History of Second Mount Olive Baptist Church
There is an untold history about the humble beginning of the Second Mount Olive Baptist Church. Oral history and some records tell of the faithful few, who started as a branch of First Mount Olive Baptist Church, Leesburg. At that time, the late Elder Percy Jones became the pastor. After establishing third independence, services from house to house were conducted, such as the home of Sister Sara White in Hughesville, VA. It has been said that for a period of time, worship services were held at the school house in Hughesville, there the new congregation hoped to build a church of their own.
They had a firm desire to have a building where they might worship together on one accord. They had decided to build in Hughesville, Virginia but a good Samaritan, Mrs. Nancy Murray, gave them this Holy Ground on which our church stands. In the 1800s, Mrs. Nancy Murray, who later became Second Mount Olive’s first sexton, gave land free and clear for a church to be built in “Swamp Poodle” later called Brownsville, VA. The congregation accepted her offer and as an expression of goodwill they presented her with twenty- five dollars. The church was built 1892 and the overseer and first pastor was Elder Spot W. Brown from Berryville, Virginia. He served the church for twenty-four years until his death.
The founders of this church were Elder Spot Brown, Elder John Williams (the grandfather of our late Pastor Elder Isham Williams), Elder Jake Thomas (first cousin to Elder Williams), Deacon James Redmond (the father of our late Deacon Isaac Redmond).
The first baptized member was Sister Sara White (the grandmother of the late Frances Williams and Sister Mary Williams). Other members came by baptism and Christian experience were: Sister Julia Redmond (the mother of Deacon Isaac Redmond and Mother Jesse Johnson), Sister Allison Craver, Sister Cindy Craver, Sister Lucy Turner, Deacon John Richardson and John Williams. Others were added to the church under the leadership of Elder Spot Brown, who served faithfully until his death.
In 1916, Elder A.A. Robinson from Charlestown West Virginia after the passing of Elder Spot Brown. Under Elder Robinson, the small church membership began to remodel the church, adding the dining and kitchen area into one large room. As Elder Robinson fed the word of God, the membership began to increase. Elder Robinson served until he was called to a church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, but he watched over the church until the calling of another pastor. During that time, Elder Carl Lee became the interim pastor until a new pastor was installed.
Elder Lewis Brown succeeded Elder Robinson as pastor and served faithfully until his death. The years of his serving is not in church records, but we can Praise God for the foundation that was laid!
Elder Harry B. Williams was called to pastor our church. Under his leadership, the Sunday School was organized (the important nursery of the church). Church records do state that Elder Harry B. Williams was asked to serve one more year on May 27, 1934 and served faithfully until 1940.
In May 1940, the church called Elder Isham Williams as their pastor. There were fourteen members on the roster when he became pastor. Elder Williams served as pastor until his death for fifty years (May 1940 to July 7, 1990). Many souls came unto the Lord under Elder Isham Williams compassionate and charismatic preaching.
The Lord blessed Elder Isham Williams and gave him four sons in the gospel to help him in this field of labor. The sons were: Elder Sulva C. Warner (became Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist, Fredericksburg, VA and Second Mount Olive Baptist following the death of Elder Williams); Elder Wilbur (Assistant Pastor of Guildfield Baptist, Millwood, VA); Elder John Trammel, Sr. (Pastor of Church of Christ, Boyd, MD) and Elder Thomas Tracy (Pastor at Mount Zion Baptist, Round Hill, VA). Elder Williams had just begun to work with another son, Minister James Bell, before God decided to call him home. Second Mount Olive had many outstanding accomplishments under the leadership of Elder Isham Williams. Much improvement took place in the building and organizational structure of the church.
Elder Sulva Cary Warner became pastor in July 1990 following the passing of Elder Williams. He served as Assistant Pastor for twenty-nine years even when he was Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, VA for over twenty-five years. You could always find him behind the pulpit preaching second Sundays of the month. Under Elder Warner’s leadership, the church continues to improve in church functionality, constitution and procedures, and biblical training and education. His motto was “Where Sound Doctrine is Amplified.” Elder Warner served Second Mount Olive for sixteen years retiring in 2006 due to frail health and family concerns and became Pastor Emeritus.
In April 2007, the church voted and Reverend George Mink was elected Pastor of Second Mount Olive. God blessed the church and Reverend Mink was installed July 2007 as the church new Pastor. Many enhancements as well as outreach were and continue to be made under Reverend Mink’s leadership.