Early this year the Cooper's and the Clyde Bell family (Clyde, Ethel, Russell, Mildred, Sara and Tommy), who lived in Rockdale County, began saving their church contribution to buy building materials.

On August 4, 1953 "In consideration of the love and consideration of the love and concern I have for Christ Jesus and His church, I, Thomas R. Cooper, of the County of Henry do hereby sell and convey unto Fairview Community Church of Christ, of the County of Henry, its Trustees and their successors, a tract or parcel of land, which is described as follows: "(See Deed Book 48, pgs 159-160, Henry County Court House). The seed planted in 1952 was watered and ready for growth.

Construction was done in the evenings and off days. Outside help was hard to come by, especially financial, so with limited funds the building progressed slowly. The first building took more than a year to complete.

Ray and Jewell suffered discouragement, trials, tribulations, and many long, hard hours in manual labor (mixed cement with a hoe in a wheelbarrow - Jewell's job) to construct this building. By this time we were acquainted with the Cooper's and Wyman helped pour the cement floor, etc.

Inside: Concrete floor, metal folding chairs, wooden platform, speakers stand, a large blackboard behind the stand (minister used for his lesson and demonstrations). The Communion Table was homemade (table was covered with a white Irish linen cloth - supper covered with a white net cloth trimmed in a lace border (which I purchased and made).

The Lord's table was set in this manner each Lord's day at all churches of Christ and represented our Lord's entombment. The loaf was first made by Jewell Cooper and then I made it until it was purchased from a vendor. The songbooks were hand-me-downs, and hand-fans donated by Carmichael Funeral Home in McDonough and East Point. NOTE! The temperature was such that you had no doubt where you wanted to spend eternity and the winters were literally freezing.

The roads in this end of the county were not paved until the end of the fifties and early sixties. Depending on the weather the roads were either dusty or muddy. Farmland (cotton, corn, and vegetables) pastures (dairy farms) and peach orchards made up the countryside. Houses were wooden frame, four and five rooms, heated with wood, coal, fuel oil or propane gas. Water was supplied by springs and wells, outdoor facilities, one automobile per family, salaries under $50.00 per week. Television had just hit the nation, only a very few TV antennas were seen. Entertainment consisted of reading, visiting your neighbors, picnics, ice cream socials, 'possum hunts with a wiener roast by the light of the harvest moon and if enough money was left over after bills and taxes, a trip to "Two Points" (where Moreland Ave. and Flat Shoals Ave. join), for a hotdog or hamburger. This was our nearest "fast food" (about 15 miles). Families ate at home and carried their lunch to work. These were the "Good OLE Days"???? In luxuries-NO, in achievements, priorities, fun and fellowship-YES.

January 4: Charlie, Linda (now Mathias) and Chuck Gleaton visited from the community.

April 9: Fairview checking account opened at the Trust Company of Georgia Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, for convenience.

March 29 & April 19: The Buddy Cole's and Zollie Haney's on Panola Road were mud-bound and unable to attend services. This was before the days of paving - this was a very wet winter and spring. During this year, Brother Jack Kyle (wife Lois) of the Constitution congregation, relieved Brother Waites as preacher. This couple gave of their time, support, and encouragement for the growth of Fairview.

June 2: Twelve 14" chairs purchased for classrooms from Rex Chair Company, Rex, Georgia - $25.96. Also a blackboard was purchased.

June 14: John and Frances Born identified with the Fairview congregation. The Born family (John, Frances, Anna, Jacob, Alice, Gladys, David, Ben, Jane, and Ethel).

June 24: I was privileged to teach the first Wednesday night Bible class for the "young folks". Fairview finally had enough children to have midweek classes. Buddy Cole was my sub-teacher.

June 28: Morning worship hour, 54 were present. Largest attendance in the history of the congregation, except at special gatherings. Exciting day!

June: The building received two much-needed coats of paint - inside and out.

June 29: Brother Waites underwent surgery at Crawford Long.

July: Frances Born painted church sign and John Born hung it. Charlie Gleaton was hired to clean the building each week.

July 5-11: David Reeves, Claxton, Tennessee - gospel meeting. July 10 - the congregations represented at the meeting were East Point, Glenwood, Constitution, Cascade, Forest Park (new congregation meeting in the theater building), North Avenue, Fayetteville, and Anthony, Florida.

July 5: The John Born's were host for a basket lunch to help us get to know Brother Reeves and each other better. What fun!

July 28: Checking account closed - First National Bank, McDonough, Georgia.

July: The first perfect attendance record on file was achieved by my class on Sunday morning by Darrell Cooper, Barbara Musslewhite (Cooper), Peggy Cole (Ziegler), Ethel, Ben and Jane Born. Wednesday evening - Peggy Cole, Barbara Musslewhite, Alice and Kathy Heflin. Isn't it a blessing that most of these are still faithful hard-workers for our Lord!

August 9: The baptistry is ready --- following assignments were made: Wyman Clark to assist the men; me to assist the ladies in the dressing room; Flora Gleaton (Charlie Gleaton's mother) to launder towels and robes after each baptism. Each family was asked to donate one large bath towel and man's white handkerchief.

July-September: Gertrude Musslewhite made the baptismal garments (3 sizes each) for the men and women. She did a super job! To anyone who assisted her - bless you. I purchased the wading suit in September from the Baptist Bookstore in Atlanta.

September 13: Due to Wyman and I going on vacation, the bulletin was not published for August 23 and 30. During these two weeks, Linda Gleaton (Mathia) obeyed her Lord and became the first person baptized in the newly completed baptistry. The Lord had blessed us with another faithful, hard-working, meek and caring lady. Her talents begin to blossom in the 60's.

October: A new class for the 1 - 6 year old formed - teacher: Jewell Cooper - assistant: Gertrude Musslewhite.

October 4: A new record was set for Sunday morning worship - 60! - goal set for 75 ...

December 19: Brother and Sister Zollie Haney celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. This couple provided flowers for worship services, housed the visiting preachers, lent encouragement, and set a good example to name a few of their contributions for the church. To know them was to love them and they were dearly loved by all ages.

This ends the 50's and Fairview had strove to fulfill Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many thanks to:

Ray & Jewell Cooper; Gertrude Musslewhite; Linda Mathias; and Sarah Vaughn for their input; Bill Dempsey, who provided calendars from 1700-2108, Henry County Records Office; to all at Fairview who have helped me remember. You are all "special". Especially to Pat Karr for pushing me into beginning a 30 year dream and for her patience in editing and typing -- and to the elders at Fairview. Last, but not least, Wyman whom so graciously helped with chores, research, and having papers everywhere not to be touched. (If anyone has been left out, it was unintentional, please accept my apologies.)