In November 1886, a group of formerly enslaved men and their children from Powelton New Hope Baptist Church, led by Deacons Willie Peak, Abe Frazier, and Philic Jones, founded Antioch Baptist Church. The deacons purchased two acres from the Veazey family estate, with an additional two acres donated for a cemetery. Soon after the church’s dedication, a one-room school was built on the grounds.
+ Continue readingBefore integration, schools like these were often the only educational opportunity for rural African Americans. Until the mid-1950s, Black children in the area were not permitted to ride county school buses. Church-affiliated schools served these communities until the “equalization schools” of the 1950s, and it wasn’t until after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that African American students began to gain access to equal facilities. Even then, the transition was far from smooth—nearby Crawfordville saw significant unrest in 1965, widely covered in national news. Sadly, the original Antioch school, once standing to the left of the church, is now gone.
Though the sanctuary may appear abandoned, a dedicated group of descendants still gathers for an annual reunion every August. As seen in the gallery below, one such reunion brought together four generations from multiple states, touching their roots, sharing stories, and passing history to the young. For many years, these efforts were led by George Turner, whose father was Antioch’s last active deacon. Under his leadership, repairs were made and the grounds kept, but more support is needed to ensure Antioch’s survival.
The cemetery holds at least 75 recorded burials. Before his passing, Deacon Turner documented 71 additional unmarked graves, common in early African American cemeteries, where headstones were often financially out of reach for farming families. His careful record-keeping preserves a vital piece of this community’s history.
With renewed commitment, Antioch can once again serve its community, just as it has since 1886. Preserving this site honors the resilience of those who built it and ensures future generations can learn from its story.