Alma United Methodist Church, Alma, Marion Co., IL

Alma United Methodist Church

Alma, Illinois

Located at 513 Illinois Street, the Alma United Methodist Church is still active today! (Phone: 618-918-0124)

(Remember that you can also use CTRL-F to find a particular surname within these pictures when you are on the page.)

Click to return to

We are looking for photos of people and/or places from around Kinmundy & Alma. Can you help?

Or maybe you have stories or memories from the "Good Old Days"? What do YOU remember?

The Kinmundy Historical Society would be honored to preserve your memories and stories. We also have the

equipment to scan (or copy) your photos so that they may be enjoyed now as well as for generations yet to come!

We would love to hear from you! For more information, please contact:

Dolores (Ford) Mobley – Dolores@ford-mobley.com

208 Joan Dr.; Divernon, IL 62530; (217) 625-7527

Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

408 S. Washington St.; Kinmundy, IL 62854; (618) 547-7731

Alma, Pleasant Grove & Zion United Methodist Churches - Directory (1998)

Alma Illinois Methodist Church

Alma Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage - early 1900's

Alma Methodist Episcopal Church

Alma Methodist Episcopal Church - Sanctuary

Alma Methodist Episcopal Sunday School – May 1927 - enrollment 160

Back row: 1) John Mays, (2) ?Ted Warren, 3) Dr. Samuel L. Laswell, 4) _____ Shaffer, 5) Roger Shreffler, 6) William Eagan (Adam), 7) Arthur Muehlhausen, 8) Virgil Marshall,

9) Louis Muehlhausen, 10) _______, 11) Relza Sullens, 12) John S. Ford, 13) Lloyd Hines, 14) Jim Kennedy, 15) J.P. Watson - preacher, 16) Jim Finch, 17) Lester McWhirter, 18) Riley Fernand "Tang" Broom

4th row: 1) Louis Muehlhausen, 2) Bill Foster, 3) John Broom, 4) Howard Downey, 5) Floyd Muehlhausen, 6) Gail Hines, 7) O.V. Gragg, 8) Cloris Stipp, 9) Charles Broom, 10) Walter Broom, 11) Dean Brubaker,

12) John Smith, 13) Charles Smith, 14) Kenneth Kramer, 15) Jimmy Brubaker, 16) Ada Muehlhausen, 17) Ora (Thomas) Caldwell Osborn, 18) Blanche Kennedy, 19) Delsie (Knight) Ford, 20) Preacher Mays, 21) Mrs. Mays

3rd row (starts in middle of group): 1) Edith (Stipp) Williams Stevenson, 2) Fern Williams, 3) Mary (Pullen) Gragg, 4) Pearl (Caldwell) Little, 5) Mrs. J.P. Watson, 6) Mae Pollock, 7) Ive Eagan (Eve),

8) Ruth (Purcell) Wilson, 9) Mirana McWhirter, 10) Maud Tomlinson, 11) Stella Laswell, 12) Mrs. John Gragg, 13) Sarah Finch

2nd row: 1) _________, 2) Evelyn Mayberry, 3) Marie (Slagley) Smith, 4) Dorothy (Slagley) Cornell, 5) Nelda (Pullen) Boyd, 6) Verniece Helm, 7) Clarine Jezek, 8) _________, 9) Lelia (Gardner) Ford, 10) Ruby (Miller) Sullens,

11) Kathryn (Laswell) Williams, 12) Helen (Tomlinson) Pilkington, 13) Fleta (Smith) Orr, 14) Dorothy Pullen, 15) Juanita Smith, 16) Vivian (DeWeese) Johnson, 17) Helen (Muehlhausen) Williams, 18) Edith (Hines) Jones,

19) Gladys (Caldwell) Cartwright, 20) Myrtle Mays, 21) Martha Smith, 22) Orene (Gaffney) Hays, 23) Nellie Shreffler, 24) June Arnold?, 25) Dorothy Smith, 26) Dorothy Gaffney, 27) Georgia Caldwell Ireton, 28) Agnes (Hines) Clesson

Front row: 1) Marie Mays, 2) Lois (Slagley) Humes Watson, 3) Mary Slagley, 4) Mary Shreffler (Nellie's sister), 5) Eloise (DeWeese) Steele, 6) __________, 7) (?)Helen McWhirter, 8) _________, 9) Marie (Helms) Storment, \

10) Kathryn (Marshall) Taylor, 11) Mary Margaret Kennedy, 12) Dale Broom, 13) Richard Broom, 14) Ernest Broom, 15) Tommy "Ed" Mays, 16) Bobby Marshall, 17) Billy Caldwell, 18) Claudine (DeWeese) Minton,

19) Gilllum Wilson, 20) Martha (Mulvaney) Caldwell, 21) Ellen (Mulvaney) Swift, 22) Rhea (Purcell) Gragg Davis, 23) Mary Mays Meyer, 24) David Mays

Alma Methodist Episcopal Sunday School – May 1927 - enrollment 160 (Left side of photo)

Back row: 1) John Mays, (2) ?Ted Warren, 3) Dr. Samuel L. Laswell, 4) _____ Shaffer, 5) Roger Shreffler, 6) William Eagan (Adam), 7) Arthur Muehlhausen, 8) Virgil Marshall,

9) Louis Muehlhausen, 10) _______, 11) Relza Sullens

12) John Smith, 13) Charles Smith, 14) Kenneth Kramer, 15) Jimmy Brubaker

3rd row (starts in middle of group): 1) Edith (Stipp) Williams Stevenson

11) Kathryn (Laswell) Williams, 12) Helen (Tomlinson) Pilkington, 13) Fleta (Smith) Orr

