Beginning in 1894 …
Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church was organized and dedicated in 1894. The first pastor was Reverend William Phillips who saw the need for a Baptist Church in the Franklin community. The church started with twenty charter members, flourished throughout the twentieth century, and continues to practice Bible-based preaching and Christian love to this day.
Charter Members
Reverend William Phillips
Martha Phillips
Sara Phillips
Joseph Phillips
Melissa Simpson Phillips
Ollie Phillips Poore
Dave Phillips
Mary Keller Phillips
Eliza Phillips
Nan Phillips
Lottie Phillips
Emma Phillips
Monroe Felts
Mickey Greenwood McCreary
Jenny McCreary
and five others whose names were lost
Pastors and Interim Pastors
Reverend William Phillips 1894-1900
Reverend William Beamer 1900-1902
Reverend J. W. Horton 1902-1903
Reverend A. L. Beats 1903-1904
Reverend N. J. Matthews 1904-1906
Reverend S. E. Gentry 1906-1908
Reverend C. E. Fields 1908-1909
Reverend James Bennett 1909-1911
Reverend J. H. Haynes 1911-1916
Reverend J. O. Belton 1916-1920
Reverend J. M. Nester 1920-1923
Reverend J. H. Haynes 1923-1924
Reverend L. B. Murray 1924-1933
Reverend George Tucker 1933-1936
Reverend Frank Weatherman 1937-1940
Reverend Lonnie Fleming 1941-1942
Reverend Elmo Reneger 1942-1944
Reverend Fred Jurney 1944-1953
Reverend Paul Hester 1954-1958
Reverend Walter D. Turner 1959-1965
Reverend Paul E. Bruce 1965-1972
Reverend Larry McCoy 1973-1977
Revered Michael Branscome 1978-1979
Reverend Flake Mason 1980-1987
Reverend Danny Culler from 1988-2005
Interim Pastor: Mitchell Robertson 2005-2006
Interim Pastor: Dr. James Joseph 2006
Dr. James Joseph from 2007-2010
Interim Pastor: Rusty Reed 2010-2012
Reverend Doug Delong from Jan. 2013-Sept. 2013
Interim Pastor: Steve McCreary 2013-2014
Reverend Jeremy Scott Schuyler from 2014-2024
Numerous Visiting Reverends
Reverend Tyler Nelson from 2025-present
Deacons
listed by date of election
1994 Gary Beasley
1999 Bill Juno
2003 Dean Culler
2005 Hilton Leggett
2007 Lance Knight
2008 John Butera
2008 Ray Hensley
2011 Troy Hodges
2012 Glenn Simmons
2013 Gary Harold
2016 Joey Stanish
2016 Jack Wyrick
Chairman of Deacons
1995 Jud Brown
1996 Todd Brown
1997 Haswell Rumley
1998 Bernie Phillips
1999 Glenn Cook
2000 Joe Galyean
2001 Sam Prince
2002 Jerry Sheets
2003 Jerry Sheets
2004 Phil Whitaker
2005 Dean Culler
2006 Glenn Cook
2007 Jerry Sheets
2008 Bruce Corregan
2009 Bruce Corregan
2010 Sam Prince
2011 Sam Prince
2012 Lance Knight
2013 Lance Knight
2014 Lance Knight
2015 Sam Prince
2016 Lance Knight
2017 Glenn Cook
2018 Bruce Corregan
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026 Gary Harold
Church Clerk
1995-2007 Ila Chilton
2008-2014 Shelia Smith
2015-2018 Mary Jo Blash
2018-present Shelia Smith
Secretary
2004-2008 Rachel Allred
2008-2014 Glenda Parker
2014-2017 Mary Jo Blash
2017-20?? Frances Nichols
20??-2025 Susan Thomas
2025-Present Lori Creed
Treasurer
1995-1997 Therman Clark
1998-1999 Linda Sheets
1999-2014 Pat Butera
1999-2018 Brenda Cooke
2004-2017 Vickie Harold
2008-2009 Kim Collins
2018-20?? Frances Nichols
20??-20?? Juliana Lowe
20??-20?? Susan Thomas
2025-Present contracted to Jason Anthony
Women on Missions Directors
1997-2001 Velma Simmons
2002-2007 Ila Chilton
2008-2017 Phyllis Whitaker
2018-Present Susan Thomas
Sunday School Directors
1995-1998 Phil Whitaker
1999-2000 Wayne Cooke
2001-2003 Roger Routh
2004-2005 Kim Collins
2006-2007 Shelia Smith
2008-2011 Todd Brown
2012-2014 Jane Knight
2015-2017 Joyce Prince
2018-2020 Todd Brown
2020-2026 No Sunday School
Music Directors
1995-2001 Joyce Prince
2002-2007 Susan Thomas
2008-Present Allen Nichols
Pianist
1983-Present Mitzi Stanish
Vacation Bible School Committee Chairperson
1995-1996 Mary Alice Culler
1997-2004 Kim Collins
2005-2006 Ava Brown
2007-2008 Kim Collins
2009 No Vacation Bible School
2010 Sharon Nichols
2011 No Vacation Bible School
2012 No Vacation Bible School
2013 Lou Ann Snider
2014-2016 Joyce Prince and Jane Knight
2017-2019 Susan Thomas
2020-2025 No Vacation Bible School
2026 Andrea Mauer
Youth Leader
