By William “Skip” Deegans
Lewisburg’s Shuck Memorial Baptist Church is named for the Rev. Jehu Lewis Shuck who was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1812. Following his studies at the Baptist Seminary in Richmond and his marriage to Henrietta Hall (both pictured here), the Shucks became missionaries in China after their arrival there in 1836.
Henrietta Shuck is considered the first female missionary to go to China. While there, the Rev. Shuck started three churches and built four chapels. His wife started a boarding school for Chinese children, but she died at age 27 soon after delivering her fifth child. The Rev. Shuck remarried and moved to Shanghai where Shuck’s second wife died in 1851, leaving him with six children. He returned to the United States where he served as a missionary to the Chinese in California. While there is no evidence Rev. Jehu Shuck lived in Greenbrier County, there is some indication he was related to the Shucks from Fayette County, WV.
In 1796, the Big Levels Baptist Church, was organized in Lewisburg with the Rev. John Spotts serving as the pastor. Following the Civil War, church membership had dwindled to about a dozen members. The Rev. R. B. Boatwright was the last minister before the Black community took over the church and renamed it Mt. Tabor. Rev. Boatwright’s son became president of Richmond College that was later renamed the University of Richmond.
In 1930, the Rev. J.F. Cook renewed interest among Lewisburg’s Baptists, and they began meeting at St. James Episcopal Church. By 1939, the new church had been built on Washington Street at a cost of $11,000. The Rev. Shirley Donnelly of Oak Hill preached the dedication service.
Sources: Boston University, International Mission Board, Beckley Post-Herald.