10) Kathryn (Marshall) Taylor, 11) Mary Margaret Kennedy, 12) Dale Broom

Alma Methodist Episcopal Sunday School – May 1927 - enrollment 160 (Right side of photo)

Back row: 12) John S. Ford, 13) Lloyd Hines, 14) Jim Kennedy, 15) J.P. Watson - preacher, 16) Jim Finch, 17) Lester McWhirter, 18) Riley Fernand "Tang" Broom

4th row: 16) Ada Muehlhausen, 17) Ora (Thomas) Caldwell Osborn, 18) Blanche Kennedy, 19) Delsie (Knight) Ford, 20) Preacher Mays, 21) Mrs. Mays

3rd row (starts in middle of group): 2) Fern Williams, 3) Mary (Pullen) Gragg, 4) Pearl (Caldwell) Little, 5) Mrs. J.P. Watson, 6) Mae Pollock, 7) Ive Eagan (Eve),

8) Ruth (Purcell) Wilson, 9) Mirana McWhirter, 10) Maud Tomlinson, 11) Stella Laswell, 12) Mrs. John Gragg, 13) Sarah Finch

2nd row: 14) Dorothy Pullen, 15) Juanita Smith, 16) Vivian (DeWeese) Johnson, 17) Helen (Muehlhausen) Williams, 18) Edith (Hines) Jones,

19) Gladys (Caldwell) Carthwright, 20) Myrtle Mays, 21) Martha Smith, 22) Orene (Gaffney) Hays, 23) Nellie Shreffler, 24) June Arnold?, 25) Dorothy Smith, 26) Dorothy Gaffney, 27) Georgia Caldwell Ireton, 28) Agnes (Hines) Clesson

Front row: 13) Richard Broom, 14) Ernest Broom, 15) Tommy "Ed" Mays, 16) Bobby Marshall, 17) Billy Caldwell, 18) Claudine (DeWeese) Minton,

19) Gilllum Wilson, 20) Martha (Mulvaney) Caldwell, 21) Ellen (Mulvaney) Swift, 22) Rhea (Purcell) Gragg Davis, 23) Mary Mays Meyer, 24) David Mays

(BA-61) Alma Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage - 1929

(BA-62) Alma Methodist Episcopal Church - 1929

Alma Methodist Episcopal Sunday School – 1929-1930

Back row: 1.Henry Yost, 2.John A. Broom, 3.John A. Broom Jr., 4.Hilary Smith, 5.Charles Broom, 6.Arthur Muehlhausen 7.Howard Downey, 8.Roger Shreffler, 9.Albert Meyer. 10.O.Vernon “Pete” Gragg, 11.Leo Johnson, 12.Jim Kennedy, 13.Wilbur Broom, 14.Dean Brubaker, 15.Walter Broom, 16. Dr. Samuel L. Laswell, 17.Carl Purcell, 18.W.Guy Featherly, 19.R. Elmer Walters, 20.Burt Humes, 21.Albert Coffin, 22.Dale Broom, 23.Mae Pollock, 24.Louie Jezek, 25.Stella (Caldwell) Laswell, 26. Bob Williams (baby), 27.John D. Purcell, 28.Mattie Wise (preacher's wife), 29.Sarah (Wilson) Purcell. 30.Laura Arnold, 31. Kathryn (Laswell) Williams, 32.Effie (Walton) Arnold (J.O.'s mother), 33.Laura French, 34.Mary French, 35.Rev. J.P. Watson, 36._________, 37.Beth (Purcell) Rainey, 38.Blanche (Phillips) Kennedy, 39.Bessie (Wikenhauser) Arnold, 40.Martha (Wilson) Meyer. 41.Jessie (Russell) Slagley Wiggins Cole, 42.Rhea (Nichols) Shreffler

Middle row: 43.Martha Smith (Hilary's daughter), 44.Dorothy Gwaffney, 45.Fleta (Smith) Orr, 46.June (Arnold) Prince, 47.Eva Walters, 48.Lottie (Gregory) Williams, 49.Vivian (DeWeese) Johnson, 50.LaFern Wise (preacher's daughter), 51.Gertrude (Lepner) Walters, 52.Mary (Wright) Gragg, 53. Florence (Stevens) Coffin, 54.Mrs. Fulton (Corrine's dau.), 55.Ethel Hefton, 56.Mrs. Featherly, 57.Dorothy (Slagley) Cornell, 58.Marie (Slagley) Smith, 59. Rhea (Purcell) Gragg Davis. 60.Veniece Helm, 61.Nellie Martin, 62.Nellie (Schermerhorn) Broom, 63.Ruth (Hawkins) Woodside (Curley's dau.), 64.Marjorie Smith, 65.Bertha (Wikenhauser) Jezek, 66.Georgia Smith, 67.Helen (Purcell) Day

Kids in front: 68.Richard Broom, 69.Ralph "Bill" Day, 70. Ernie Broom, 71.Ralph Shreffler, 72.Charles DeForde, 73.Aaron Shreffler, 74.Frances (Meyer) Boyd, 75.Gertrude (Mazanek) Braden Fitch, 76.Mary Shreffler, 77.Irene Littrell, 78.Eloise DeWeese, 79.Lois (Slagley) Watson, 80.Naomi Hawkins, 81.Mary (Slagley) Osborne, 82.____Martin, 83._____Kramer, 84.Gene Donoho, 85._______, 86.Kathryn Black, 87.John Jezek, 88.Elizabeth Broom, 89.Marie Helm. 90.___ Jezek, 91. Howard Broom, 92.Maxine (Purcell) Hiestand, 93.____ Shreffler Jr., 94.Gillum Wilson, 95.____ Jezek, 96.Pauline (Purcell) Doolen, 97.Dwight "Dite" Day Jr., 98.Virginia Mazanek, 99.________, 100.Mary Margaret Kennedy, 101.Mary Jane (Mazanek) Hassebrock, 102.Donald Meyer, 103._________

(Sources: Jim Hester worked with John D. Purcell, Lottie & Loren Williams, Bob Williams, Kathryn Williams to identify congregation.)

