In 1897, our forefathers started meeting in the old Morrison School on Potneck Road in Woodleaf, North Carolina. They later changed the name to Morrison Baptist Church and remained there for several years. On February 24, 1909, land was purchased from Willie Rice for $25.00 and New Shepherd Baptist Church was established on Wetmore Road in Woodleaf, N.C. The deed was registered at the Rowan County Court House in Salisbury, N.C.

The first pastor was Rev. Wise Hairston. Additionally, from our research we have found that Rev. Wise Hairston pastored several churches in the area. We have reason to believe he pastored Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Forks, NC ; Shiloh Baptist Church, Mocksville, NC  and Buncombe Baptist Church, Lexington, NC. Our first deacons were Brothers Jesse Clement and William Fleming. Additionally joining the Deacon Board were Brothers Ed Brooks, Smart Phifer, Johnnie Johnson, Will Johnson and Odell Fleming.

In 1915 Rev. I Hairston became the second pastor and remained until 1929; afterwhich, Rev. Landis Brown became the new pastor (who was a cousin of the Hairston Ministers). During this time more deacons and trustees were ordained. They were W. Floyd Johnson, Crumb "CC" Luckey, Gilbert Little and Hardy Kesler. In the early 1940's Mrs. Louise Kesler-Young joined the senior choir under the leadership of Arthur Martin and learned to sing by reading notes.

In 1946 an aspiring minister from Charlotte, N.C. became our pastor, Rev. John Madison Kennedy. Rev Kennedy was our leader and an inspiration in the growth of the church. He asked Mrs. Louise Kesler-Young to organize a youth choir. As the years passed we gained more deacons and trustees. They were Brothers James Johnson Sr., Robert Peck, Matthew Kesler Sr. Mr. Floyd Johnson and he became the Sunday School Superintendent. Later his wife, Prudence P. Johnson would hold the position until declining health in the early 1990's.

Mrs. Lillie Johnson was the first Mother of the church and was known by many as "Mama Lillie."  Mrs. Prudence L. Johnson was the second Mother of the Church and Mrs. Louise Kesler-Young (third); Mrs. Ollie Wood (fourth) and presently, Mrs. Jessie Wilson of Cooleemee, N.C. is presently the Mother of our church.

In the early 1970's due to Rev. Kennedy's health, he resigned as our pastor and Rev. Dr. Jordan Clifton Harris of Statesville, N.C. became our pastor. During this time New Shepherd relocated to Cooleemee, N.C. and purchased the church formerly known as Edgewood Baptist Church. Records indicated that this acquisition was deeded to New Shepherd Baptist Church Trustees in 1971. The deed was filed at Davie County Court House.

 In the early 1980's Rev. Waylon Wallace was voted as pastor of the church. During his reign we started having worship service every Sunday at 11a.m. Prior to this we had worship services on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Around 1988, Rev. Lorenzo Seegars of Charlotte, N.C. became our Pastor. Under his leadership we were aired on WTLC Radio Station in Thomasville, N.C. Our Minister of Music was Rev. Cartrell Woods. The Missionary Board observed their first anniversary on April 30, 1989 and the speaker was Mrs. Nedith Woods who later organized the Pastor's Aide Board of our church. In the late 80's to early 90's Brother Rudolph Wilds organized the church's first Usher Board and served as President for many years. In addition, the first Usher Anniversary was observed during his tenure. Presently, Mrs. Darnelle Allison serves as the Usher President.

On November 12, 1989 Rev. Melvin Kesler preached his initial sermon and became the first Associate Pastor of our church and later became the Pastor in November 10, 1991. Under his leadership, we remodeled our existing church and fellowship hall.

