The first land seems to have been given for Center Church by Carroll Jackson in 1835. A one-room log church was built. The pastor was Rev. Avery.
On May 1, 1845, John Scott deeded one acre to B. G. H. B. Avery, James Porter, D. Pennington, and Kinchen Carter. Trustees of the M. E. Church at Center, for “the sum of $1 in hand,” for the use of the M. E. Church forever.” On Jan. 9, 1874, John W. and Nancy Bailey deeded to Drewery Pennington, E. D. Screws, W. P. Follis, J. A. Follis, J. W. Bailey, John W. Bailey, Trustees of Senter [sic] Church for $45, a tract of land, touching James M. McDurmit, containing five acres, reserving one acre already deeded to Senter [sic] Church…”said lands to be used as a burying ground and house to be used by the Methodist Episcopal Church and the members thereof, according to the rules and discipline which from time to time may be agreed upon and adopted by the several conferences of said church, and further they shall permit duly authorized ministers of said church to expound the Holy Word of God therein.”
The present building is a pretty modern brick, with classrooms, and a large general purpose room with a kitchen. Attending now are members of the families bearing names, Reasons, Antwine, Jackson, Boyd, Lewis, Evans, Holyfield, Norville, Jones, James and Cox among others.
This article was contributed, with permission of the Crockett County Historical Society, by Natalie Huntley.
This information was taken from an article on the communities of Coxville, Center and Salem, which was compiled and written by Mrs. C. C. James, and published in the book Crockett County Courthouse Centennial, 1874 – 1974, prepared by the Crockett County Historical Society.