Alma Methodist Episcopal Sunday School – 1929-1930 – Part A

Alma Methodist Episcopal Sunday School – 1929-1930 – Part B

Back row: 19.R. Elmer Walters, 20.Burt Humes, 21.Albert Coffin, 22.Dale Broom, 23.Mae Pollock, 24.Louie Jezek, 25.Stella (Caldwell) Laswell, 26. Bob Williams (baby), 27.John D. Purcell, 28.Mattie Wise (preacher's wife), 29.Sarah (Wilson) Purcell. 30.Laura Arnold, 31. Kathryn (Laswell) Williams, 32.Effie (Walton) Arnold (J.O.'s mother), 33.Laura French, 34.Mary French, 35.Rev. J.P. Watson, 36._________, 37.Beth (Purcell) Rainey, 38.Blanche (Phillips) Kennedy, 39.Bessie (Wikenhauser) Arnold, 40.Martha (Wilson) Meyer. 41.Jessie (Russell) Slagley Wiggins Cole, 42.Rhea (Nichols) Shreffler

Middle row: 56.Mrs. Featherly, 57.Dorothy (Slagley) Cornell, 58.Marie (Slagley) Smith, 59. Rhea (Purcell) Gragg Davis. 60.Veniece Helm, 61.Nellie Martin, 62.Nellie (Schermerhorn) Broom, 63.Ruth (Hawkins) Woodside (Curley's dau.), 64.Marjorie Smith, 65.Bertha (Wikenhauser) Jezek, 66.Georgia Smith, 67.Helen (Purcell) Day

Kids in front: 79.Lois (Slagley) Watson, 80.Naomi Hawkins, 81.Mary (Slagley) Osborne, 82.____Martin, 83._____Kramer, 84.Gene Donoho, 85._______, 86.Kathryn Black, 87.John Jezek, 88.Elizabeth Broom, 89.Marie Helm. 90.___ Jezek, 91. Howard Broom, 92.Maxine (Purcell) Hiestand, 93.____ Shreffler Jr., 94.Gillum Wilson, 95.____ Jezek, 96.Pauline (Purcell) Doolen, 97.Dwight "Dite" Day Jr., 98.Virginia Mazanek, 99.________, 100.Mary Margaret Kennedy, 101.Mary Jane (Mazanek) Hassebrock, 102.Donald Meyer, 103._________

Alma Methodist Church - between 1942-1944

STANDING ON PLATFORM: Herschel "Dutch" Shreffler, Russell Broom, Mac Owen, Bill Broom, Dwight Day, John S. Ford, Albert Meyer, A.M. "Shine" Wilson;

O.Vernon "Pete" Gragg, Adam "Will" Eagan, ____ Leghorn/Legters, Miss Dora Brickley, Helen Day, Blanche (Rhodes) Austin, Grace Jackson

STANDING ON GROUND: Lelia Ford, Lois See, Imogene Shanafelt, Lillian (Jackson) Squibb, Betty (Williams) Brubaker, Virginia Sullens, Maxine (Purcell) Hiestand, Mrs. Stella Laswell,

Mrs. Jessie (Slagley) Cole, Mrs. Georgia Smith, Mrs. Emma Rainey, Mrs. Sarah Purcell, Mary (Gragg) Legters, Ruth (Purcell) Wilson, Marie (Brimberry) Gray, Mrs. Lily Watson,

Kathryn (Laswell) Williams, Nina Broom, Ruby (Miller) Sullens, Linnie (Aumiller) Polanka, Martha (Wilson) Meyer, Rhea (Purcell) Gragg, Fern Downey, Olive (Stipp) Shreffler,

Elizabeth "Beth" (Purcell) Rainey, Lela (Clow) Williams, Mrs. Edith Hard holding baby

2ND ROW OF CHAIRS: Mary Broom, Louise Broom, Mary Ann (Clow) Wiley, Pauline (Purcell) Doolen, Betty (Broom) Gray, Betty Lou (Hines) Johnson,

Betty (Sullens) Rubin, Sarah (Broom) Donoho, Bernice Rhodes; ____Rhodes, Elnora (Williams) Cheatum, Jean (Ford) Krutsinger, Harriet (Middleton) Roberts, Marilyn Hester,

Fern Ann (Ford) Bernhardt, Jean (Broom) Smith, Marilyn (Purcell) Walker, Ruth (Wright) Sokolovic, Cathryn (Polanka) Reed, Pat (Shanafelt) Shreffler;

1ST ROW OF KNEELING & CHAIRS: Mike Bee, Ronald Polanka, John W. Ford, Sue Gragg Patty (Johnson) Hardt, Martha Ruth Hard, Betty (Ford) Gottfried, Mary Ann Hard,

Patsy Gray, Benny Gray, Bobby Dan Williams, John Gragg, Dick Johnson, Bob Ford, Olive Hines, Bill Gray, Bob Williams, Loris Williams, Jimmy Shreffler, Bill Wilson, Tom Shreffler

Alma Methodist Church - between 1942-1944 (Left side);

STANDING ON PLATFORM: Herschel "Dutch" Shreffler, Russell Broom, Mac Owen, Bill Broom, Dwight Day, John S. Ford, Albert Meyer, A.M. "Shine" Wilson;

