THE HISTORY OF CLOVERDALE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

In October of 1953, the Dothan District of the Alabama Conference of the Methodist Church authorized the surveying of two areas in Dothan to ascertain the need for new Methodist churches.  It was found that indeed a new Methodist church was needed on the south side of Dothan.  December of 1953, Chaplain L.J. Stevenson of Fort Rucker was given the assignment of starting this new church.  It was called the Southside Methodist Mission.

Worship services began on January 10, 1954, in the Clendinen Building at 1307 South Oates St. (the former King's Furniture and Appliance building).  Sunday School (youth and adult classes) began on January 24th that same year.

Charter Sunday was held February 21, 1954.  The Church was formally organized and chartered with sixty-eight people being received as Charter members.  At this time, Cloverdale Methodist Church became the church's official name.

The early members of Cloverdale Methodist Church moved quickly and with great faith and determination to build the church.  The present church property was purchased in April of 1954 and was paid off by November that same year.  That same month, construction on the first building began.   It was the eastern half of what is presently the education building.  At that time, this part of the building served as both Sanctuary and education building (with the Sanctuary downwstars and Sunday school classrooms up).  However, plans were made for the addition of a new Sanctuary.  Ground was broken on the Sanctuary project on June 30, 1957, and was completed in November that same year.

Growth and building continued with the parsonage being built in 1962.   Building on the western half of the educational building  began in January of 1968 and was completed by Easter.  With changes in the denomination becoming "United Methodist",  Cloverdale Methodist  Church became Cloverdale United Methodist Church.  A recreation area was added to the property and the parking lot was completed in 1974.

A total renovation of the Sanctuary took place the summer of 1986,  and in January 2000 ground was broken for the Bentley Fellowship Hall.  The note on the fellowship hall was paid off in August of 2003. 

We thank GOD for how He has blessed this congregation from the very start.  What began as sixty-eight dedicated disciples of Christ grew and became fruitful.  Today, Cloverdale United Methodist Church proclaims 416 members, and seeks daily to grow by extending the love and grace of Jesus Christ to others.

Plans are in the works for yet another remodeling and  renovating of the educational building and Sanctuary to enhance the church's efforts for growth in the future.

   CLOVERDALE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

CHARTER MEMBERS

The charter members of Cloverdale United Methodist Church established February 21, 1954, under the name of Cloverdale Methodist Church.

O Lord, we give thanks for those few individuals whose faith exceeded their reluctance and whose love of GOD compelled them to move forward, even reaching out to take the gospel to new places and establish a community of faith.  We honor the following individuals, Lord, who heard your call, stepped out in faith and together, through the power of your Holy Spirit, gave start to a fellowship community that grew to nourish others, even us today.  So it is to you, O GOD, Creator and Sustainer of all good things, that we give our most humble and hardy thanks as we lift our voices in praise and glory to you, through Christ our Lord.  AMEN.

    Cora I. Aman     E. Carol Aman     Eugie F. Aman     H.Russell Arnold      Judy Arnold

   Mark Arnold        Myra Arnold         Mary Jo Bailey       H. Ted Bailey          Virginia Bell

  E.E. Bentley     Helen Bentley     Fred D. Bryan       Myrtle I. Bryan     Clarence E Bufford

    John E. Bufford    Miriam S. Bufford    Eugenia M. Cain   J.R. Cain       Margaret Clontz

    Mary C. Clower    Roy D. Clower      Bernice Cook    Carl E. Cook        Mae Dee Dobbs

     Earl B. Gamble    Ruby M. Gamble   Jack Garrard     Lois Garrard       Edna E. German

     James W. German Jr.     Eulene N. Granger     William N. Granger          Myrtis Griggs

Henry C. Hardy  Wilma L. Hardy   Ruth Harris  Joseph A. Holloway   M. Francis Holloway

 Ann Kornegay         Jack Kornegay        Jacquelyn A Kornegay             Stanley Kornegay

      Austin A. Lemon    Ethel A Lemon   Mamie L. Lewis    Cecilia Maddox    E.J. Maddox

Jerry Maddox    Jim Maddox       Jimmy Maddox          Mary Parrish        Rupert T. Parrish

  Alma Patterson   Wilbur F. Patterson     Alvin T. Sharp       Merle C. Sharp      Lois Smart

 Ellen P. Stevenson         Linwood P. Stevenson         J.N. Stinson            Mrs. J.N. Stinson

 Helen Thomas       Raimon G Thomas        Audrey C. Wheeler         David J. Wheeler, Jr.

               Georgia E. Williams         Sybil Williams               F. Bruce Whitehead

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