The subject of this sketch was born in La Fayette, Chambers County, Alabama, February 19, 1841. 
His father, Rev. J. J. Beck, was a Baptist minister, and died two years after the son was born. 
His father was John Beck, a Presbyterian minister, and well-to-do rice planter and a slave owner of
Buford District, South Carolina.  Young John Beck's mother removed first to Troup County, Georgia
and then to Stewart County, Georgia where her son was reared, and received a common school education. 
While a youth of fifteen years he commenced teaching, and was a private tutor in South Carolina. 
About this time and before the Civil War he began reading law.  When the war began he enlisted in the 23rd.
South Carolina Regiment and was made Ordinance Sergeant and subsequently was made Brigade Ordinance Sergeant. 
At the close of the war he located at Morgan, Georgia and at that place taught school and read law,
and was admitted to the bar late in the year of 1866.  At that time Judge John T. Clarke was the
presiding Judge, of this circuit.  After his admission to the bar, he began immediately to follow
his profession as an attorney-at-law and became very popular as a lawyer.  He was successful and had
a large clientele.  He held the office of Ordinary of Calhoun County at one time, was Judge of the
County Court, and was also County School Commissioner.  In 1884 he was elected as Representative of
Calhoun County to the General Assembly.

Mr. Beck was twice married, his first marriage was to Miss Sara C., daughter of Rev. S. Parker, a
leading Baptist minister of Randolph County, Georgia.  She died in 1891.  His second marriage was
to Mrs. Jennie Powell of Terrell County.  He had four children by his first wife, Floy, Walter,
Jeddie and Cleo.  Mr. Beck was Royal Arch Mason, as Worshipful Master of Concord Lodge and presided
as High Priest of his Chapter.

Soon after coming to Morgan he connected himself with the Baptist Church at that place and was a
useful and consistent member of that church, actively supporting the church.  He gave of his substance
for the local expense and support of the causes fostered by the denomination, wisely counseled the
church and was a safe and sane leader.  While he did not seek the high offices of the church or his
Association yet they both had his undivided support.  He has been missed in his community since his death.

Submitted by Margie Daniels a Parker lineal descendant anyone having information on the surname Parker please contact
 margie at majorinternet dot net

Born February 10, 1807 in McIntosh County, Georgia.
His father, Jesse Campbell , belonged by descent to the Scottish clan of that
name.  His mother was the daughter of John Dunham, who with his wife, Sara
Clancy, came to this country as an emigrant in the same ship with General
Oglethorpe.  Mr. Campbell was fortunate in being educated until his eighteenth
year chiefly at Sundury, Liberty County, and for a few months attended school at
Athens.  His attendance was cut short by the death of his father in 1825, which
necessitated his return to the old  homestead on the coast for the protection
and support of  his three orphan sisters, he being the only surviving son. 
Though but eighteen years of age, he administered his father's estate, and
occupied for three years the position of head of the family.  He was converted
when sixteen years of age and baptized at Sunbury, Liberty County, November 1822
by Rev. C. O. Screven.  Prior to his conversion he was wild and in the habit of
using profane language but immediately discontinued all bad habits and began to
conduct family worship and before he reached his seventeenth year he began to
exhort and pray in public and in this way became known as "The Boy Preacher" in
the coast counties of Georgia.

He was ordained at Sunbury in 1830 and became pastor of the church at Macon in
1831 for one year. He then went to Clinton, Jones County and preached in the
village and the surrounding country. Under his preaching many were converted. 
He finally entered the work for an evangelist for the state at large and was
eminently successful in this labor. At the beginning of the civil war in 1861
he promptly relinquished his work and entered the army as a volunteer Evangelist,
in which capacity he served until the war closed.  The five or six yeas which
succeeded the war he spent at Quitman and Thomasville preaching the Gospel.  He
then took charge of the church at Perry, Houston County, but in 1876 moved to
Columbus where he resided with his son, Rev. A. B. Campbell.  He was on the first
Board of Trustees of Mercer University, and continued on that Board for more than
thirty years.  He removed to Lumpkin and while residing there originated the
Masonic Female College in that place, and the Baptist Female College at Cuthbert. 
He is the author of the only published history of our denomination in the State
up to that time.  His influence has been widely felt in the territory composing
the Bethel Association.  He was a devout preacher and did much towards the 
upbuilding of the Baptist faith in this state.  The writer is unable to give the
place and date of his death.
 

