Pioneer Colored Christians

John Stuart Mill · en
Sydney Allen.
  Rev. Horace Carr.
  Kitty Carr.
  Horace Carr, Jr.
  Rev. Althens Carr.
  Lucinda Carney.
  Sylvia Carney.
  Easter Carney.
  Isaac Carney.
  Aleck Carney.
  Ann Dunn.
  Judy Fort.
  Margaret Fort.
  Charlotte Fort.
  Katie Fort.
  George Francis Fort.
  Jim Fort.
  Peggy Fort.
  Rev. John Fort.
  Daniel Fort.
  Sampson Fort.
  Henry Fort.
  Frank Fort.
  Sarah Grant.
  John Grant.
  Bear John Grant.
  Nelson Grant.
  Vinie Grant.
  Wallace Gaines.
  Maria Gaines.
  Phil Gaines.
  Dennis Gaines.
  Martha Gaines.
  Clarissa Gaines.
  Malachi Gaines.
  Eliza Gaines.
  Eliza Holmes.
  Waddy Herring.
  Sallie Ann. Herring.
  Rachel Izor.
  Sam Izor.
  Mark Mitchell.
  Patsy McGowan.
  John McGowan.
  Martha Newton.
  Sookey Northington.
  Vinie Northington.
  Caroline Northington.
  William Northington.
  Jack Northington.
  Angeline Northington.
  Seely Northington.
  Chaney Northington.
  Elijah Northington.
  Louisanna Northington.
  Bettie Northington.
  Dennis Northington.
  Rebekah Northington.
  Allen Northington.
  Neptune Northington.
  George Northington.
  Sam Northington.
  Almira Northington.
  Betsy Neblett.
  Kitty Norfleet.
  Adeline Norfleet.
  Rildy Polk.
  Lucy Parks.
  Demps Wimberly.
  Delphi Waters.

With few exceptions, nearly all of the above charter members had
been members of Red River and Harmony churches before the Civil War.
Scarcely a dozen of them remain with us in the flesh.

During its forty-four years’ existence, Mount Zion has had the
following pastors:

  Rev. Horace Carr.
  Rev. Altheus Carr.
  Rev. Edmond Northington.
  Rev. Paul Dennis.
  Rev. George Mimms.
  Rev. Turner Parish.
  Rev. M. Fox.
  Rev. L. Jones.
  Rev. A. J. Moore, D. D.

Of the original Deacons, only one is alive, Aleck Carney, the other six
in active service are:

  Dan Fort.
  George Fort.
  Demps Fort.
  Albert Steward.
  Wright Watkins.
  Will Randolph.

It is a noticeable fact, that the second and third generations of some
of Mount Zion’s charter members, are at present among its best workers;
as for example, Rev. John Fort’s son Dan, and grandson George, upon
whose shoulders a father’s religious mantle has fallen.

Soon after the donation of land by Dr. Norfleet for Mount Zion Church;
Mr. William Bourne, on an adjoining farm, gave land for a colored
cemetery.

Mr. Bourne was a citizen of fine standing. He was the son of Ambrose
Bourne, a prominent pioneer Baptist minister.

By strange coincidence, Rev. Ambrose Bourne helped organize Red River
Church, 1791, within a few hundred yards of where Mount Zion now stands.