Prior to 1900, there was no organized church within the limits of the town of Joanna.
An interdenominational Sunday School was started. In February of 1913, the Goldville Baptist Church was started with 14 charter members were:
Reverend C. B. Campbell,Mrs. C.B. Campbell, Bessie Campbell, Mamie Campbell , J.H. Campbell, Wm. A. Moorhead,
Mrs. H.C. Furr, J.R. Rhoden, Mrs. J.R. Rhoden, Mrs. Joe Carter, Mrs. Ida Burnett, E.G. Waites, Mrs. Tom (Lizzie) Furr,
and Miss. Chalsey Rhoden
Reverend J. Dawson Bowen, who was serving Bush River and Fairview churches. added Goldville to his ministry. Early baptisms were held in the Bush River. Services were held in the Union Church building and later in the community clubhouse.
Under the direction of Reverend C. C. Vaughn, money was raised for the Joanna Baptist Church sanctuary. The building site was donated by Joanna Mills. The mill also donated $10,000 to the building fund. People pledges weekly amounts from $0.25 - $5.00. Soon the building was paid off.
October 6, 1940, the first service was held and eleven names were added to the church roll. In commemoration of this first service, we celebrate homecoming on the first Sunday of October each yea
In 1942 a new six-room parsonage was built for the pastor. In 1948 , the town of Goldville was changed to Joanna. Our church became known as Joanna Baptist Church. In 1951, the educational building was completed. It was called the Mitchell Building in honor of Rev. James Mitchell.
The first church kindergarten was begun in September, 1951. Additions were made to the church in 1955 by adding a church steeple and increasing seating capacity by fifty percent. On March 27, 1960, the church's name was changed to the First Baptist Church of Joanna. In April,1963, the children's building was completed.
On May 30, 1968, around 2:00 a.m., fire was detected in the sanctuary. Despite the efforts of Joanna and Clinton fire departments, the sanctuary was destroyed. The other church buildings and parsonage were saved.
Worship services were held in the community clubhouse. Groundbreaking services for the new building, were lead by Dr. Bryan Harbin on July 20, 1969. The first services in the present day sanctuary were held on November 29, 1970. The building was dedicated on September 12, 1971
Pastors of Joanna First Baptist
Rev. C.C Vaughn 1927-1940 Rev. James Mitchell 1940-1944 1949-1964, Rev. Mark Bryant 1944-1948, Dr. Bryan Harbin 1964-1969,
Rev. Edward Pierce 1969-1972, Rev. Glenn Mosteller 1973-1977, Rev. Ira Beaufort 1978-1980, Rev. Richard McDuffie, Jr. 1981-1983
Rev. Robert Culbertson 1984-1992, Rev. John Patrick 1993-1999, Rev. Joseph Baldwin 2001-2006, Rev. Alan Todd 2007
Presently Reverend Alan Todd is our pastor and Dale Roth is Minister of Music.
An interdenominational Sunday School was started. In February of 1913, the Goldville Baptist Church was started with 14 charter members were:
Reverend C. B. Campbell,Mrs. C.B. Campbell, Bessie Campbell, Mamie Campbell , J.H. Campbell, Wm. A. Moorhead,
Mrs. H.C. Furr, J.R. Rhoden, Mrs. J.R. Rhoden, Mrs. Joe Carter, Mrs. Ida Burnett, E.G. Waites, Mrs. Tom (Lizzie) Furr,
and Miss. Chalsey Rhoden
Reverend J. Dawson Bowen, who was serving Bush River and Fairview churches. added Goldville to his ministry. Early baptisms were held in the Bush River. Services were held in the Union Church building and later in the community clubhouse.
Under the direction of Reverend C. C. Vaughn, money was raised for the Joanna Baptist Church sanctuary. The building site was donated by Joanna Mills. The mill also donated $10,000 to the building fund. People pledges weekly amounts from $0.25 - $5.00. Soon the building was paid off.
October 6, 1940, the first service was held and eleven names were added to the church roll. In commemoration of this first service, we celebrate homecoming on the first Sunday of October each yea
In 1942 a new six-room parsonage was built for the pastor. In 1948 , the town of Goldville was changed to Joanna. Our church became known as Joanna Baptist Church. In 1951, the educational building was completed. It was called the Mitchell Building in honor of Rev. James Mitchell.
The first church kindergarten was begun in September, 1951. Additions were made to the church in 1955 by adding a church steeple and increasing seating capacity by fifty percent. On March 27, 1960, the church's name was changed to the First Baptist Church of Joanna. In April,1963, the children's building was completed.
On May 30, 1968, around 2:00 a.m., fire was detected in the sanctuary. Despite the efforts of Joanna and Clinton fire departments, the sanctuary was destroyed. The other church buildings and parsonage were saved.
Worship services were held in the community clubhouse. Groundbreaking services for the new building, were lead by Dr. Bryan Harbin on July 20, 1969. The first services in the present day sanctuary were held on November 29, 1970. The building was dedicated on September 12, 1971
Pastors of Joanna First Baptist
Rev. C.C Vaughn 1927-1940 Rev. James Mitchell 1940-1944 1949-1964, Rev. Mark Bryant 1944-1948, Dr. Bryan Harbin 1964-1969,
Rev. Edward Pierce 1969-1972, Rev. Glenn Mosteller 1973-1977, Rev. Ira Beaufort 1978-1980, Rev. Richard McDuffie, Jr. 1981-1983
Rev. Robert Culbertson 1984-1992, Rev. John Patrick 1993-1999, Rev. Joseph Baldwin 2001-2006, Rev. Alan Todd 2007
Presently Reverend Alan Todd is our pastor and Dale Roth is Minister of Music.