Note: Some of this Rylas family migrated to Memphis, Tennessee according to Mr. Ray Ryles

If anyone has any information on the Cooper family please let Margie know.  Mr. W. Cooper  a Cooper researcher is not online.
 

The subject of this sketch was born in South Carolina but he made Georgia his
home by adoption at the close of the Civil War.  He was a graduate of Furman
University and attended the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Columbia, S.C.
and two years at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Greenville, S.C.  After the
war he settle in Dougherty County, Georgia where he preached and taught school.
He afterwards moved down into Baker County and was called to take charge of the
Church at Milford Which he served for a long while.  He spent one year in
Randolph County.  He preached one year for the Blakely Church, two for the
Morgan Church, three for the Evergreen Church and also served the Notchaway
Church.  While preaching at Evergreen Church one day while in the midst of  his
sermon a note was handed him.  He read it, and then proceeded with his
discourse  until it was finished.  The note announced the sudden death of his
father, whom he day before he had left in good health in the adjoining county of
Baker.  He was gifted with a large share of common sense and tact, supplemented
by a liberal education and personal piety, with earnestness and pathos in the
pulpit, devotion to his people and a remarkable caution with regard to the
reception of candidates for baptism.  His life meant much to the Bethel
Association.
 

Mr. L. A. Duggan was born in Washington County, Georgia, December 19, 1858.  His parents were
Joseph F. Duggan and Susan Reynolds Duggan.  The early years of his life were spent in middle Georgia. 
He was a graduate of Mercer University. December 18, 1878 he was married to Miss Emma Freeman.  In 1880
he moved to Springvale, Georgia and it was July of 1882 that he was converted and joined the Springvale
Church.  In the Fall of this same year he moved one half mile south of Cuthbert, Georgia where he lived
seventeen years.  His membership was put in the Cuthbert church about one year later and stayed there
during the remainder of his life with the exception of the year 1900 when he lived near Coleman, Georgia
and had his membership in the Coleman Church.  In January of 1901 he returned to Cuthbert and resided
there until his death November 7, 1920.  During most of these years he was teaching a Sunday School
Class, serving on committees and helping in any way he could with the various activities of his church. 
From 1886 to 1890 he was church clerk, also from 1914 to 1917.  He was ordained deacon in 1903, and
remained in office as long as he lived.  He gave much of his time to Associational work as well,
acting as Clerk from 1896 through 1901 and serving as Moderator from 1903 through 1906.  For some
years he was Treasurer of the fund for the benefit of Baptist boys and girls and student preachers
in the Association.

His loyalty to his church and his friends was sure and steadfast; his conviction and untiring devotion
to duty never faltered.  He was liberal and generous with his time and means to every cause fostered by
his church and in the interest of the Lord's kingdom in the world.  He was diligent and happy in the
discharge of every duty connected with church life.  He was sound in his faith, fervent in his spirit,
filled with love for his church and God's children, wherever he found them.
 

The world oft times forgets when great men are born and it does not remember
the trials of youth that usually attend those who climb the ladder of fame
the highest, but who is it that cannot tell  you of the brightest stars and
the end of the successful in life?  Such men were James and John Windsor, who
departed this life in the year 1849.

The Association at its regular session held at Bethel Baptist Church, Americus,
Georgia in 1849 declared:

