About

Our History

Jackson Chapel a missionary Baptist church was founded and established in 1872 as the First Baptist Church under the Christian leadership of Reverend Andrew Jackson.  Its humble beginning was in an old building located on West Nash Street in Wilson, North Carolina.  A larger church was later built on the 500 block of Barnes Street.  Under the leadership of five ministers the First Baptist Church grew.  With abled leaders as Rev. Jackson, Clark, Ward, Woodard and Fred Davis, the church has ever before her vision of the kingdom and the dynamic faith to fulfill.  After thirty-five years of growth and progress on Barnes Street, a lot was purchased on the corner of Nash and Pender Streets.

Reverend M. A. Tally was the pastor of Jackson Chapel when this great task of a building and new edifice began.  Booker T. Washington, an activist laid the cornerstone.  A Romanesque style architecture adorns the oldest of the two most architecturally significant religious structures in Wilson, the black community in which was built in 1913.  It features a three story bell tower with a belcast pyramidal roof supported by curved brackets, red brick, wide eaves, under which are a landmark as you approach downtown.  It was enlarged in 1998 with an addition reflecting the architectural details of the historic church building.

Shortly after Booker T. Washington laid the cornerstone, the congregation was marching from Barnes Street to Nash Street, singing "Onward Christian Soldiers."  The church on Barnes Street was sold to the congregation of Wilson Chapel.  That building later burned in 1922.  The new Jackson Chapel building was on Nash Street and was dedicated in 1913.  Six years later in 1919, the mortgage was burned.  Under the leadership of several very capable pastors such as Rev. A.L. Weeks, Rev. Surgeon Davis, Rev. P.P. Watson, J.A. Mebane and Benjamin F. Jordan, the church continued to thrive.  With the administration of Rev. Jordan the parsonage was erected and paid for.

Now, well in age, Reverend Fred Davis was called once again to lead the congregation in a great work.  With failing health, he was retired by the church.

The Reverend Talmadge Adam Watkins was elected to serve as Pastor in 1951 and served faithfully for thirteen years.  A man of vision, wisdom, commitment and determination, combated segregation laws operating in 1956.  Rev. Watkins was a revered and prominent minister and civil rights activist who unselfishly bestowed his knowledge, talent, influence, and time for the betterment of the Wilson community and the state of North Carolina.  His motto was, "Everybody at it, everybody at it all the time."

Reverend Randolph Thompson became pastor in August of 1964.  Under his leadership, numerous renovations were done.  Rev. Thompson resigned as Pastor of Jackson Chapel on December 14, 1966.  He accepted a position in New York City, New York.  The Reverend J. E. Ellis came in July of 1967 and served faithfully as Pastor until January 1970.

Revered Dr. Talmadge Adam Watkins was elected again in 1971 to serve as the pastor for a second time.  He organized the Fellowship club and had plans drawn for a new education building he envisioned to carry out his ministries.  Sensing the need for Black Americans to demand first class citizenship and equal opportunities, he became a community leader.  His first civic effort was to lead a voter registration drive in east Wilson that resulted in the election of the first black elected official.  Serving as president of the Wilson NAACP, he helped to lead efforts to integrate the local athletic stadium, lunch counters, and other accommodations.  He organized the Youth NAACP that rained non violent confrontation to justice.  Rev. Dr. Watkins filed a law suit against the city of Wilson challenging a local law prohibiting single shot voting.  In 1980, he was one of several plaintiffs in a voting rights lawsuit against Wilson County that successfully dismantled at-large elections for the Board of Commissioners.  As a result, three blacks were elected to the board.

A dedicated leader with the NC General Baptist State Convention, Rev. Dr. Watkins served as founder and moderator for the Wilson Missionary Baptist Association and as chairman for the Building and Grounds Committee of the J.J. Johnson Baptist Assembly, Laurinburg, NC.  He was a member and president of the Wilson Ministerial Alliance.  Assuming full duties as pastor, he served faithfully until December 1989.  Revered Dr. Watkins, was honored and awarded the title of Pastor Emeritus on July 28, 1996.  He died on May 31, 2002 to be remembered.

After a pastoral search for ten months, the Revered Dr. Gregory T. Headen began his pastorate in September 1990.  Many innovative projects and activities were undertaken.  Dr. Headen resigned as Pastor on February 15, 1994.  He accepted a position in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

In October 1994, the Revered Darryl T. Canady was called to pastor the church.  Under his leadership as a visionary shepherd, the church progressed steadily in all phases.  He envisioned the community as a "Block of Hope."  In 2001 a 1.5 million dollar educational building with a paved parking lot and a renovated fellowship hall was completed.  He ordained five women Ministers and six women Deacons and employed a Minister of Music.  Thus, the Jackson Chapel Mass Choir was formed.  The music changed from hymns and gospel to hymns and contemporary gospel and from being played by piano and organ to piano, organ, guitar, and drums.  Rev. Canady received his Doctoral degree in Theology from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia.

Under Dr. Canady's leadership, the Trustees were deleted and the Official Ministry Council was initiated.  The church was incorporated and the By-laws were changed, the Parents As Teachers Program, (a family support outreach program was organized to provide evidence- based family strengthening program designed to offer parents practical ways to encourage learning, manage challenging behavior and promote parent-child relationships) program was formed.  Under the umbrella of the Parents as Teachers program came the Teens as Parents and Just Dads outreach programs.  The Boys Focus Group and the Girls of Imani were organized as well as God's Men and Women in Christ Fellowship.  Pastor Canady resigned on December 9, 2009 to accept a position in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Revered Freddie I. Barnes became the Interim Pastor on February 9, 2010.  After serving faithfully for fourteen months, his name was entered as the only candidate for the pastor of Jackson Chapel.  On February 14, 2011, Rev. Barnes was voted in as Pastor.  He was installed on June 19, 2011.  Within a year, new ministries and programs were organized such as, the Pastoral Committee, the Dream Team, the Prison Re-entry Program, and the Stewardship Committee.  Additional land was purchased on Nash Street and property on Pender Street was donated to provide more space to accommodate more ministries and programs.  Dr. Barnes resigned on January 30, 2015.

On September 4, 2016, Revered Edmund Ray Bynum was celebrated as the Interim Pastor of Jackson Chapel.  He has since served faithfully as a preacher and teacher with a commitment to the pursuit of excellence in the practice of a holistic ministry and a visionary passion of kingdom building.

Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church, through empowerment, continues to serve as a beacon of light and hope for the community through religion, education, employment and service.