As I sit here thinking about Great-grandma Langley, I can’t help but think about the small country church where she served faithfully for many years. Jaybird Church is a small country church tucked back in the hills many miles off the pavement.
During the summer months, Grandpa used to hook up the wagon and we would all enjoy the ride to the church. When we got older, we would forgo the wagon and just saddle the horses – racing on the straight ways! Those where good old days full of fun and fellowship… 
It is interesting…. Here I am, many years later, serving in a small country church. I guess it goes to say that it is not the size of the church that matters but the lives changed. Of course, it is easy to forget that wise statement…but it is true. very true.
Ah – but back to Jaybird. 
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I was talking to my mother this week about the going home of Grandma Langley when she mentioned that she happened to have an old cookbook from Jaybird’s 50 Golden Jubilee celebration in March 1989.
In this book was a picture of Grandma and Grandpa (displayed) along with one showing the original church building (also displayed). Seeing how Grandma loved the Lord and served for many years as the pastor of Jaybird, I thought I would posts a small excerpt from this cookbook about the history of the church (thanks Mom for typing this up!)
It was in the late fall of 1938, that James Langley decided to fulfill his late father Duncan Langley's wishes and build a church. The land was given to the church by James' brother Jesse. James and another brother, George, began to cut logs to be sawed into lumber. They gave part of the logs as payment for having them hauled to the saw mill and some of the lumber was given to pay for the sawing.
Logs were cut and trimmed for the floor sills and the building began. Several of the church men came to help. Financing for nails, windows, and the necessary things was given by James and his brother-in-law, George Noe. The frame work was soon done and an older man in the community, named Bill Thurman, made shingles or clap boards to cover the building.
Sheet rock was purchased from the Ward School District when the old Ward schoolhouse was torn down. Everyone had a mind to work, so the building was soon ready to begin services. The ladies (Flora Langley, Annie Langley, Hazel Hemman, and Vennie Hemman) carried water from Jaybird Creek to scrub and clean the building. The first services were held in March 1939. James Langley stayed to pastor until 1945.
Annie Langley, George Langley's wife, began to pastor the church from 1945 until August of 1947. After the third pastor resigned in 1953, Annie Langley once again took the responsibility and pastored until 1958 and then again from 1959 until 1976, when after suffering a heart attack she resigned. She and her late husband, George Langley faithfully labored together to keep the church going on for the Lord for many years.
Special note:
I think it is pretty amazing that a lady was allowed to be a pastor in the mid-1900’s – I mean, there was Grandma pasturing a church while not being allowed to vote or anything! Wow! And they say that rural America is backwoods! 