The History of the Hall Hill Missionary Baptist Church
Founded in 1875
The Hall Hill Missionary Baptist Church is estimated to have begun under an old bush harbor in 1875. Mr. Lee Benjamin organized a Sunday School to serve the religious needs of the small community. During the years that followed, an increasing number of people met to study the gospel. Some reorganization was made to include more meaningful and diver services to the growing community and to name the congregation the Harts Hill Sunday School Church. This continually growing congregation saw the need for an ordained minister to guide them in their study of the gospel and praises to the Lord.
The first pastor was Revered Barnes. Brothers B.M Isaac and Lee Benjamin were the church’s first ordained deacons. Other pastors who served the Harts Hill Sunday School Church were: Reverend Smith (2nd), Reverend Baxter (3rd), and Reverend James Franklin (4th). Brothers Morse Posey and Mack Minary were ordained as the third and fourth deacons of the church.
During the years that followed, Harts Hill grew in membership and with God’s sanction the church was moved to its present grounds. The congregation built new church and renamed it Hall Hill Baptist Church. Reverend Leaphart was the fifth pastor and the first to serve in the new location. He served for more than two years.
During this transition, Brother C.P. Williams was elected to serve as church clerk and did so for more than twenty years. The sixth pastor, Reverend E. A. Mose, served faithfully for five years. Because of an ever growing membership, seven new deacons were ordained: C.H. Benjamin, Earl Gleaton, Ceasa Isaac, Fair Benjamin, J.M. Black, Elken Benjamin, and Sam Williams.
During this period of growth, the men of God who served the church as pastors were Reverend Charley Freeman, Sr., the seventh pastor, Reverend Jenkins served as the eighth pastor for four years, Reverend Richardson served as the ninth pastor for one year, Reverend John Whittel served as the tenth pastor for one year, and Reverend Fair Benjamin, son of the house, served continually for more than twenty-nine year, was the eleventh pastor. The following deacons were installed as well: Robert Corley, Ulysee H. Benjamin, F.H. Isaac, and E.J. Black.
The Hall Hill Baptist Church was destroyed by fire in 1940. Under the leadership of Reverend J.H. Koger, a contractor, the congregation rebuilt the church in 1942. Reverend Koger then served as the twelfth pastor for the next three years.
Sister Rosa Williams, assistant clerk to Deacon Ulysse H. Benjamin was elected to take over all the duties of church clerk after Deacon resigned. She served faithfully for the next forty years. Brother Larry Livingston assumed the role of church clerk after her retirement. Sister Angie Langley served as assistant clerk.
Several minsters were ordained at the church: Revered Charley B. Freeman, Sr., Revered Fair Benjamin, Reverend Earl Gleaton, Reverend M.L. Freeman, Reverend J.P. Koger, Reverend Willie Black, Reverend Austin Black, Reverend Charley B. Freeman, Jr., Reverend Lewis Gunter, and Reverend Roosevelt Phillips.
The thirteenth pastor of Hail Hill Baptist Church was Reverend L.R. Jackson who served until death. Reverend Jones served for one year as the fourteenth pastor. Reverend Speech served for five years as the fifteenth pastor. Reverend Ed F. Johnson served two and half years as the sixteenth pastor and Revered J.E. Freeman served as the seventeenth pastor.
Revered J.E. Freeman of Augusta, Georgia, served from 1966 until September 1973. He was instrumental in guiding the congregation towards the erection of a new building and a pool for baptism. Reverend Freeman was also helpful in organizing the Trustee Board in order to include the young members of the church in its organization.
Members of the Trustee Board at the time were Alvin Knotts (president), Clarence Jones, Sr., Alphonso Phillips, O’Zakie Knotts, Harry Gunter, and Sherman Knotts. New deacons were also installed which allowed each member of the congregation to have a personal figure to reach out to for guidance.
The Reverend Jordan Bussey of Augusta, Georgia served as the eighteenth pastor, serving faithfully for six years from 1974-1980.
In July of 1980, Revered James Jamison of Cayce, South Carolina became the nineteenth pastor. During the twelve years of his pastorate, an educational building, fully equipped kitchen, and indoor baptismal pool was added. Reverend Jamison also instituted Children’s Church. He ordained deacons during his tenure: Deacon Larry Livingston and Deacon Alvin Knotts. Reverend Jamison served from 1980-1992.
