Memories of Wallace Heritage - Official website of Rev. JO Wallace

Bonnie in front of Wallace’s home on 4401 Delaware Avenue in Nashville
Note the Wallace family car, a 1941 Chevrolet
In 1944 God honored prayer in an outstanding way and J. 0. was transferred by the army to
Thayer General Hospital on White Bridge Road about a mile from the Wallaces' home. What a
joy it was to have the children home! The Wallaces had finally bought their first home on
Robertson Road and two small apartments were arranged for J. 0. and Mary and also for Glenn
and his wife Marie.
Marie's mother, Gladys Robinson, had moved to Nashville in 1942. In 1947, Gladys accepted a
call to Africa and the small congregation sent out their first foreign missionary. (Read her story
in the book, Box 44, Monrovia by Nona Freeman.)
During the early forties several revivals were held. One outstanding meeting was held in 1942 by
the evangelist Brother A. D. Gurley, District Superintendent. During this meeting the group of
saints were officially organized and the West Nashville Pentecostal church was set in order with
thirty-eight charter members.
Not long after J. 0. and wife were stationed in Nashville. Her family, the L. H. Hardwicks, also
moved to Nashville. "Sister Maria Hardwick will be such a help to us with her piano playing."
And she was a help. In time she became the Ladies Auxiliary leader and was responsible for
raising the funds for the first Hammond organ as well as a new piano. About this time Grady
Moore, a local music teacher, began to give music lessons for strings, guitar and mandolin. Jane
and Barney Hardwick were among the music students along with Lunelle Shelby, Faye Robbins
and Jack Hill. Sister Hardwick also started the Goolsby girls, Nadine and Violet, as well as
Montelle Carson and Vadine Robbins on piano lessons. So "there was music there."
But J. W. longed for the church to be completed on top of the basement and it was. March, 1948,
was dedication time. What a day! Mildred and Cleatus and lots of other old friends drove up
from Bemis. J. W. Wallace stood every inch of his 6'1" that day and Mom Wallace, at peace with