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

The following is a quote from History of Decatur County Tennessee by Lillye Yonger
Mt. Tabor Pentecostal Church
The Mt. Tabor Pentecostal Church, located on the old Decaturville Road near Parsons, has roots
deep in Decatur County's history. Not far from the present church location, once stood a log
structure that was built in 1840. This building was used as both a school and a church. A
Methodist congregation worshipped there and was pastored by a "circuit rider." A revival was
held near the log building in 1918. The evangelist was Reverend E. J. Douglas, one of the first
Pentecostal ministers to have visited the area. Services were usually held outdoors under a "brush
arbor," but when inclement weather came, they were conducted in the old log school and church.
At the close of the revival, Walter and Francis Herndon, Jim and Bertha Graves, and Will and
Ethel Graves signed a deed donating property for a new church. A building was started
immediately; and is still in use today.
The founder was E: J. Douglas. The first trustees were A. D. Gurley (later to become one of the
most renowned evangelists and respected ministers in the United Pentecostal Church
international), Walter Herndon, and J. A. Graves. Others attending the new church were Antha
Graves, Georgie Graves, Ruby Graves, Otis Graves, Carrie Gurley, Clyde Gurley, Grady Gurley,
Mittie Herndon, Ester Houston, Mollie Lancaster, Eliza Mclllwain; and Antha Stone.
Other Pentecostal Churches in Decatur County include Mt. Carmel United Pentecostal Church,
Beacon United Pentecostal Church, Decaturville Pentecostal Church, Rushings Grove
Pentecostal Church, Iron Hill Pentecostal Church, Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, and Sulphur
Springs Pentecostal Church. The United Pentecostal churches have played an important part in
the religious life of persons in Decatur County, In April of 1949 a resolution to make the
Southern District, consisting of the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, three separate
districts was passed. W. M. Greer of Jackson was elected to serve as the superintendent of the
Tennessee District.