"Our beloved and much esteemed brethren, James Griffin and John Windsor, may
be justly said to have been men of God:  "good Ministers of Jesus Christ," of
a meek and quiet spirit.  One of their highest commendations is, that those
who knew them best, loved them most.  As christians they were consistent, ever
letting their light shine, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. 
Above all, as Ministers, brethren John Windsor and James Griffin were holy
men.  Let us all as the ambassadors of a meek and holy Jesus, ever bear in
mind, that this is the great secret of success.  There is a moral power in
holiness -- argument may be resisted, persuasion and entreaty may be scorned,
the appeals of the pulpit, set forth with all the vigor of logic, and in the
glow of eloquence, may be evaded, or disregarded, but the exhibition of exalted
piety has a power which nothing can withstand.  It is truth embodied -- it is
the Gospel, burning in the hearts, beaming from the eyes, breathing from the
lips and preaching from the livers of its votaries.  No sophistry can elude it. 
It speaks in all languages, in all claimes, and to all the imperfections of our
nature.  It is universal -- invincible -- and clad in immortal panoply -- goes
on from victory to victory.  Let all God's dear Ministers but reach this point,
as did our lamented brethren John Windsor and James Griffin, and Zion is
victorious.
 

James Claude Grimes was born August 9th, 1884 in Coweta County nine miles west of the city of
Newnan, Georgia.  His boyhood days were spent on the farm doing the real work of the farm and
attending a small country school a few months each year.  In his early manhood he felt the
call of God to preach the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ.  He, being a very timid and ignorant
boy refrained from yielding to this call until he could do so no longer.  After making a public
announcement of his call and preaching his first sermon in old Elim Baptist Church, where he
had grown up, he entered Locust Grove Institute, Locust Grove, Georgia, in the Fall of 1905, to
prepare himself for college.  After two years at Locust Grove he was called in 1907 to four
country churches and was ordained to the full work of a Gospel minister in December.  In addition
to his work as pastor he taught schools to help pay expenses incurred while in college. He
matriculated at Mercer University in the fall of 1909.  After much self-denial and sacrifice
he was rewarded with a diploma from Mercer in 1913.  While a student at Mercer he served churches,
among which were the Baptist Church at Milner, Georgia, Union Church, St. Marks, Georgia and
Mountville Baptist Church, Mountville, Georgia.
 
While pastor of the last named church he met the young lady, Miss Ruth Bird, who later became his wife.

After graduating from Mercer he spent several months on the farm with his parents and serving
churches.  In June 1914 he accepted a call to the First Baptist Church, Boston, Georgia and began
his ministry there.  In October 1914 he returned to Mountville and married.  He and his bride
established their first home in Boston and there their only child, Esther Jane Grimes, was born
July 3, 1916.

In November 1918 he resigned the pastorate in Boston and went under the direction of the State
Mission Board to organize a church and erect a building, which is now known as Norwich Street
Baptist Church, Brunswick, Georgia.
 
Two years later he was called to the Brinson Baptist Church, Brinson, Georgia where for two years
he served Brinson and a number of nearby churches, being pastor of six  churches at one time.
 
In 1923 he was called to the Colquitt Baptist Church; where for two years he served Colquitt as a
full time church and four other nearby churches on Sunday afternoons.
 
In 1925 he was called to the Shellman Baptist Church and he began his ministry in April.  Soon he
had been called to four other nearby churches for Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon services.
 These churches, Elim, Carnegie, Friendship and Rehoboth he now serves in addition to his work in Shellman.
 
Brother Grimes is a strong, forceful preacher, a splendid pastor and is much beloved by his churches.
 

It is not often that we can find a layman among our churches who can teach, preach and, in fact,
perform all of the services and duties of a pastor, deacon, teacher and advisor.  But such a man
is the subject of this sketch, John D. Gunn.

Brother Gunn was born February 24, 1864 and was the only son and youngest child of Scotch parents,
John McKenzie Gunn and Susan Douglass Gunn.  He has three sisters, Eugenia G. Davis, Leila G. Hood,
and Gertrude McDonald.

Brother Gunn was educated at Cuthbert and the University of Georgia one year 1881-2.  He married
on February 5, 1890 Miss Mattie Wilkerson of Talbotton, Georgia.  Three children blessed this marriage,
Susie, John and Wilkerson, now grown and living.  And each upon a profession of faith are members of
God's family.

Mr. Gunn engaged in the mercantile business in 1883, was Cashier of the Bank of Cuthbert six years and
is still active in mercantile and other lines of business in Cuthbert.

