This is from an article in "The Wrightsville Headlight, Centennial Edition, May 8, 1958, entitled "First Powell's Chapel Members Worshipped Under Large Oak Tree": "...Powell's Chapel Church, which is located on the Bartow-Kite paved road... In 1873 Mr. Crayton Powell owned the land that is now known as the Walter Powell land. Under a large oak tree on this land a few of the people of the community began having preaching services. Among these first people were... Jim Tapley..."
That would be James Madison Tapley, my paternal great-grandfather. My grandmother, Nealie Drake Tapley, drove a horse and buggy from Wadley, 9 miles each way, every Sunday morning to play the piano at the church.
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| Powell's Chapel Church... THEN |
She and my grandfather, Lusion Keman Tapley, are buried there, along with my uncles Russ and Hugh Dorsey Tapley, aunt Annie Tapley Lampp, several cousins and other relatives.
I can remember going there as a child for "Dinner on the Dirt" - a tasty Southern tradition where folks would gather under the trees after church and share a delicious lunch prepared by loving hands. I have attended a funeral there that I don't even remember (since I was only a month old) and one that I remember all too well (at age 39).
| Nealie Drake Tapley (center) with ALL of her children and a couple of her grandchildren on the steps of Powell's Chapel Church, 1960's. |
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