Oakville Missionary Baptist Church

Oakville Missionary Baptist Church. . , Front , Founded in 1871 and organized in 1872, this church is among Shelby County's oldest active African American congregations. Originally known as "Oakville Colored Church", it was organized by former slaves and their families and flourished during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War. Founder Rev. Rubin Reed was assisted by Reverends Morris Henderson, Dennis Morgan, Alfort Cohen, who furnished the later name (Oakville Baptist), Mose Henderson and Ben Love. The church thereafter was named in church records as the Oakville Missionary Baptist Church, but this name was never formally recorded as such in the county records. The property for the church was donated by the Edward LeMaster family with the understanding that it would always be used for a church or school.

Back , Most of the church history was recorded from the 1st administration in 1872 to the 17th administration in 1923, but little is known between 1924-1938. In 1938 Rev. Henry J. Thompson was elected pastor and served until 1980. Early in his tenure services were held in an old frame building, which served as a school during the week and a place of worship on Sundays. Membership grew under Reverend Thompson's leadership and, continuing with his successor Rev. Richmond Savage, several additions and renovations were made expanding it to the edifice seen today. On this same property is the church graveyard, which includes markers of deceased members whose births pre-date the Emancipation Proclamation.