A local church is celebrating its 143^rd anniversary and is honoring a group of women that played a vital role in the church’s fundraising and outreach ministries.

Beebe Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, the first CME church established in North Carolina, celebrates its 143^rd year in existence this year, said Alice Sadler, church anniversary chairperson and member. The church is honoring its Willing Workers, a group of women in the church’s past that is still held in high esteem among members to this day. It is unclear when the Willing Workers organization started, but Sadler says it was definitely in existence as far back as the late 1940s.

When the church’s present structure was built by Dr. William Beebe, the church and its members, especially its women, survived unimaginable hardship to raise funds and keep “the Hill Church” and its ministries alive, Sadler said. The facility has declined in recent years, and the church saw fit to adopt the theme, “Restoring the Household of Faith” and try to bring it back to its original glory in much the same way its founders did, with volunteer talent within the church and community, Sadler said.

Sadler said according to stories told, during construction of the church, the women of the church raised money and fed workers, while men put all their skills into construction — what the church believes may have been the beginning of the Willing Worker concept. The work of the group thrived until the late 1970s when the organization pretty much aged out and their descendants opted for more contemporary fundraising tactics, Sadler said.

“The phenomenal work of the Willing Workers took on the work ethic of the church’s founders and literally kept the church ministries going and its facility in good repair,” Sadler said. “Because of their dedication and the legacy they adopted and passed on to their descendants, we decided to honor them in this year’s 143^rd CME anniversary.”

The Willing Workers represented every spectrum of the congregation, Sadler said. These ladies were teachers, secretaries, maids, housewives, cafeteria workers and factory workers, all joined in sync for a single purpose — maintaining Christian fellowship in the church that became known as “The Spirit on the Hill.” In addition to being strong advocates of the Bible’s teachings of tithing, they had tea parties, bake sales and dinner sales together, Sadler said.

The church’s 90-day celebration of its 143^rd year with events like its Jesus Family Reunion Picnic on Oct. 11 at Roanoke Christian Service Camp and its Nov. 18 to Nov. 20 revival are all dedicated to “Restoring the Household of Faith” and remembering the group of ladies who left a legacy and work ethic that says, “Don’t leave and don’t quit,” said a member during the honoring of the Club’s remaining three members.

On Oct. 5, the three remaining members — Christine Cutler, Vivian Little and Andre Whitfield — all of whom reside in elder care facilities, were honored with throws dubbing them Beebe Willing Workers, Sadler said. Their names were stamped in the church’s new walkway leading visitors from the back parking lot to the church’s front entrance. The walkway is named “The Willing Workers’ Walk to the Cross,” as it also leads to three crosses erected on the front lawn, Sadler said.

The honorees were joined by their family at the celebration to reminisce on what the Club had done for the church and meant to it, Sadler said. Each Sunday until the fourth Sunday of November, a different part of the walkway will be unveiled until all of the nearly 20 ladies’ names are displayed. On that Sunday, the church will also reopen its kitchen, which was the Willing Workers favorite workspace, and share its makeover, a major volunteer project.

“This is what the Willing Workers would have done and inspired the church to do,” Sadler said. “Like them, with limited resources, we are having fundraisers and doing as much work our talents and pay-as-you-go budget will allow. It’s what they would take great pride in seeing us do. It’s what this fine church and its founders deserve.”