Reelfoot Baptist Church

According to Marshall’s Obion County History, Reelfoot Baptist Church was 1 1/2 miles north of Clayton on the Reelfoot Lake Highway.  On the map, I find Clayton on Hwy. 22 between Union City and Reelfoot Lake about a 1/2 to a mile before the curve to the lake.

Organized in 1845 by Rev. David Halliburton with eleven charter members. Eight of these were: James W. Caldwell, Fred Carpenter, Elisha Cloar, Lee Gray*, Mary Cloar Marshall, Jack Mosier, George Puckett and Tommie Sanders.

There seems to have been at least three church buildings during the years.  The first building was of logs and located on “Ridge Road,” and was in existence during the yellow fever epidemic at Hickman and George Puckett, a charter member, died of the disease.

In 1878, the church relocated in a new building on the bank of Reelfoot Creek about a mile north of Highway 22 at Clayton on land donated by Zach Wilson. This building burned in 1911 and another house of worship was built at the same location.  This structure could seat 500 people and the membership at that time according to the church records was 136.

In 1968, the church relocated in the Clayton Community on Highway 22 because of flooding by Reelfoot Creek. In 1980 an educational wing was added.

Minutes dating back to 1871 show the fist Sunday School as being organized in April 1874 at Green Cloar’s School House. Some of the ministers were: David F. Halliburton, McGowan, Shaw, James E. Moon, Dr. Richard O’Bryan, Rev. Don Smith. Church clerks included: Marvin Harper of Troy, J. B. Bruer who served 1880-1919.

*Added Notes by: Lois Haile … enjoyed the Church Histories. Particularly Reelfoot Baptist. The charter member, Lee Gray, was my husband’s Gr-grandfather. He and wife, Nancy (Howard) Gray lived in Obion County most of their lives.  Both died in 1914. Would like to know more about David Gray, father of Lee Gray, b. KY, possible Hickman County 1827 and to Obion County but cannot find what happened to him.

Memoirs of John T. BRADFIELD, Baptist Minister, conducted a revival at Reelfoot Baptist Church, near Walnut Log, at the North end of Reelfoot Lake, in 1930.