In May of 1993, Reverend Winford Thompson of Orangeburg, South Carolina became the twentieth pastor. Under his leadership, the church and church family grew in size, strength, unity and love. Under his leadership, a clothes bank, church library, Teens in Praise Service Organization, Bush Harbor Nonprofit Foundation, mid-week Bible study, food pantry, junior usher board, and young adult choir were instituted. The church also dedicated the Fair Benjamin/Henry Williams Fellowship Hall. As the church continued to prosper, Reverend Thompson installed Brother Clarence Jones, Sr. as chairman of the Trustee Board. He also installed the first female trustees in 1993: Shealy Brannum, Minnie Jones, and Linda Seawright. Under his leadership the Reverend Larry Guner and Harriett Zanders were ordained to minister in 1996. From 1994-1997 Reverend Thomposn baptized 28 new members. In August of 1997, two deacons were added to the Deacon’s Board: Donnie Jones and Willie Capehart. As the church continued to grow, in 1999 the Lord blessed us with another deacon, Deacon Eddie Bovain. In December 1999, after six years, Reverend Thompson resigned as pastor.
From June 2000-2009, Reverend Herman Prince served as the twenty-first pastor.
In 2010, the Hall Hill Missionary Baptist Church installed our twenty-second and current pastor, Revered Eugene Green. Under his leadership, the mortgage was paid off and the church has furthered its beautification projects. In 2015, new carpet was installed throughout the church. The church has reached its financial goal for remodeling the main building which will add bathrooms and office/classroom space to the church.
Pastors
Founded in 1875
The Hall Hill Missionary Baptist Church is estimated to have begun under an old bush harbor in 1875. Mr. Lee Benjamin organized a Sunday School to serve the religious needs of the small community. During the years that followed, an increasing number of people met to study the gospel. Some reorganization was made to include more meaningful and diver services to the growing community and to name the congregation the Harts Hill Sunday School Church. This continually growing congregation saw the need for an ordained minister to guide them in their study of the gospel and praises to the Lord.
The first pastor was Revered Barnes. Brothers B.M Isaac and Lee Benjamin were the church’s first ordained deacons. Other pastors who served the Harts Hill Sunday School Church were: Reverend Smith (2nd), Reverend Baxter (3rd), and Reverend James Franklin (4th). Brothers Morse Posey and Mack Minary were ordained as the third and fourth deacons of the church.
During the years that followed, Harts Hill grew in membership and with God’s sanction the church was moved to its present grounds. The congregation built new church and renamed it Hall Hill Baptist Church. Reverend Leaphart was the fifth pastor and the first to serve in the new location. He served for more than two years.
During this transition, Brother C.P. Williams was elected to serve as church clerk and did so for more than twenty years. The sixth pastor, Reverend E. A. Mose, served faithfully for five years. Because of an ever growing membership, seven new deacons were ordained: C.H. Benjamin, Earl Gleaton, Ceasa Isaac, Fair Benjamin, J.M. Black, Elken Benjamin, and Sam Williams.
During this period of growth, the men of God who served the church as pastors were Reverend Charley Freeman, Sr., the seventh pastor, Reverend Jenkins served as the eighth pastor for four years, Reverend Richardson served as the ninth pastor for one year, Reverend John Whittel served as the tenth pastor for one year, and Reverend Fair Benjamin, son of the house, served continually for more than twenty-nine year, was the eleventh pastor. The following deacons were installed as well: Robert Corley, Ulysee H. Benjamin, F.H. Isaac, and E.J. Black.
The Hall Hill Baptist Church was destroyed by fire in 1940. Under the leadership of Reverend J.H. Koger, a contractor, the congregation rebuilt the church in 1942. Reverend Koger then served as the twelfth pastor for the next three years.
Sister Rosa Williams, assistant clerk to Deacon Ulysse H. Benjamin was elected to take over all the duties of church clerk after Deacon resigned. She served faithfully for the next forty years. Brother Larry Livingston assumed the role of church clerk after her retirement. Sister Angie Langley served as assistant clerk.
Several minsters were ordained at the church: Revered Charley B. Freeman, Sr., Revered Fair Benjamin, Reverend Earl Gleaton, Reverend M.L. Freeman, Reverend J.P. Koger, Reverend Willie Black, Reverend Austin Black, Reverend Charley B. Freeman, Jr., Reverend Lewis Gunter, and Reverend Roosevelt Phillips.
The thirteenth pastor of Hail Hill Baptist Church was Reverend L.R. Jackson who served until death. Reverend Jones served for one year as the fourteenth pastor. Reverend Speech served for five years as the fifteenth pastor. Reverend Ed F. Johnson served two and half years as the sixteenth pastor and Revered J.E. Freeman served as the seventeenth pastor.
Revered J.E. Freeman of Augusta, Georgia, served from 1966 until September 1973. He was instrumental in guiding the congregation towards the erection of a new building and a pool for baptism. Reverend Freeman was also helpful in organizing the Trustee Board in order to include the young members of the church in its organization.
