalists, Kay Herschman, Kevin Syler, Sue Davis, Nelle Counts Marshall, Jackie Gardner Jernigan, Kristy Dotson Griffen, and Ben Watson.  Sound engineers have included Ronnie Hall, Mike Jernigan, and Kasey Taylor.

Mike Gass, Dennis Morris Jr., and Mike Robertson have accepted the call into the ministry since the Rev. Gardner has been pastor.  The church formally ordained Mike Gass into the ministry on December 18, 1976.  He was a graduate from Liberty Baptist College in Lynchburg, Virginia. 

Mike Robertson was formally ordained by the church and Wall Highway Baptist Church in Madison, AL, into the mististry in January 1983.   He also was a graduate from Liberty Baptist College.  He has pastored several churches and is currently paster of Maxwell Baptist Church and a rodeo evangelist. 

After graduation from the Evangelical Institute in Greenville, South Carolina, Dennis Morris spent five years as a missionary in Spain.  He also served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Salt Sprints, Florida. Dennis went to be with the Lord in 2001 after losing his battle with cancer.

The church held a bond burning ceremony on September 7, 1975.  Davis Schultz, church treasurer, burned the bonds representing all indebtedness on church properties.   Also, Bro. Ray with Deacons James Brazelton, Charles Marshall and Mickey Powers, turned sold starting the building of a new auditorium.  The building was completed in February 1976 by Clark & Clark Contractors.  The first services in the new auditorium were held March 7, 1976.  The auditorium seated 300, was complete with baptistery, fully carpeted and had padded pew.  The ground floor was initially a fellowship hall but was later partitioned into classrooms as extra space was needed.   In the fall of 1994 the sanctuary was completely renovated which included the addition of stained glass windows, a baby grand piano and start-of-the art sound system.   The previous pews were recovered, new carpeting was installed and a designated area for control of the sound system was provided.  In 1998, the church broke ground on expanding the auditorium and building a vestibule.  The auditorium currently seat 450 people.

In January 1984, the church purchased two additional acres on the hospital side of the church for future expansion.  An activities building was completed in October 1988 which contained a fellowship hall, kitchen, gym and ten classrooms. 

In 1988 the church began a mission through a thrift store.  The first location of the store was on the Cowan Highway. The store then moved to a building on the Old Cowan Highway. In 2001, the Thrift Store moved to 3rd Avenue where it continues to serve families of Franklin County.

In 1996 the church began the AWANA program for children 3 years of age through 6^th grade. The AWANA program meets on Sunday nights. Many volunters have made the AWANA program a success including: Dennis & Becky Hunt, Ken Wilson, Mark & Lolene Hinshaw, Stan & Dawn Burgett, Kristi Stewart, Paulette Stovall, Michelle Stovall, James Judge, Chris Sherill, Thesa Burt, Robert and Cheryl Gumz, John and Wendy Bradford.

In June 2001, the church celebrated the 30th Anniversery of Bro. Ray Gardner's service as pastor. In May 2002, the church celebrated its 40th Anniversery as a constituted church and also celebrated the 25+ years service of Bro. Bobby Taylor as Minister of Music.

In August 2007, the church held its 1^st Annual Homecoming. Special Services were held in the morning service followed by lunch in the fellowship hall. 

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Last modified: 2 September 2007