The Original Sipsey River Association was organized in 1872. It was handed down from the Old School Primitive Baptist Association (consisting of white people). The first moderator was Elder Mitchell Richardson and the first clerk was Elder Issac Brown. The affiliating churches were as follows:
1. Rehobeth Primitive Baptist (Clinton, Alabama)
2. Caanan Shore Primitive Baptist (Boligee, Alabama)
3. New Bethany Primitive Baptist (Knoxville, Alabama)
4. Mt. Pilgrim Primitive Baptist (Tishabee, Alabama)
5. New Hope Primitive Baptist (Eutaw, Alabama)
6. Hopewell Primitive Baptist (Union, Alabama)
7. Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist (Sumter County, Alabama)
8. Mt. Parian Primitive Baptist (Aliceville, Alabama)
9. Mt. Pilgrim Primitive Baptist Church (Greene, Alabama)
10. Salem Primitive Baptist (Pleasant Ridge, Alabama)
11. Millers Hill Primitive Baptist (Lauderdale, Mississippi)
12. Mt. Nebo Primitive Baptist (Sumter County, Alabama)
13. Bethlehem Primitive Baptist (Eutaw, Alabama)
14. St. John Primitive Baptist (Oak Grove, Mississippi)
15. Shady Grove Primitive Baptist (Porterville, Mississippi)
16. Rehobeth Primitive Baptist (Livingston, Alabama)
17. Mt. Cephus Primitive Baptist (Enondale, Mississippi)
18. St. Paul Primitive Baptist (Lauderdale, Mississippi)
19. Mt. Nebo Primitive Baptist (Pickens County, Alabama)
20. True Vine Primitive Baptist (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
21. New Sarepta Primitive Baptist (Lewiston, Alabama)
22. Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist (Forkland, Alabama)
23. Piney Grove Primitive Baptist (Mt. Hebron, Alabama)
24. Pilgrim Rest Primitive Baptist (Brighton, Alabama)
25. Mt. Erie Primitive Baptist
26. Mt. Galilee Primitive Baptist (Boligee, Alabama)
27. Pilgrim Rest Primitive Baptist (Livingston, Alabama)
28. Oak Grove Primitive Baptist (Sumter County, Alabama)
29. St. Luke Primitive Baptist (Porterville, Mississippi)
30. Jerusalem Primitive Baptist (Gainesville, Alabama)
Sipsey River expanded over the next 26 years. In 1898, at Caanan Shore Primitive Baptist Church, there was a division among the churches, and Sucarnochee River Primitive Baptist Association (known and the daughter of the Original Sipsey River Association) was formed.
In 1914, the brethren agreed to print the Constitution, Rules of Decorum, and Articles of Faith within the minutes. It was also agreed to hold 3 leaders meetings. These meetings were held at the following churches: Rehobeth, Clinton, Mt. Nebo, Livingston, and Mt. Pilgrim, Livingston.
In 1928, a second division ensued within the body. The churches departing to form their own association were Caanan Shore, Boligee: Mt. Cephus, Tamala. Mississippi: St. McNeal; St. Paul, Lauderdale, Mississippi; Pilgrim Rest, Brighton, Alabama; St. Mary, Macedonia; True Vine, Tuscaloosa; Little Hope, Moundville, Alabama; Jerusalem; Mt. Zion, Laurel, Mississippi; Bethlehem, Bogalusa, Lousiana; and Jerusalem, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This newly formed body elected Elder A.B. javine as its moderator and W.M. Perry as clerk. Elder Javine and several of the churches eventually returned to the Original Sipsey River Primitive Association in 1944. Upon his return, he was elected Moderator of the association.
In 1951,
Goodwill Association was formed out of
the Original Sipsey
River Association.. Goodwill
Association was organized by Elder Jake Taylor.
The churches leaving Sipsey River
to form Goodwill Association were Pilgrim Rest, Brighton,
Alabama; Mt.
Pleasant, Birmingham,
Alabama; Caanan
Shore, Boligee,
Alabama; Mt. Cephus,
Mississippi; Hopewell,
Akron, Alabama;
Greater Mt. Olive, Boyd, Alabama;
Mt. Pilrim, Livingston, Alabama; and Macedonia,
Meridian, Mississippi.
In 1955, at Old Bethany
Primitive Baptist
Church, Aliceville,
Alabama, Elder Mitchell Richardson returned
to the Original Sipsey River Primitive Baptist Association. In 1966, Elder Booker T. O’Neal and Elder
N.A. Bevelle organized the Sipsey River Association. It consisted of the following churches: New Bethany, Knoxville,
Alabama; Salem,
Pleasant Ridge; New Christian, Eutaw, Alabama;
Little Bethany, St. Louis, Missouri;
New Mt. Zion, East St. Louis, Missouri;
and New Caanan, Chicago, Illinois.
Salem, Pleasant Ridge elected Elder Willie Hinton as pastor, and upon being elected pastor, he brought the church back to the Original Sipsey River Primitive Baptist Association. Little Bethany, St. Louis, Missouri; and New Mt. Zion, East St. Louis, Missouri also rejoined the Original Sipsey River Association.
In 1983, Elder J.H. Corder left this body and founded the Black Warrior River Primitive Baptist Association. It consisted of the following churches:
Old Rehobeth, Clinton, Alabama
Old Bethany, Aliceville, Alabama
Little Vine, Pleasant Ridge, Alabama
Spring Hill, Stewart, Alabama
Spring Hill, Prairie Point, Mississippi
Little Bethany, St. Louis, Missouri
New Mt. Zion, East St. Louis, Missouri
In 1983, Elder Fred Cockrell, being moderator, organized a workshop for the enlightenment of the brethren. This workshop was implemented in 1987. The first workshop was held at Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church, Eutaw, Alabama, in August 1987. It was taught by Elder Frank Eatman, Jr. Subsequent sessions were taught annually by the late T.O. Blackmon of Georgia.
In March 1988, the following churches reunited with the Original Sipsey River Primitive Baptist Association:
Original Primitive Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan
Mt. Sinai Primitive Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
New Bethany Primitive Baptist Church, Knoxville, Alabama
New Rehobeth Primitive Baptist Church, Clinton, Alabama
New True Vine Primitive Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
In 1994, Little Vine Primitive Baptist Church, Pleasant Ridge, Alabama, returned to the Original Primitive Baptist Association.
In December of 1995, The Original Sipsey River Primitive Baptist Association elected Elder Frank Eatman, Jr. as its first official vice moderator.