Clergy
GENEALOGY
LINE
LOFTIN
BOGGS
James Russell
CRANFORD
Manley Wilson, Sr.
LANIER,
David Anderson
LOFTIN
Curtis Dean
LOFTIN
Pearl Maybelle
LOFTIN
Sam William
SETZER
(None Currently)
GOBLE
SCHRONCE
Paul
JOHNSON
(None Currently)
WEEKS
HARRELL
EASON
GRISWOLD
HOCUTT
Henderson
BEATTY
CORNELIUS
Henry Roy
FESPERMAN
Hoy Lee
_____________
FAMILY
NAMES
LOFTIN:
Beatty
Corzine
Cranford
Fisher
Givens
Harwell
Kaiser
Lanier
Lomax
McCorkle
Rudisill
Sherrill
Upright
Washington
Work
SETZER:
Aderholdt
Barringer
Bovey
Bushart
Deal
Heavner
Herman
Ikert
Miller
Motz
Rankin
Witherspoon
GOBLE:
Babst/Bobst
Douglas
Faber
Fink
Fulbright
Hefner
Meinhert
Miller
Muller
Pabst/Bobst
Robinson
JOHNSON:
Corzine
Fink
Hamilton
Kaiser
Leslie
Lewis
Moore
Sherrill
Upright
Wilkinson
Additional
Family
SURNAMES
Ministers in the Family
Almost everyone who is part of the church is considered part of the laity - serving as elders, deacons and Sunday School teachers. This page will concentrate on men and women in the family who have been either (1) Licensed to the Ministry, (2) Ordained, or (3) Pastored a Church. Special attention will also be given to those family members who have served as Missionaries.
(Below) Russell & Mary Boggs with their children,
Terry Kristan Boggs and Olivian Russell Boggs
James Russell Boggs was born 18 Nov 1923 in Catawba (Catawba Co.), North Carolina, the son of Fitzhugh (11 Mar 1899 - 25 Mar 1949) and Verdie Lee Loftin Boggs (07 Sep 1903 - 06 Mar 1993) of Claremont, NC. He was the grandson of Alonzo Lester Loftin and his first wife Cornelia Lowrance. Russell was confirmed 17 Apr 1938 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Claremont, NC, by R. Bruce Sigmon, Pastor. After graduation from Claremont High School in Claremont, NC, he attended Lenoir Rhyne College, earning a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in 1944. He attended Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in South Carolina earning a B.D. (Bachelor of Divinity) in 1946. He served Lutheran parishes in Liberty, NC; Leesville, SC; and Montgomery, AL. Going on active duty with the US Army in 1957, Russell served as military chaplain, advancing through grades to Colonel, 1972. His overseas' assignments were: Kitzingen, Germany, 1958-61; Vietnam, 1963; Okinawa, Japan, 1969-72; Command Chaplain, US Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany, 1975-77. Military awards included: Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; the Bronze Star Medal ; the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Legion of Merit. Following his retirement from the military, Russell served as Director of Religion and Chaplain to the Corps of Cadets, at The Citadel, in Charleston, SC, where he served until 1980 when he was "called" to become the Director of Church Relations at Newberry College, a Lutheran school in South Carolina.
Manley Wilson Cranford, Sr., was born 11 Jun 1821 in Randolph Co, NC. Some sources say that he was the son of James Cranford and Sarah Redwine. He was the maternal grandfather of Alonzo Lester Loftin. Manley was a religious boy, becoming a local Preacher in the Mountain Creek area when he grew up. He met and married Mary Martha Lomax from Montgomery Co, NC, USA. They were the parents of five children - including Laura Rossie Cranford Loftin. Manley and Mary Martha Cranford are buried at Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina.
Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church
David Anderson Lanier was the fifth child born to Edmund Lanier, Jr. and Susannah Bolch. He was born 24 May 1842 in Burke/Caldwell County, NC. During the Civil War, twenty-year-old David Anderson Lanier enlisted as part of the Confederate troops on 14 Oct 1862 in McDowell County as part of Company E, Regiment 58, North Carolina Infantry. Four of his brothers (Joseph, Elkanah, Jacob and William) also enlisted during the Civil War in 1862. Unfortunately only David came home from the war. The Catawba Soldier of the Civil War
(1911)
"D. A. Lanier"
D. A. Lanier enlisted in Co. E, 58th Regiment NC Troops. He was a faithful soldier. He was wounded twice; once in the battle of Chicamauga Creek and again in front of Atlants, GA. His last wound caused a lameness from which he has suffered ever since. He was honorably discharged from the field services, but remained in the Confederate service in the Medical department until the war closed. David was one of six brothers, four of whom were lost in the war. He has taught school and been preaching in the M.E. Church for a number of years. David married Martha Huntley prior to 1867. Martha was born 08 Mar 1836. Their marriage produced seven children. Martha died prior to 1891 and David married Ruthie Josephine Edwards. Their marriage produced five children - including Dewey Mailalieu Lanier the husband of Willie Thelma Loftin (daughter of Alonzo Lester Loftin & Ida Lillian Setzer). David Lanier was Pastor at Shiloh Methodist Church in Claremont, NC, on two different occasions. Willie Goble Loftin (Dewey Lanier's sister-in-law) said that Dewey had told her that his father used to preach with a gun laying on his pulpit. David Anderson Lanier died 12 Feb 1928 from "heart disease" at the age of 85 and was buried at Shiloh Methodist Church, Claremont, NC. David Anderson Lanier
Curtis Loftin was the son of Sam William Loftin and Willie Aleen Goble. Curtis was born in 1953 and went to church all of his life (Mathis Chapel Baptist Church), but didn't get "saved" until 04 Jun 1970 at the age of 17 during Vacation Bible School. Curtis knew that there was a "call" on his life but wasn't sure where the LORD would lead him. On 04 Jun 1972, two years to the day after he was first saved, he was licensed to the ministry at Mathis Chapel Baptist Church in Catawba, NC. Curtis was encouraged by Pastor Varser Lockee who provided opportunities for Curtis to preach at the church on Sunday evenings. Curtis was Baptized in the Holy Spirit on 25 Aug 1972 - between his Freshman & Sophomore years at Appalachian State University. Unfortunately that's against Baptist doctrine. The home church pastor told him that he'd have to give up his belief in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (and speaking in tongues) if he ever wanted to preach or be used at Mathis Chapel again. Curtis told him, "had you told me that several months ago, I would have done just as you requested, however, I've experienced the joy of knowing Jesus, as not only my Savior but also as my LORD, and I can't turn my back on the work He's done in my life. Curtis started staying in the college town of Boone on weekends instead of coming home. It was at a Charismatic Bible Study on campus where Curtis first met his future wife, Carolyn. They quickly became friends and a small group of them would frequently meet on campus for prayer, worship, and even some occasional preaching. As Curtis continued to seek the LORD's direction for his life, his father, Sam turned the empty building beside of the family home that had been Loftin's Tire Service (and then Loftin's Clothing Store) into a place for Curtis to preach and hold youth services. The floors and walls to the building were painted and a piano was purchased. Sam built slatted-pews for people to sit on, as well as a raised platform area, and a podium. With the encouragement of his parents (Sam & Willie) and fellow church members (Bobby & Grace Taylor), Curtis started "The Lighthouse Youth Mission". Services were held irregularly in the little white cinder-block building when he was home from college on weekends. A large number of youth and even numerous adults came to the Saturday night services and even though those services only lasted for about a year, there were rededications to the LORD, healings, and numerous