The congregation of the Greater Davis Chapel C.O.G.I.C. will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. The church is located at 716 Chandler Street.
Elder W.M. Davis and his wife Sister Bertha Davis and Elder A. Atkins and his wife Sister Annie Atkins helped establish the church in 1916. According to church history, the first convert to be saved in Garland was Sister Mattie Johnson.
Services were held in homes and under tents until two lots at State Street and Grant Street were purchased. A small church was constructed on the site. Add-ons were necessary as the congregation grew.
Pa Davis was named superintendent of Greater Davis Chapel and other churches. Pastors appointed to the church included: Elder C. Cox, Elder Murphy, Elder Daniels, Elder Hollins, Elder Burleson, Elder Fields and the last pastor Elder Alvin Reeves Jr. and wife Sister Fannie Reeves.
Early in the church’s history, services would be crowded as other churches, Sims Chapel and Shiloh Road Baptist Church would join the Greater Davis Chapel congregation for fellowship.
The streets were dirt and when it rained, members could not drive their cars to the church building. Most would leave their cars on a paved street and walk the rest of the way.
The church had a number of fascinating and dedicated members.
Brother Mike Henderson had a hamburger stand where the hamburgers cost 10 cents and sodas were five cents. Candy was 15 cents.
Mother Davis’ favorite songs were “I am Going Back with Jesus when He Comes,” “I Got Just What I Wanted from the Lord” and another song called “I Am the Bread of Life.” The song’s lyrics were “Unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man. And drink of His blood, you shall not have life within you.” Church history cites Mother Davis as saying “Y’all help me eat him up.”
Assistant Pastor Elder Sam Clark and wife Sister Ida Clark played piano. The story is that Sister Ida weighed about 400 pounds and when the service got high she would always exclaim, “Help yourself.” Elder Clark was also the Sunday School Superintendent. According to church folklore, Sister Emma Herron would come in the church dancing like something hot was under her feet.
Additions to the church continued for 45-50 years and Elder Burleson had a vision of moving the church from the west side to the east side, but 
members did not agree. Later someone was hired to remodel the church but he took their money and left the congregation almost outdoors. When the wind blew, the old building would lean to the north and lean to the south but the Lord would not let it fall on the members. The congregation now has a nice, sturdy building.
The current pastor, Elder Tommy L. Chalk, Sr., attended school in Big Sandy. In 1957 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1963 he married Mattie P. Hicks. The pastor shared that one of the greatest events to occur in his life happened in 1971 when he received the gift of salvation under the leadership of Pastor Alvin Reeves, Jr. at Greater Davis Chapel. Elder Chalk was called to the ministry in 1975 and after serving under the leadership of several pastors, Elder Chalk was again able to work with Pastor Reeves in November 1997. Bishop later appointed Elder Chalk pastor of Greater Davis Chapel. In 2008 he moved the church to Chandler Drive. Pastor Chalk has always worked diligently for the good of the church.
Visit www.davischapelchurch.org for more information.