Dr. Edward Chaffer White was born on Sunday, December 18, 1892. When he was placed in his mother’s arms, his grandparents proudly declared that this boy must surely be a Baptist preacher. When he was young they moved to Anderson, South Carolina. At age twelve, he was forced to begin work in the mill but he still studied. In 1910, he married Mamie Cathey and they were blessed with ten children: Felton, Annie Ruth, George, Florence, Mable, E.C. Jr., Furman, Milton, Jo Ann, and Tommy Jean.

In 1918, a committee led by Mr. John Hawkins came to E.C. White’s looms in the Appleton Mills where he worked, and asked him to become the pastor of Oakwood Baptist Church. Little did he know at the time that he was to spend his entire ministry as the pastor of the church that ordained him and called him to preach.  He began his ministry on September 15, 1918.  During the early years, he also pastored a series of ten other churches at the same time as Oakwood.

Under Dr. White’s leadership, Oakwood Baptist Church grew and began broadcasting the gospel on May 12, 1935.  Dr. White and four other Baptist Ministers conducted what has been regarded as one of the largest single baptismal events in this area.  It occurred in the 1920’s, when 365 lined up on the Hill near Cold Water Springs to be baptized. On the hill that day were two people that would later meet and marry.  Their son would become a missionary supported by Oakwood Baptist Church.

Dr. J. Robert Martin, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Toccoa, Georgia, was visiting Dr. White at Oakwood Baptist Church one day in the 1940’s when the Holy Spirit Impressed upon him that he would some day pastor Oakwood. In the spring of 1961, he was preaching a revival at Oakwood and Dr. White informed him that he was retiring at the end of the year and thought Oakwood might call him to be the new pastor. He received the call in May of 1961, and the family moved to Anderson in August so the children, Bobby and Danny, could start school. Danny Martin is an active member of Oakwood today. Pastor Martin worked in evangelism until January 14, 1962, when he became the pastor of Oakwood. Pastor Martin kindly gave up part of his salary so Dr. E.C. White would have a monthly retirement income.

Pastor Martin placed great emphasis on studying God’s Word. He was a well-educated man who had command of both the Greek and Hebrew languages and could make the scriptures come alive. He was a man of great conviction who stood for what he believed to be right. It was felt that the Southern Baptist Convention was becoming too liberal so Pastor Martin led Oakwood to formally secede from the convention in 1971, thus becoming Independent. In that same year, Oakwood Christian School was established.

Dr. Neal Prock was saved at the age of nineteen in 1960. He received degrees in Bible and Theology from Oklahoma Baptist University. After several pastorate positions, he took an associate pastor’s position with Dr. J. Harold Smith in Arkansas. After serving with Dr. Smith, Pastor Prock answered God’s call to evangelism and conducted over 250 revivals across America over the next four years.

In December of 1973, Dr. Prock answered God’s call to pastor Oakwood Baptist Church where he became known as a soul-winning preacher. He continually preached evangelistic messages and rarely a Sunday passed that someone did not walk the aisle to accept Christ. The church developed a visitation program that brought many to the church.  Over 245 people joined Oakwood during his ministry resulting in the need for a new facility. In December of 1979, construction was completed on a new church building at its current location on Pearman Dairy Road.

Dr. Russell W. Rice was called as pastor in August of 1981 and faithfully served the people of Oakwood for 18 years. Dr. Rice had a love for people and a passion for missions. Under his ministry, missions outreach became a major part of our church including our first Missions Conference, which is now an annual event, and Faith Promise Giving. 

God continued to bless Oakwood in other areas as well. Growth in the school necessitated expansion in the facilities. Construction began for the E.C. White Building under the leadership of architect, Milton White, the son of Dr. E.C. White. At the dedication service on November 20, 1988, Mr. White presented the church with the first communion set used by the church. Since that day, hundreds of students have received a Christian education during the week and others have benefited from the Sunday School classes that meet there. 

Dr. Rice retired as pastor of Oakwood in 1999 to serve the Lord as an evangelist.

Brent D. Armstrong accepted the pastorate of Oakwood Baptist Church in April of 2001. Under his leadership, Oakwood continued to grow and expand in its people and ministries. Several new staff positions were created allowing focused ministry to senior adults, inner-city children, teens, Spanish speaking people and others around the world through mission trips.  Training for leadership also became a priority as well as awarding a church and staff member every year for faithful service. Pastor Armstrong resigned from the ministry at Oakwood to pastor a church in Arizona in the spring of 2009.

Pastor Jeff Davis began his ministry at Oakwood Baptist Church in April of 2010. He and his wife Joanna, along with their four children, come to us from Wilson, North Carolina. Under his leadership, Oakwood continues to be a healthy, vibrant, growing church looking toward the future to minister to its people and carry out the Great Commission. We say with the psalmist, “This is the Lord’s doing, it is marvelous in our eyes.”  Psalm 118:23 We want to make much of Christ in everything we do. In fact, our future is brighter than our past, for one day soon we shall see Christ face to face. In the meantime, Oakwood will continue to shine as a beacon of hope to all families in the Anderson community.