people were Baptized in the Holy Spirit (including Curtis' mother Willie). When Curtis & Carolyn graduated from Appalachian in 1975, they married and started a family. They remodeled the building that had been Loftin's Tire Service and The Lighthouse Youth Mission, and it became a two-bedroom home for the young family. After their marriage, they looked for a place to go to church and settled in the family church, Mathis Chapel Baptist. After their daughter Beth was born, they began to pray that the LORD would give them a Charismatic/Interdenomination Church where they could raise their family. They heard about a group in Startown called Newton Conover Christian Fellowship and visited with their new daughter. It didn't take long for them to realize that the LORD was calling them to serve with this group of people. Even though Curtis was teaching school, he served as Minister of Music at Newton Conover Christian Fellowship - eventually being Licensed and Ordained by the church. While there, he started a choir called "Sonrise". To choir was open to anyone - you didn't have to be a member to participate - and the group sang at not only Newton Conover Christian Fellowship, but alto took their musical cantatas, drama and simple dance movements on the road to other churches. SONRISE Choir, July 1980 (Curtis in center)
Newton Conover Christina Fellowship became Victory Cathedral
Curtis at the baby-grand piano around 1980
Curtis & Carolyn sing at Christian Ministries Fellowship (later to become Healing Springs) in 1980
(Left) Curtis sings at Newton Conover Christian Fellowship in 1986
(Right) Curtis' Ordination at Newton Conover Christian Fellowship on 29 Mar 1987
(Above) Curtis' ordination on 29 Mar 1987
Curtis would still "preach" at the church from time to time, but knew his real calling was to teach the church about worship and how to enter into the LORD's presence through praise and worship. When Newton Conover Christian Fellowship changed pastors and names (it became New Horizon Ministries), Curtis received updated ordination papers. Curtis, Carolyn & their two small children (Beth & Philip) attended Word of Life Christian Center for about a year, but knew from the very beginning that they were only going to be there for a short season. By this time many in Catawba County knew him now only from being a teacher but also by his years of being Minister of Music at several community churches - so when they attended Word Of Life, it was no surprise that he was asked to step into that position again. In the middle to late 1980s, as Curtis & Carolyn attended praise and worship conferences, they noticed that the LORD seemed to be doing something new. There was a rising interest in liturgical or Biblical Dance as part of praise & worship. There were teachings on the restoration of David's Tabernacle, on Israel, the Biblical Festivals, and the Jewish Roots of Christianity. As the years passed, Curtis continued to serve as Minister of Music as several churches and congregations, teaching on Biblical forms of worship, the Biblical Feasts, dance as a worship form in the church, God's love for Israel, and much more. During those years, he also received ordinations from Healing Springs Church in Hickory and Olive Branch Congregation in Newton.
LICENSE & ORDINATIONS Licensed/Ordained/Pastored Church Denomination Location License - 04 Jun 1972 Mathis Chapel Baptist Catawba, NC License 29 Sep 1985 Newton Conover
Christian FellowshipInterdenominational Claremont, NC Ordination - 29 Mar 1987 Newton Conover
Christian FellowshipInterdenominational Claremont, NC Ordination - 04 Jun 1989 New Horizon Ministries Interdenominational Claremont, NC Ordination - 25 Aug 1991 Word Of Life
Christian CenterInterdenominational Conover, NC Ordination - 1992 Healing Springs
ChurchInterdenominational Hickory, NC Ordination - 03 Apr 1993 Olive Branch Ministries Messianic Newton, NC LICENSES & ORDINATIONS
In 1999, Curtis & Carolyn felt the LORD was leading them to Covenant Bible Church in Lincolnton. They put all of their church activities "on the shelf" and made the move. The church already had a Minister of Music, so Curtis new he would not be serving in that capacity in Lincolnton. Within a year, Curtis and Carolyn were teaching Israeli Folk Dance classes at Covenant, and had started a Jewish-Roots group associated with the church that would eventually be called Beit Yeshua (House of Yeshua/House of Salvation/House of Jesus). Curtis shares at Beit Shofaro's Torah Dedication in 2010 in China Grove, NC