When he was 29 years of age he united with the church, on April the 16th, and was baptized on April
the 30th, 1893.  He at once became active in his church.  He was made Superintendent of the Sunday School
and later ordained as a Deacon.  At the State Convention held in Macon, November 1919 he was elected
 Trustee of the Georgia Baptist Orphan's Home and has been a member of that Board continuously since
that date.  Brother Gunn is active in church work, sympathetic to those who are in distress and is a
strong and untiring worker in the building of a Christian community.  His services on the Board of
Trustees of the Georgia Baptist Orphan's Home has meant much to that Institution for it is due to his
influence that many car loads of provisions and much money has been contributed by the Baptists in
this section of the State to that Institution.

On November 3, 1926 God called his good wife home.  May this good man continue in his good work for many years yet.
 

W. D. Hammack was born in Randolph County, April 13th, 1842.  His father, William Hammack, who was born
in 1814 in Twiggs County, Georgia and his mother, Barbra Wooley, born the same year, probably in South
Carolina came from Twiggs County, Georgia to Randolph County in 1835.  The country at that time was very
thinly settled with white people, but there were many Indians there.  William Hammack, the father of
W. D. Hammack, was called upon to help drive them out and finally this section of the State was cleared
of the Indians.  At that time Randolph County was a frontier county without churches or schools.  About
the only schooling that country boys had was by private teachers that were hired and kept for a few
months in the summer of the year.  William Hammack was a devout Christian and the old New Hope Church was
constituted in his home in the year 1842, and preaching was held there for three years.  A log house was
built about a mile from his home for a church and school.  An uncle of W. D. Hammack, Oliver Wooley,
preached at this church, which was afterwards moved a short distance into Coleman and is now the Coleman
Baptist Church.  It was there in this log church that W. D. Hammack went to school and received his common
school education.  There he joined the church in 1858 and was baptized by Rev. A. P. Mitchell.  The
controversy between the North and South at this time became very heated, and in 1861 the Civil War began. 
William D. was then at the right age and went to the war and served throughout the war.  During that
time he says his light was under a bushel.  But when he came back after the war under the influences of
his mother and sister, Anna, he went back to the church, confessed his sins, and was forgiven, and took
up his cross and followed the Lord the best he could.
 
On November 10, 1870 he married Miss Victoria Lanier of Randolph County and to them one child was born
in 1872.  Her name was Eva, and she later married Mr. W. H. Jenkins.
 
In 1886 at old New Hope Church W. D. Hammack was ordained by Judge John T. Clarke and others.  He then
began an active ministry, preaching at Rocky Mount, a church a few miles South of Cuthbert, which is now
extinct, Friendship, Elim, Cedar Springs, Mt. Gilead, Bronwood, Mt. Zion and others.  During the summer
months he visited many other churches and carried on Revival Meetings, baptizing many into the churches. 
He received from his churches from twenty dollars to one hundred dollars annually which small sums were
not sufficient to support himself and family.  He farmed when not preaching.  His pastorate at all of
his churches was long.  He preached at Sumner in Worth County for eleven years.  He kept his churches
unified and during his entire pastorate was active and untiring, baptizing many into the churches.  He
says now that he takes no personal credit for his successful career as a preacher but leaves the results
with the Lord.
 
In February 1887 his wife died.  In August, 1888 he married Miss Julia Jenkins and to this union one child
was born in 1890, Willie D. Hammack, Jr.
 
In 1929 Brother Hammack retired from active ministry, but has continued to preach and to visit various
places and conduct funerals and perform marriages.
 
In 1900 he was honored by his County which elected him as a representative to the General Assembly of
Georgia where he served with distinction, always aligning himself with the moral side of every issue
and where he fought for the general welfare of the common people of the State, and especially against
the liquor interest.
 
While in the Legislature there was a bill introduced in the House of Representatives for the purpose of
creating a dispensary for the sale of intoxicating liquors in Hawkinsville, Pulaski County.  The local
representatives favored the bill, but Mr. Hammack regardless of what is called legislative courtesy
fought with all his might the passage of this bill.  His fight was so strong and courageous that the
newspapers featured it.  Although he lost the fight he received a letter signed by ten of the best
citizens of that County commending him for his act in fighting for the prohibition cause.  Among other
things they said:  "It affords us satisfaction, Sir, to know that in you a worthy and righteous cause
found a supporter whose voice legislative courtesy could not stifle.
 
