On Wednesday Evening Feb. 2nd ,1955 at 8:00 O’clock, a group of 32 people met at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Tom Harmon to discuss the possibilities of Starting and organizing a Missionary Baptist Church in the Section of Perry Ga. Known as “Sand Hill”, or the southern part of town.
Mr. And Mrs. E.F. Bellflower offered us a lot of land on which to erect this church building. We also had an offer for some land from Mr. H.E. Gordon, on Elko Rd. and it was voted on and decided to accept the land from Mr. & Mrs. Bellflower.
Plans were made for meetings to be held in the homes of different ones interested in this movement. Temporary officers for this church were elected as following –
Moderator – Rev. Tom H. Harmon
Clerk – Mr. J.I. Locke
Treasurer – Mrs. Clyde Rumph
Finance Committee – Mrs. Grace Sledge
James S. Horne
Mrs. Clyde Rumph
Mrs. H.J. Hunt
Offering on this night was $255.00

On the evening of Feb. 9th, 1955 at 8:00 O’clock our second service was held in the home of Mr. And Mrs. H.J. Hunt with 57 present.
Two committees were appointed as following,
Building Committee
Mr. J.I. Locke
J.S. Horne
H.J. Hunt
E.F. Bellflower
Harlan Ratterree
J.M. Locke
J.J. Benson
Committee for raising money to help on the finances of building church were appointed to the following ladies –

Mrs. Tom Harmon
Mrs. J.I. Locke
Mrs. H.J. Hunt
Mrs. Henry Arnold
Mrs. Harmon Ratterree
Mrs. J.M. Locke

It was decided to take offerings each week for the purpose of using it on the building of the church.
The ladies of the above committee plans to make and sell quilts as a way to help raise money and to date about $200.00 has come into the church treasury this way.
Mrs. Clyde Rumph signed a contract sponsored by the “ Houston Home Journal” a Houston County Newspaper in which subscriptions would be sold. First prize for the most subscriptions sold was to be $1000.00. Everyone interested in the movement worked very hard and we are happy to report we received the grand prize and Mrs. Rumph presented it to the building of the church.
Our members for this movement increased in number until it was almost impossible to have services in the homes and Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Rumph offered us the use of the basement of their store on 41 Hi-way South and we gratefully accepted this offer.

On Monday April 11, 1955 Mr. Milton Beckham surveyed, free of charge the land Mr. & Mrs. Bellflower gave the church.
On Sat. Afternoon April 16, 1955 the members of the building committee met to lay off the foundation for the church. Those present for the ground breaking were Rev. Tom Harmon, J.M. Locke, J.S. Horne, H.J. Hunt, J.J. Benton, Harlan Ratterree, Ralph Ratterree, Mrs. H.J. Hunt, and Mr. Pete Wilburn. Harlan Ratterree turned the first spade of soil.
On Sat. April 16, 1955 Mrs. Eva Bellflower and Mrs. Clyde Rumph bought and presented a piano to the church. We are indeed grateful for this gift.
On Monday April 18, 1955 the digging out for the foundation of the church was completed.
Tues. April 19, 1955 the foundation of the church was poured. April 20,1955 Clyde Rumph hauled the first load of brick for the building – Man, Women and Children helped to unload the brick – It was such a happy time for all of us.
On April 27, 1955 the first brick was layed on the church auditorium by Loyless Lee, a colored man from Macon, Ga. May the Lord bless all who may have a hand in helping to do His work.
Mrs. H.J. Hunt, Church Clerk
Rev. Tom Harmon, Mod.
Perry, Ga. – May 12, 1955
Where as it appears to us there is a great need for a Baptist Church in this locality and after much prayer and seeking divine guidance and much consultation with our brethren and churches and after the Calling of a Council to consider the matter, which council has voted that there is a need for such a church, it is resolved that we, the “Memorial Heights Baptist Church” do now enter upon the organization of a church under the direction of the council composed of the following members of Hayneville Baptist Church,
Frank Douglas
Ernie Williford
Olin Hamblin
Joe Pitts
And B.A. Goodman of the Houston Lake Baptist Church.

Perry, Ga. May 12, 1955
Conference was called here today for the purpose of organizing “Memorial Heights Missionary Baptist Church.”
First order of business was as follows:
1. Song – Never Alone, led by Olin Hamblin
2. Prayer – B.A. Goodman
3. Inspiring talks given by Bro’s Frank Douglas, Ernie Williford, Olin Hamblin and Joe Pitts of Hayneville and B.A. Goodman of Houston Lake.
4. Rev. J.J. Marrow, Pastor of Hayneville church was elected as moderator of Council
5. Council was chosen and consisted of the following brethren – Rev. J.J. Marrow, Frank Douglas, Ernie Williford, Olin Hamblin and Joe Pitts of Hayneville and B.A. Goodman of Houston Lake.
6. Mrs. J.M. Locke was elected temporary clerk.
7. Prayer – led by Joe Pitts
8. Statements of reason given why a church should be organized here given by the Rev. Tom H. Harmon
9. Statements and discussions given from members of the council
10. Motion was made by Rev. Tom H. Harmon for a vote from the council.
11. Vote from the council was unanimous for the organizing of this church
12. The doors of the church were opened and Letters were called for, of which there were twenty-eight and seven came on profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
13. Motion made, seconded and passed to adopt Resolutions of church
14. The Church Covenant and Atricles of Faith read and adopted
15. Election of Officers
Pastor: Rev. Tom H. Harmon
Clerk: Mrs. H.J. Hunt
Treasurer: Mrs. Clyde Rumph
Deacon: Rev. G.W. Hutchinson
Trustees of Property: Grady Brown, J.M. Locke and J.S. Horne
Pianist: Mrs. Mattie Mauldin
16. Right hand of fellowship was given by Rev J.J. Marrow
17. Charge given to the church by Rev. J.J. Marrow andf other members of the council
18. Talks given from members of council on Sunday School work, Brotherhood, Womens Missionary Service, R.A.s and G.A.s after which the members of the council from both Hayneville and Houston Lake churches pledged themselves to constantly pray for the work here.
19. Best wishes given to the New church by visiting churches
20. Thanks and asking God’s blessing on the members of the council from Rev. Tom H. Harmon
21. Benediction by Bro. J.J. Marrow, in which he humbly and earnestly prayed that the blessings of Almighty God might be ours always.

Perry, Ga. May 19, 1955
To our Brethren in Christ Jesus: Hayneville Baptist Church.
We thank the Lord always for every consideration, every effort and every prayer that you send up for us, for your Pastor, Bro. J.J. Marrow, for your deacons and other members of your fine church, for the efforts you made to materialize in lending a very strong arm in organizing our church.
May God’s richest blessings be yours always as individuals, as a church and as a community. We shall always count it an honor to have your Pastor and these other men of God act as council in organizing our church.
We thank God that there are men that are as interested in the on going of Christ’s Kingdom as your humble, meek, sincere and yet very forceful Pastor and the other Christian men that make up your church.
You indeed shall always live in our hearts as (Our Mother Church.)
In Christ’s name we thank you.

Memorial Heights Baptist Church, Perry, Ga.