History

Services

Sundays-9:45 AM Sunday School | Sundays-11:00 AM Worship Service | Wednesdays-6:00 PM Bible Class

Church History

The roots of King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church began at Holly Green Missionary Baptist Church, located on Racetrack of Yazoo City, Mississippi. Our historical origins began when eight members of Holly Green decided to become an independent church. These pioneers were Bro. Isaacs Taylor, Bro. John Taylor, Bro. Hubberth Turner, Bro. Horace Wilson, Sis. Mollie Carey, Sis. Lizzie Love, Sis. Everlean Stafford, and Sis. Mahalia Turner. When the above members pulled away from Holly Green M.B. Church, they encouraged members from other churches to come in with them. When their quota was met, five members were chosen to organize the church. In the month of October 1903, Sis Amanda Alonzo, Bro. Kellis Golden, Sis Lue Golden, and Sis. Everlean Stafford organized the church, under the guidance and leadership of the late Rev. Kyzer, Rev. G.P. Green, and Rev. A.C. Carter in the home of Sis. Mollie Carey. When the church was officially organized, Sis. Mahalia Turner gave it the name King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church.

              Rev. A.C. Carter was called to pastor and the first service was held under a brush harbor due to the lack of proper facilities. As the fall season continued to get colder, services were held in the home of Sis. Vickie Love. Under the leadership of Rev. A.C. Carter membership continued to grow. The church saw a great need for a more appropriate facility. At this point, the church appointed  6 members to form the building committee, they were:  Bro. Floyd Gibbs, Bro. Jimmie Gibbs, Bro. Kellis Golden, Bro. John Taylor, Bro. Hubberth Turner, and Bro. Horace Wilson, Sr. Through this committee, arrangements were made to build a wooden framed structure in the Lintonia subdivision which is (today’s present location, 1409 Calhoun Avenue, Yazoo City, MS).

              In 1948 under the leadership of Rev. Hammond, the church divided, and several members pulled out to organize and build New King Solomon M.B. Church. As a result of this chaotic episode, the church suffered greatly. Rev. Lott and Rev. Yancy were called to serve and help heal the church. 

              It was not until 1948, when Rev. R.S. Scott, graced the congregation of King Solomon, that the church began to rejuvenate, unify, and prosper once more. Throughout the reign of Rev. Scott’s administration, Black churches with Yazoo community became more involved with each other and developed friendships and alliances outside the internal establishment and membership grew to new heights. Rev. Scott was most renowned for his ability to inspire the soul with his powerful sermons and convictions. After serving King Solomon compassionately and diligently for eleven years,  Rev. Scott departed this life in 1959.

               The administration of Rev. G.H. Hankins began in 1960, which marked a new era in the history of progress for King Solomon M.B. Church. Through financial organization, prioritized investments, and a growing membership, King Solomon continued to advance and flourish throughout Rev. Hankins’ administration. This period of prosperity is most accounted for by the remodeling of the facilities in 1970 from a small wooden framed church to a brick veneer and the purchase of land located north and south of the church. 

Through the efforts of the building committee, consisting of the following members:   Bro. Arthur. Claybon, Bro. Waymon Crump, Bro. Mose. Fox, Bro. H. Harris, Bro. G. Hobson, Bro. S.D. Kirkland, Bro. Flanagan F. Rattliffee, Bro. Mackenley. Rodgers, Bro. Ulysses Washington, and Bro. Roosevelt Winters, with God as their leader, they were able to bring forth a new foundation for the church to render better worship services for God and to better serve the community and the fellowman.

              During Rev. Hankins administration, one of the most inspirational choirs with the Black community was also organized under the musical leadership of Mr. Edward Neal, which later went on to produce their first album entitled “Sweet Home, 1980”,  as a building fund project. The choir played a major fundamental role in the growth of King Solomon by drawing many to this establishment through the divination of their angelic voices.

