What Spruce Grove Church Meant to Me

By Judy James
It is with great thought in mind that I compiled all these pictures together. They remind me of the good times at Spruce Grove Church and Dry Fork School.
May all these photos bring back good memories that will be cherished for a long time and never forgotten.
Some of the first settlers were the William James Family in 1862 and attended the Little White Country Church in the Valley.
As time moved on others attending the church were: Jahan Dean Family; Spencer James Family; Emory Jackson Family; Ed Mace Family; Charlie Sparks Family; Emory Workman Family; Gail and Edith Singleton; Garrell and Lou Singleton; Janice James Family; Fred James Family; Freeman James Family; Omer James Family; Paul and Beatrice Given; Alton James and Laddie; Cecil Lough Family; Spurgeon Smith Family; Mildred King; Howard James Family; Lytle Family; Long Family; J. Bruce Given Family; Shuman Family; and lots of wonderful people.
Preachers I remember were OJ Simmons, EH Lafon and Polly, Johnny Alfred and Cora, Carl Houghton and Blanch, ER Fairburn and Joyce, and Johnny Conrad.
Time has made a change and now the church has burned. And will never be another Spruce Grove Methodist Church the one everyone loved and attended. Hope I didn’t miss anyone. God Loved us all.
All these families went to Spruce Grove Church and Dry Fork School behind the church.
Alton James’ dog, Laddie was always lying on the porch waiting for Daddy and me to open the door and people to come so he could shake hands with them.
Now both are gone, the church and school, but memories will live on.
I am a member of the late Spruce Grove Church and it will be hard not to see it when drive from Frametown towards Leatherwood.
Judy James is the daughter of the late Freeman and Susie James. Both are in Heaven.