Near Athens in Limestone County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Alabama Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Founded 1918

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 2, 2020

1. Alabama Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription. Members of the Barbee family donated this plot of land for the purpose of a community school around 1915. Three years later, a storm damaged the building and the school was relocated to nearby Sampson's Chapel. The Barbee family then deeded the property to the Huntsville Presbytery Colored, whose members repaired the building and established it as the Alabama Fork Colored Presbyterian Church. With a congregation devoted to their Christian faith and civic responsibilities, Alabama Fork served an important community role. The church hosted revivals and ministered to the sick and poor in Limestone County. During the 1950s and 1960s, the church sponsored cultural and community events at nearby Trinity High School, founded in 1865 by the American Missionary Association.

Members of Alabama Fork worked throughout the 1970s to construct a new sanctuary, a task they accomplished themselves, debt free, by the end of the decade. Former pastors include John Swoope, Walter Crutcher, Oscar Edmonds, and Anthony Fletcher. The Alabama Synod redrew its district lines in the 1980s, placing Alabama Fork in the Tennessee Valley Presbytery.

Erected 2018 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans

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• Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 34° 51.103′ N, 86° 58.461′ W. Marker is near Athens, Alabama, in Limestone County. It is at the intersection of Cross Key Road (County Road 26) and Elkmont Road (State Highway 127), on the right when traveling south on Cross Key Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19801 Cross Key Road, Athens AL 35614, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Night Chaparral (approx. 3.1 miles away); Athens College (approx. 3.2 miles away); Athens College Veteran's Memorial (approx. 3.2 miles away); First United Methodist Church (approx. 3.3 miles away); Scenes From Hobbs & Market Streets (approx. 3.3 miles away); Governor George S. Houston Home (approx. 3.3 miles away); North Side of Square (approx. 3.3 miles away); Faces of Market Street (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Also see . . . Our History. History of the church posted on its website. (Submitted on August 3, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 2, 2020

2. Alabama Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 570 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 3, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.