             On October 4, 1987, Rev. G. H. Hankins offered his letter of resignation after serving faithfully for twenty-seven years and resided with his wife in Hollandale, MS, until his passing in May 1991. The church called the assistant pastor, Rev. Percy Honeysucker to serve as pastor. Rev. Honeysucker served 15 months as an ordained minister for the first time. During the time of his administration, Rev. Honeysucker took special interest in the youth of King Solomon and the community by dedicating his time, efforts, monies, and special sermons to the upliftment and spiritual education of youths and adolescents. In 1988, Rev. and Mrs. Percy Honeysucker and a few dedicated members that served the community organized the first Vacation Bible School for the Summer of 1988 as a non-profitable project to enhance the youth’s interest in Jesus Christ and their community. 

              The pulpit was declared vacant, Rev. Honeysucker departed our church in 1988, and a pulpit committee was assigned to review several resumes for the open position.

              Following this procedure, Rev. Benjamin Hall, Jr., was appointed to serve as pastor in 1989. Rev. Hall managed to initiate and maintain familiar traditions and new foundations of Christian brotherhood, manifested conceptually through the motto, “We Are Family.”

              Throughout his administration Rev. Hall has maintained several programs from the past as well as creating new ways for King Solomon to better serve the community. During the first ten months of his administration, the church was empowered to meet financial obligations through financial reconstruction and the organization of various committees and auxiliaries. By completing payments of the churches’ annex (formally known as Teaster’s Otasco) the kitchen was transferred from the sanctuary to the Fellowship Hall. By doing this, the church was able to open the cafeteria each Sunday, a clothing shelter, and a food pantry to assist those that were in need.

              In February 1994, when North Mississippi suffered from one of the worst ice storms in history, leaving many areas in the “Delta” without valuable resources such as water, gas, and electricity. King Solomon M.B. Church along with other Black churches in the community, established a community effort to aid in supplying the communities within those areas with water, food, blankets, and other pertinent materials to families who were victims of the situation. Rev. Hall has been instrumental with continuing the legacy of Rev. Percy Honeysucker by carrying on Vacation Bible School, providing Bible classes each week, and re-organizing a youth committee. Because of the financial power of the church, King Solomon M.B. Church supports many local, collegiate, and national organizations. Rev. Hall has also been responsible for the church sponsoring a tutorial program to assist youths and adolescents in stimulating and assisting their educational growth. 

          In April of 1995, the church moved forward with the concept of reconstructing the church building after noticing the deterioration of the old structure. King Solomon’s new structure was designed by Mr. Warren Bowen, an architect from Jackson, MS. 

              On April 18, 1996, five members Bro. Waymon Crump, Bro. Nelson Tate, Bro. Arthur James, Sis. Ella Mae Fox, and Sis. Annie C. Burney were chosen to seek options for securing a loan at Deposit Guaranty National Bank and to secure a contractor to materialize the new facilities. On September 26, 1997, the loan for building a new facility and reconstruction of the annex was secured and closed with the advisement of Mr. Joseph C. Thomas, Vice-President of Deposit Guaranty National Bank. On October 13, 1997, King Solomon broke ground for building the new church.

In August 1998, the construction of the new facility was completed, and the first dedication service was held on Sunday, September 6, 1998. The reconstructed annex was completed, dedicated, and named, “Waymon C. Crump Educational Complex,” during the cornerstone laying service held on Saturday, September 5, 1998. Since the construction of the new facility, King Solomon has experienced an enormous growth in membership, spiritual upliftment, and an increase in programs. The summer of 2002, King Solomon held its first Summer Camp to further help the children of King Solomon and others after being awarded an educational grant, S.W.A.T. (Students Working Against Tobacco). We now have four choirs:   The Sanctuary Choir, The Male Choir, The Youth Choir, and The Mass Choir due to the expertise of the minister of music, Mr. David Peyton.

