94th Church Anniversary-1926-2020

Deacon Walton remembers days at Damascus Missionary Baptist Church Deacon Walton has been a member of Damascus for his entire life. The Founding Pastor, Rev. R.W. Dumas, is his grandfather. He is the oldest man at Damascus and he has been a member of Damascus longer than anyone else.The church was five years old when I was born. I joined when I was 9 years old. I recall Deacon Frank Tufts was the Sunday School Superintendent. We would take the streetcar to Garfield Park for the church picnic. 

The morning worship service began with devotion led by Deacon Watson Thomas. He always wore a bow-tie. (The prayer meeting that led to the organization of the church was held in his home.) Next came the processional of the choir. The choir marched in singing “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” Church was not complete unless we sang, “A Charge to keep I have”, “Near the Cross”, and “Count on Me”.Back in those days, there were always lots of children at the church: Dumas, Tufts, Collins, Gibson, Crosby, neighborhood children and,yes, Walton.

A regular Sunday was Sunday School at 9:30am, Morning Worship at 11:00am, Afternoon service at 3:30pm, B.T.U.(Baptist Training Union) at 6pm and Evening Service at 7pm. You see why every time the church is open, I am there.There have always been good Christian women at Damascus. Sis. Viola Thomas (where the first prayer meetings were held), Mother Alice Collins, Mother Nancy Walton, Mother Annie Mae King, Mother Lillian Keith, Mother Lillian Wright and Mother Mamie Southers just to names few.

Deacons since 1944 are James Dumas, George Dumas, John Moore, Ira Hollimon, Thomas Patrick, William Elder, and Arthur Walton.I will never forget the Vacation Bible Schools when we first moved on Ramona. We had almost 100 children. We praised God, but we were tired and glad when the week ended. Just a few final thoughts about my 80 years as a member of this great church: -Church Treasurer-37 years -Deacon-37 years -Trustee-12 years -Sunday School teacher-36 years -Sunday School Superintendent-13 years Thank you for allowing me to be your humble servant.