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2019 SESSION

19100175D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 601
Offered January 9, 2019
Prefiled December 14, 2018
Commending Piney Grove Baptist Church.
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Patrons-- Tyler; Senator: Lucas
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WHEREAS, for 150 years, Piney Grove Baptist Church has provided spiritual leadership, generous outreach programs, and opportunities for joyful worship to the members of the Brunswick County community; and

WHEREAS, Piney Grove Baptist Church was organized on September 7, 1868, by the Reverend Jefferson Branch and the Reverend James Fowler in Warfield and took its name from the grove of pine trees near where the congregation held its first services in a brush arbor; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Ben Coleman served as the first pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church and was succeeded by the Reverend J. B. Branch and the Reverend Henry Madison; the church eventually moved to a small frame building, then purchased land on the property of the Goldsberry family under the leadership of its fourth pastor, the Reverend Jesse Baskerville; and

WHEREAS, in 1944, the Reverend C. P. Madison followed in his father’s footsteps to become pastor and oversaw the construction of the current Piney Grove Baptist Church building; his successor, the Reverend Jesse Byrd, modernized the building with the inclusion of a central heating system and running water; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Lorenzo W. Jacobs and the Reverend Dr. D. H. Winston continued to enhance the church to better serve the growing congregation, adding pews, carpet, restrooms, and a new Hammond organ; and

WHEREAS, in 1975, the Reverend Marion R. Tapscott answered the call to become the ninth pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church; under his leadership, the church instituted a pastor’s aide society, revived the junior choir program, and increased services; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 1979, the Reverend Frederick Harrison Bagley, Jr., led Piney Grove Baptist Church for 33 years, overseeing multiple renovations and additions to the church building and the establishment of a Nurses Guild, Gospel chorus, Bible study program, and vacation Bible school; in recognition of his exceptional contributions, the church fellowship hall was named the F. H. Bagley Fellowship Hall in his honor; and

WHEREAS, in February 2014, the Reverend Yvonne W. Bridgeforth became the 11th pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church; her compassion and visionary leadership have led to a significant increase in membership as well as an increase in the number of deacons and trustees; and

WHEREAS, throughout its history, Piney Grove Baptist Church has welcomed people from diverse backgrounds and built an enduring sense of community in the Warfield area, and large numbers of friends and former members return to the church for homecoming and revival services each August; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Piney Grove Baptist Church on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Yvonne W. Bridgeforth, pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the church’s legacy of contributions to the Brunswick County community.