Notable People, Lost Tales, and Forgotten Facts of Oil City, Louisiana: United Pentecostal

Like all of my blogs, this is an ongoing work-in-progress. If you have information to add, or wish to correct something, please contact me in a comment or email..

Early Church History

The following was provided by Peggy Green Fedd:

"The first Pentecostal church was at Ferry Lake where Troy Stubblefield's mobile home is located (10104 Ferry Lake Road). It was once a dance hall; a round top building. Brother Earnest Yocom turned it into a church. He later built a church a short piece up the road at the corner of Ard Road and Ferry Lake Road. My mother and dad, Harvey and Faye Green, and all of us kids (J. W., Betty, Jack, Peggy, and Jerry) went there. My dad played the guitar there."

Members of the first church were:

Harris Dewitt (1873-1949) & Annie Lenore Engledow (1902-1983) Ard

Lucille M. Boyter (1908-1993)

Mr. & Mrs Crain

Harvey (1902-1977) & Faye G. (1904-1996) Green

Below, the Green family later in life.

The Green Family (L-R): Betty J. W., Harvey, Faye, Jack, Peggy, and Jerry

Source: Peggy Green Fedd

Horace Eugene (1905-1980) and Lillian Beatrice Dodson Engledow (1911-2004)

Emma Fruge

Horace A. (1900-1976) & Dorothy Opal (1905-1992) Green

Opal & Horace Green

Source: Billy Allen

Mr & Hicks

Mr & Mrs Jacobs

Mrs Mollie Morefield

Oda Richard (1884-1950) & Augusta Dodson (1885-1968) Mooneyham

Augusta Dodson Mooneyham
(undated picture)

Source: Ancestry Contributor

Fern Anita Ard Patrick

Ada Clarice "Mickey" Mixon Patrick (1905-1985)

John Wilburn (1888-1961) & Minnie Mae Pickett (1897-1991) Richie

Mr & Mrs Riddle

Dee and Pearl Richardson

Mr & Mrs Semmons

Roy W. (1902-1990) & Norma M. (1904-1952) Sullivan

Joe and Jessie Walker

"C. L. "Louie" (1893-1963) & Azell (1902-1985) Westmoreland

Samuel B. (1898-1971) & Eva Ray (1900-1972) Westmoreland

Tommy & Ruth Wisinger

Oral (1911-1997) & Margie Mae (1915-1984) Wisinger

Pastors And Wives Through The Years

Bro. William Ernest Yocom (1904-1994) & Sis. Gladys (Canter) (1908-1988)

Bro. Bernard Elijah Echols (1897-1984) & Sis. Ola (Hall) (1898-1973)

Ola and Bernard Echols

Source: Ancestry.com Contributor

Bro. Guiedro

Bro. Fushler

Bro. Alvin D. Varnado (1900-1995) & Sis. Bessie (1907-1993)

An advertisement for a revival where Rev. Varnado preached.

Atlanta (TX) Citizens Journal 07-Aug-1941, Page 1.

Rev. Samuel Burnett Baker (1921-1998) & Sis. Lois Rebecca (Kaylor) (1924-1981)

Rev. Solan Harold Parrott (1910-1981) & Sis. Lillian

Bro. Manual Wilson Rogers (1913-1980) & Sis. LaMerle Elizabeth (Drake) (1917-2013)

Bro. & Sis. Rogers

Ancestry.com Contributor

1958-1964

Bro. Lonnie Stephens (1925-2005) & Sis Christine Marcus

Back: Bro. Marcus, Sis. Marcus, Roger, Judy; Front: Wanda, Teresa

Source: Roger Marcus

Members of the Ladies Auxiliary in the spring of 1958. The reason the ladies were wearing aprons is that they had just had the reveal of a "secret pal" activity. At the end, each lady had made an apron for her pal that was given that day and they were all wearing their new gifts.

Left and right halves of photo enlarged.

L-R: Unknown, Barbara Green, Unknown (face blocked), Unknown (behind toddler),

Unknown (toddler), Peggy G. Allen Fedd, Velma Emmons, Catherine Bounds,
Mollie Morefield, Unknown (side view), Unknown (back),

Charlene Gandy, Norma Sue Holland, Christine Marcus

L-R: Loretta Medlin, Lois Parker, Jessie Sirmons, Unknown (face blocked), Unknown,

Pauline Blizzard (holding package), Lorena Tubbs, Ozella Hughes, Pauline Darden,

Mickey Patrick, Vera Weaver, Nettie Bunting, Lucille Elmore

1964-1985

Bro. Hubert Andrew McFarlin (1920-2013) & Sis. Edna Juanita (Weaver) (1922-2008)

Bro. & Sis. McFarlin with children Patricia, Mike, and Wayne

Source: Lola McFarlin

Bro. Johnny & Sis. Peden

A group photo taken in the early or mid-1980s.

Enlargements from photo above.

L-R: Lana Brewer, Naomi Wisinger, Frances Stewart, Shirley Tolbert,

Leona Pinchera, Jimmy Jones (back), Edna Latham, Velma Emmons

(partial), Oral Wisinger (far back)

L-R: David Emmons, Nancy Patrick, Faye Green, Marie Allen,

Charlene Gandy, Ruby Humphries

L-R: Pauline Blizzard, Opal Fike, Florence Smelly (dark vest), Clara Broome (back),

Mae Jones (short lady in front) Jessie Sirmons, Beatrice Blackmon (white dress),

Carl Gandy, Lucille Elmore, Minnie Richey

Bro. Ron & Sis. Finical

Bro. Gerald & Sis. Trammel

Bro. Kent & Sis. Rhoads

2006

The funeral of church member Roy McArthur "Hoppy" Hopkins (1943-2006), state legislator and former Oil City mayor drew a large crow that included local folks as well as numerous dignitaries including Governor Kathleen Blanco.