Men who cannot be hushed into silence by such considerations as moved the body of the Legislature in
this instance, are scarce in our lawmaking assembly.  And Democrats with enough spirit and principles
of their party to resist such undemocratic proceedings are fast bringing into disrepute the defeat of
the party which has held the devotion of our State for three generations.
 
We, the citizens of this misrepresented county, wish to thank you for your noble and praiseworthy service
that you rendered the people of Pulaski in the hour when they had none to speak their sentiments for them.
 As the independent champion of a good cause at a time when it required courage to take, unassisted, the
stand you took, we honor you, and feel that you deserve to know it.  Accept the thanks and best wishes and
hearty endorsement of nine tenths of the people of Pulaski County."
 
In 1922 he was elected as chaplain of the Lower House of the General Assembly, which place he has faithfully
served continuously since.  There he came in contact with the best minds of the State and has been able by
his strong personal character and his ability to lead to have a good influence upon the law making body of
our state.
 
He is now in his ninety first year and while he is somewhat feeble, yet he has strength and the will to
preach and to visit among the churches of the Bethel Association.
 
It would be hard to estimate the good that this preacher who started life in a pioneer County and at a time
when there was general warfare with the Indians and when there were no schools nor churches and who has lived
these ninety one years of his life within a few miles of where he was born, but whose influence and leadership
has been such as to class him as one of the great leaders, preachers and statesmen of Southwest Georgia.
 
Too much honor cannot be given to a man who has fought the battle of life and right for ninety years and has
been a great shining light to thousands of people as the life of this good man.  And now in his old age his
church and his Association revere and honor him and his name and his leadership.  He is now living at Coleman
with his wife and son, where he works his garden and enjoys his family in the quietness of old age.
 

. A. Lanier was born May 8, 1873 at Georgetown, Ga.  His parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Lanier,
being farmers, he was reared on a farm near Hatcher Station, Ga.  Mr. C. A. Lanier inherited a
musical talent as both his father and grandfather were lovers of gospel music, the latter being
director of the singing in Georgetown Baptist Church before the war between the States.
 
At the age of twelve years, C. A. Lanier, had manifested a keen interest and love for music, to
the extent that with the aid of his older brother, R. R. Lanier, had with the use of a cigar box
constructed a violin and was able to play simple melodies and about this time his father purchased
an organ and he immediately took the job of learning to play and sing.  At the age of fifteen he
united with Enon Baptist Church in Quitman County and was baptized by Brother T. H. Stout who was
pastor of the church at that time.  It was only a few years thereafter, the church saw fit to place
the duty of directing the singing for the church service upon him and churches of other communities
began to use him in their revival services, and from thence into the towns and cities in an
evangelical way.
 
In 1898 he was married to Miss Donie May Sharley, the daughter of T. J. and Roxie Sharley of
Cuthbert, Ga. where he still lives.
 
In 1918 the Bethel Association convened with Edison Baptist Church and on motion of J. W. Stanford
the office of music director was created and Bro. C. A. Lanier was elected music director which office
he has held till the present time.
 

Lattie Lucius Lyon, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Lyon was born in Towns County, Georgia, February 16, 1873. 
In early life Mr. Lyon moved with his family from Towns County to Habersham County, near Clarkesville,
where he received his early schooling.  He graduated from a college at Demorest, Georgia.  Later he
attended Hiawassee College, then an Atlanta business college.  While yet a young man he realized that
a higher education would fit him better for a life of service to humanity and God.  He attended the
University of Georgia Law School, from which institution he graduated in 1895.  He returned to
Clarksville, where he taught in the public schools of Habersham County, and later served for some time
as County School Superintendent.
 
It was in Clarksville also that he was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law.  He soon
established himself as an able attorney and counsellor at law, a brave defender of truth and
righteousness and a man of integrity.
 
