Athena Baptist Church
The first church was established in 1897 and named Corinth Baptist Church. There were ten charter members; Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Austin, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Coker, and Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Deal. Henry F. Austin was the first pastor. When the church grew to 25 members the name was changed to Athena Baptist Church. The first building was a one-room log structure with puncheon floors and benches and a cypress log roof. In 1915, it was replaced with a white wood frame building constructed of rough lumber. The second building was used until 1948. Church and school were held here.
In 1935-1937, I. M. Moore was pastor. He presented a church budget, introduced mid-week prayer service, and organized the first church census.
In 1937-1938, Charles W. Persons served as pastor. He organized a BYPU in 1938 and started the church’s first Training Union Program. The second building was remodeled during this time to provide Sunday school rooms and the Sunday School was graded. A Brotherhood was also organized and a WMU.
A new block building was built in 1948 with an auditorium and educational building. Two years later the note was burned. A pastorium was built in 1953. They helped establish a mission at Ezell Beach during this time. In 1961 a motion was made to build some additional class rooms and the nursery building was built with four classrooms and one bathroom. The present building held ground breaking ceremonies on November 12, 1967. The first meeting in the new building was Homecoming on August 25, 1968. During the years 1970-1971, many improvements were made on the pastorium and Sunday school rooms. From 1971-1979 the new auditorium was paid off, a new educational building was built, and also a basketball court and improvements on the pastorium were made.
In 1975, the first crew of four men went to Antiqua and helped enlarge a church there for Missionary Shelby Smith. For several years members have gone to assist in building a chapel, furniture, and churches in South America. The Brotherhood has helped build new buildings for several churches in this area and answered personal needs in the community.
Some of the pastors for Athena Baptist Church have been; Henry F. Austin, Rev. J. W. Pearson, C. E. McClellan, J. O. Wilcox, S. K. Wilson, Rev. Watts, Rev. Holmes, I. M. Moore, Rev. Charles W. Persons, Joe Connell, Rev. John R. Collins, K. A. Whaley, W. L. Price, Rev. Roy Bailey, R. E. Merrell, Henry A. Pickern, Marlin Williams, Gordon Burgin, and Rev. Ray Debusk.