Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Throughout The Years

When the wooden building was finished, Rocky Zion called Rev. Thomas to be the pastor. He served the church for approximately one year. After Rev. Thomas, the church called Rev. A.H. Lee, and under his 16 years of leadership, the membership increased, and the church flourished in the community.

Following Rev. Lee’s 16 years, Rev. Oscar Henry served approximately two years. However, the next pastor, Rev. S. L. Woods, served the church for 20 years. He shepherded his flock faithfully, and they responded to his leadership accordingly. The church’s brief written history states under Rev. Woods’ tenure, “The Church underwent major renovations. The membership greatly increased during this time. Members and friends enjoyed worship services on the first and third Sundays of the month.

Another brief, written history records that “Deacon Charles Crowe, Deacon Emmitt Brand, Deacon Johnnie Coleman, Deacon Roosevelt Shealey, Deacon Amos Avos and Deacon Joe Carter were ordained during Rev. Woods’ 20 years pastoring Rocky Zion Baptist Church.”

Those who remember Rev. Wood speak of him with great affection. “Rev. Woods baptized me, and he was the only pastor that I knew for years,” Peggy F. Threatt recalled. “We had an outside baptizing pool that was in the ground, and you walked down into the pool. It was made of cement blocks and painted blue.

Verhonda Embry, Peggy’s sister, added, “We all grew up under Rev. Woods – everybody 60 and older grew up under his ministry. He was from Ragland and had a big family.”

Floyd Waites was mentored by Rev. Woods who encouraged him in his piano playing. For Floyd, playing “by ear” came naturally. He would hear a tune on the radio, go to the piano and play it. Gradually, he became proficient and accompanied Rocky Zion’s Children’s Choir. “Rev. Woods,” Floyd recollected, “liked for the Junior Choir to go with him when he preached at other churches. And I would go to play for them when they sang. Rev. Wood was an inspiring minister.”

After graduating from the St. Clair County Training School, Waites moved to New York City and became an established pianist in the churches of the city. In one church there, he met gospel singer Marie Knight, who admired his piano style and hired him as her accompanist. Floyd traveled with her to Spain and other European countries, accompanying her in concert.

“However,” Floyd confessed, “my heart was always in Pell City and Rocky Zion.” When he retired from working in the education system of New York, Floyd returned to Pell City, where he and his wife had built a

Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church

home for retirement. Floyd is still known for his beautiful singing voice as well as his artistry on the piano. Today, he ministers at Coosa Valley Baptist Church in Vincent and has no interest in retiring from music.

Church, school, community

During the years prior to integration, Rocky Zion had close connections with the St. Clair Training School, for church and school were community in those days. “The church stands as a beacon of light in the community,” Peggy said. “Due to overcrowding at the St. Clair County Training School, the church provided space for some classrooms during the late 1950s and the mid-1960s.”

“The St. Clair County Training School held the third grade class in the basement of our church,” Deacon Terry Young recalled. “I went to school here. My teacher was Miss Ida Wantana Baker. I never will forget her name!”

A school P.T.A. meeting was not just a school event, it was a community event with spiritual emphasis, as reported in The St. Clair News-Aegis of April 29, 1954.

“The P.T.A. observed its 27th Anniversary Sunday, April 25, 1954, at the Rocky Zion Baptist Church. Rev. A. Clark, pastor of St. Peter’s Primitive Baptist Church, Bessemer, Alabama, delivered the message. A huge crowd attended. The P.T.A. and Principal are proud