In 1901 Mr. Lyon made a tour of Florida and South Georgia seeking a place to locate for the practice of
law.  At Colquitt Mr. Charlie Bush suggested Arlington as a good field, so in passing through he met
Mr. H. M. Calhoun who wanted a law partner.  So they formed a partnership.  The firm was successful,
and each member came to esteem the other as his best friend.  But in 1904 the partnership was dissolved
on account of Mr. Lyon's desire to reduce professional business preparatory to entering the ministry.


On February 21, 1903, Mr. Lyon was happily married to Miss Cleone McClain, youngest daughter of the late
Dr. and Mrs. G. N. McClain of Arlington.  To this union two daughters were born, Rebecca and Lattie,
who are now respectively Mrs. A. W. Raymond of Punta Gorda, Florida and Mrs. Harry Olive of
Arlington, Georgia.
 
From early life Mr. Lyon had been a consistent and active member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
In 1904, five years before his death, he yielded to a call to the ministry, and was ordained in the
Baptist Church for this great work.  Upon entering the ministry he was called to serve the churches
at Kestler, Milford, New Bethel in Randolph County, and Herod in Terrell County.  Later he resigned at
Kestler and New Bethel and accepted in their stead calls to Hillside and Colomokee, which places he
served until his death.  During his work in the ministry he served as treasurer of the Bethel Association,
and at the time of his death was a member of the Executive Board of that Association.  It was his plan
to attend the Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky, to further prepare himself for what he intended to
make his life's work, giving up all his other work for a larger service to God.
 
Mr. Lyon's general competence was recognized as a public and private citizen.  He was elected and
served the town of Arlington as Mayor in 1905--1906, and was appointed by Gov. Hoke Smith as Solicitor
of the City Court of Calhoun County to succeed Mr. A. L. Miller, who was elected to represent
Calhoun County in the Legislature.
 
Mr. Lyon died on June 5, 1909, victim of an attack of typhoid fever contracted while visiting a family,
members of one of his churches, of which every member had the disease.  He knew the risk he ran,
that his stomach had been weakened in childhood by a serious illness, but such was his sympathy for
his stricken friends that he did not count the cost to his friends.
 
Brother Lyon was one of God's chosen preachers, and had he lived no doubt would have developed into
one of our greatest preachers.  He had all the qualifications for his chosen work.
 

Rev. W. H. Patterson came into the Bethel Association in 1876 and made his
home at Georgetown, Quitman County.  He was a very learned preacher of the
Gospel, a man of high christian character and one of the outstanding preachers
of the state.

He served various churches in the Bethel Association from 1876 until his death
on March 26, 1901.  He was Moderator of the Bethel Association for two years,
in 1889 when the Association met with the Villah Church in Randolph County
and in 1900 when it met with the Lebanon Church.  He was loved and appreciated
by the membership of the churches which he served, and was profound student of
the Bible and an eloquent and forceful preacher.  His sermons were forceful
and strong and  his pastoral work among his churches was outstanding.  It is
regretted that we do not have the history of his early life and attainments
before he located in the Bethel Association.

 

Sometimes there are those among us whose reputations does not reach to the boundary lines of
civilization and whose name is not found in high places, but whose life and usefulness is a
benediction to those with whom they come in contact and a blessing to an entire community and
county.  Such a man was Joseph W. Sauls, who was called home to Glory in the year 1920.
 
Brother Sauls was born and reared in Randolph County, and there he spent his entire life and
raised a large and useful family.  He became converted, joined the church, was baptized and
soon afterwards began to preach and was ordained as a minister of the Gospel, and served a
number of churches in the Bethel Association.  In his own home church and community he was
most useful.  The lives of such men as this are jewels and they become the very foundation of
the church and community life wherever they live.
 

Dr. Stanford was born November 4, 1852 and early in life he united with the Baptist Church,
entering into an active, energetic, Christian life.  He married Miss Sarah Burr in 1876.  To
them were born seven sons who survived him.  Dr. Stanford was a splendid business man and entered
into the retail drug business in Cuthbert, and ran this business for several years.  He was
also connected with the banking business in his town.
 
Soon after his connection with the Baptist Church he was elected Clerk of his church and held
that position for eight years.  In about 1888 he began to attend the Bethel Association and
never missed a session of that Association from that time until his death unless he was
providentially hindered.  He served on every important committee of that Association during
his life time.  On all questions coming before that body he took an interest and was often heard
from on the floor of the house.
 
