STARRSVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
HISTORY—2001 – Current Year
On February 16, 2001 a wind storm blew almost half the roof off the sanctuary. While no debris went inside
the building, the interior was exposed to a large amount of rain. The roof was completely rebuilt within 24
hours. Through tireless efforts of many including trustees Mr. Kevin Lindsey, Mr. Charles Lanier and Mr.
Buddy Morgan, the building was completely restored and was able to be used again for worship on Sunday,
March 25 after five weeks of having the worship service in the Fellowship Hall. Work included new carpet,
woodwork cleaning and refinishing, plaster work and floor sanding. Some repair work was required for the
organ while the electronic piano was not damaged. Architectural grade shingles were used for the roof.
Insurance covered the entire cost of the repairs.
In the summer of 2001, the parsonage was renovated. The wall between the living room and den was removed
to create a more open living space. New furniture and appliances were also purchased. In the spring of 2002
work was completed on a sunroom addition to the back of the parsonage.
On September 16, 2001 the church celebrated the 100th anniversary of the sanctuary at our annual
Homecoming. A special history display was prepared with copies of a revised church history and other
information available. A record number of people, 166, attended Homecoming that year as Rev. David Moore,
Pastor from 1985 - 1990, preached. This was also a new record for attendance for worship. That record would
be broken on December 23, 2001 as 185 people were present for worship as the choir and children presented the
Christmas cantata, a record that still stands as of this writing.
In the fall of 2002 work was begun on a new kitchen in the area behind the south wing of the Fellowship Hall.
The new kitchen includes a commercial hooded gas stove and fryer, a large refrigerator, a new icemaker, a large
dishwashing sink, a food preparation sink, a handwash sink and stainless steel counter space. The window from
the other kitchen was removed along with the sink to provide entry to the new kitchen. The refrigerator, one
stove and the dishwasher from the old kitchen were retained while one stove and the icemaker were sold. A
new freezer was added to the old kitchen. The project was overseen by Mr. Buddy Morgan and many members
and friends of the church provided much of the work for the new kitchen, which greatly reduced the cost of
construction. In the winter of 2003 the new kitchen was ready to be used and greatly helped with twice monthly
Wednesday night dinners that were started in 2002.
In order to provide additional land for expansion, two acres of property behind the cemetery were purchased.
New choir robes were purchased and were first used on Homecoming Sunday, September 17, 2006. As the
church continued to grow, a task force and building committee were formed to determine how we can best serve
God as we serve this community. Over several years we accumulated a good start toward a future building
program to provide additional Sunday School space, a new nursery and youth space.
One of the needs for new space was realized in 2006 as the house across from the church became available.
The house and an acre of land were purchased for $90,000. A new heating and air system was installed and the
house was completely renovated. The walls of two bedrooms and three closets were removed to open up the
entire front section of the house. Much of the work was done by church members and youth, with the youth,
youth leaders and parents painting the bulk of the interior. Mr. Buddy Morgan, Mr. Charles Lanier and Mr.
Jimmy Bonner oversaw the renovation. Mr. Bill Corley did the electrical work. Mr. Joe Dudley and Mr. Tim
Joyce built a new railing for the deck. Mr. Ronny Cook and Mr. & Mrs. Hunter Bobbitt oversaw the work the
youth did. Mrs. Miriam Stone gave a pool table in memory of Mr. Ronald H. Cook, Sr. and funding for paint,
renovation work, furniture and exterior painting. Miss Mary Jane Dixon gave three sofas, two high definition
televisions and a stereo system. Mr. Dean Hayes gave a laptop computer, Mrs. Margie Lackey and Mrs. Pete
Knox gave a refrigerator and Mr. Hunter Bobbitt installed and wired the audio visual system. Many others gave
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money to the project as well. In addition many people donated used items including Mr. and Mrs. Johnny
Hammond, Mr. Dean Hayes, Mr. Scott Hayes, Mr. Trey Couch, Mr. Wesley Couch and Mr. Kevin Marks. The
Youth House was completed in December and the first regular UMYF meeting was Sunday, January 7, 2007.
On February 11 an open house was held to allow church members and the community to see the new Youth
House, with approximately 80 people attending.
In 2007 the church purchased an additional acre of property adjacent to the Youth House. In 2008 the driveway
and seven parking spaces were poured in concrete with money provided by Mr. Dean Hayes. Mrs. Jane
Anderson donated a picnic table. In 2009 the water system was reworked and the deck was replaced and
enlarged. At the church, a new fence was installed around the playground in 2007 and a new sidewalk was built
leading from the front of the church to the breezeway in 2009.