In 2007, the church began reorganizing and developing several ministries. Rev. Hall appointed, trained, and organized eleven women to form the first Deaconess Board, providing special services to the women of the church. The board members included Sis. Latoya Adams, Sis. Angela Claybon, Sis. Shawanda Common, Sis. Katherine Fox, Sis. Bernita Jones, Sis. Sharon McCallister, Patricia Owens, Sis. Dorothy Price (deceased in August 2008), Sis. Cynthia Walker, and Sis. Pamela Wilson.

Each year, Rev. Hall organized the youth ministry offices to sponsor Baccalaureate Services for graduating seniors in the Yazoo City and County community. Along with a few committee members, he established the King Solomon Dorothy Price Scholarship Fund to support the educational endeavors of the church's youth. He also provided monetary gifts to students for academic achievements and awarded children who participated in a book reading program he sponsored.

Rev. Hall also initiated a Male and Female Initiative, encouraging positive role models to build relationships with young people in the church and the Yazoo community through various Christian activities. The youth ministry sponsored and organized programs and conferences to educate children about Christian living and making good choices. Each year, the church adopted one to five needy families at Christmas, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, providing toys and supplies for children and families in need.

Rev. Hall was a registered nurse for the Sonny Montgomery V.A. Hospital in Jackson, MS during his administration at King Solomon M.B. Church. Moved by compassion, he also organized a ministry for registered nurses (Sis. Henrietta Richardson and Sis. Sonya McField) to be on hand during worship services to help with those in need. 

With the growing ministries, Rev. Hall envisioned the development of a family life center and inspired the church to buy several properties near the church for this purpose. King Solomon bought two residential properties across from the church’s annex on Calhoun Avenue, three houses on Grand Avenue, and one residential property on Cleveland Avenue for the future development of the family life center. 

As Yazoo became a model community, King Solomon joined the Yazoo City Chamber of Commerce. The year 2007 marked a significant milestone for King Solomon M.B. Church, as they successfully paid off the construction loan within ten years through the combined efforts of tithing members and various fundraising activities organized by all auxiliaries. King Solomon M.B. Church continued to flourish while serving the Yazoo City/County Community over the next 13 years.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic left the world at a standstill. The world was devastated by loss and uncertainty. During this global pandemic, Rev. Hall was committed to spreading hope to us all by preaching God’s word and offering virtual worship services from his home and the sanctuary.

After 33 years of dedicated leadership at King Solomon M.B. Church, Rev. Hall announced his retirement plans during a church administrative meeting held on Saturday, June 5, 2021, and a pulpit committee was organized to search for a new shepherd. Those members of the pulpit committee were Deacon Nelson Tate, Deacon Johnny Wilson, Deacon Larry White, Mother Bettie Clark, Sis. Carmella Scott, Sis. Bernitta Jones, and Sis. Joyce Newkirk. 

Over the next four months, the church evaluated four candidates for the position of Pastor. On June 2, 2022, the members of King Solomon M.B. Church voted in the Pastoral Election. After several deliberations and anticipation, Rev. Antony Phillips, Sr. was selected to serve as the new pastor. The church celebrated Rev. Phillips' installation during a special program on Sunday, August 21, 2022. This event marked the beginning of a new chapter in the church's history, as recorded in the book "We’ve Come This Far by Faith."

At the beginning of Rev. Phillips, administration, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant drop in in-person church attendance across all racial groups and denominations across the globe.  The health disparities and mortality rates lead to more cautious behavior and prolonged closures of many churches. Many churches mourned the loss of elders and leaders, which affected the overall morale and continuity of all churches. The pandemic tested the spiritual and structural foundations of all churches across the globe. Although churches everywhere had adapted to the effects of this devasting pandemic, the use of technology to preserve intergenerational wisdom and sustainability in ministry outreach continued to be a valuable tool to engaging the masses in worship and spreading the gospel.