Curtis served as Minister-Of-Music and Psalmist
at the following Churches & CongregationsChurch/Congregation Dates Location Victory Cathedral Jun 1977 - Jan 1981 Conover, NC Word of Life Christian Center May 1981 - Dec 1982 Newton, NC Newton Conover Christian Fellowship May 1983 - Jun 1990 Claremont, NC Word of Life Christian Center Oct 1990 - Dec 1991 Conover, NC Olive Branch Ministries Apr 1992 - Dec 1997 Newton, NC Gates of Praise/Beit Yeshua Aug 2001 - Present Lincolnton, NC
Curtis & Carolyn started several Israeli Folk Dance Troups Church/Congregation Dates Location Newton Conover Christian Fellowship 1987 - 1900 Claremont, NC Word of Life Christian Center 1990 - 1991 Conover, NC Olive Branch Ministries 1992 - 1997 Newton, NC Machol Dance Ministry
(Beit Yeshua/Covenant Bible Church)2000 - Present Lincolnton, NC A group of dancers in nations costumes
Covenant Bible Church 2002
Israeli Folk Dance Classes & Conferences Church or Congregation Date Location First Methodist Church 2001 Conover, NC Resurrection Family Church 2001 Hickory, NC Young Women of the WORD, Covenant 2001 Lincolnton, NC Practical Applications of Praise & Worship 2001 Lincolnton, NC Flag & Tabret Workshop 2002 Lincolnton, NC Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp 2002 Charlotte, NC Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp 2003 Charlotte, NC Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp 2004 Charlotte, NC First Methodist Church (VBS) 2006 Catawba, NC Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp 2007 Charlotte, NC Highway to Zion 2011, 2012, 2013 Charlotte, NC Teaching an Advanced Class of dancers at the Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp in 2003
At the church atop Mt. Tabor in Israel in 2005
At the Western Wall in Jerusalem in 2011
Curtis lead congregational dance during praise & worship at a 2012 Passover Seder
Ministering at Beit Yeshua's Sukkot Celebration in 2012
The Loftin Family Home Church
Mathis Chapel Baptist Church, Catawba, NC
Pearl Maybelle Loftin was the first child born to Washington Lafayette Loftin and Margaret Jane Lackey. Pearl was born 29 Jan 1882 in Catawba County, NC. Pearl served as a Missionary in Hong Kong, CHINA, from Oct 1920 to Jan 1927, through the Pentecostal Holiness Church. On 29 Apr 1920, Pearl appeared before the Clerk of Superior Court in Newton, NC, in order to apply for her passport to China. According to the passport, she was to sail on the S.S. China on Oct 1920. She was 38 years old at the time. Pearl below and 2nd from the right in the carriage
Photos verified by Lois Loftin Mundy
At this time, little else is know of the time Pearl spent in China. According to the 1927 Passenger & Crew Lists for Seattle, Washington, that she departed Hong Kong, CHINA, on 09 Mar 1927, aboard the ship Empress of Asia, bound for Seattle. She was 45 years old at the time she sailed home. She arrived in Seattle, Washington, on 27 Mar 1927. Pearl died 26 Jul 1932 at the age of 50. Sam Loftin was the son of Alonzo Lester Loftin and Ida Lillian Setzer. He was born in 1918 and died in 1979. At the age of 36, while attending Mathis Chapel Baptist Church in Catawba, NC, Sam "accepted the call" to preach. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Sam's father, Alonzo, was away from home most of the time trying to provide for his family. In 1936 Alonzo died when Sam was a young man of only 17 years old. Without much paternal direction and guidance (even before his father's death), Sam had the name of being "rough". Sam dated Willie Goble in the early 1940s. Willie said she would only date him when they were on a double date - never just the two of them. When Sam was 23 and Willie was 16, they got married. After their marriage, Sam continued to "drink" and even owned and operated a bar (complete with illegal slot machines). Willie said they never had any money, UNTIL Sam opened the bar. But all that changed in the early 1950 - when Sam and Willie got "saved". Sam & Willie with other charter members of Mathis Chapel Baptist Church in 1953
Sam was licensed as a Deacon by Pastor Tomas Taylor in March of 1955 - and then licensed as a Minister in July of 1955 and went to Fruitland Bible College.
