08/12/2026
CCR Key Collaborating Partner: United Presbyterians of Wilcox
“We’re standing on holy ground.”
Pastor James Ephraim, president of the United Presbyterians of Wilcox County, speaks solemnly and reverently of the old Annemanie School site in rural Wilcox County. One of six schools established by the Presbyterian church in the late 1800s for the education of children of recently freed slaves, the 300-acre property lies mostly dormant these days…well, except for the sound of saws and hammers as renovation of the principal’s house is now underway. When completed, the house will be a gathering place for community members for Bible studies, music lessons, weddings, community gatherings, and cooking lessons. The community garden is already well-established, and a new outdoor teaching kitchen will allow for culinary experts to demonstrate healthy recipes crafted from the fresh produce available on-site.
Construction is projected to be complete by September with an open house celebration planned for October.
It’s a joy and great privilege to partner with the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, the United Presbyterians of Wilcox County, and our other Key Collaborating Partners through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative.
