submitted by Geri Smith & S. David Smith

Land Transfer from Joseph C. Worley to Mt Carmal [as submitted] Baptist Church

One year and a few days after the church officially organized, Joseph C. Worley and his wife Lou Stephens Worley along with a Mrs. A. S. Worley donated land for Mount Carmel Baptist Church to build their first building on. Here is a copy of that land-deed transaction:

Land Deed for Bradley County, Tennessee

From J. C. Worley to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church: This indenture made and entered into this 30th of November 1885, by and between J. C. Worley of the first part and S. W. Maroon, W. R. Simpson, and W. H. Smith trustees of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of the second part (one illegible word). That for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have this day bargained sold and entered conveyed unto the above named Trustees and their successors in office for the above named amount, one acre of land more or less and said one acre of land is butted and bounded as follows, to-wit: On the South and west and east by J. C. Worley and on the north by the McGaughey heirs lying and being in the Bradley County Tennessee in the 4th District, Ocoee District. To Have and to hold unto said until said above named Trustees and their successors in office for Church purposes forever in fee simple and that I have a good right in convey the same and that the same is unencumbered. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. Date above.

J. C. Worley X (His mark)

Mrs. Lou Worley [wife of J. C. Worley] X (Her mark)

A. S. Worley X (Her mark)

Note: A. S. Worley was the wife of a second J.C Worly. So I assume that A. S. Worley was the mother of the J. C. Worley that donated the land to the church. The Two J. C. Worleys were, in all likelihood, father and son.