Submitted Photo, Article by Valerie Sliker, courtesy Wagener Monthly
Mount Hermon Baptist Church recently received a quilt made in 1956 consisting of squares that represent many families that were members of the church at that time. The church plans to frame the quilt and display it in a place of prominence inside the church.
Mary and Bob Caughman of Lexington, SC discovered the quilt in an old hope chest as they were going through his late mother’s belongings. The Caughmans noticed Old Mount Hermon Baptist Church and Reverend Johnny Bishop on two of the squares and they began their quest to get the quilt back to its community. The church changed its name sometime in the 70’s from Old Mount Hermon to Mount Hermon.
The Caughmans wanted to give the quilt back to someone who had true meaning and connection to the quilt and while the quilt had many family names on it, they were at a loss on how to find these people. Until Mary mentioned it to her hair dresser who happened to be Junette Jeffcoat’s hairdresser as well. Junette Jeffcoat is a fifth-generation member of Mount Hermon whose father, Thurmond Barr is actually listed on the quilt.
Mary met Junette in person to discuss the quilt. Junette found the name of her grandparents, Jessie and Arlee Barr, also handstitched on the quilt, along with other familiar names like Poole, Brown, Bailey and even D. F. Shumpert of Pelion, who may not have been a member of the church at that time.
The Caughmans were asked to present the quilt to the church at the church’s homecoming 2016 service. While they do not know the true origination of the quilt, many speculations were suggested. Mr. Caughman’s father was sheriff of Lexington County in 1956, perhaps he received the quilt at an old stump meeting or a fundraiser. Or possibly the quilt was raffled off to raise funds for the construction of an add-on to the church at that time.
Most of the people named on the quilt are deceased; however, one person, Mr. Dewey Poole, was able to attend the homecoming service to stand and be recognized.
Junette Jeffcoat was in Aiken when she got the first call from Mary Caughman. “I was just in awe, I couldn’t believe it,” Junette said. “I know a lot of the names handstitched on that quilt. My dad, my family, and it’s just amazing that we got back a piece of history.”
The pastor of Mount Hermon Baptist Church today is Josiah Mozelle. Services are Sundays at 10:45 a.m. with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and a Wednesday prayer service at 7:00 p.m. The church offers an A.W.A.N.A. program from children through teenagers on Sunday nights at 5:30 p.m. If you have any information about the quilt or church members from that time, feel free to contact the church.