Biography

Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church (Ferriday, La.) is located at 1830 EE Wallace Boulevard, Ferriday, Louisiana.

The Methodist congregation built the first church in Concordia Parish. Though services probably began earlier...perhaps between 1904 and 1908, we know that they were definitely in progress by 1908.

The first services were held at the railroad depot at the head of Louisiana Avenue. Services were later held on the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Fifth Street at the schoolhouse. In 1910, lots 1 and 2 on block 21 were donated to the church. A small one-room church was built.

Mrs. Carrie D. Sevier donated property on the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Third Street and was helpful in fundraising towards a new church. When she passed away on January 19, 1922, a committee was appointed to complete the task. The new church, the Sevier Memorial Methodist Church, was named in memory of her.

The new brick church was completed and the cornerstone laid in May 1924. There were 102 members at that time. The parsonage at that time was a rented home directly south of the post office.

In 1948, a new annex was constructed. A brick parsonage was built in 1952 on the corner of Virginia Avenue and Sixth Street while Rev. Don Alverson served as pastor.

Plans for a larger church began under the leadership of Rev. J.P. McKeithen in 1963. The new church was completed the following year under the leadership of Rev. Jerry Means. The prayer room was named in honor of Rev. McKeithen. The fellowship hall was named in honor of long-time member Carter C. Walles.

Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church in 2023.

Source: Timothy Hebert, “The Historical Register of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church,” (Louisiana: Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, 2004), page AL-46.

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