William P. Weeks, Jr. Minister from 1953-1955

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

The Reverend William P. Weeks, jr. was the minister for Gretna Christian Church from 1953 to 1955.  I have a baptismal certificate for my father for August 16, 1953 which was signed by Reverend Weeks.  While at the Disciples of Christ Historical Society I found the following article.

Excerpts from The Polk County Democrat, Bartow Florida  June 1, 1967

Volunteers Help Ease Sinkhole Shock
by Ruthelma Ward


Newspapers in the past few weeks have on several occasions carried headline pictures and stories of sinkhole disasters in numerous areas in Polk County.  Homes have been shown swallowed up on the gaping holes as if the earth were hungry.


To help you understand take a mythical ride with this writer in the Bartow Red Cross emergency van on a two hour tour through Richmond Manor, Miller Manor and West Bartow.  It's a hot two hour ride, and it's not a sightseeing tour, for sightseers are not welcome here at present.  It's a busy place.


On Sunday afternoon, however, it was not quite so busy.   But the Red Cross van with it's preacher-driver and teenager volunteer to assist was a welcome sight at each of the guarded entrances to the area.  On duty for eight hour sights, which are in addition to their regular eight hour assignments are deputies of the Polk County Sheriff's office and the patrolmen of the Bartow Police dept.  The patrolmen say the cooperation in the area is fabulous.
The van makes a turn through the area each hour handing out food and cool drinks of orange juice and water.  The night crews make the most of the hot coffee.  During the 90-plus temperature of the daytime the refreshing drinks count.  Through the long night, the patrols look forward to a few minutes to chat with the van's crew. The driver on this particular two-hour shift was the Reverend Billy Weeks, pastor of First Christian Church.  Reverend Weeks is head of the relief volunteers, and so, since his own philosophy includes not asking people to do something he won't do himself, he take his daily two-hour shift (or more) with the 30-some other drivers and aides he has lined up on a day to day basis.
After leaving a welcome thirst-quencher and a sandwich or two at the entrance to the subdivisions, the van made its way cautiously along the quiet streets.
"The days are pretty normal." Reverend Billy went on.  "It's the nights that give you trouble. It's pretty hard to sleep out here."


Back at the Red Cross office, another crew was waiting to make the next two hour run.

In future articles, I will be demonstrating the volunteer Christian spirit of the Reverend William P. Weeks jr.

Mark E. Poole  photos
Disciples of Christ Historical Society 

Gretna Christian Church

Atha Bailey

Linda Dalton