Mims in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church of Mims
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, February 3, 2017
1. Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church of Mims Marker
Inscription.
Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church of Mims. . In 1894, after organizing a congregation, St. James Colored Missionary Baptist Church acquired land in Mims, and with Rev. G. Brewer as pastor, built the first wooden church on this site in 1904 under the guidance of Rev. J.S. Gilbert. Many of North Brevard's pioneering black families: Warren, Grant, Campbell, Cuyler, Strickland, Bell, Harris, Hester, Lewis, Sheldon, Abrams, Brothers, Wright, Highsmith and Mitchell, held positions in this church. Rev. James Massey served as an inspirational and dedicated leader from 1937 to 1967. Choir director Dorothy Hester also served as Youth Advisor for North Brevard NAACP under the direction of Harry T. Moore. Funeral services were held at this church for Civil Rights activists Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. Moore who were killed when their home was bombed on Christmas night 1951. Moore was Brevard County NAACP Chapter President and later NAACP Florida Convention president/state coordinator. The present church structure was built in 1964. The old wooden structure was torn down in 1968 and the annex building was started in 1971. The name of the church was changed to Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church in 1974.
In 1894, after organizing a congregation, St. James Colored Missionary Baptist Church acquired land in Mims, and with Rev. G. Brewer as pastor, built the first wooden church on this site in 1904 under the guidance of Rev. J.S. Gilbert. Many of North Brevard's pioneering black families: Warren, Grant, Campbell, Cuyler, Strickland, Bell, Harris, Hester, Lewis, Sheldon, Abrams, Brothers, Wright, Highsmith and Mitchell, held positions in this church. Rev. James Massey served as an inspirational and dedicated leader from 1937 to 1967. Choir director Dorothy Hester also served as Youth Advisor for North Brevard NAACP under the direction of Harry T. Moore. Funeral services were held at this church for Civil Rights activists Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. Moore who were killed when their home was bombed on Christmas night 1951. Moore was Brevard County NAACP Chapter President and later NAACP Florida Convention president/state coordinator. The present church structure was built in 1964. The old wooden structure was torn down in 1968 and the annex building was started in 1971. The name of the church was changed to Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church in 1974.
Erected 2005 by The Brevard County Historical Commission and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-539.)
Location. 28° 39.783′ N, 80° 50.428′ W. Marker is in Mims, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker is at the intersection of Harry T. Moore Avenue and Ricard Street, on the right when traveling south on Harry T. Moore Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2396 Harry T Moore Avenue, Mims FL 32754, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church of Mims Marker and present church
Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2017. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 761 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 15, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
