NEW HOPE CHURCH
By Cleo Chamblee
Transcribed by Gwen Brewer McDaniel, January 19, 2000

New Hope Church was organized in 1921. Mrs. Mary Gibson, grandmother of many living in this area now, gave it it's name, and Brother Jim Smith was the first Pastor, Mr. L. T. Whitehorn, Sr. was the Church Clerk.

Through the years, the church has been remodeled several times. These fine people are always ready to take on any task that is going to be an asset to their community. They may be small in number, but their modern church building, new organ, three bedroom brick parsonage, and nice cemetery, prove what co-operation can do. Brother Walter Magouyrk is the pastor.

New Hope is a prosperous community and many of the descendants still possess the land of their forefathers. Instead of tall, piney woods with a house dotted here and there, one sees cattle grazing, chicken ranches, feed crops, truck patches, and some tree farms. Several brick homes have been built and most of the old frame homes have been well preserved. Mrs. Austin Gibson lives in one of these homes that my father, J. T. Chamblee, built in 1911. (That is where I made my barefoot tracks).

Another pretty farm home is that of the Hutchins family. Mr. Hutchins was noted for his beautiful strawberry garden. For many years, he grew berries. When he built his new home, he called it "The House Strawberries Built".

Mr. And Mrs. John Gibson were land owners and prosperous cotton farmers. That was the day when "cotton was king". Their descendants now own much of the land in this community. It could well be called "Gibsonville".

Mr. Will Whitworth was the Section Foreman for the K. C. S. Railroad in the early 1900's. He and Mrs. Whitworth reared their family in this community.

New Hope now has a black top road that intersects F. M. Highway 249, at the north and south sides of the community. Between these two intersections is the Wayne and Mary Lightfoot Beauty and Barber Shop.

This is a nice, clean, well respected community for which I have the highest regards.