REFLECTION: HOLIDAYS AT OAKLAND

It has always been special at Oakland Baptist church during the Holiday.  Mrs. Douglas was a special person in my life at this time of the year.  She made it special for all the kids at Oakland.  The recitals that the kids do for Christmas and Easter were implemented by Mrs. Douglas years ago.  When I say years ago, I’m talking about she taught my mom, me, my children and my children’s children on how to present yourselves as young ladies and gentlemen  before people.  Mrs. Douglas had permission from all the families at that time to correct our children.  As I look back now I can see how it has  helped to construct all of us into the people/person that we are now. 

Special Thanks To Mrs. Elizabeth Douglas.

- Arnita Jackson


Thanksgiving Service was held on the morning of Thanksgiving, with testimonies given by those in attendance as to what they were thankful for.  Since attendance was low, it was decided to have a Thanksgiving Eve service instead of Thanksgiving day.
 
A Christmas Cantata under the Director of Music, Mrs. Essie Matthews, was performed on Sunday morning at the 11 a.m. worship service with The Word given as a Sermonette by Rev. Tyrone Queen. On Saturday evening, a Christmas Cantata under the Director of Music, Mr. Andre Leonard, was held. The participants were members of various choirs here at OBC, members, and guest artists.  The  attendance was great.

- Connie Terrell


I remember a New Year's Eve service in the "old" church where we were down in the church basement.  The only people there were Pastor A.R. Preston, Minister Jackson, Minister Terrell, Brother Alfred Lewis and maybe two other people and myself.  It was a bitter cold night.  It was something I will never forget.
 
I also remember every Christmas and Easter, there would be a lot of kids (from the youngest to the oldest) who had Easter poems from Mrs. Douglas that had to be memorized and recited during the morning worship service.  I would cry every time it was my time.  Mrs. Douglas would be patient with me and somehow I would get through it.

- Karen Terrell-Hargrove


My memories as a child is waiting for Mrs. Douglas to announce practice for the Christmas program. At that time, we had so many kids participate in the program. The big thing with the kids - who could memorize the longest poem to recite at the program. You had to memorize the poem, you could not read it at the program. I think we had about three weeks to memorize the poem.  I could not wait to recite my poem. I can't remember for sure but I think the programs were after morning service, the Sunday before Christmas. We had our Christmas outfits on and we all had to sit on the front row in the order that you were to recite your poem. The anticipation was great to know all your words, to stand in front of the entire congregation and to speak clearly and loudly for all to hear per Mrs. Douglas instructions. When it was your turn for you to go up  you had to curtsy (girls) and bow (boys), state your name and title of your poem. Mrs. Douglas is standing on the side looking at you with her big smile, your biggest fan at the time and you didn’t want to let her down. As you finished the poem she always would say "thank you darling and please go sit down".  To this day when I see Mrs. Douglas in church, she always greets me with her big smile and say  "How you doing darling" as I go take my seat. How I miss those days.

- Aprile Belk


I remember growing up at Oakland and we used to have a candle light service each year to celebrate Christmas. It would be a sing along service and at the end everyone would receive a candle and walk out of the sanctuary with it lit.

- Nikki Coleman