STANDING ON GROUND: Lelia Ford, Lois See, Imogene Shanafelt, Lillian (Jackson) Squibb, Betty (Williams) Brubaker, Virginia Sullens, Maxine (Purcell) Hiestand,

Mrs. Stella Laswell, Mrs. Jessie (Slagley) Cole, Mrs. Georgia Smith, Mrs. Emma Rainey, Mrs. Sarah Purcell, Mary (Gragg) Legters, Ruth (Purcell) Wilson

2ND ROW OF CHAIRS: Mary Broom, Louise Broom, Mary Ann (Clow) Wiley, Pauline (Purcell) Doolen, Betty (Broom) Gray, Betty Lou (Hines) Johnson,

Betty (Sullens) Rubin, Sarah (Broom) Donoho, Bernice Rhodes

1ST ROW OF KNEELING & CHAIRS: Mike Bee, Ronald Polanka, John W. Ford, Sue Gragg Patty (Johnson) Hardt, Martha Ruth Hard, Betty (Ford) Gottfried,

Mary Ann Hard, Patsy Gray, Benny Gray

ALMA METHODIST CHURCH - between 1942-1944 (Right side);

STANDING ON PLATFORM: O.V. "Pete" Gragg, Will Eagan, ____ Leghorn, Dora Brickley, Helen Day, Blanche Austin, Grace Jackson;

STANDING ON GROUND: Marie (Brimberry) Gray, Mrs. Lily Watson, Kathryn (Laswell) Williams, Nina Broom, Ruby (Miller) Sullens, Linnie (Aumiller) Polanka, Martha (Wilson) Meyer,

Rhea (Purcell) Gragg, Fern Downey, Olive (Stipp) Shreffler, Elizabeth "Beth" (Purcell) Rainey, Lela (Clow) Williams, Mrs. Edith Hard holding baby

2ND ROW OF CHAIRS: ____Rhodes, Elnora (Williams) Cheatum, Jean (Ford) Krutsinger, Harriet (Middleton) Roberts, Marilyn Hester,

Fern Ann (Ford) Bernhardt, Jean (Broom) Smith, Marilyn (Purcell) Walker, Ruth (Wright) Sokolovic, Cathryn (Polanka) Reed, Pat (Shanafelt) Shreffler;

1ST ROW KNEELING: Bobby Dan Williams, John Gragg, Dick Johnson, Bob Ford, Olive Hines, Bill Gray, Bob Williams, Loris Williams, Jimmy Shreffler, Bill Wilson, Tom Shreffler

Alma Methodist Church; Willing Workers Sunday School Class - Mrs. Lillie Watson, teacher. Rev. Emmett Hard, pastor. 1942-1944

BACK: Grace Jackson, Kathryn Williams, Martha Meyer, Lela Williams, Ruby Sullens, Beth Rainey, Olive Shreffler, Lelia Ford, Blanche Austin

FRONT: Mrs. Edith Hard, Emma Rainey, Nina Broom, Lois See, Mrs. Lillie Watson, Jessie Slagley, Linnie Polanka, Helen Day & Ruth Wilson

Alma Church Choir Contest (1941)

Alma Methodist Church; Alma, Marion Co., IL - 1949 Rally Day

Alma Methodist Church; Alma, Marion Co., IL - 1949 Rally Day (section 1)

1) Blanche Kennedy, 2) Carrie Purcell?, 3)___________, 4) Peggy Day, 5) Elanor (Williams) Cheatum; 6) __________, 7) Etna Knight, 8) Sue (Hester) Hulsey, 9) Virgie Garrett, 10) ?Betty Polanka, 11) ?Carolyn Eastman?, 12) ___________, 13) Beverly DeFord, 14) Ruth (Harris) Brimberry, 15) Judy Knight, 16) Donna Humes, 17) ___________, 18) Marjorie Williams, 19) Jean (Ford) Krutsinger, 20) Robert Donoho, 21) Janet (Williams) Doudera Hoskins, 22) Nellie (Chandler) Williams

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -

Alma Methodist Church; Alma, Marion Co., IL - 1949 Rally Day (section 2)

23) Delilah Caldwell, 24) ____________, 25) Rhea (Purcell) Gragg, 26) Rada (Garrett) Caldwell Ford, 27) Melba Dietrich, 28) Wilma (Osborn) Purcell, 29) Lottie (Gregory) Williams, 30)____________, 31) Emma Rainey, 32) _____ (Mrs. Gordon) Shreffler, 33) Jessie Slagley, 34) Frances Kerley, 35) Martha Meyer, 36) ?Mable Foster?, 37) Ella Mae (Florey) Hester, 38) __________, 39) James Daniel "Jimmy Dan" Hester, 40) John Gragg, 41) Nina Broom, 42) Olive Shreffler, 43) Martha Treadway, 44) Anna Boyles, 45) Ruby Barbee, 46) Clara (Kerley) Muehlhausen, 47) ?Lela Williams?, 48) Mary (Arnold) Gregory, 49) Fred Chance, 50) Mrs. Treadway (minister’s wife), 51) Beverly Williams, 52) Sharon Donoho, 53) Sharon Barbee, 54) Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, 55) Sylvia (Braden) Hester, 56) ____________, 57) Patricia Hines, 58) Sue Gragg, 59) Rebecca (Hester) Jones, 60) Joyce (Johnson) Wilkins, 61) Richard "Dick" Gragg

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -

Alma Methodist Church; Alma, Marion Co., IL - circa 1948 (section 3)