Licensed/Ordained/Pastored Church Denomination Location License - 02 Jul 1955 Mathis Chapel Baptist Catawba, NC Deacon Certificate Ministry License Revival Flyer
(Left) Sam, Willie and Willie Ray at Mathis Chapel - the old building
Sam never pastored a church but he did hold revival meetings in various homes and other locations. He even built some slatted benches that were moved into the den of the Loftin family home to accommodate the crowd for home meetings that were held there. Sam's pastor, Tommy Taylor, always encouraged him with his calling, but as attendance at Sam's revival meetings grew, jealousy within the church became a discouragement for Sam and he stopped preaching.
No One Currently
Paul Schronce was the son of Cecil Schronce and Brenda Isenhour Schronce. He is the grandson of Fred Isenhour & Fannie Elizabeth Goble - and the great-grandson of Martin Luther Goble & Beulah Vernesta Johnson. Paul and his twin sister, Paula
Paul was "called" to preach while attending Mathis Chapel Baptist Church under Pastor Coy Walker. Paul attended Fruitland Bible College and pastored a church in Taylorsville, NC. (Left) Paul in the military, and (Right) with his wife, Annette
No One Currently
WEEKS, HARRELL, EASON & GRISWOLD FAMILIES
HOCUTT, Henderson Henderson Hocutt was born about 1821 to William Brown Hocutt and Lucretia "Creacy" O'Neil, and went by the nickname "Hence", "Hinson", or "Uncle Hint". He married Rebecca Tisdale on 08 Sep 1839 in Nash County, NC. After Rebecca's death, Henderson married Sileth A. "Gillie" Dodd on 21 Jul 1859 in Franklin County, NC. Even though Henderson is listed as a "Farmer" on the 1860 and 1870 Census, he accepted the "call" and eventually became a preacher. He was the founder of the Antioch Baptist Church near Emit, North Carolina and also organized Cornith Baptist Church (of which he served as pastor). He was also a member of the White Stone Masonic Lodge No. 155 in 1866 and Chaplain in 1867. Henderson had to be helped home as he preached his last sermon at Corinth Baptist Church. Rev. Henderson Hocutt died 17 Oct 1880 in Johnston County, NC, at the age of 59.
Rev. Henry Roy Cornelius, b. 23 Oct 1896, d. 20 Mar 1965, was the son of James Preston Cornelius & Mary Pruitt Beatty, the grandson of Gilbert Manson Beatty & Adeline Susan Sherrill, and the great grandson of Charles Manson Beatty & Judith Sherrill. Charles Manson Beatty was the brother of Sarah/Sally Lavina Beatty who married Thomas Loftin, b. 1798, d. 30 Jan 1842. Their great grandsons Rev. Henry Roy Cornelius (b. 1896) and Alonzo Lester Loftin (b. 1876) were 3rd cousins. Rev. Henry Roy Cornelius (b. 1896) married Lena Setzer. His 3rd cousin Alonzo Lester Loftin (b. 1876) married Ida Lillian Setzer. With Lena and Ida both being born and dying in Catawba County, NC, they were obviously cousins - there there is currently no indication of how they were connected. Upon his death, Rev. Cornelius and his wife, Lena, were buried in the Friendship United Methodist Church Cemetery, in Newton, NC Rev. Hoy Lee Fesperman, b. 24 Oct 1901, d. 01 Aug 1955, was the husband of Wilma C. Rader. Wilma was the daughter of son of Wilma Cosby Beatty & William Franklin Rader. Wilma C. Rader was the granddaughter of Gilbert Manson Beatty & Adeline Susan Sherrill, and the great granddaughter of Charles Manson Beatty & Judith Sherrill. Charles Manson Beatty was the brother of Sarah/Sally Lavina Beatty who married Thomas Loftin, b. 1798, d. 30 Jan 1842. Their great grandsons Rev. Henry Roy Cornelius (b. 1896) Thomas' great-grandson Alonzo Lester Loftin (b. 1876) and Charles Manson's great-granddaughter Wilma C. Rader were 3rd cousins - making Rev. Hoy Lee Fesperman Alonzo's 3rd cousin by marriage. SOURCES
