In the 1950's Henry County would have been considered "country" with farms and dairies dotting the countryside. Houses were wood-frame; roads were mostly mud, with Hwy.42 being one of few paved roads (two-lanes).

Television sets were a rare commodity, and people occupied their leisure time reading, visiting, Sunday picnics, and an occasional "trip to town (Atlanta).

The county did not have any congregations of the Church of Christ, and members of the Lord's church living in the Fairview community had to drive 20 or more miles to worship.

Ray and Jewell Cooper lived on Swan Lake Road in those days and worshipped with the Kirkwood church in Dekalb County. Brother Dillingham was Kirkwood's minister and ever ready to do "mission work" in Georgia. While visiting with the Cooper's Brother Dillingham felt the Fairview community would be fertile ground for establishing a meeting place.

Ray and Jewell, after much prayer and discussion undertook the building of a meeting place for the Lord's church. The property the present church is on belonged to Ray and this is where two of them (along with Wyman and Mary Frances Clark) constructed a block church building.

This first building took over a year to complete, with the four laboring each opportunity they had and when they were able to buy materials (sometimes, a few blocks at a time). None of the amenities we take for granted today, were available in that first building, i.e., air conditioning, inside restrooms, furnaces, etc. But the church thrived and people began visiting and then became a part of the congregation.

Some of the congregation of the 50's are still here - Gertrude Musslewhite; Barbara Musslewhite Cooper; Darrell Cooper; Sibyl Cooper Luke; Wyman & Mary Frances Clark; Sonny & Sarah Vaughn; Peggy Cole Ziegler; Ben Born; Anna Born Favor; Linda Mathias; Ray & Jewell Cooper; and others.

As time went on and the block building started "splitting at the seams" additions were added until we have the building of today, along with the annex and "parsonage."

In 1959 the number of Sunday morning worshippers were 60 and under. In 1992 the number on Sunday morning runs from around 150 to 225.

Our present minister, David Decker, came to us in 1983, along with Debbie and Sarah. (Ashley was born a couple of years later).

Fairview has had many hills and valleys in the past, but the last 10 years have been steadily climbing, and we have enjoyed more "hills" than "valleys."

Many ministers have come and gone at Fairview (some through death and others leaving for other areas) - many of the names would be familiar to you.

Those of you who attend now are a part of Fairview's "history" and we hope that you will be a long and fruitful part.
 

- Dedicated -

The history of the Fairview Church of Christ is dedicated to the "pioneers" who had the foresight, faith and love for our Lord and community to push forward through all obstacles to make the house of worship a reality and to all that have and will worship at Fairview. May we always "Fear the Lord and Keep His Commandments," "love one another" and "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us always."

FAIRVIEW HISTORY
As written by Mary Frances Clark

The 1950's

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