By Mary Alice Beatty Carmichael

Mt. Moriah Fellowship Church invites the local communities to attend the only scheduled service of the year Sunday to help celebrate the 194 years this old historic church has been in existence.  

The church, located between Forest Home and Pine Apple, straddles the line of Butler and Wilcox counties, with the speaker in Wilcox County and the congregation in Butler County. 

The Annual Homecoming Services will begin at 11 a.m. at the church on Mt. Moriah Drive in western Butler County. Following the church service, there will be an enormous feast spread under “The Arbor”for the dinner on the ground.  

Presiding will be James Donald Carmichael, Jr. of Birmingham. Speaker for the 194th celebration will be Dr. Jeff Leonard, professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University in Birmingham.

Mt. Moriah is still attracting a crowd of attendees.  

Every year, over 100 people arrive at the Mt. Moriah Fellowship Baptist Church in time to visit, to worship, and to enjoy the message of the day.  

They later enjoy visiting under the trees and walking through the cemetery, remembering friends and teaching the younger generations of their heritage by finding and reading their various family tombstones, and telling memories and important facts about “their folks.” 

Special music will be provided by Jennifer Ellis (Mrs. David) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Robert L. Robinson, Jr. of Birmingham.

Memorials recognized in this year’s service include Jane (Beach) Jones Carmichael (Mrs. D. Erskine), Donald Shannonhouse and Carolyn (Traweek) Hellen (Mrs. Roy Hellen).