62) Naomi Chance, 63) Dorothy (Kerley) Boyles, 64) Agnes "Billie" Bee, 65) Patty (Johnson) Hardt, 66) Elizabeth "Beth" (Wilson) Rainey, 67) Lelia (Gardner) Ford, 68) "Bud" Caldwell, 69) Gerry Donoho (holding Arnel), 70) Arnel Donoho (held by Gerry), 71) ?Mr. Kline?, 72) ?Mrs. Kline?, 73) John Ford, 74) Selby Garrett, 75) Mrs. _______ Downey, 76) Howard Downey, 77) John D. Purcell, 78) Mrs. Hinkley, 79) Gordon Shreffler, 80) Albert Meyer, 81) __________, 82) Theodore "Teddy" Kerley, 83) ____________, 84) ____________, 85) Orville V. "Pete" Gragg, 86) William Phipps "Bill" Hester, 87) John Broom, 88) William "Bill" Boyle, 89) Reverand Frank Treadway, 90) __________, 91) Herschel "Dutch" Shreffler, 92) Janet Ford, 93) Marilyn Crippen, 94) Jimmy Williams, 95) Johnny Bill Ford, 96) Ronald Polanka, 97) William "Bill" Gregory, 98) Jim Kerley, 99) Mike Bee, 100) Dwight Day, 101) Robert Kerley

* #81 & #83 possibly visiting in official capacity for the day (have nametags)

Alma Illinois Methodist Youth 1948

Alma Methodist Church Youth & Teachers, Fall - 1948 - Meramac Caverns trip

BACK: Rada (Garrett) Caldwell Ford, Olive Shreffler, Jean (Ford) Krutsinger, Jim Kerley, Evelyn (Bassett) Ford, Claude Williams, Mike Bee, Bob Ford,

Marilyn Purcell, Betty (Sullens) Rubin, Dutch Shreffler

FRONT: Sue (Hester) Hulsey, Nellie Jo (Mazanek) Hawkey, Elnora (Williams) Cheatum, ___________, Judy (Egelston) Mulvaney Tranum,

John D. Purcell

Willing Workers Class, Alma Methodist Church, circa 1950's;

BACK: Melba Dietrich, Lottie Williams, Jessie Slagley, Anna Boyles, Agnes "Billie" Bee, Martha Meyer, Gerri Donoho, Nellie Broom, Naomi Chance, Beth Rainey,

Blanche Kennedy, Ella Mae Hester, Lela Williams;

FRONT: ______, Emma Rainey, Lelia Ford, Etna Knight, ______, Helen Day, _______, Frances Kerley, ______, Mary Gregory, Elsie Tredway, Olive Shreffler,

Rada Caldwell Ford

ALMA METHODIST CHURCH - Circa 1951 - Part A;

STANDING ON PLATFORM: Lottie Williams, Claude Rainey, __________, Leslie Shreffler, Etna Knight, Hershel Maxey, ________, Mr. Kerley,

__________, Dan Rainey, Tom Shreffler, Mike Relsza Sullens,

STANDING: Lulu Owen, Martha Meyer, Hazel Maxey, Bessie Phillips, __________, __________, Frances Kerley, Delite Donoho, Nellie Broom,

____________, Marie Sullens Korlan, Mrs. Black, Mrs. Tredway, Grace Jackson, Kathryn Williams,

SITTING IN CHAIRS: ___________, Helen Day, ____________, _____________, Wilma Purcell, Delilah Caldwell, Pauline Doudera,

Roberta Shreffler, _____________,

KNEELING: Freida Black, Patty (Johnson) Hardt, Clara (Kerley) Muehlhausen, Dorothy (Kerley) Boyles, Martha Tredway, Leroy Maxey, James Kerley,

ON GROUND: Floyd Black, _____________, ____________, Mike Sullens, ______ Doolen, Richard Gragg, Judy Knight,

Joyce (Johnson) Wilkins, Becky (Hester) Jones, ______________,

ALMA METHODIST CHURCH - circa 1951 - Part B;

STANDING ON PLATFORM: John D. Purcell, Jess Donoho, Bill Gregory, John S. Ford, Benny Doolen, Charlie Bee, Loren Williams, Joe Knight,

Gordon Shreffler, Joe Polanka, John Barksdale, John Broom, Bill Williams, Rev. Tredway, Dwight Day, Dutch Shreffler;

STANDING: Olive Shreffler, Emma Rainey, Ethel Heflin, Agnes "Billie" Bee, Bessie Arnold, Ruby Sullens, Linnie Polanka, Nina Middleton,

Mary Gregory, Beth Rainey, Lelia Ford, ____________Halcie Davis;

SITTING IN CHAIRS: Roberta Shreffler, _____________, Hazel Shreffler, Delsie Ford, ______________, Georgia Smith, ______________,

Pauline Doolen, Marian Barksdale, Rhea Gragg;

KNEELING: Ron Polanka, Mike Bee, John W. Ford, Bob Kerley, ______?Yund, Patricia Hines, Sylvia (Braden) Hester, Sue Gragg, Donna (Caldwell) Kerley;

ON GROUND: Donna Humes, Beverly Williams, ______________, Judy Knight, Janet Ford, Louise Hines, Shirley Forbes, _______________,

_____________, Robert Donoho;

(The little dark headed girl right behind Robert Donoho, might be Dianne (Barksdale) Collins. Don't know who the little blond is next to her though.)

