It was a wooden frame building in an area of rural Mississippi, where decades ago, I spent many summers with my grandparents-a place so unaltered by urban life that it was like stepping into the pages of Harper Lee. – Marcy Goodfleisch, 2017
In my shoes it gets tough sometimes, it’s unfair sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade anything for my journey, I love being a woman chosen by God. – From the heart of Beauty Rieves
Last week rummaging through my files I came upon a folder with a letter I had written in 2003 to The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce Marketing Development Division. They had put out a call for interesting churches across the state. Prior to the request I had photographed rural churches, barns, and bridges for fun. One church photograph in the folder was remarkable, I wondered if the church was still standing. The letter contained the names of two fellows who provided information about Beauty Rieves and her little church in 2003. Beauty’s grandson described his grandmother’s “house of prayer.” He said she’d welcome anybody for prayer and worship. For years Beauty had walked six miles from Poor House Road to Griffin Methodist Church until she built a little church on her property in 1970. I decided to visit James Welch, the grandson, now 76 years old and see if Beauty’s “Upper Room” still stands. Though it’s a bit run down, the church still stands.
In 2003 Mr. John A. “Sonny” Randle farmed in the Oktoc Community he remembered giving Ms. Beauty a ride into town. She was dressed in a purple shroud and carried a large Bible that dwarfed her size. He said that she preached to him the whole way. Mr. Randle passed away in 2006.
Sam went with me to check out some places where I had lived and the people I had known. We ran up and down Poorhouse Road trying to find the “house of prayer” or as Beauty sometimes called it “the upper room.” We didn’t see the church, but we did find James Welch, the now 76-year-old grandson. I gave him a photo of the church and a copy of the 2003 letter. Mr. Welch assured us the church was still there; we just had to look harder. He looked toward the church and said, “We’ve had some big storms, but none ever touched the Upper Room.” We found the church.
Afterwards we headed to Welch Funeral Home in Starkville. I wanted to see if there might be any more information on Beauty or the family. The owner of the funeral home, Nina Welch Wofford, remembered Beauty. Nina, like Mr. Randle, saw Beauty in her purple robe with her big Bible walking from Poorhouse Road into town so she’d give her a ride. Beauty passed away at the age of 95. She was obviously an amazing woman and lived life to the fullest. From what I’ve learned she never complained. She took the offer of a ride but never asked for more. The Upper Room still stands.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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