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Our Family
Genealogy Pages
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 1893 - 1967 (74 years)
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| Name |
Zebulon Alexander CAUDLE |
| Birth |
09 Apr 1893 |
Anson Co., NC  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
24 May 1967 |
Mecklenburg Co., NC |
| Person ID |
I14139 |
Rootballs |
| Last Modified |
10 Jan 2015 |
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| Notes |
- 1. 1893 - 1967
My father was the fourth of eight children and the first son born to Wiley and Wincy Caudle. He was born in an humble Christian home where he developed a strong body and formulated high, Christian ideals. He was converted at 15 and affilated himself with Deep Springs Baptist Church in the home community. On November 25, 1914, he married his community sweetheart, Letha Newton.
In 1916 my father announced the Lord's call for him to enter the ministry. That June he preached his first time at his home church. In August of the same year he accepted a call to the Center Grove Baptist Church in Chesterfield County, SC. From that time until his death in 1967, my father engaged in Christian ministry either full time or, after his retirement in 1959, as supply or interim ministry.
My father was ordained in 1917 by his home church, Deep Springs Baptist, and later the same year called as that church's pastor and also called by Mount Zion Baptist in Union County, NC.
In 1918 my mother and father moved to Wingate, NC so that my father could attend school to better prepare himself for his life's work. While at Wingate, my father served a number of rural churches as their pastor. He served these churches from two to six years and served as many as eight at one time. These churches are as follows: In Union County, NC: Sandy Ridge, Mountain Springs, Ebenezer, Macedonia, Mount Pleasant, Oak Grove, and Corinth. In Chesterfield County, SC: Wolf Pond, Spring Hill, Elizabeth, Bethlehem, and Clear Creek Church in Mecklenburg County, NC.
My mother and father's first two sons were born at Wingate. Craven Burris was born in 1920 and Norman Bryant in 1922.
In 1924 my father accepted his first full-time pastorate at North Charlotte Baptist (now Whitling Avenue) in Mecklenburg County, NC. He also served as part-time pastor of Friendship Baptist Church (later Berryhill). While here their third son, Broadus Sherron was born in 1925.
In 1930 my father became the pastor of Morven Baptist Church in Anson County, NC. He also served the following rural churches: In Anson County, NC: Deep Creek, Cedar Grove, Red Hill, Pleasant Grove, and Mount Croghan in Chesterfield County, SC. While at Morven, the only daughter, Sarah Louisa was born in 1930.
In 1931 my father accepted a pastorate at Thrift Baptist Church in Mecklenburg County, NC where he served for the next three years.
In 1934 my father accepted a pastorate at Durham Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC where he remained until 1938. While here, he also again became part-time minister of Friendship Baptist Church.
In 1938 our family moved to Lenoir, NC where my father became pastor of Lower Creek Baptist Church for the next eight years. These were the most difficult years for our family, our church, and our nation. He was pastor of this church during World War II in which some 100 young men from our church family including the three Caudle brothers were called on to fight in the war. The church had five killed in service and others missing and several prisoners of war. On April 13, 1942, we watched as Lower Creek Baptist Church was destroyed by fire. Four days previously, all building materials were frozen due to World War II. No one living knows the hard work and diligent efforts my father did to see that this church was rebuilt at this time except me. I actually do feel he gave to this church the very best years of his life. With some help from others, as well as much effort from my father, the church did get a permit to rebuild during the war. The first Sunday in October, 1943, the congregation of Lower Creek Baptist Church moved into a new, 600-capacity church building. As the war ended, the young men came back to their homes and church which included the three Caudle brothers who returned from the war unharmed physically.
While in Lenoir, my father served as moderator of the Caldwell Baptist Association. He also served as Pastor of Mulvale Baptist Church part-time. His oldest son Craven married Fletcher McNeil in October of 1946 in Lenoir.
In 1947 my father accepted the pastorate at the First Baptist Church in Aberdeen, NC. This was a difficult move for me in that the ones moving were my mother, father, and me. I was 16, a difficult age to be moving. This church purchased land and began a building fund for a new church building. My father served for one year as moderator of the Sandy Creek Baptist Association. He also served as the Baptist Minister of Samarcand, at that time, a State institution for girls. Also, while in Aberdeen my second brother, Norman married Gladys Rowe. My parents became grandparents as Craven and Fletcher presented them with their first grandson, Neil.
At the end of 1953 my father and mother moved to Albemarle, NC where my father became the superintendent of the Baptist Home for the Aging. He was in administrative and promotional work during his stay in Albemarle. Also, Craven and Fletcher presented them with their first granddaughter, Patricia. Norman and Gladys presented them with an additional grandson, Donald and another granddaughter, Catherine.
In 1957 my mother and father again moved. This time my father became pastor of the Hoskins Avenue Baptist Church in Mecklenburg County, NC. This was a very rewarding pastorate from which he retired from full-time Christian Service on April 12, 1959. While here, Norman and Gladys presented them with another granddaughter, Barbara.
From his pastorate at Hoskins Avenue Baptist Church, my parents retired. They bought a small farm adjoining the old home place where my father was raised and not too far from where my mother was raised. After retirement, my father was still very active in supply work and also served as interim pastor at times. At his retirement, he had served 29 Baptist Churches and one Baptist Institution. He had been an active pastor for 42 years. The address at retirement was Route 1, Peachland, NC. While here, another granddaughter was born as Norman and Gladys had their third daughter, Gladys Gaye (Gigi).
I need to add that all during his ministry my mother was a dedicated helper in every way. She, too, did lots of church work as well as manage her work as mother and wife. She was the first to leave the family. On November 26, 1964, Thanksgiving Day, the day after their 50th wedding anniversary, my mother died with cancer.
After my mother's death, my father lived about two and one-half years. He died as the result of a stroke on May 24, 1967. He had been active almost to the very end. At the time of his death, he has been an ordained Baptist Minister for just over 50 years.
After my father's death, I married Earl James Edwards on August 3, 1973. Broadus married Alma Wilson on August 29, 1982.
My husband died on January 15, 1985. My three brothers are also deceased. Broadus died on August 13, 1986, Craven on August 29, 1994, and Norman on August 28, 1996.
The family has moved on with their lives. Craven's son Neil and wife Janet have a daughter, Caitlin and a son, David. Craven's daughter Patricia and her husband, Robert Hunter, have a daughter, Retta and a son, Mac.
Norman's daughter Barbara and husband Phil Huff, have a son Philip. Norman's son Don and wife Lisa have a son Joshua. Norman's youngest daughter is married to Mike Hines. Norman's daughter Catherine is a librarian.
Norman's son, David Bryant, married Lisa Guthrie. They have a son, Joshua Rowe, born in 1998, and a daughter, Laura Louise, born in 2000.
I stay in touch with my three sisters-in-law, Fletcher, Gladys, and Alma. I try to serve as an interested and dedicated aunt and great-aunt. In return all are a blessing to me.
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