Willing Workers Class, Alma Methodist Church, circa 1951;

BACK: Lulu Owen, Hazel Shreffler, Lottie Williams, Elsie Tredway, Delite Donoho, Bessie Arnold, Lelia Ford, Halcyon "Halcie" Davis;

MIDDLE: ______, Nellie Broom, Marie Sullens Korlan, Hazel Maxey, Beatrice Black, Lucille (or Agnes) Heflin, Agnes "Billie" Bee, Beth Rainey,

Nina Middleton, Ruby Sullens, Etna Knight;

FRONT: Helen Day, Frances Kerley, Olive Shreffler, Grace Jackson, Martha Meyer, Emma Rainey, Kathryn Williams, Linnie Polanka,

Mary Gregory, Bessie Phillips

Alma Methodist Church; Alma, Marion Co., IL - 1955

(names below under the enlarged halves of photos)

Alma Methodist Church; Alma, Marion Co., IL - 1955 (right side of photo)
Back row standing on risers: 1) Delilah Caldwell, 2) Ava (Matthews) Williams, 3) Florence (Phipps) Downey, 4) Jackie Williams, 5) Nora Williams being held (baby), 6) Choris Williams, 7) Lottie (Gregory) Williams, 8 ) Mary Brimberry, 9) Sylvia (Braden) Hester, 10) Dorothy (Kerley) Boyles, 11)___________, 12) ?David Schoonover?, 13) Patty (Johnson) Hardt
4th row standing on ground: 1) Virgie (Nichols) Garrett, 2) Clara (Kerley) Muehlhausen (peeking around Virgie), 3) Hazel (Albert) Shreffler, 4) Vivian (DeWeese) Johnson, 5) Lillie (Black) Shreffler (behind Rada), 6) Rada (Garrett) Caldwell Ford, 7) Agnes "Billie" (Crooker) Bee, 8 ) Laura (Smith) Rose, 9) Bessie Phillips, 10) Emma (Kern) Rainey, 11) Rhea (Purcell) Gragg, 12) Ruby (Miller) Sullens, 13) ?Ann Voyles?, 14) Naomi Chance (partially hidden), 15) Hazel (Gaston) Maxey, 16) Linnie Polanka, 17) Kathryn (Laswell) Williams, 18) Nina (Gullett) Middleton, 19) Ralph Davis, 20) Halcyon "Halcie" (Rauckman) Davis
3rd row (ladies sitting): 1) Roberta "Bobbie" (Smith) Shreffler, 2) Allan Shreffler being held (baby), 3) Nadene (Smith) Johnson, 4) ?Gladys Hiestand, 5) Grace (Ross) Jackson, 6) ? ____ Hinkley?, 7)______ Muehlhausen, 8 ) Delsie (Knight) Ford, (somewhere between are Georgia (Briscoe) Smith, Maud (Tully) Tomlinson,) 12) ?Dora Brickley?, 13)__________(partially hidden)
2nd row of kids: 1) Nancy Brimberry (peeking around Becky Hester Jones), 2) Rita (Sullens) Ballance, 3)__________ (can only see top of her head), 4) Susan Stubblefield, 5) Pete Egelston (first boy in row), 6)__________, 7) Rod Braden, 8 ) Arnel Donoho, 9)___________, 10) Bobby DeWeese, 11)_________, 12) ?David Brimberry, 13) Carl Shaffer (leaning down), 14) Jerry Shaffer
1st row of kids: 1) Nora Shaffer, 2) Becky (Hester) Jones, 3) Beverly Williams, 4) Janet Ford, 5) Joyce (Johnson) Wilkins, 6) ?maybe Marian Johnson?(behind paper), 7) Brenda Johnson, 8 ) Sue (Krutsinger) Henke, 9) __________ (boy), 10) ?Tom Egelston, 11) Kathy (Braden) Matthews (holding rolled up paper), 12) Donna Mae Shaffer (sitting sideways)

Alma Methodist Church; Alma, Marion Co., IL - 1955 (right side of photo)
Back row standing on risers: 1) Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, 2) Bob Kerley, 3) Sue (Gragg) Campbell, 4) Herbie Williams, 5) Jim Kerley, 6) Leroy Maxey
Standing on ground: 1) John Broom Sr., 2) Nellie (Schermerhorn) Broom, 3) Effie Smalley, 4)_________, 5) Helen "Peggy" (Purcell) Day, 6) Esther (Buchhorn) Shaffer, 7) Leon Shaffer (being held by Esther), 8 ) Leslie Shaffer (baby), 9) Donald Shaffer (holding baby), 10) Mary Margaret Kennedy, 11) Anna (Krutsinger) Boyle (behind Mary Margaret), 12) Doris (Layman) Stubblefield, 12) Teddy Kerley, 13) Miss Carrie See (in front of Teddy), 14) Frank Smalley, 15) Howard Downey (in suit), 16) Archie Caldwell (with black tie), 17) Charlie Bee (tall man in white shirt), 18) Relza Sullens (behind Charlie), 19) Vernon Gragg (white shirt between two men in ties), 20) Joe Knight (black suit with light tie), 21) _________ (in very back in dark suit), 22) Loren Williams (light colored suit and tie), 22) Bill Boyle (white shirt and tie), 23) Jack Krutsinger, 24) Hurshel Maxey
Row of 5 ladies sitting: 1) Jessie (Russell) Slagley Wiggins Cole, 2) Frances (Anderson) Kerley, 3) Jean (Ford) Krutsinger, 4) __________, 5) Etna (Jolliff) Knight
Sitting on bench in very front: 1) Mike Sullens, 2) Jim Williams, 3) Richard Gragg, 4) Lulu (Foster) Owen, 5) _________ (little girl on Lulu's lap), 6) Lelia (Gardner) Ford, 7) Danny Krutsinger (being held by Lelia), 8 ) John S. Ford, 9) John Ford Krutsinger (being held by John), 10) Logan Phillips
Seated on ground: 1) Ralph Hiestand, 2) Dwight Day, 3) Joe Polanka, 4) ?Cecil Shreffler?

