Photo Gallery

Lamar Russell was born May 29, 1961, in Lafayette, Georgia and grew up in Trion, Georgia. His is the son of the late Barney and Dolores Russell. He attended the Pennville church of Christ where he was baptized by Tom Ruble in 1972.

Lamar attended Alabama Christian College (now Faulkner University) in Montgomery, Alabama 1979-1981. It was here that he met Wanda Goodwin who became his bride May 30, 1981. Lamar and Wanda have one daughter, one son, and two granddaughters.

Lamar received a B.S. in Bible from Freed-Hardeman University in 1991. He has worked with congregations in Lexington, Tennessee (1989-1990), Jack’s Creek, Tennessee (1990-1991), Hopewell, Virginia (1991-1993), Waycross, Georgia (1993-1997), and Guthrie, Kentucky (1997-2005). He began his work with the congregation in St. Mary’s in May 2005.

John Bird

John Bird was born February 21, 1922, in Metter, Georgia. His parents were C.L. and Letha Bird. In his youthful years he was a Baptist, but with much study, he obeyed our Lord’s Gospel at the age of 19.

John joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and remained in service until 1945. It was during this time (1942), John married his very lovely wife, Lois Davis.

John started preaching the gospel part-time in Savannah, Georgia in 1947. He earned a B.A in education from Georgia Southern at Statesborough and an M.A in psychology from the University of West Florida.

John preached the first sermon in the St. Mary’s Church (1952), started by Brother J.W. Blackburn. John became a full time, pulpit preacher in 1962. He preached across Georgia and Florida, and served as an elder and preacher (1977-82) at St. Mary’s Church of Christ.

Brother John retired from full time preaching in 1994, but continues to offer his services whenever called upon.