In November of 1992, Evangelist Frances J. Ellis preached her initial sermon and became the first licensed female minister at New Shepherd. She was ordained in 1996. Mrs. Louise Kesler-Young became the Sunday School Superintendent in the early 1990's. Brothers James Richmond and Jamie Grant became ordained deacons and the Layman's League was formed. God's anointing led Deacon Grant into ministry and he preached his initial sermon in 1994. Later, Rev Grant was called to pastor New Patterson Grove Church in Forbush, N.C. Later, God blessed us with Deacons Matthew Kesler Jr. & John Young.  Also, under the leadership of Pastor Kesler, two additional Ministers served as Associate Ministers to our church. They were Rev. Alice Riley and Rev. Brenda Kesler. After the death of Mother Louise Kesler Young in the late 1990's, Brother James Johnson Jr. became the Sunday School Superintendent and presently serves today. Mrs. Norma Mattox has served as Sunday School Secretary since the early 1990's and still serves today. Our First Lady Emeritus, Vivian Kesler has served in many capacities in the church and has been our Adult Sunday School Teacher since the early 1970's. In the 1990's our church also won 1^st Place for our Parade Float in the Cleveland-Barber Christmas Parade. We displayed a float of Angels being pulled by Brother Thomas Gaither's flatbed Rig. Also in January 2005, the first MLK Jr. Parade in Cooleemee was hosted by our Church. It started at the church and ended at the Cooleemee Shopping Center. The Former Tuskegee Airman, Inc. from Goldboro, NJ were our guest speakers.

In 2008, Mrs. Darlene Gaither & Ms. Alicia Dillard formed the first Praise & Liturgical Dance Ministry was established and in January of 2010 a Banner Ministry was formed under Mrs. Elaine Best.

On October 24, 2010, Rev. Curtis L. Cummings preached his initial sermon and was ordained in 2011. Rev. Cummings of Atlanta, GA became our Pastor in January of 2012. Although the church originally had a church webpage, our First Lady Cummings established the church's first website at http://www.newshepherdbaptistchurch.org/. Under Pastor Cummings leadership, God blessed us with additional Associate Ministerial Staff. They are Rev. Michael White, Rev. Jennifer White and Rev. AnTonelli Kesler who was licensed at New Shepherd by Pastor Cummings. Brother James Johnson was ordained as Deacon for our church under Pastor Cummings in 2012 and Mrs. Ruby Ford was appointed as Deaconess. In 2013, three additional Deaconesses were appointed. They were Mrs. Mildred Phifer, Mrs. Bessie Wilson and Mrs. Norma Mattox.

Our church is a member of the Davie County Missionary Union and has always had members actively working in the Rowan Baptist Convention and its affiliates. We are a church that is deeply rooted in the love of Jesus Christ and we continue to be prayerful as we continue to make history. We have come this far by faith!

Church Historian

Mrs. Ruby Ford

TIMELINE:

1897-                        Forefathers began having service at Old Morrison School

1909-                        Land was purchased and New Shepherd Church was formed

                                    First Pastor, Rev. Wise Hairston

1915-1929-            Rev. JI Hairston became Pastor

1929-1946-            Rev. Landis Brown became Pastor

1946-1970-            Rev. John Madison Kennedy became Pastor

1970-1980-            Rev. Dr. Jordan Clifton Harris became Pastor

1971-                Moved from Woodleaf to Cooleemee and purchased the former Edgewood Baptist Church. The church cemetery is still as the original  location in Woodleaf.

1980-1988-            Rev. Waylon Wallace became Pastor and we began having Worship Service every Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

1988-1991-            Rev. Lorenzo Seegars became Pastor

            1989-            Rev. Melvin E. Kesler became the first Associate Pastor

Our Sunday Services were aired on WTLC Radio in Thomasville, NC

                                    Missionary Board observed their first Anniversary 1989

                                    Mrs. Nedith Wood organized our first Pastor Aide

                                    Brother Rudolph Wilds organized our first Usher Board

1991-2011-            Rev. Melvin E. Kesler became Pastor

             1992             Rev. Frances J. Ellis became first licensed female Minister at New Shepherd. She was ordained in 1996.

                                    Layman League was formed

                                    Won 1^st Place in Cleveland-Barber Parade Float

2005-           Hosted 1^st MLK Jr Parade in Cooleemee, NC

Hosted the Tuskegee Airman

             2008-           Praise & Liturgical Praise Team Formed

2010-           Banner Ministry Formed    

2011-present        Rev. Curtis Cummings became Pastor

                                    First official Church Website created

                                    Ordained Deacon James Johnson 2012

                                    Appointed Deaconess Ruby Ford 2012

                                    Appointed Deaconesses Mildred Phifer, Bessie Wilson, Norma Mattox, 2013

                                    Licensed Rev. AnTonelli Kesler, 2013

CHURCH PASTORS: (Missing Photos of Rev. Wise Hairston & Rev. Landis Brown)

CHURCH MOTHERS:

Mrs. Lillie Johnson, Mrs. Prudence Johnson, Mrs. Louise Kesler-Young, Mrs. Ollie L. Wood

Mrs. Jessie Wilson (present)