Text Box: SOUTH WALKER CHURCH OF CHRIST June 30, 1952 marked the first Sunday meeting of a new congregation. The congregation met at S.E. 57th and Stiles and was known as Southeast Church of Christ. It was a mission outreach of one of the pioneer churches in Oklahoma City, the Capitol Hill Congregation. The church of Christ in Oklahoma City first met in the courthouse downtown. The first buildings constructed were at 10th and Francis, and 28th and S. Harvey (Capitol Hill). From those early days churches of Christ continued to be planted. June 1962 marked another milestone as a new building was built on new church property at 6500 S. Shields. The name then became Shields Church of Christ. In 1983 the building at 5217 South Walker was purchased from Oakcrest Church of Christ. The first Sunday in the new location was November 20, 1983. The name then was changed to South Walker Church of Christ.   The Capitol Hill congregation started Southeast Church of Christ with 11 families, a young couple and young girls present on the first meeting day. They were: Gilbert and Alice Bigham family Odie and Rosa Bradley family Raymond and Yvonne Bynum family Bill Goddard and Joyce Richey Herman and Eva Jones family Harvey and Opal Mitchell family Flossie Norwood family Oscar and Audra Pennington family Roy and Mildred Randolph family Charlene Tate family Glen and Trudie Tutor family Pete and Louise Weeden family Orva Jane, Waindda and Norma Grissom   Some time later the men’s business meeting requested elders from Capitol Hill come assist them in the work.   Return to Home Page 50th Anniversary Program Text Box: The first elders were Joe Graham, Raymond Weir and Charlie Wilson. They worshiped with Southeast and were appointed the first elders in 1955.   The first deacons were Gilbert Bigham, Herman Jones, Roy Randolph and Paul Robins.   On June 8, 1959 three elders and six deacons were added; Raymond Greathouse, Roy Randolph and Paul Robins were appointed as elders. Jack Earley, Bill Goddard, Pete Lane, Joe Shelton, Norman Barnes and Scott Reed were added as deacons.   Other additions to the eldership were: Albert Trent, Norman Barnes, Floyd Brogdon, Howard Kimbley, James Grove, Bob Julian, James Womack, Larry Goddard and Murle Minson.   Additional deacons added were: Jim Cox, John Barnes, Ira Blankenship, Lloyd Hilbern, Mahlon Lewis, James Grove, Howard Kimbley, Charles Davis, Earl Stringfellow, Dennis Zimmerman, Murle Minson, Larry Goddard, Paul Sparks, Ben Findley, Bob Findley, Denny Clark, Jim Harwell, Dennis McDaniel, Fred Eades, Bob Eades, Rick Harris, Jim Hale, Bob Nusbaum, Sam Pierce, Calvin Pryor, Earl Robinson, Don Williamson, Johnny Morgan, Larry Weaver, Bill Cahlik and Bill Phillips.   Paul Johnston, beginning a gospel meeting, conducted the first service. Oscar Pennington was the first preacher followed by Glendon Walker, Don Willingham, Jimmy Campbell, Eugene Henderson, Floyd McClaskey, Albert Trent, Hoyt Thatcher, Bob Rowley, Bill Cofer, Buddy Morrison, Don Kinney and Paul Sparks.   James Trent was the first youth minister followed by Mike Brazle, Bill Whaley, Pat Peters, Taylor Cave, Brett Dewberry, Robert Stolte and Gavin Wilkie.   Prepared April 9, 1992 with the assistance of a former brief history by Bill Goddard and the memories of Opal Mitchell, Flossie Norwood, Eva Jones, Rosa Bradley, Charlene Tate, Murle Minson, Oscar Pennington and Roy Randolph. (Revised June 20, 2002)