It was said of him by his pastor, Rev. J. H. Coin, at the time of his death, that "beyond any
question the big thing in the life of Brother Stanford was his Master's cause.  Obligations to
his church had first place in his life.  He believed implicitly that the doctrines as held by
Baptists were the teachings of the Bible, and for them he would have willingly died.   Would to
God we had more like him in that particular.  Dr. Stanford served his church in every capacity
in which a layman can serve, and died a remarkable teacher of the Bible."
 
He was Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years, Deacon of his church, and was violently
opposed to the sale and use of intoxicating liquors.  Dr. Stanford loved the Bethel Association as
few will ever love it, having once said he wished it might meet quarterly.  He considered an
instruction from the Association or from his church an order to be obeyed implicitly.
 
In the later years of his life he often preached at such churches as needed their pulpits to be
filled, made Sunday School speeches and generally counselled and advised the churches of his
Association on questions of practice and doctrine.  He stands at the front as one of the great
laymen leaders of this Association.  His work was highly appreciated and was instructive to its
membership.
 
The only bound volume of the Minutes of the Association from the date of its organization until
1890 was bound by him as a member of the Executive Committee of the Association, at his own expense
and by him was returned to the Association and was by the Association accepted and placed with him
as a member of the Executive Committee for safe keeping.  Had it not been for him possibly the records
of our Association in its early years would have been lost.
 

Rev. Thomas Henry Stout, son of Samuel H. and Mary E. Stout, was born at Orange Courthouse,
Virginia, on the 23rd of July, 1835.  As a boy, he was exceedingly moral in his conduct,
never having been guilty of profanity, intoxication, fighting, or any other kinds of immorality. 
Before reaching his majority he moved to Kentucky, where he professed conversion and was
baptized into the fellowship of the First Baptist Church at Covington, by Dr. S. W. Lynd,
when seventeen years of age.  When twenty three he was ordained, at the request of the
Macedonia church, Walker county, Georgia, after having taken a collegiate course at Mercer
University, Penfield, Georgia, where he was chiefly educated.
 
Mr. Stout had been a hard-working minister, since his ordination in July, 1858, and served
many churches in Georgia, the principal of which are those at Macedonia, Walker County,
Blakely, Early County, Salem, Calhoun County, Bethel, Randolph County, Lumpkin, Georgetown,
Thomaston, Talbotton, Buena Vista, Benevolence, besides several other country churches
among them those at Brundige and Troy, Alabama.  He was very successful in his ministry,
many converts having been the result of his preaching.  He was warm-hearted and full of feeling,
devout and earnestminded.  He acted as clerk for the following Associations of Georgia: 
The Middle Cherokee, the Rehoboth and five years as Clerk of the Bethel Association, namely
in 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, and 1871; and for seven years he served the Georgia Baptist
Convention as assistant clerk.
 
He married Miss Ellie J. Kidd of Troup County, Georgia on the 28th of August, 1855, but of
six children, one son only, Thomas Henry survives.
 

One of the outstanding colaborers of the Bethel Association in the early years of its history was
Richard Thornton.  He was born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, January 24, 1808.  He was ordained
to the Gospel Ministry by Mt. Gilead Church in Clay County.  Brethren Stephen Rowe, Everingham and
Gilbert serving as presbytery, in the year 1843.  He served many churches within the bounds of the
Bethel Association, and was an humble and devoted servant of God and an active and faithful minister
of the Gospel.  As a pastor he was prompt, affectionate and faithful.  He was the instrument of God
in bringing many souls to Christ, and in building up the many churches which he served as Pastor. 
His great zeal and devotion to the cause of Christ caused him to be much beloved by his brethren,
and highly esteemed by all who knew him.  He was pastor of New Hope Church, Randolph County, for
fourteen years and a consistent member of it until his death.  He was about the oldest member of
the Bethel Association, at the time of his death, and one of the premier preachers of southwest
Georgia.  The Committee said of him that while the churches and Association have sustained a great
loss in the death of this Father in Israel, we bow with profound and humble submission to this
dispensation of God's providence.