Olive Branch Community Church
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The Awkards and Smith Families

Olive Branch Community Church, also, The Awkards and Smith Families. Sandy Spring African American Heritage Trail. , Olive Branch Community Church , On the evening of Sept 13, 2006, a small group met at Reverend Kelly's home. They decided to build a new church. Pastor Kelly and the seven Founding Elders continued to meet at various homes and began to draft the Constitution and By-Laws for the new Church, which was ratified three months later on Jan 20, 2007., Many members of Olive Branch Community Church (OBCC) migrated from larger churches and were seeking a smaller Christian enclave. The quaintness of Sandy Spring matched the spirit of the congregation. Sandy Spring is one of the earliest settlements in Maryland., Olive Branch Community Church held its first worship service in Oseh Shalom Synagogue on Oct 1, 2006, in Laurel, Maryland, where it remained for a period of three years. The name Olive Branch connotes the story of Noah where a dove with a twig signaled that dry land was close at hand. Church Elder Hank Boyd found the property that would become the future church site. Divine providence allowed the Founding Pastor, Dr. Donald R. Kelly, the Chairman of the Elder Board, Brett Tyler, and Elder Hank Boyd to sign settlement papers on Oct 1, 2008 , establishing the Olive Branch Church at 416 Olney Sandy Spring Road , forever and for God., OBCC became the steward of Elmhurst House (the historic Lansdale home) which was built in 1870 by Quakers. The site consists of 3.05 acres of land and initially served as both the Pastor's Rectory and administrative offices. Montgomery County records indicate that the 416 hallowed land is the last station on Underground Railroad., Having been fortunate enough to have found historic land tied to our ancestral past, OBCC leadership built a sanctuary for religious services and outreach ministries. By doing so, we honor those brave souls that sought freedom. The Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the OBCC sanctuary included local dignitaries such as Congressman John Sarbanes; Councilman Al Leventhal; Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett; and Oseh Shalom congregation's Rabbi Fink. On Feb 22, 2021, Montgomery County issued the much-deserved Use and Occupancy Permit for the new sanctuary., The Awkards and Smith Families , Horse Racing and Breeding, Baseball, More Baseball and Education , Woodruff "Woodie" C. Awkard was a legend in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry of Maryland. Growing up in the Olney-Sandy Spring community on a 22-acre farm, Woodie was surrounded by horses and horse rearing all his life. By age 16, he left school to go to Laurel Racetrack to begin his career. In 1940, he was introduced to the horse-racing scene, working at various racetracks in the northeast. He was the youngest Black foreman of a major racing operation and by 1951 he earned his Maryland Trainer's License., Jen Jen, Nov. 24, 1972, Charlestown, W.V. , As an owner Woodie purchased his first brood mare, whose foal Ki D Ka broke his maiden at Pimlico in 1964. He bred and raised his second champion horse, Mr. Awkard, that in 1979, was 18 lengths in front at the half mile at 70-1., Following in the footsteps of their famous Uncle Russell Awkard, the Smith brothers Charles and Mike, gained notoriety as athletes and baseball players. The brothers came from an Olney family of 16 siblings of Tank Smith and Phyllis Awkard Smith, and grandchildren of Walter and Alice Snowden Awkard. The two homegrown legends attended Olney Elementary School and Sherwood High School. The oldest brother Charles William "Pickles" Smith played basketball and varsity football and broke several athletic records at Sherwood. In 1971 he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, in the third round and also attended Manahen Junior College in Florida. Charles played Major League Baseball from 1971-1967, first with the Kingsport Royals, and successively with the Waterloo Royals, Jacksonville Sons, Omaha Royals, and in 1976 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The youngest brother Mike Smith who graduated fro Sherwood High School in 1985 played football and track and field. This Sherwood superstar played football for a while at Wake Forest University, then returned to Sherwood as instructor and coach. Mike Smith became Assistant Principal at Clarksburg High School and also taught at Springbrook High School. Deborah Smith Buchanan is Tank and Phyllis Awkward Smith's last of 16 children. Debbie is a retired MCPS teacher, having taught all grades 1-8. She also served as a Resource Teacher for ten years in Alternative Programs. She received her BA in Sociology and Social Work from the University of Maryland-Baltimore Campus, and the MA in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland-University College.