Axson Methodist Church traces its roots back to the early days of a small railroad station known as Red Bluff. The town was later renamed McDonald, in honor of the prominent sawmill that operated there. By 1900, the community—often called McDonald’s Mill—had grown to a population of about 150 residents. It boasted a money order post office, express and telegraph offices, and several thriving mercantile establishments.

When Atkinson County was formed from portions of Coffee and Pierce Counties in 1917, the town was renamed Axson, in honor of President Woodrow Wilson’s first wife, Ellen Axson Wilson. A Georgia native, Ellen died in 1914 but had accompanied her husband on a whistle-stop tour during his 1912 presidential campaign. While they certainly visited Waycross, it’s possible they also stopped at McDonald’s Mill.

The exact date of the church’s construction is uncertain, but a mention in the Waycross Herald on January 11, 1896, offers a valuable clue. It reads: “The new church being built at McDonald’s Mill by Messrs. Lott and Bailey is nearing completion, and when finished will be a good, substantial house.”

Lott and Bailey were bankers and developers based in Waycross, and we believe the church referenced in the article is the McDonald’s Mill Methodist Episcopal Church, South—now known as Axson United Methodist Church.

The church’s original steeple no longer stands. It was likely lost during the 1944 hurricane season, which brought several destructive storms to Georgia. One storm in particular—the 1944 Cuba–Florida Hurricane—made landfall in Sarasota, Florida, on October 19 before moving northeast across the southeastern U.S., directly over Axson. That storm caused widespread destruction, totaling over $100 million in damages (in 1944 dollars) and claiming more than 300 lives. Despite efforts to recover the fallen steeple, it was never found.

In front of the church once stood two large water oak trees. Before being destroyed—one by a storm and the other by lightning—the trees provided an abundance of acorns and, consequently, a healthy population of squirrels. Unfortunately, the squirrels caused extensive damage to the church, including chewing through the bell rope. When a replacement steeple was finally constructed, it was designed specifically to keep out both water and squirrels. The current structure is a modest, square bell tower that houses the original bell.

While the bell no longer calls worshipers to regular Sunday services, it is still rung for special occasions. One such moment was in 2004, when long-time member Mrs. Ilee Delk tolled the bell forty times in honor of the passing of President Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States.

Today, Axson United Methodist Church has just six official members—only two of whom live locally and attend regularly. On most Sundays, the congregation numbers between eight and ten. Services are held once a month, on the third Sunday, at 8:45 a.m. to accommodate the pastor’s schedule at other churches. Though the church has enough funds to operate for about two more years, its long-term future is uncertain.

Still, the spirit of the congregation remains strong. As Mrs. Delk, a member for over 52 years, puts it: “It’s impossible to keep going, but we’re going to go.” We extend our gratitude to Mrs. Ilee Delk and to members of the Lang family—particularly Mrs. Sarah Lang—for their dedication to preserving this cherished piece of local history.