Willing Workers Class, Alma Methodist Church, - September 1955;

BACK: Lelia Ford, Hazel Shreffler, Hazel Maxey, Helen Day, Emma Rainey, Grace Jackson, Halcie Davis, Nellie Broom, Vivian Johnson, Nina Middleton, Linnie Polanka;

FRONT: Kathryn Williams, Ruby Sullens, Bessie Phillips, Etna Knight, Agnes "Billie" Bee, Frances Kerley, Beth Rainey, Lulu Owen, Lottie Williams

Sunday School Class, Alma Methodist Church - 1955;

BACK: Mrs. Nina Middleton, Mrs. Hazel Maxey, Mr. Leroy Maxey, Herb Williams, Bob Kerley

FRONT: Jackie Williams, Patty (Johnson) Hardt, Dorothy (Kerley) Boyles, Sylvia (Braden) Hester, Sue Gragg, Donna (Caldwell) Kerley

ALMA METHODIST CHURCH -1957

ALMA METHODIST CHURCH -1957; Part A;

BACK: Jim Brooks, John D. Purcell, Joe Polanka, Leslie Shreffler, Bill Heskett, Guy Shaffer, Rev. Crouch, ______, John S. Ford, Ralph Davis, Mrs. Bill Heskett,

Ola Frizell, Stella Laswell;

MIDDLE: Nora Shaffer, Becky (Hester) Jones, Sharon Donoho, Pat (Johnson) Hardt, Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, Delilah Caldwell, Mrs. Crouch,

Wilma Purcell & Roger, Rita Sullens, Dianne Barksdale, Bessie Arnold, Anna Boyle, Vivian Johnson, Madeline Shaffer;

FRONT: Joyce (Johnson) Wilkins, _____, Gladys Hiestand, Marian Johnson, Judy Pannell Mulvaney & LeAnn Pannell, Betty Brooks, Jeff & Janet,

Esther Shaffer, Donna, Leslie & Leon Shaffer, David Purcell, Doris (Hiestand) Baker, Judy Brooks, ______, Mary Brimberry, Janet Ford, Brenda (Johnson) Arnold,

Dora Brickley, Georgia Smith, Etna Knight, Daisy Brimberry;

SEATED CENTER: Mike Pannell, _______

Alma Methodist Church, 1957, Part B;

BACK: Abbie Hinkley, Fern Downey, John Broom, Nellie Broom, Grace Jackson, Nina Middleton, Kathryn Williams, Bill Williams, Ruby Sullens, Relza Sullens,

Bill Boyle;

MIDDLE: Emma Rainey, Louie Stipp, Mildred McWhirter, Carrie See, Linnie Polanka, Halcyon Davis, Lelia Ford, Hazel Shreffler, Naomi Chance, Lottie Williams,

Bessie Phillips, Gordon Shreffler, Loren Williams;

FRONT: ______ & baby, ______, ______, Carl Shaffer, _____ Brimberry, Jerry Shaffer, Mike Sullens, ______, _____, Bobby DeWeese, ______, _______,

Wilma (Jamison) Hunt, _______

Sunday School class girls from the Alma Methodist Church – 1957

Back: Mrs. Mildred McWhirter, Pat (Johnson) Hardt, Sharon Donoho, Nora Shaffer

Front: Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, Joyce (Johnson) Wilkins, Mary Brimberry, Becky (Hester) Jones

Willing Workers Class, Alma Methodist Church, circa 1960;

BACK: _____, Mildred McWhirter, Linnie Polanka, Nellie Broom, Grace Jackson, Nina Middleton, Lelia Ford, Ruby Sullens, Hazel Shreffler;

MIDDLE: Mrs. Crouch, Mrs. Bill Heskett, Etna Knight, Madeline Shreffler, Carrie See, Kathryn Williams, Naoymi Chance, Anna Boyle;

FRONT: Olla Frizell, ________, Vivian Johnson, Bessie Phillips, Emma Rainey, Lottie Williams, Halcie Davis

Alma Methodist Church, 25th Anniversary of the Willing Workers Class, March 1960;

BACK: Naomi Chance, Goldie Sullens, Halcie Davis, Florence Downey, Agnes "Billie" Bee, Kathryn Williams, Grace Jackson, Lulu Owen, Beth Rainey;

MIDDLE: Delite Donoho, Hazel Maxey, Edith Doudera, Lottie Williams, Martha Meyer, Emma Rainey, Ruth Wilson, Hazel Shreffler, Liz Heskett,

Linnie Polanka, Lillie Shreffler, Jessie Slagley;

FRONT: Helen Day, Vivian Johnson, Frances Kerley, Mrs. Rev. Chadbourne and baby, Mary Gregory, Bessie Phillips, Lelia Ford

"The Southern Illinois Methodist" - May 1962

"The Ninety and Nine - 99 people attended the last meeting of the Mission Study Course in the Alma Church. Just before the picture was taken, one more was recruited, making it one hundred.

The four rural churches of the Alma Charge where Rev. Everett Weiss is pastor completed a six weeks Mission Study Course. The average attendance was 90. The program was sponsored by the Commission on Missions and the W.S.C.S. There were charts, films, buzz sessions, reports on countries and missionary books. Also a skit on the last night by the J. Sr. High Class entitled "Sue's Decision." The Primary and Junior Class presented special music and District Superintendent D.S. Lacquement gave an address. A missionary souvenir display had been arranged with articles from South America, Japan and India."

