'The friendliest church': Ocala's Mt. Moriah marks 155 years, prepares to relocate

Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church celebrated its 155th anniversary on May 15 with liturgy, song, historical accounts and fellowship.

May McCants Stafford, born in 1937, said her parents attended Mt. Moriah and she was "born in the church."

"Mount Moriah means everything to me," Stafford said. She was one of 28 people named in the program as "50 plus" year members.

Stafford said she cherishes what she learned at Mr. Moriah, such as "the Golden Rule, and basic things like taking nothing for granted and live and let live."

Stafford served with the church's Health Ministry from about 2010 until 2020. She oversaw a diabetes support group and worked with a University of Florida nutritionist to provide programs for church members.

The future: Ocala City Council agrees on location for city’s next downtown parking garage

The past: Remembering the church

A place for celebrations: A gathering in January 2008

A history that dates to 1867

The downtown Ocala church was established in the wake of the 1867 Emancipation Proclamation by former enslaved people seeking a place where they could “praise, pray and worship with the fullness of their spirit, unrestricted by racial barriers,” according to a special anniversary program.

The Rev. Dr. Jerry B. Alexander Jr., from Saint Petersburg, has served as pastor at Mt. Moriah MBC since 2019. He said the church has a "loving atmosphere."

Alexander is married to church First Lady Sabrenia Alexander, and the couple have two adult children.

Gospel messages were delivered at three separate services on May 15 by Rev. Alexander and guest ministers Gaston E. Smith Sr., senior pastor/teacher of Friendship Missionary Church of Miami, and the Rev. Keith E. Blunt, pastor of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church of Ocala.

A proclamation from Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn was posted inside the program. It states, in part, that Mt. Moriah MBC has a "well-known history of excellent pastors, leaders and congregants who have been at the forefront of our community’s spiritual, academic, cultural, social, service, civil rights, and political advancements."

The original church site was on South Pine Avenue, where the Firestone store now stands

A church history in the program states the former enslaved people withdrew from the local white Baptist church and, led by Pastor Rev. Samuel Small, founded Mt. Moriah MBC in a 30-foot-by-50-foot building on South Pine Avenue. The location is near the present site of Firestone Tire Co., the program states.

A local businessman offered the congregation land on Fort King Street, in the area of Pond and Lime Streets, in exchange for the South Pine property, according to the program.

The program indicates worshippers countywide who traveled to Mt. Moriah “saw the need to establish” churches in their own communities. From 1874 to 1906, Shady Grove Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church, Covenant Church and Hopewell Baptist Church were opened.

Mt. Moriah established its current site, 55 SW Third Ave., in 1911, according to the program.

'We were together'

The Rev. Frank George Pinkston Sr. served as Mt. Moriah MBC pastor from 1964 to 1967 and was known as the "Black Liberator of Marion County" for his "leadership in our Civil Rights program.” He also organized the first Head Start Program here for preschool children, according to the program.

A letter copied in the program from the Rev. Dr. Jerone Gamble, moderator of the Second Bethlehem Baptist Association, states Mt. Moriah MBC has been a "source of spiritual leadership and Christian Education" and has made "remarkable contributions" to the "musical, theatrical and the cultural development in this community."

Darren Gaddis, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ocala, wrote in a letter posted in the program that the two churches shared a "common history" in the group, which broke away to establish a "sweet fellowship"  – Mt. Moriah MBC.

He wished the members of the church the "richest blessings of Christ."

The program also contains copies of congratulatory letters from Bishop James D. Stockton III, who is president of the local chapter of the NAACP, and from state Rep. Yvonne Hinson.

The Rev. Lorenzo S. Edwards served as pastor of Mt. Moriah from 1968 to 2018, years that included the tumult of the civil rights movement.

"Mt. Moriah stood its ground. (The church) gave us a direction and we kept our heads up. We were together," Edwards said in a telephone interview.

Edwards said serving at Mt. Moriah MBC was "part of a journey which turned out to be the best journey I could take. I found myself at Mt. Moriah and I'm thankful."

The program states several parcels adjacent to the church building were acquired under Edwards’ leadership, and building renovated on two properties now serve as offices, Sunday School classrooms, Mt. Moriah Community Center and Mt. Moriah Health Ministry.

A walking trail was also established on the property, the 155th anniversary program states.

Looking to the future

Church Clerk Vickie Turner said the church has had a very impressive impact on the community and its influence will continue to grow, especially as the church prepares to relocate.

As the Star-Banner has reported, the City of Ocala has purchased Mt. Moriah's downtown campus and plans to build a parking garage there. No start date has been set for construction, and no move date has been set for the congregation.

Mt. Moriah will relocate to church-owned land in Ocala at Southwest Fifth Street east of Southwest 27th Avenue. The congregation can stay at its current site for one year after the property sale closes, which should be in June.

'The friendliest church'

Among the congregation members attended the May 15 afternoon service were Jacqueline Gray and Regis Boatwright, who both served on 155th Anniversary Committee, and Zhenn Stuman, 9, who is Boatwight's grandson.

Boatwright and John Livingston were co-chairs of the anniversary Steering Committee.

Brandon Rhodes and Lee Butler were among the musicians at the afternoon service.

Michael Adams, whose wife, Shiyann, worked on an Anniversary Committee, and his grandson, Kaicen Adams, 6, and Royal Colbert and his sons Jayden, 12, and Jonathan, 16, were also there.

New church member Michelle McGirth attended the afternoon service with her daughter Milashia, 12. They joined 20-year church member Lily West Milton for refreshments after the service in the church annex.

Deacon Patrick Warfield, who also visited the church annex after the service, has been a member for about a year.

Deacon Don Peyton moved to Ocala in 2013 and joined Mt.ount Moriah MBC in 2014.

"(This is) the friendliest church," Peyton said. He said the members welcomed him "from when I first opened the door."

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Church in Ocala, Florida celebrates 155 years, looks to the future