In June 2012 Starrsville made history again as we welcomed our first woman Pastor, Rev. Dr. Susan Taylor. In
2013 memorial funds were used to purchase and move the playground. Also new Bibles were placed in the
pews in memory of Don Barnes. At the time of this writing we continue to see new families visiting our church
and look forward to how God leads us to serve him in the future. Today we offer an active program of children,
youth, adult and music ministries. We continue to build off of our rich history to advance the knowledge and
love of Christ through the community of Starrsville and beyond.
This history is a compilation of histories written by Mrs. Frances Cook, Mrs. Sarah Dixon, Miss Julia Ewing,
Miss Mary Jane Dixon and Mr. Ronald H. Cook, Jr.
STARRSVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PASTORS
Rev. H. S. Embry
Rev. A. C. Cantrell
Rev. J. J. Ansley
Old Wooden Church
(No records available prior to 1867)
Rev. W. W. Evans
Rev. Joseph Singleton
Rev. W. C. Malloy
Rev. A. W. Roland
Rev. W. A. Chandler
Rev. Miles W. Arnold
Rev. J. H. Harris
Rev. M. F. Malsby
Rev. Rosser
Rev. Sam P. Jones
Rev. W. W. Oslin
Rev. W. C. Dunlap
Rev. E. A. Gray
Rev. C. A. Conoway
Rev. W. A. Farris
Rev. Koscinsks Reed
Rev. James L. Pierce
Rev. W. A. Parks
Rev. W. R. Branham
Rev. R. F. Eakes
Rev. J. H. Daniels
Rev. R. A. Eakes
Rev. O. C. Simmons
Rev. H. W. Joiner
1867-1868
1868
1868-1869
1869-1870
1870-1871
1872
1873
1874-1875
1876-1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886-1887
1888-1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897-1899
1900-1901
New Brick Church
Rev. S. P. Wiggins
Rev. F. R. Smith
Rev. W. L. Bell
Rev. J. T. Eakes
Rev. J. D. Milton
Rev. L. M. Elliott
Rev. J. R. Allen
Rev. B. H. Trammell
Rev. W. S. Branham
Rev. J. F. Davis
Rev. C. S. Martin
Rev. J. L. Pendley
Rev. J. Christian
Rev. S. H. Dimon
Rev. C. A. Hall
Rev. J. S. Strickland
Rev. G. W. Tumlin
Rev. A. O. Baggerly
Rev. W. B. Mills
Rev. L. M. Davidson
Rev. J. J. Farr
Rev. H. O. Green
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1902-1903
1904
1905-1906
1907
1908-1911
1912
1913-1914
1915-1916
1917
1918-1919
1920-1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1925
1926-1927
1928
1929-1930
1931-1932
1933-1934
1937
Rev. H. O. Green, Jr.
1938
Rev. Jesse Warwick
1939
Rev. O. L. Vickery
1940
Rev. William Moon
1940-1943
Rev. C. J. Grilhe
1944-1945
Rev. W. B. Hughes
1946
Rev. V. B. Hambrick
1947
Rev. H. B. Landrum
1948-1951
Rev. T. W. Taylor
1952-1953
Rev. Walter Y. Murphy
1953-1955
Rev. Robert A. Kerr
1955-1957
Rev. E. W. Dunagan
1957-1958
Rev. J. R. Baxter
1958-1959
Rev. Asbury Craft
1959-1962
Rev. W. E. Berry
1962-1963
Rev. James W. Thurmond, Jr. 1963-1966
Rev. Eddie Walton
1966-1967
Rev. J. R. Burton
1968-1870
Rev. L. E. Thompson
1970-1974
Rev. James F. Tynan , Sr.
1974-1976
Rev. Randell R. Mickler, Jr.
Rev. Luther E. Cooper
Rev. Floyd L. Wells
Rev. Benjamin E. Sorrow
Rev. Stephen Grantham
(Associate)
1976-1978
1978-1980
1980-1981
1981-1983
1982-1983
Full Time Appointment
Rev. Jody Alderman
Rev. David F. Moore
Rev. Glenn Ethridge
Rev. Stephen A. Moore
Dr. Larry Hannah
Rev. Thomas McElroy
Rev. Steve Chenoweth
Rev. Chris Shurtz
Rev. Billy Lewis
Rev. Brian Davis
Rev. Dr. Susan Taylor
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1983-1985
1985-1990
1990-1992
1992-1995
1995-1997
1997-2001
2001-2002
2002-2007
2007-2011
2011-2012
2012-Present