1995-2003 Shelia Smith
2004-2006 Dean Culler
2007-2008 Denise Pilcher
2009 Eric Smith
2010-2017 Shelia Smith
2017-Present Lori Creed
Properties Committee Chairperson
1995-1999 Tom Brown
2000-2006 Wesley Surratt
2007-2010 Bobby Harold
2015-2017 Fred Jones
2018-2025 Larry Hurn
2025-Present Gary Harold
Girl Scouts 1995-2013
In June 1995, Brownie Girl Scout Troop 300 was approved to meet in the old fellowship hall. They were led by Susan Thomas whose daughters were participants. Throughout the years the Girl Scouts continued to meet here, and as one set of girls would age out, other ladies would assume the role of leader. Jane Knight and Michelle Juno were the leaders of the last groups to hold meeting here. That was around 2013. Today, a quilt project made by the last troop hangs in the hallway between the Education Building and the Sanctuary.
Oak Tree in the Cemetery
In May 1996, a motion was made to have the oak tree in the cemetery removed. Thankfully, the motion did not pass. The oak tree has become an icon of the cemetery. Many people stop to take pictures of it. The tree has become the regular site for Easter Sunrise Services.
Land Purchase in 1999 leads to the CLC
In April 1999, a committee was formed to research the purchase of land across the street from the Sanctuary and Education Building. The committee members were Bernie Phillips, Lou Ann Snider, Frances Leonard, Kim Collins, and Glenn Cook. In May 1999, the committee recommended purchasing the land from Creola Boyles for $119,900. The property, which had a house on it at that time, was purchased in August 1999.
The loan for the Boyles property was paid off in 2003. In August of that year, the house was burned and its remains were hauled away.
In March of 2004, a contract was granted to the John S. Clark Company to build the Christian Life Center (CLC). Sowers Construction did the initial grading and landscaping. Construction started in April 2004.
On November 28, 2004, the new Christian Life Center was completed and a dedication service was held. Through the years, this building has served many purposes: youth camp-ins, Girl Scout and Boy Scout meetings, housing for Habitat for Humanity workers, accommodations for missionaries, space for homeschool groups to meet, exercise and pickleball, wedding and baby showers, birthday parties, plus numerous praise and worship activities.
Feeding the Flock, 2000
In January 2000, a motion was made and carried for the ladies of the church to make a new cookbook. This publication was titled Feeding the Flock and contained recipes from different members of the church. The cookbook committee was Patt Butera, Ila Chilton, Frances Cook, Fay Jones, Candice Ring, and Linda Sheets. Many of us still use these recipes!
14 Members go to Greenwich, Connecticut in 2004
6 adults and 8 youth traveled to Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2004 to hold a five-day Vacation Bible School there. The church members who participated were …
Gospel Saturation in Guadalajara, Mexico
In 2004, seven adult members of the church flew to Guadalajara, Mexico, for a week of Gospel Saturation. While there, they lived in the homes of community members and gave out 5,000 copies of the Gospel of John. The seven church members were …
22 Members go to Greenwich, Connecticut in 2005
In July, 2005, 9 adults and 13 youth spent a week in Greenwich, Connecticut, conducting Vacation Bible School in a small church there. The church members who participated were …
Land Donation in 2007 leads to Playground
In June 2007, longtime members Jerry and Linda Sheets donated the land across from the cemetery and beside of the CLC to the church to be used for a playground. In July 2007, rules for the playground were established. The playground was constructed and ready for use in time for Vacation Bible School.
WOM begins delivering water to SMM in June, 2017
In June 2017, the Women on Missions began delivering water bottles to Surry Medical Ministries so that those who were waiting in line could have a cool drink. This mission project has been very successful and continues to this day.