First United Methodist Church, Cemetery History

First United Methodist Church History

July 19, 2016 - The First United Methodist Church of Center was organized early in 1866, in a two story building shared by the Masonic Lodge using the second floor and on property deeded to the church by Judge E.G. Wheeler. Both Methodist and Baptist worshipped in this building.

In 1888, a building program for a new church was begun and culminated in 1892 in a new frame building located on the site of our present church. This building was remodeled in 1910.

The present church building was erected in 1927 during the pastorate of Rev. John Franklin Kidd, and the old parsonage which now serves as the youth director parsonage was built in 1939 while Rev. A.D. Lemons was pastor. The Northern Methodist and the Southern Methodist merged in 1939.

Runnels Chapel was added to the church building in 1950 and the entire church was remodeled and redecorated. Rev. Chester Phillip was the pastor at this time. Central heat and air conditioning were added in 1954. The same year, the J. E. Armstrong residence and property adjacent to the church was purchased and converted into a youth center and church school space.

First United Methodist Church Cemetery History

The First United Methodist Church Cemetery is one of the old cemeteries in Shelby County located in the Nancy Smith survey on land deeded by Judge M.W. Wheeler and Sam Samford “who deeded the land to his beloved church and burying ground for generations to come.” The First Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized during the early part of the year 1866 soon after the town of Center was established. The first church and Sam Samford Masonic Lodge #149 building was located on the North side of the cemetery. The top floor was used by the lodge and the ground floor was a meeting place for the church and Sunday School.

There are many historically significant Center and Shelby County citizens buried in the First United Methodist Church Cemetery, including Elkanah Samford, first Worshipful Master of the Sam Samford Masonic Lodge #149 and his wife, Davila Adaline Samford; Rev. James R. Burke, early Methodist minister; Shelby County Civil War veterans and wives; and R. L. Parker, considered the Father of Center, responsible for relocating the county seat from Shelbyville to Center. There are approximately 107 graves dating from 1861 to 1939. The earliest marked burial on this site is Jarrell Chandler in 1861 before the property was designated as a cemetery. The last burial was Pollie Brodgen Amason in 1939. http://www.shelbycountytexashistory.net/Shelby/cem_pics/cem_methodistme.htm

In the late 1980s, the Runnels Chapel Sunday School class received a sizeable donation designated only to be used for cemetery grounds improvements. At that time, Nell Polley and her committee diligently worked on the project. At the beginning, cemetery ground improvements included installing a black chain link fence surrounding the cemetery, planting azaleas, crepe myrtles, roses and other shrubs, outlining flower beds with border bricks and flagstone connecting walkways within the interior of the cemetery, installing a sprinkler system and placing several benches and tables. For many years, the cemetery project work was completed under the guidance of Nell Polley and currently Suzanne Ihlo continues the care of the cemetery. In the fall of 2015, the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Shelby Beautiful Clean Committee presented a Community Beautification Award to the First United Methodist Church for their constant care and efforts for beautification to the community and being mindful to the preservation of the historical value of the cemetery. In July 2015, an application was submitted to the Texas Historical State Cemetery for a historical marker. Presently, the church is currently waiting for a reply.

The cemetery is owned by the First United Methodist Church and church Trustees to maintain the historical site.