Pioneer Colored Christians

by Harriet Parks Miller

That same week Mount Zion again went up in flames, but faith, and persistency, are Life’s architects, and the fourth building was erected, and there it stands today, a monument to the courage of a faithful few.

For the benefit of those who would like to know the charter members of Mount Zion Church, I give below a list of their names; true it is, a few may have been overlooked, but in the main, they are as follows:

Sydney Allen.
Rev. Horace Carr.
Kitty Carr.
Horace Carr, Jr.
Rev. Althens Carr.
Lucinda Carney.
Sylvia Carney.
Easter Carney.
Isaac Carney.
Aleck Carney.
Ann Dunn.
Judy Fort.
Margaret Fort.
Charlotte Fort.
Katie Fort.
George Francis Fort.
Jim Fort.
Peggy Fort.
Rev. John Fort.
Daniel Fort.
Sampson Fort.
Henry Fort.
Frank Fort.
Sarah Grant.
John Grant.
Bear John Grant.
Nelson Grant.
Vinie Grant.
Wallace Gaines.
Maria Gaines.
Phil Gaines.
Dennis Gaines.
Martha Gaines.
Clarissa Gaines.
Malachi Gaines.
Eliza Gaines.
Eliza Holmes.
Waddy Herring.
Sallie Ann. Herring.
Rachel Izor.
Sam Izor.
Mark Mitchell.
Patsy McGowan.
John McGowan.
Martha Newton.
Sookey Northington.
Vinie Northington.
Caroline Northington.
William Northington.
Jack Northington.
Angeline Northington.
Seely Northington.
Chaney Northington.
Elijah Northington.
Louisanna Northington.
Bettie Northington.
Dennis Northington.
Rebekah Northington.
Allen Northington.
Neptune Northington.
George Northington.
Sam Northington.
Almira Northington.
Betsy Neblett.
Kitty Norfleet.
Adeline Norfleet.
Rildy Polk.
Lucy Parks.
Demps Wimberly.
Delphi Waters.

With few exceptions, nearly all of the above charter members had been members of Red River and Harmony churches before the Civil War. Scarcely a dozen of them remain with us in the flesh.

During its forty-four years’ existence, Mount Zion has had the following pastors:

Rev. Horace Carr.
Rev. Altheus Carr.
Rev. Edmond Northington.
Rev. Paul Dennis.
Rev. George Mimms.
Rev. Turner Parish.
Rev. M. Fox.
Rev. L. Jones.
Rev. A. J. Moore, D. D.

Of the original Deacons, only one is alive, Aleck Carney, the other six in active service are:

Dan Fort.
George Fort.
Demps Fort.
Albert Steward.
Wright Watkins.
Will Randolph.

It is a noticeable fact, that the second and third generations of some of Mount Zion’s charter members, are at present among its best workers; as for example, Rev. John Fort’s son Dan, and grandson George, upon whose shoulders a father’s religious mantle has fallen.

Soon after the donation of land by Dr. Norfleet for Mount Zion Church; Mr. William Bourne, on an adjoining farm, gave land for a colored cemetery.