Women's Commission
Neck Baptist Women’s Missionary
And Educational Commission
“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruits of her hands; And her own works praise her in the gates.” {Proverbs 31: 30-31}
The Northern Neck Baptist Women's Missionary and Educational Commission is grateful for the many blessings that we have received down through the years. As we reflect on the history of this organization, we can plainly see God's goodness to us both individually and collectively. From 1912 until the present time we have received one success after another. For each one we say “To God be the glory for the great things He has done.”
Our past gives us much of which we can be proud of. Our present efforts are meeting with acceptance that causes us to feel that God's approval is upon them. We face the future with a high degree of optimism for we do not believe that God has brought us this far to leave us.
The Northern Neck Baptist Women's Missionary and Educational Commission was organized as a result of the foresightedness of the Northern Neck Baptist Association. The organizational meeting of the Commission was held on Saturday, September 21, 1912 at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Downings, Virginia, Reverend H.V. Washington, Pastor.
The following churches were represented by delegates: Potomac, Mt. Zion, Mulberry, Little Zion (now Zion – W), First Baptist, Zion (Lottsburg), Queen Esther, Calvary, Ebenezer, Beulah, Mt. Olive, Macedonia, Jerusalem, Sharon, and Lively Hope. The organization began with fifteen churches and now it has expanded to a total of thirty one churches.
The first business session was held on September 25, 1913 at the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in White Stone, Virginia and the following officers were elected:
Mrs. Pauline M. Edwards, President - Weems, Virginia
Mrs. J. F. Gandy, 1st Vice President – Downings, Virginia
Mrs. Lillian Wildy, 2nd Vice President – Burgess Store, Virginia
Mrs. Betty E. Gray, Secretary – Remo, Virginia
Mrs. Mary A. Williams, Assistant Secretary – Lancaster, Virginia
Mrs. Kate Brittain, Corresponding Secretary – Ivondale, Virginia
Mrs. P. J. Tomlin, Treasurer – Mollusk, Virginia
The pioneers of this Commission,whom we have listed below, are due much recognition for first initiating the idea of such an organization and for its continued success down through the years.
Presidents of the Northern Neck Baptist Women's Missionary & Educational Commission From 1912 to 2016
President Church County Years Served
Sis. Pauline M. Edwards
Sharon Lancaster 1912 -
Sis. Julia F. Gundy Mt. Zion Richmond {not known}
Sis. Betty E. Gray Mt. Olive Northumberland 1937
Sis. Ella J.Taylor Zion Westmoreland 1937-1949
Sis. Ella B. Ball Calvary Northumberland 1949-1954
Sis. Emma E. Roane First Baptist Northumberland 1954-1956
Sis. Bertha V. Young Hartswell Lancaster 1957-1959
Sis. Blanch V. Dudley Mt. Vernon Lancaster 1960-1962
Sis. Pearl M. Clayton Potomac Westmoreland 1963-1965
Sis. Cheatham Taylor Shiloh Northumberland 1966-1968
Sis. Ernestine T. Byrd Mt. Olive Northumberland 1969-1971
Sis.Louise E. Roane First Baptist Northumberland 1972 -1974
Sis. Doris P. Maith Mt. Zion Richmond 1975 - 1978
Sis. Cozetta H. Taylor Zion Westmoreland 1978 -1980
Sis. Catherine S. Scott Mt. Vernon Lancaster 1981-1983
Sis. Gracie C. Keeve First Baptist Northumberland 1983-1986
Sis. Meta T. Sampson Second Baptist Richmond 1986 - 1989
Sis. Lola F. Graham Galilee Westmoreland 1989 - 1992
Sis. Arnette J. Butler Macedonia Northumberland 1992 - 1995
Sis. Mary G. Jones Willie Chapel Lancaster 1995 -1998
Sis. Laura T. Brown Second Baptist Richmond 1998- 2001
Sis. Odessa J. Roane Potomac Westmoreland 2001 - 2004
Sis. Ruth C. Ball Calvary Northumberland 2004 -2007
Sis. Darlene Brown Willie Chapel Lancaster 2007-2010
Sis. Mabel Lewis Mt Zion Richmond 2010 - 2013
Sis. Katie W. Jones Grant's Hill Westmoreland 2013 2016
Dea. Arnette J. Butler Macedonia Northumberland 2016 -2019
Sis. Cornell M. JacksonWillie ChapelLancaster2019 - 2022
Our Current Officers are:
President, Sis. Cornell Jackson {Willie Chapel}
1st Vice President, Sis. Tamara Nelson {2nd Baptist}
2nd Vice President {Vacant}
Secretary, Deacon Sandra Lewis {Potomac}
Asst. Secretary, Deaconess Bernice Smith {1st Baptist}
Corres. Sec. Deacon Odessa J.Roane {Jerusalem}
Financial Secretary, Sis. Connie Wise {Galilee}
Asst Financial Secretary - Sis. Arlette Clark Jerusalem}
Junior Superintendent, Sis. Sandy Ball {Beulah}
Asst. Jr. Superintendent, Sister Connie Palmer {Abiding Faith}
County Youth Sponsors
Lancaster - - - - - {Vacant}
Northumberland - - - - - - Sis. Wanda Jones
Richmond - - - - - - Deaconess Rose Brown
Westmoreland - - - - - -Brother Jonathan Gray