Photo submitted by Mark Byington
Laurel Branch Methodist Episcopal
 Laurel Branch United Methodist
Wilkinson County, GA.
Laurel Branch Rd. Northwest  Organized 1840's.

          In 1848, 10 acres of land was deeded by Rachel Smith and Bryant Wood to the church:

          State of Georgia, Wilkinson County  This Indenture made this 9th day of September in the year of our Lord  1848, between Bryant Wood & Rachel Smith of the County and State aforesaid  of the one part, & the members of the Laurel branch protestant church and  their successors, so long as it remains a church, but in case it shall  pull away and be no church, then to Daniel McCook, his heirs and assigns,  of the same place of the other part. Witnesseth, that the said Bryant Wood  & Rachel Smith, for & in consideration of the sum of $20.00 to them in  hand paid, at & before the sealing & delivery of these presents, the  receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold &  conveyed, & does by these presents grant, bargain, sell & convey unto the  said Laurel Branch Church as aforesaid, all that tract or parcel of land  situated, lying & being in the county aforesaid, containing one square lot  of 10 acres, with the meeting house in the center, the understanding is  when the above named 10 is surveyed, it is be so constructed as to embrace  the meeting house in the center of the ten acres, in the 5th Dist. of said  County, it being a part of Lot known by the No. 140, also part of Lot. No.  155, the portion of land taken from both lots.
      To have and to hold said land, unto the said Church as aforesaid and their  successors, together with all & singular, the rights, members and  appurtenances thereof to the same in any manner belonging, to their own  proper use, benefit and behoof, forever in Fee Simple.
   And the said Bryant Wood and Rachel Smith, for themselves, their heirs,  executors and administrators, the said bargained premises unto the said  Church as aforesaid, and their successors, will warrant and forever defend the right to or title thereof against themselves and against the claims of  all other persons whatever.
    In witness whereof, the said Bryant Wood and Rachel Smith hath hereunto  set their hands and affixed their seals, the day & year above written.

 Signed, Sealed & delivered in the presence of:
 Wiley J. Weaver Bryant Wood - his X mark
 Lewis McCullar Rachel Smith - her X mark
 (submitted by Mark Byington)

     The first members were Nancy Seals, Amos Fox Byington and wife Nancy Freeney Byington. Amos Fox Byington
taught Sunday school in the early classes.
     The 2nd church building was erected in 1887 by  J. A. McMullen and Iverson Golden.  The wood came from the sawmill of Mirabeau Byington.
    In 1917 there was a split in membership and Snow Hill Congregational Methodist Church was formed nearby. The church burned in the 1980's and a new building was constructed.