Alma, Zion & Pleasant Grove Methodist - Choir (circa 1961)

(See numbers on photo below)

1-Leroy See, 2-Naomi Chance, 3-Florence Downey, 4-Mary Margaret Kennedy, 5-________, 6-________,

7-Lois Alderson, 8-_________, 9-Norma Maxey, 10-Goldie Sullens, 11-Buddy Earl Maxey, 12-Lottie Williams,

13-Rev. Weiss, 14-Omar Maxey, 15-_________, 16__________, 17-_________, 18-Bill Williams, 19-Iva Walsh,

20-________, 21-________, 22-Ralph Hiestand, 23-_________, 24-_________, 25-Alice Maxey, 26-Karen or Denise Maxey,

27-_________, 28-Grace Jackson, 29-Kathryn Williams, 30-Jessie Weyhrich, 31-Mrs. Leroy See, 32-Norma Maxey,

33-Emma Rainey, 34-Linnie Polanka, 35-Lelia Ford, 36-Janet Ford, 37-Gladys Hiestand, 38-____ Hines, 39-_______,

40-________, 41-__________, 42-Helen Day, 43-Hazel Shreffler, 44-Gordon Shreffler, 45-Esther Shaffer (behind little Mark Walsh), 46-Delsie Ford,

47-__________, 48-Bill Walsh, 49-Dwight Day, 50-?Jerry Shaffer, 51-John S. Ford, 52-Bill Heskett,

53-Bob Smith, 54-Mabel Smith, 55-Rada Caldwell Ford, 56-Damon or David Sullens, 57-___________, 58-____________, 59-____________,

60-Susan Stubblefield, 61-Nancy Smith Diss, 62-__________, 63-_________,

64-Bessie Phillips, 65-Mrs. Bill Heskett, 66-Anabess Walsh, 67-Mark Walsh, 68-Etna Knight

69-Doris Hiestand Baker, 70-Terry Walsh, 71-___________, 72-__________, 73-__________,

74-?Donna May Shaffer, 75-__________,

76-Rev. Weiss' daughter, 77-Susan Shaffer Patterson, 78-Linda Walsh Myers,

79-___________, 80-__________, 81-__________, 82-___________, 83-___________

84-Ellis Storment (behind Kathryn Williams in 2nd row from top)

ALMA METHODIST CHURCH, 1965

ALMA METHODIST CHURCH, 1965, Part A;

STANDING ON PLATFORM, Linnie Polanka, Emma Rainey, Helen Day, Jerry Davis, Halcyon Davis, Gladys Hiestand, Florence Downey, Claude Rainey;

STANDING ON GROUND: Rev. Weiss, Bill Heskett, John W. Ford, Larry Malone, Louise Malone, Goldie Sullens, Diane Malone, Lila Williams, Connie Ford,

Bob Williams (behind Connie), Rada Caldwell Ford, Lelia Ford, Nina Middleton, Joann Walsh, Stella Laswell, Delsie Ford, Etna Knight, Ralph Hiestand,

Howard Downey, Lottie Williams , Nellie Broom;

SEATED: Lizzie Heskett, Kathryn Williams, Wilma Weiss, Chuck Johnson, ______, Nadene & Sharon Johnson, Beth Rainey, Agnes "Billie" Bee, Sarah (Sadie)Foster,

Donna Shaffer, Gina Weiss, Marian Johnson, Brenda (Johnson) Arnold, Linda (Walsh) Myers, Mary (Cessna) Hester, Doris Hiestand Baker Buecker,

Connie (Johnson) Githinji, Barbara Johnson, Kathleen Ford;

ON GROUND: Bill Mulvaney, Terry Walsh, Greg Weiss, Leon Shaffer, Floyd Purcell, David Purcell

ALMA METHODIST CHURCH, 1965, Part B;

STANDING ON PLATFORM: John Broom, Earl Jackson, Dan Rainey, Guy Shaffer, Bill Williams, Joe Polanka, John D. Purcell, Charlie Bee, Donald Shaffer;

STANDING ON GROUND: Grace Jackson, John S. Ford, Mary Margaret Kennedy, Wilma Purcell, David Sullens, Damon Sullens, Frankie Finkbone,

Gary Logue, Carl Shaffer, Dwight Day Sr., Esther Shaffer, Ivan Wilkins, Jason Owen, Bill Walsh;

SEATED: Carole (Purcell) Shaffer, Karen (Johnson) Smith, Tila (Williams) Jones, LeeAnn Pannell, Anita (Sullivan) McNeal, Susan Stubblefield,

Helen & Rhonda Sullivan, Nora Shaffer, Janet & Brian Ford, Joyce and Kirk Wilkins, Daisy Brimberry, Lulu Owen;

ON GROUND: Leslie Shreffler, Roger Purcell, Mike Malone, Gary Williams, Mike Weiss, Jeff Malone, Chris Gammon, Mark Walsh

Standing: Hazel Maxey, Lulu Owen, Lottie Williams, Rada Ford (behind Lottie), Linnie Polanka, Goldie Sullens, Ann Boyle, Janet Ford, Florence Downey, Emma Rainey, ?Elizabeth Heskett

Seated: Jessie Slagley, Emma Rainey holding Marty Williams, Bessie Phillips, Carrie Purcell, Hazel Shreffler

The M.E. Church was built in 1871 at a cost of $1600. Its size was 36 ft. x 46 ft. with a belfry.

The trustees instrumental in its erection were: Josiah Gibson, Richard Wilson, J.W. White, J.B. Abbott and John R. Slane.

A list of ministers who have served the Alma Methodist Church Circuit (Alma, Zion, Pleasant Grove, and Cubbage Chapel churches) since the year 1890. (1870-1890 Pastors of Pleasant Grove.)