Our Visit to Mt. Herman United Methodist Church in Greensboro, Alabama

Since we would be arriving in Greensboro early Sunday morning, a bit too early to go to Jo Anne's for the Averett family reunion, even after stopping to buy four cases of Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale and stopping to look at the Indian Mounds in Moundville, I had the idea of stopping by the Mt. Herman UMC for church that morning, and afterwards we would go on to Jo Anne's and the reunion. Jerry thought this was a fine idea, so, armed with maps and high energy, we were on our way.

The problem was some of the roads didn't correspond to what was on our maps, and many roads were not marked, but finally we found the church at a bend in the road, right where it was supposed to be! It was a small, white frame church set way back from the road with a graveyard out back.

We arrived a little before 11:00am, and we figured church would start at that time, and then we saw some people come out of the trailer and head to the front steps of the church. We thought they were coming from Sunday School and going to the church service.

When that didn't seem to be what they were doing, we walked closer and Jerry asked some of the group when church would start. They explained that there was no church that Sunday, because the preacher had four churches and travelled, circuit rider style, to a different one each Sunday, and this was not his Sunday to be at Mt. Herman. They said church was being held at the Valley church, but we decided to look around the church's graveyard instead, so we headed around to the back.

The Mt. Herman church is where many of our relatives on the Averett side of the family goes to church and where many of them are buried.

Everyone we talked to at the church was so nice, friendly, and welcoming, urging us to come back any time, and apologizing that there was no church that Sunday. Everyone knew everyone, and once they knew who we were and who we were related to, they were even more friendly, if such a thing were possible. When we left, we drove by the group of churchgoers who were still talking to each other, the way they do in all small churches, long after the service is over, and as we went by, everyone waved and called out to us in such a friendly way. We must go back there sometime when there are Sunday services!

Here is the entrance to the church grounds of Mt. Herman United Methodist Church, with a welcoming sign out front.

A few people gathered out front caught our eye because we thought they were going from Sunday School to church services.

This larger group came out after Sunday School and stood around for a long time, just talking, visiting, and having a good time together. They were all friendly and welcoming to us, and we hope to go back to see them sometime.

This is the back of the church, showing a portion of the graveyard.

Another view of the graveyard, looking up the hill.

This is the grave of Jerry's beloved uncle and aunt, John Averett and Annie Stewart Averett. Jerry and some of his brothers spent many happy summers with the Averett family, summers that were filled with hard work, delicious food, family time, and lots of love and adventures. Many happy memories for Jerry!

The grave of Jerry's favorite cousin Murty Averett Lyles, who covered for his slow pace with hoeing corn rows. After finishing her own rows in record time, she went back and finished up Jerry's rows too! Murty died a year or two after we saw her, along with her sisters Murvle and Willie Dee, and Murvle's daughter Jessie Dean, at the Old Union Baptist Church homecoming. Jerry's parents, Jeremiah Clements and Dorothy Arrie Stewart Clements are buried at the Old Union graveyard.

We were saddened to learn that Jerry's dear cousin Murvle had passed away, and we had not known of it until we found her grave here. This was sad because we had been looking forward to seeing Murvle at the reunion.

Annie Mable (Mable) Lyles Hill, who was Jerry's cousin Murty's daughter, died last year after a long struggle with COPD. Mable's daughter is Jo Anne Hill, who is carrying on the family tradition started by Murty of having an Averett family reunion at the family home in Greensboro, Alabama.

A view of some of the Montz and Lyles family graves.

This is a grave marker that we found interesting, since it is shaped like a tree with logs, possibly marking the grave of a logger, woodsman, or just an Alabama pioneer.

The inscription reads, "Charles C. Walker, 1890-1918, You are not dead to us, but as a bright star unseen."