Andalusia in Covington County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The William Christian Nursing Home, Inc.

Covington County

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 7, 2025

1. The William Christian Nursing Home, Inc. Marker

Inscription.
In the 1940s, Bishop John Ben Mason, along with his wife Willie Ann Mason, established a non-sectarian home for the poor and elderly that did not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or religion. With his faith in God, a love in his heart for all mankind, and the support of the community, he built on this site the first nursing home in Andalusia, Alabama. The William Christian Old Folks Home, Inc., formerly known as the William Christian Aged Widows & Orphans Home and later the William Christian Nursing Home, Inc., was organized on July 13, 1949. The nursing home closed in 1981, after operating for nearly forty years. When the nursing home closed, the property was sold at state auction. The Masons' daughter purchased the property. renovated it, and opened it as the Mason Serenity House in honor of her father. The state of Alabama licensed it in 1989, and it operated as the first assisted living facility in Andalusia, Alabama until 2010.

Erected 2021 by By Delores Mason Crim Gomez, the Daughter of Bishop John Ben Mason, other family members, and friends.

Topics. This historical marker is listed

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. A significant historical date for this entry is July 13, 1949.

Location. 31° 19.069′ N, 86° 28.272′ W. Marker is in Andalusia, Alabama, in Covington County. It is on Henderson Street west of Coleman Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601 Henderson St, Andalusia AL 36420, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Wiregrass.

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 New Spain,

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 walking distance of this marker: Covington County Veterans Memorial Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Purple Heart Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Covington County War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rodney J. Evans (approx. 0.6 miles away); Andalusia City Hall / Three Notch School

Former location of the William Christian Nursing Home. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 7, 2025

2. Former location of the William Christian Nursing Home.

The Home was located across from the Andalusia High School football stadium and was razed in 2020.

(approx. 0.7 miles away); Three Notch Road / Hank and Audrey Williams (approx. 0.9 miles away); Old Courthouse Clock Bell (approx. 0.9 miles away); Andalusia becomes the County Seat / Andalusia Railroad Depot (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Andalusia.

Also see . . . Remember when: a local dream fulfilled - The Andalusia Star News. (Submitted on September 8, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

View of marker, in parking lot, looking east on Henderson Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 7, 2025

3. View of marker, in parking lot, looking east on Henderson Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.