RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, CRAMERTON, NC

Riverside Baptist Church owes their beginning to First Baptist Church of Cramerton who organized the Fifth Street Mission Sunday School on July 19, 1953. Rankin Leeper of First Baptist was the first Sunday School Superintendent. At the first meeting fifteen people were present. Sunday morning preaching services were started in November 21, 1954. Rev. Don Wilson served two months and Rev. Harold Long served about eighteen months as Pastors of the Mission. Within the first two years of the mission, WMU, Training Union, Sunday night services and Brotherhood was organized.

Floyd Hudspeth became the first Sunday School Superintendent when the church was organized. Rev. Clarence McMahan began his ministry October 7, 1956 ordained October 14, 1956 by Rankin Lake Baptist Church. December 23, 1956 Fifth Street Mission was organized into Riverside Baptist Church. Fifty-nine people were voted in as members, within ninety days 77 were declared Charter Members.

July 19, 1959 the New Sanctuary was dedicated at 2:30 p.m. $30,000.00 worth of bonds were sold to help pay for the church. Mrs. Annie Mae Grooms was the first one of eight to be baptized in August 9, 1959. Twelve years later the burning of the Note for the sanctuary was celebrated.

• Rev. Clarence McMahan retired June 19, 1960, after 16 years of service followed by several ministers and a supply Pastor.

• Rev. Clarence Morris served 21years from February 2, 1964 until February 24, 1985.

• Yates Campbell served three months until Lynn Holcomb came aboard and served for 7 years.

• Rev. Eugene Johns served five month before Chuck Edmondson came to serve a little over 2 years. Rev. Eugene Johns again a little over a year, until another pastor was chosen.

• Rev. Allen Lefler began his ministry in June 30, 1997 and served until his retirement September 4, 2016.

• Rev. Steve Hicks began his interim on September 4, 2016 and was hired as full time minister in January 2017.