The Story of the Mosaics
Article #18.
The story of the mosaics began a long time ago - about 40 years ago, in fact. The church was in the Savannah Avenue facility, getting ready to start the building of the Fair Road facility. Fielding and Virginia Russell were the sponsors of the youth group. This group consisted of these youngsters: Billy Broucek, Becky Benson (Thompson) Jay Ben Deal, Mandy Franklin (Conley), William Robson, Bubba Renfrow, Frankie Pearson, Bee Sorrier, Walter Pease, Jr., Walt McDougald, Kay Wischkaemper and Don Turner.
These young people designed and made the first mosaic. Becky Benson drew the original picture, Christ at the age of 12 in the Temple. Their plan was to have it installed in the Educational Building of the new Fair Road facility. It was completed and went into storage during the time the church met at the Marvin Pittman School, 1965-1967. Unfortunately, their work was destroyed during the moving and storage situations.
Virginia and Fielding were distressed to learn that the mosaic was lost, and they were determined that someday, it would be replaced. But it was not until the 1980's that they were able to begin the project again. Actual work started in 1985. Becky Benson Thompson, who drew the original picture, drew it again for the new mosaic. Betty Womack with the aid of her children, Jay and Susanna, transferred the picture to the heavy plywood backing. Tile was gathered from many places including five countries, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and USA, and four states, Georgia, Virginia , Tennessee and Louisiana. Groups gathered for “Tile Cracking Parties”. Finally the mosaicists, Sara Ellis, Virginia Russell, Beatrice Sengbush and Betty Womack were ready to begin. Many other folks pitched in to help in any way they could. Mounting the finished piece on the wall and adding special lighting took even more volunteers.
The completed, and very beautiful, mosaic was finally dedicated on May 5, 1987, with four members of the original youth group, Bill Broucek, Becky Benson Thompson, Bee Sorrier, and Mandy Franklin Conley, along with their sponsors Virginia and Fielding, in attendance. It was a great day!
Virginia felt that there was more to be done, and she encouraged the mosaicists to plan for a series of these beautiful works of art to adorn the walls of our Ed building. Three more mosaics were completed. One, The Nativity Scene, was finished in time for the Centennial Celebration in 1991. Jesus and the Children was completed in 1995, and the last one, The Ascension of Christ, was hung in April of 1998. Two more were planned and space was left on the wall for them. Several boxes of pieces of tile are still in the storeroom. Perhaps someday, someone will be inspired to complete the series. Sara Ellis, Virginia Russell and Cookie Deal were the ladies who worked so diligently to try to complete this monumental task. The final mosaic was designed and completed by one person, Frances “Cookie” Deal.
These beautiful works of art are all mounted on the walls in our Educational Building. Those of us who see them all the time begin to take them for granted; but if one has the pleasure of showing them to visitors, and witnesses the awe and delight of the first time viewer, this awakens our appreciation for all the work and love that went into their construction.
So, the next time you are in the halls of the Education Building, take a few minutes to study these beautiful mosaics. You will feel a new appreciation for those folks who worked so hard to bring this beauty to our church.
Dot Odom, FPC Historian