Members of the Trustee Board at the time were Alvin Knotts (president), Clarence Jones, Sr., Alphonso Phillips, O’Zakie Knotts, Harry Gunter, and Sherman Knotts. New deacons were also installed which allowed each member of the congregation to have a personal figure to reach out to for guidance.
The Reverend Jordan Bussey of Augusta, Georgia served as the eighteenth pastor, serving faithfully for six years from 1974-1980.
In July of 1980, Revered James Jamison of Cayce, South Carolina became the nineteenth pastor. During the twelve years of his pastorate, an educational building, fully equipped kitchen, and indoor baptismal pool was added. Reverend Jamison also instituted Children’s Church. He ordained deacons during his tenure: Deacon Larry Livingston and Deacon Alvin Knotts. Reverend Jamison served from 1980-1992.
In May of 1993, Reverend Winford Thompson of Orangeburg, South Carolina became the twentieth pastor. Under his leadership, the church and church family grew in size, strength, unity and love. Under his leadership, a clothes bank, church library, Teens in Praise Service Organization, Bush Harbor Nonprofit Foundation, mid-week Bible study, food pantry, junior usher board, and young adult choir were instituted. The church also dedicated the Fair Benjamin/Henry Williams Fellowship Hall. As the church continued to prosper, Reverend Thompson installed Brother Clarence Jones, Sr. as chairman of the Trustee Board. He also installed the first female trustees in 1993: Shealy Brannum, Minnie Jones, and Linda Seawright. Under his leadership the Reverend Larry Guner and Harriett Zanders were ordained to minister in 1996. From 1994-1997 Reverend Thomposn baptized 28 new members. In August of 1997, two deacons were added to the Deacon’s Board: Donnie Jones and Willie Capehart. As the church continued to grow, in 1999 the Lord blessed us with another deacon, Deacon Eddie Bovain. In December 1999, after six years, Reverend Thompson resigned as pastor.
From June 2000-2009, Reverend Herman Prince served as the twenty-first pastor.
In 2010, the Hall Hill Missionary Baptist Church installed our twenty-second and current pastor, Revered Eugene Green. Under his leadership, the mortgage was paid off and the church has furthered its beautification projects. In 2015, new carpet was installed throughout the church. The church has reached its financial goal for remodeling the main building which will add bathrooms and office/classroom space to the church.
Pastors
- Revered Barnes
- Reverend Smith
- Reverend Baxter
- Revered James Franklin
- Reverend Leaphart
- Reverend E.A. Mose
- Reverend Charely Freeman, Sr.
- Reverend Jenkins
- Reverend Richardson
- Reverend John Whittel
- Reverend Fair Benjamin
- Reverend J.H. Koger
- Reverend L.R. Jackson
- Reverend Jones
- Reverend Speech
- Reverend Ed F. Johnson
- Reverend J.E. Freeman
- Reverend Jordan Bussey (1974-1980)
- Reverend James Jamison (1980-1992)
- Revered Winford Thompson (1993-1999)
- Reverend Herman L. Prince (2000-2009)
- Reverend Eugene Green (2010-Present)
- Reverend Charley B. Freeman, Sr.
- Reverend Fair Benjamin
- Reverend Earl Gleaton
- Reverend M.L. Freeman
- Reverend J.P. Koger
- Revered Willie Black
- Reverend Austin Black
- Revered Charley B. Freeman, Jr.
- Revered Lewis Gunter
- Revered Roosevelt Phillips
- Reverend Harriett Zanders
- Reverend Ally Gunter
- Reverend Melvin C. Davis, Jr.
- Minister Niesha Nixon
- B.M. Isaac
- Lee Benjamin
- Morse Posey
- Mack Minary
- C.H. Benjamin
- Earl Gleaton
- Ceasa Isaac
- Fair Benjamin
- J.M. Black
- Elken Benjamin
- Sam Williams
- Robert Corley
- Ulysses H Benjamin
- F.H. Isaac
- E.J. Black
- Godfrey Benjamin
- Alphonso Phillips
- Larry Livingston
- Alvin Knotts
- Donnie Jones
- Willie Capehart
- Eddie Bovain
- Germain
- Gene Phillips
- Alvin Knotts
- Clarence Jones, Sr.
- Alphonso Phillips
- O’Zakie Knotts
- Harry Gunter
- Sherman Knotts
- Shealy Brannum
- Minnie Thompson
- Linda Seawright
- Gene Phillips
- Brainard Brannum
- Barbara Ray
- Charles Brown
- C.P. Williams
- Rosa Williams
- Larry Livingston
- Angie Brannum
- Mary Livingston