Mt. Moriah celebrates 197 years
BY MARY ALICE CARMICHAEL
Mt. Moriah Fellowship Church invites you to the annual Homecoming and Memorial Service at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, the only scheduled service of the year.
There will be ‘Music on the lawn’ before and after the church service: The Yeldell Yellers, Director Robert Robinson of Birmingham. ‘Music in the church’ will be performed by The Mt. Moriah Choir, Director and song leader: Jennifer (Stuckey) Ellis of Baton Rouge, La.
Ushers will be Daniel T. Carmichael II and Britton Gilbert Carter, cousins, both of Mountain Brook.
It has been 197 years since this little “Church That Would Not Die” was founded. The church is located on the line of Wilcox and Butler Counties, in two townships, two sections and four different sections of land.
It also had a spring on the hillside behind the church where Baptisms could be held. When the preacher preaches from the front of the church in Wilcox County, he or she can be heard clear into Butler County, the next county. (It is only two or three feet away!)
Presiding will be Beatty P. Carmichael, Sr. of Vestavia.
Following the service will be “dinner on the ground.” Following that in the sanctuary are the 1:15 p.m. Steering Committee, and at 1:45 p.m. the J.G.D. Trust meeting.
The speaker for this 197 year celebration is Rev. Wm. Gary Yeldell, Esq, of Melrose, Fla. He is a frequent participant at Mt. Moriah Fellowship, a Christian Attorney, mediator, and founder of Wise Counsel Legal Services.
He is also a great-great-great-grandson of Robert Yeldell, the builder of the home “Dellmont.” He was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, to Bill and Linda Yeldell.
Rev. Bill preached at Mt. Moriah in 2004. Gary was reared in Jacksonville, Fla.
He was awarded a vocal scholarship where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music theory.
He then earned his Juris Doctorate, and the highly respected Order of the Coif at the University of Florida law school In the Jacksonville area, he practiced Complex Commercial and Labor & Employment litigation for a number of years until he felt the clear call of God to shift his practice to represent exclusively faith-based clients.
In 2009, he founded Wise Counsel Legal Services. He and his firm serve as outside general counsel for the Florida Baptist Convention, and represent churches and other faith-based entities throughout Florida, from Pensacola to Key West.
He is a proud father of two adult children, Jessi and Will, and a devoted husband to Amy. He is active in his church as a Sunday School teacher and musician.
He is also an avid outdoorsman who relies heavily on the grace of God and the kindness of others.
MEMORIALS: Robin (Strother) McMurtree will present the Memorial Service. (NOTE: at the 11 a.m. service complete copies of the obituaries of these impressive lives will be available at the church.)
Note: the following obituaries have been greatly abbreviated:
- Dale, Olivia Stone, age 92. Born Pine Apple 1993, died June 18, 2025, Oak Hill. She was a graduate of Moore Academy and the University of Montevallo, teacher, Postmaster, widow of John Laurie Dale, Jr., burial Bethel Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Oak Hill Cemetery.
- Dale, Teresa Lynn Moore, age 65, born Selma 1959, and died Jan. 10, 2025, Oak Hill; she was Salutatorian, first class of John Tyler Morgan Academy, graduated from Judson in Education; graduated from University with Master’s degree; survived by parents and husband, John Laurie Dale, III, , burial Bethel Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Oak Hill Cemetery.
- Knight, Lawrence A., III “Larry, age 63. Born Monroeville Oct. 28, 1961, died Oct. 23, 2024 Monroeville; graduate of Monroe Academy; before 2003 served on the Steering Committee for Mt. Moriah.
- Steen, Timothy Heyward, age 73, born 1952, and died Sept. 5, 2025; resident of Pine Apple, son of Wiley Oliver Steen, Sr. and Caroline Taylor Steen, 1969 graduate of Moore Academy, owned and operated Pine Apple Grocery, served on town council; worked for McLeod Trucking Co., Tuscaloosa; member Friendship Baptist Church
- Middleton, Barbara, age 86, born 1938; died Dec. 21 2024, resident of Greenville; devoted daughter of Butler County, historian with many civic contributions; recognized with “Spirit of Greenville Award” by Chamber of Commerce; artist, photographer, and preservation.
(to be cont)
