Eric Reece
The Graham County Centennial Book reports the date of when the Baptist church was organized in the area: July 18, 1848.
Two Baptist ministers – James Kimsey and Baily Bruce – served churches, farmed and worked as missionaries for the Baptist State Convention when they came to Cheoah (modern-day Robbinsville).
I always wanted to know more about these servants of God and am grateful for their ministry to our area. I will begin with the Rev. James Kimsey – and hope to share the life of Rev. Bruce at a later time.
It was on May 8, 1845 when the Southern Baptist Convention had its beginnings in Augusta, Ga. Delegates gathered, prayed, and discussed missions and slavery. Upholding slavery – and concerned at the Baptist's plan to not fund missionaries connected to slave-holding families – the group decided to separate from the northern Baptists and create their own denomination.
Kimsey was born on Dec. 23, 1803 to Thomas and Nancy McClure Kimsey in Haywood County. He joined the Baptist Church in Franklin, and he and his wife were baptized in the Tennessee River in 1830 by the Rev. Humphrey Posey – pastor, evangelist and missionary to the Cherokees.
It was not long before the Lord called him into the ministry, and he was licensed to preach in the church and ordained by Posey, J. Hall, G.F. Caler and B. Stiles.
Kimsey married Sarah Ruth Russell in 1823. They were blessed with 10 children: Matthew Russell, Elizabeth, Martha Jane, Mary Rebecca, Nancy, Joseph Anderson, James G. Jr. William Simpson, Sarah and Janet.
He preached in the western North Carolina mountains. In 1843, he was the minister at Sugarfork Baptist Church in Franklin. He served and lived in Valley Town. He continued to travel the mountains as a missionary, preaching while serving churches and caring for many souls. During the Civil War, he continued his ministry at a time when it was often not safe to travel. He served as the Association Moderator in our area. It was said when folks heard he was coming, the “pews were never empty.”
When Sarah passed away, her support for his ministry was recorded – as she often traveled with him for weeks and months at a time. Kimsey remarried and moved to Towns County, Ga., where he was called home at the age of 66 in 1870. His last words were, “My work is done."
After nearly 40 years of faithful service to the Lord Jesus, he was buried in the Baptist Cemetery in Hayesville.
One important thing to note is that his daughter, Mary Rebecca married Charles L. Truett. Their son, the Rev. Dr. George W. Truett's name is well known in our region. He served the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and was the president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1927-29.
We give thanks for Kimsey, Bruce and many others who brought the Gospel to our western North Carolina mountains. As the Lord said, “Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.