In Depth History

"Mt. Zion Methodist Church and Her People"

The Written History Volumes

Merdyth McCullers Lane, the author of both volumes of Mt. Zion History, was a descendant of James Thomas Leach, one of Mt. Zion's charter members. She was a retired public school teacher and in the late 1950s became aglow with the idea of preparing a Mt. Zion History Book. Her enthusiasm generated interest from others who helped as she gathered the necessary information. Among her sources were Mt. Zion Church records, books, magazines, journals, conference records, court records, newspaper articles, library records, archive records, and family records. Barbara Taylor Ennis, the typist for the first volume of history, also has ancestry ties back to Mt. Zion's very first pre Civil War members as handed down from generation to generation. John Thomas Leach and wife, Susan Parham Leach were her great, great, great grandparents. She typed, edited, proofed, and retyped as the wording passed back and forth between her and Mrs. Lane until the finished product was published in the late l960s.

In volume I Mrs. Lane writes, "I am confident that I will be able to do this [work] for God, who has given me the urge, will also give me the mind and recollection, and likewise will help others to recall incidents that should be recorded and to pass them on to me. He will also guide my pen and give me the strength; and to Him be all the praise and the glory'"

In the mid 1970s, Mrs. Lane launched yet another writing venture of Mt. Zion's History. She radiated with such enthusiasm and drive that again others cooperated to help in this effort. The second volume addressed some open areas in the first volume and chronicled years 1967 - 1978. She gathered and wrote and Clara Powell Raynor typed, edited, passing the wording to and from Mrs. Lane until Volume II was published in the late 1970s.

Both volumes are preserved here electronically and can be accessed by clicking on the links in the sidebar. Images of the hardcover bindings are included below.