“It has been sooo long ago,” explained Martha Thomas by way of explanation, just in case her memories were not forthcoming. She need not have fretted. A month shy of her 100th birthday, Martha Thomas did not miss a beat during an hour's oral history taping for River Road Church, Baptist, of Richmond.
Martha Thomas and another charter member, Helen Davis, were joined by a long-time member, Aylett Woodson “Skee” Goode Jr. Martha Thomas was right. Their initial involvement had been a long time ago. The church was constituted in 1946 with expectations of serving the far west end of Richmond. It largely began as the vision of three laymen: Oscar Hite, Donald Daniel and Wilton Thomas. They knew that a valuable tract of land was available at the corner of Ridge and River roads near the campus of the University of Richmond. They also knew that Richmond Baptists were eager for a new church start in the area. And they felt a certain kinship to the Baptist school, the University of Richmond.
Several of the charter or early members were identified with UR as faculty or administrators, including Dean May Keller of Westhampton College. The first event to attract university students was a wiener roast held at the home of Martha and Wilton Thomas. George M. Modlin, then president of the university, offered the use of UR's Cannon Memorial Chapel for $10 a week. It was a beginning.
The church had about 60 members when Skee and Millie Goode joined. Since there were so few members, everyone had to serve in some capacity. Skee and Helen Davis still banter about the number of times they had to serve on a nominating committee. Skee said: “In the early days, everybody had to do everything. You were conspicuous if you didn't serve. My first position was as something called ‘voucher clerk,' a glorified purchasing agent or controller.” Martha Thomas's first church job was to count the money after the worship services and deposit it in the bank. She also wrote notes reminding members of what they owed on their pledges. Only a few took umbrage over her gentle reminders.
Helen Davis declared that she “cannot remember” a time when she was not going to Sunday school. “I was born into a strong Baptist family in Petersburg. My mother would take chocolate cookies, which she would give me between Sunday school and church.” She added that her husband, the late Loyal Davis, “had been a Methodist but saw the light.” One of his jobs at River Road Church was superintendent of the Sunday school.
He held the school's faculty meetings at his home and served Pepsi-Cola. Always witty, Helen declared that she always thought
it was the expectation of Pepsi-Colas which attracted the teachers to the meetings.
Helen Davis also was quick to characterize the church as “a happy place” and Skee Goode seconded the motion: “Joy has been a good word to describe it.” Helen added, “It has been fun!” She also emphasized the sense of family which yet pervades in the congregation. “There is a close intimacy and friendliness. The church is like a member of the family or like a good neighbor. This friendliness is far more precious than the bricks.”
Skee Goode extolled the positive characteristics of River Road Church: “Baptist in heritage, ecumenical in practice, a pervading sense of beauty and dignity in worship.” He added one other: “I have seen one change that I hope will continue. There is a lot more emphasis upon missions outside of the church. I attribute that to the women of the church. They brought it about.” The church recently published a book on its missions involvements, which include projects undertaken by the youth as well as adults.
Skee Goode also reflected upon the church's “open-mindedness.” “It is the people in it and the type of congregation we have attracted. They are open-minded people willing and wanting to learn.” All three commented on the choral music which remains a hallmark of River Road Church. In each location — the UR chapel, the first building at Ridge and River Roads, the makeshift sanctuary of the fellowship hall and in the grand sanctuary — it has always offered “high church” music which gives it a unique position among Richmond churches. Its annual music concert series attracts people from throughout the community.
Of course the time of remembering included comments on the pastors whom they have known. Perhaps it should be said that there were warm and positive comments on all five of the pastors and they have known all of them: David Browning, Woodrow Hasty, Vernon Richardson, James Slatton and Michael Clingenpeel.
Martha Thomas laughed as she told the story of Pastor Woodrow W. Hasty's beginnings. “Woody Hasty said that we put him in the furnace room for his office. He said that Oscar Hite told him, ‘Your office is in the furnace room and you can take it from there and work yourself up!'”
Nearly every church of a given age has long-time members with memories. It is profitable from time to time to gather these members, before the colors fade, and capture some of their memories for future generations. Barbara Jackson heads the history committee at River Road Church and she engages the committee in many ways to gather and preserve its history. Mary Dibble compiled the interview questions for the oral history and gently guided the interviewees into sharing memories. Dale Robinson, a skilled professional videographer, lent his expertise to the project.
Memories are precious. They are transient and sometimes they have become filtered as some scenes are dropped like so much unused film footage on a cutting room floor. Those memories which remain should be captured. A child yet unborn will want to hear them someday. The three long-time members of River Road Church have shared memories worth knowing and re-telling.
Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. He may be contacted at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.