FOUNDERS/Charter Members Dea. Charlie Williams, Sr. DOB: 1841 Wife: Matilda Trustee Board Thomas Kelly Preston Hargrove Trustees Bro. Ben Brown Wife: Eliza Brown Trustee Board Bro. Belfast Wright Robinson DOB: abt 1865 DOD: Wife: Mary Robinson Mother: Lussie Ward Father: John Ward (step father)

Former Pastors

Rev. George Robinson (first pastor) Rev. Thomas Adams DOB: abt 1844 DOD: Wife: Mary (Robinson) Adams Rev. Bud Richardson Rev. Percy Cohen DOB: abt 1885 DOD: Wife: Lula Cohen Rev. Elijah Blount Rev. Manning Rev. Saint Ambrose Thomas, Sr. Born: abt. 1885 In Georgia DOD: Wife: Ronea (Daniels) Thomas Wife: Flossie Wheeler

Reverend Benjamin Willie Williams Pastored: 1928—1961

Benjamin Willie Williams was born February 14, 1902 in Hardyville, South Carolina to Russell Williams and Pinkey (Jenkins) Williams. Rev. Williams was converted and joined the church at an early age. As a young man he came to Mt. Bethel under the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. In 1928, Rev. Benjamin W. Williams became Mt. Bethel’s tenth pastor, and under his magnificent leadership a strong Deacon Board, a Trustee Board, two Deaconess Boards, three Choirs , three Usher Boards, and many auxiliaries. Were established. The concrete block sanctuary was renovated and dedicated in 1952. The older wood frame church served as a kindergarten under the direction of Sis. Claudine Williams, Pastor Williams’ wife, and also as the church dining room. Under his leadership a strong Deacon Board, a Trustee Board, two Deaconess Boards, three Choirs, and three Usher Boards were organized. He was the moderator of the Emmanuel Progressive Baptist Associa-tion. He also pastored West Friendship Baptist Church. Reverend Williams was married to Claudine Williams for 26 years. There was one daughter Linda Anderson. He served Mt. Bethel for 33 years until his death on September 17, 1961. He was buried in Memorial Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida.

Information from Sis. Victoria Barney Terrell, May 23, 2016

In the 1940’s Mt. Bethel was not equipped with electricity and used kerosene lamps for lighting, so Rev. B.W. Williams purchased a Delco battery …and hooked it up to wiring which gave us electric light.

Rev. I.C. Dixon was pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in 1940, and he baptized her in Gillis Lake in 1940.

Victoria Barney Terrell was 14 when she began playing for Mt. Bethel. At that time there was only one choir - adult.

Rev. Williams pastored three churches: Mt. Bethel, St. Paul-Baldwin, and St. James-Macclenny.

Other neighborhood churches: Philadelphia, Sycamore and Moncrief; Mt. Calvary Primitive Baptist, Helena and Sawyer; St. Andrews AME, behind Miss Ann’s store; Gregg's Temple AME, 45th near Castellano.

The neighborhood school rotated between Mt. Bethel, Mt. Calvary and St. Andrews. There was also a two room schoolhouse by Gillis Lake. Mrs. Rubye Hankerson taught at St. Andrews.

Rev. Saint Ambrose Thomas, Jr. Pastored: 1962—1995

Saint Ambrose Thomas, Jr. was born October 14, 1912, In Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida. He was the fourth child of Reverend Saint Ambrose Thomas, Sr. and Ronea (Daniels) Thomas. He had four sisters; Callie, Catherine, Roberta, and Delilah and two brothers; Willie and the other brother’s name is not known. Reverend Thomas was educated in the public schools beginning his education at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church which housed the Moncrief Grammar School where he completed sixth grade . He attended Walkers Col-lege in Jacksonville, studying to become a chef. He also attended Florida Memorial College, Through ex-

tension courses in Jacksonville, he earned a Masters of Ministry Degree from Columbia Bible Institute in February 1983.

Reverend Thomas was converted and joined the church when he was very young. At fourteen years of age, he became super-intendent of the Sunday School of Mt. Calvary Primitive Baptist Church, Jacksonville. He was also president of the BYPU (Baptist Young People’s Union). He was ordained as a Deacon of the Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in 1948 and served as secretary of the Deacon Board for ten years. He was also leader of District #9 for several years.

Reverend Thomas was called into the ministry in 1958 and was licensed to preach and ordained by Reverend Benjamin W. Wil-liams of the Mt. Bethel Baptist Church. He pastored Gethsemane Baptist Church for two and a half years before being called to pastor Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in 1962. He acknowledged being considered for pastor and his desire to accept in a letter to the Pulpit Committee. This had to be one of his dreams because his father, S. A. Thomas, Sr., pastored this church many years ago.

Revered Thomas was married for the first time at 17 years of age. This marriage ended in divorce. He married Hattie Horace Thomas, the love of his life in 1935. They lived happily together for fifty four years until her passing in June 1990.

Rev. Saint Ambrose Thomas, Jr. Pastored: 1962—1995

Reverend Thomas said of Sis. Thomas, “She was a wonderful wife and a great person to know. She was my best friend.” After the death of Hattie, he was united in holy matrimony on March 26, 1994 to Mrs. Betty Jean Clark. As a teenager, Reverend Thomas was first employed at Dixie Pharmacy. Later, he drove a truck hauling lumber. He also laid pipe for the city of Jacksonville. He began his cooking career at the Desota restaurant, working his way up to chef. He was employed there for twelve years. He also served as dietician and dining room supervisor at Walkers College. He worked as a chef at The Steer Room Restaurant for 27 years until his retirement in 1983. Reverend Thomas served as president of the Minister’s and Deacons Union of Emanuel Progressive Baptist Association for seventeen years. He also served as first Vice Moderator of the Emanuel Progressive Baptist Association. He is also a member of the Masonic Family of the W. L. Campbell Lodge. NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING HIS TENURE AT MT. BETHEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. In 1965, Reverend Thomas began discussing his vision of a new church. In 1967, blueprints were drawn and stone was selected. On September 17, 1978, the congregation moved into its fourth sanctuary, the present Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, debt-free. The congregation moved to the new sanctuary on January 1993. The old church then became the B. W. Williams Educational Building which housed a li-brary, clerical office and classrooms. After thirty two and a half years of devoted service to our church, Pastor Thomas completed his earthly mission on February 15, 1995, and quietly slipped away to be forever with our Lord.

Letter of Appreciation from Reverend Saint Ambrose Thomas

Reverend S. A. Thomas with wife Hattie and City Councilwoman Sally Mathis Reverend Thomas and visiting clergy.

Reverend Thomas and congregation on a First Sunday. Reverend Thomas, Barry Boyd and Gianni Crumley In an Easter Play

Reverend S. A. Thomas

Message from 1984

Church and Pastor’s Anniversary