History of the Baptists in Perry County

Unfortunately, many local Southern Baptist churches protested Judson's position. Siloam Baptist Church voted to bar blacks from its doors. Several Judson students and faculty withdrew their membership from the church as a result. Residents who attended the Billy Graham Crusade in Selma at the end of 1965 heard a plea from the famous Baptist evangelist fro love and unity of Christians across racial lines.

In the 1960's the state of Alabama closed both the Lincoln School and the white Perry County High in order to send students to a newly constructed and racially integrated Marion High School. Under the auspices of state-sponsored desegregation, local officials razed by bulldozer almost all of the Lincoln buildings.

In 1970, the state of Alabama established the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame at Judson College, the nation's sixth-oldest women's college, which now accepted African-American students. The Hall of Fame has honored women of all classes and ethnicities for their cultural leadership. In 1997 Judson president David Potts hired the college's first African American faculty member. In 199 President Potts declared a "stop day" to allow Judson students, faculty, and staff to participate in Habitat for Humanity's "Beyond the Bridge" blitz build of twenty-one homes in one week in Selma. Today Judson's outstanding student leaders are preparing their mission projects in conjunction with Sowing Seeds of Hope. Judson student Mandy McMichael earned an Alabama CBF Young Leaders Scholarship to attend the 2000 General Assembly.

Today both the Lincoln School and the former Female Seminary are laying the groundwork for museums and tourism. Historian and curator Dr. Paul Rietzer, pastor of Newburn Baptist Church, serves on the Baptist World Alliance's Justice and Reconciliations Committee.

Many black and white Baptists work together in such community organizations as CrossTies (so named because we are tied together by the Cross). We work, pray, and play together in a spirit of forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation.

In Perry County you'll find Cooperative Baptists, Southern Baptists, National Baptists, Progressive Baptists, and Independent Baptists. At city hall and the county courthouse such Baptists as Mary Cosby Moore, Donald Cook, Twynette Yeager, and Mayor Ed Daniels lead by example in cooperation and productivity. True to Baptists' history of cultural influence in this area, in business, industry, healthcare, and service occupations, Baptists are working together to make a positive difference in Perry County. Join us!

Written by Dr. Carol Ann Vaughn, former Professor of History at Judson College, former member of Siloam Baptist Church and Alabama Representative on the National Coordinating Council of CBF. Dr. Vaughn is currently serving as the the Director of Christian Women's Leadership Center and Assistant Professor of History at Samford University.

Sowing Seeds of Hope