My parents and siblings moved to Statesboro in 1955. I vaguely remember going to First United Methodist Church, where my siblings and I were baptized on April 1, 1956. Around that time there was talk about forming another Methodist Church, and my parents went with the Pittman Park congregation. We didn’t have a church building at the time, but I recall going to the Marvin Pittman School on Sundays. Grace Black was my kindergarten Sunday School teacher. Mary Ellen Godfrey stayed in the church nursery one time and made funny hand drawings with us. In the first grade I remember Ruth Cone doing a pasting project with us. I recall Lawrence Houston preaching in the big school auditorium. One time we had a picnic-on-the-grounds behind, what was then, the old gym on the college campus. At that picnic I remember seeing Louise Cone-how friendly and welcoming she was to my mother and me.
Another memory was Rev. Lawrence Houston breaking the church ground. In the picture of that groundbreaking you can see my father, sister, and me. My mother, always camera shy, hid behind the people with my brother in the stroller.
I remember going through what would be the nursery and kindergarten rooms as the church was being built. The very same rooms where I would someday take care of the church and PPEC children.
Through the years I remember my Sunday School teachers and the great influence they had on me. Myrtle Tillman was my second-grade Sunday School teacher and what fun it was being in her class. She would always greet us with a warm welcome, and we would sing such happy songs. If we were sick, she would send us a card. These were my first memories of being in this church after it was built.
Going into the third grade, I remember the Bible I received from the church. I still have it. My parents had Bibles at home, but this was special. It was my own Bible. If I’m correct, we are still doing this. I hope we never stop this tradition.
Elizabeth Adams, Mrs. Joe Wilber, Barrie Blaser, Leo and Johnny Weeks, Billy Cone are just a few of my other Sunday School teachers who helped me grow in my Christian faith. Avis Harrison was so good about taking on the Youth Group and later Robert and Anita Wiggins did in the late 60’s. What brave souls and what a great, positive influence they had on my Christian faith.
These are just some of the highlights of growing up in Pittman Park. I can’t think of a better church to have been a part of both then and now.
Coleen Boole