After the profound challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rev. Antony Phillips, Sr. stepped into leadership at King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church with a renewed vision for spiritual growth and community connection. Recognizing the pandemic’s impact on in-person attendance and the spiritual lives of believers, Rev. Phillips reimagined worship as both sanctuary and service, blending cherished traditions with innovative approaches to ministry.

Central to Rev. Phillips’ vision was the use of technology as a bridge to connect Christians not only within Yazoo City, but across the world. Under his guidance, the church’s social media ministry advanced rapidly, making it possible to livestream worship services, Bible classes, and Sunday School. Each week, the social media team enabled Rev. Phillips to share powerful sermons and spiritual teachings with a global audience. Through these digital platforms and the church’s interactive website, the message of hope and faith reached more than 30,000 individuals worldwide, touching lives in countries such as Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, India, Kenya, Germany, Guinea, and The Gambia.

This technological outreach was not just about numbers—it was about restoring and nurturing the spiritual growth of the church community after a period of isolation and uncertainty. Rev. Phillips envisioned a church where believers could gather, learn, and worship together, whether in person or online. By embracing livestreaming and social media, the church preserved intergenerational wisdom and ensured that ministry outreach remained vibrant and accessible, even in times of crisis.

Through this blend of tradition and innovation and his powerful sermons, Rev. Phillips inspired King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church to become a beacon of faith, unity, and resilience—spreading the gospel to all nations and fostering spiritual growth for every believer, wherever they may be.

The church continues to flourish under the leadership of Rev. Antony Phillips, Sr., In the wake of a devastating fire that displaced more than eight families living in an apartment complex in Yazoo City, MS, Rev. Antony Phillips recognized a growing need among local families for basic necessities—especially clothing. Witnessing firsthand the hardships faced by neighbors who had lost so much, Rev. Phillips was moved to take action and provided practical support for those who had suffered the loss of their homes in a fire.

Inspired by the church’s mission to serve and uplift, Rev. Phillips envisioned a clothing closet—a dedicated space where individuals and families could receive free clothing and essentials during times of crisis and recovery. This initiative was not only a response to immediate needs but also a testament to the church’s commitment to compassion and community care.

Understanding that collaboration would strengthen the effort, Rev. Thaddeous Williams of Tulane M.B. Church reached out to Rev. Phillips to provide the necessary items needed to address the issue. Together, they pooled resources with several churches, volunteers, and donations, transforming the clothing closet and other efforts into a community-wide project. Their partnership bridged congregations and brought together people from all walks of life, united by a shared purpose: to restore dignity and hope to those affected by calamity.

Through the clothing closet, countless individuals can find relief and encouragement. The project became a symbol of resilience, faith, and the power of working together. Rev. Phillips’ leadership, combined with Rev. Williams’ support, ensured that the church remained a beacon of hope—demonstrating that even in the face of adversity, the community could rise, rebuild, and care for one another at the most critical time.

              As we study our past and our present state of existence, we can clearly see that King Solomon has a rich heritage. Since the construction of the new facility, King Solomon M.B. Church has experienced an enormous growth in membership and spiritual growth that has flourished throughout the community.

              Standing as one of the oldest historically Black Missionary Baptist churches in the Yazoo City and County community, King Solomon M.B. Church’s organizational structure consists of one Pastor, Deacon Board, Trustee Board, Church Secretary, and Church Clerk. The Church also consists of a Constitution, Standards and Bylaws Committee, a Social Media & Technology Ministry, a Finance Committee, Data Entry Personnel and Membership Committee along with an Administrative Staff consisting of officers from the following nine auxiliaries:  Deacon Board Ministry, Layman Ministry, Mother Board Ministry, Mission, Sunday School, Bible Class, Sanctuary Choir, Ushers, and Youth Department.

           We the members of King Solomon M.B. Church look forward to the years to come, with each year being a milestone, to getting one step closer to God. With the grace of God and the support of you and concerned members, King Solomon M.B. Church can continue to serve God in “Spirit and in Truth” by providing assured commitment, dedication, and worship services to the community and the fellowman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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