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The initial organization of Hunter Hills AME Church began
during May, 1939, in the home of Mr. George Hunter. While
Mr. Hunter provided the place for the initial meetings, Elder
Wingfield presided over all of the earlier gatherings. The
persons who came together were primarily from an established
congregation, the Flipper Temple AME Church. Others, also
present, were from nearby Alien Temple AME Church. From this
nucleus was born Hunter Hills AME Church.
After several meetings of the same group, the vision of
a new congregation began to take shape, especially when Attorney
Craighead donated a lot upon which the first Church was constructed.
Attorney Craighead was also responsible for the trail that
extended from what was formerly Hunter Street (now Martin
Luther King Jr. Drive) down to Chappell Road at Akridge Street
where the Church is presently located.
During the early years after 1939, the problems were many
and the people were few. The first two Churches were destroyed
by fire. Those edifices, as well as the present structure,
were primarily constructed by members within the congregation.
In 1942, representatives of the Church successfully borrowed
$700 to purchase materials and supplies that were being salvaged
from the Providence Baptist Church. Later that year, Mr. Will
Brown was credited with having started the first Sunday School
at HHAMEC. Father Brown, as he was later called, would gather
children from the surrounding community and bring them to
Sunday School. These children grew up and, as that growing
occurred, the interest in the Church became stronger.
The Steward Board and the Stewardess Board were organized
during the pastoral administration of the Reverend W.E. Mackey.
In 1962, the Reverend Edmond Thomas Kemp was assigned as the
new pastor. This assignment marked the longest tenure of any
pastor in the history of the Church. The tenure of Rev. Kemp
ended in June 1989 when the Rev. Dr. E. Earl McCloud, Jr.
was assigned to lead the Hunter Hills family.
Under the zealous leadership of Rev. McCloud, the Hunter
Hills family has grown with over 200 additional members. Also
under his guidance, the Hunter Hills' Community Life Center
was born. Additional accomplishments during his tenure include
renovation of the church, a new parking lot, a radio ministry
and the purchase of a church van. We have also become involved
in several organizations such as A.B.L.E., Odyssey House of
Atlanta and Quest Atlanta '96.
Rev. McCloud states that he is most pleased when someone
joins the church (I tell you that in the same way there will
be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than
over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:7).
A bold yet faithful decision was made in September 1994
when Mrs. Marlene Stiggers offered a motion to relocate the
Church. The motion was seconded by Mr. Charles Person and
we embarked on a journey that transplanted this congregation
to 2046 Beulah Lane SE, Atlanta, Georgia on December 1,1996.
On Monday, August 26,1996, in a Church Conference, we voted
to change the name of our Church to First African Methdist
Episcopal Church, Atlanta (FAME).
Our vision for the future is embodied in our continued efforts
to feed those who are hungry, train those who are trainable,
clothe those who are naked and to care for those who are neglected.
We give "God The Glory" for the great things that
have happened and will happen. The first new member to unite
with our Church after we changed the name from Hunter Hills
AME Church to FAME, Atlanta Church was Justice Bryce Johnson
who was baptized on Sunday, October 27,1996.
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