Praise Tabernacle Church, 1975

4052 Hiram-Lithia Springs Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127

Praise Tabernacle Church was organized and founded in 1975.
The church had purchased property on Hiram-Lithia Springs
Road to build their worship center, where they did build in 1978.
Reverend Thomas (Tommy) J. Chapman was their first Pastor,
a founding member and still serves as Pastor today.

Reverend Chapman had felt led to establish a place of worship.
He had been holding services in his home for about a year. Then,
in 1975, with the help of the Garnet Dale family and others, they
held a ten day “Tent Meeting” in a vacant lot on Austell Road
(currently Old Austell Rd) where Martin’s sets today, next to the
Powder Springs Shopping Center.

This ‘Tent Meeting” was their first actual meeting as a church.
When the meeting was over, the church had 17 new members.
Praise Tabernacle then met in the Masonic Hall for two years
(where the church grew substantially) and one year at Tapp
Middle School before being able to have a metal building erected
on their property on Hiram-Lithia Springs Road. In 2025 they will
be celebrating their 50th Anniversary.

Praise Tabernacle is a Congregational Methodist Church.
Everyone is welcome to their services on Sunday at 10 am.
A Lady’s Bible study and prayer group meet on Wednesday
Morning (10:30 to 12:00). The Youth meet at 7:00 pm on
Wednesday evening.

Celebrate Recovery meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm.
The Church Office is also open Monday through Friday from
7:30 am to 3:30 pm and may be contacted at 770-943-2484,
Extension 1.

In 1985, Praise Tabernacle found a need to start a Christian
school for Kindergarten aged children, Praise Academy School.
The school is a member of GAPPS (Georgia Association of
Private and Parochial Schools) and is accredited by ACSI and
SAC. In the 2023 – 2024 school year, they will be celebrating their
40th Anniversary.

Through the years the school has grown and is now supporting
Preschool grades K3 through 12 and athletic programs. The
school’s curriculum also includes classes in Fine Arts, Music,
Drama and Chorus.

The athletics program consist of competitive sports; Girls Soccer,
Boys Baseball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Volleyball and Football.
They compete with other Private and Parochial Schools in the
state and have earned several competition awards over the years.

Through Praise’s various Youth Programs, whether in the church
or the school, some have gone on to become ministers, while
others are ministering in various ways to their families, in their
communities or wherever there was a need.

There is a church cemetery, Praise Tabernacle Cemetery, that
is located on the property. There was a vacant lot on the right
hand side of churches driveway between it and the Morris Family
Cemetery that would be used as a cemetery when the need
arose. The first burials were in 1997 and has 23 burials currently.

The first was James D. Shepherd, husband of Betty Gordy
Shepherd (1932 – 2016), was born on December 7, 1927. He
died in March 1997 and was interred here on March 26, 1997.
The second burial was a few months later and that of Myrna G.
Witt Toler, wife of Robert Stephen “Steve” Toler, Sr. (1953 –
2016). She was born August 6, 1955, died in July 1997 and
interred here on July 6, 1997.

The most recent is that of Gregory Byran Hendrix, who was born
on January 6, 1978, died in 2021 and interred here on September
13, 2021. He was an EMT for Grady Hospital and Central
Ambulance Service.

Others who are also buried here were not only faithful members
of Praise Tabernacle, but to their family, friends and communities
where they lived serving where ever they were needed.
Husband and wife are side by side here as they were in life like:
Charles Albert Alexander (1926 – 2008) and his wife Vivian M.
Alexander (1934 – 1999). Evelyn Virginia Cook (1924 – 2021)
and husband Norman Edward Cook (1928 – 2014).

Some have memorial words or Bible verses etched on their
markers by their loved ones.

Carolyn Rene Dean (1953 – 2005) “Beloved Wife, Mother,
Grandmother and Friend. Brian Russell Isley (1980 – 1999)
“Our Beloved Son”. Michelle Selina Lawrence (1988 – 2007)
“Beloved Mother and Daughter. Brody Michael Malone (Feb 8,
2008 – May 22, 2008) has several lines of a memorial tribute.

James H. Merchen (1955 – 2008) II Timothy 4:7. Jason
Chadwick Moseley (1996 – 2017) Joshua 1:9. Crysta Marie
White (1993 – 2000) John 11: 24-25 written and “Beloved
Daughter and Granddaughter”.

There are also several Veterans buried here. As always, a
“Thank You” to all Veterans whether they served their country
in war or peace time.

Sgt. James Franklin Falls, Jr. (1948 – 2002) served in US Marine
Corp, Vietnam.

Sgt. David G. Kirk (1932 – 2004) US Air Force. Husband of
Tommie Ann Gallman Kirk (1935 – 2016).

Larry George Prince (1947 – 2000) US Army Airborne Division,
Assn, Vietnam.

Danny Madison “Ace” Turner (1951 – 2021) US Navy. Husband
Of Judith Yvonne Fountain Turner (1951 – 2019) and Member of
Nelms Masonic Lodge #323 F&AM.

Billy Joe Powell (1934 – 2001) US Army Dental Medical Corps
1954 – 1957. Founding Member of Praise Tabernacle. Retired
Dentist who taught Dentistry at Oral Roberts University (Tulsa
OKLA) and Medical College of GA School of Dentistry. There
are two Bible Verses on his maker – Ephesians 2:4-7 and
Psalms 23.

The history of Praise Tabernacle Church, Praise Tabernacle
Academy School and Praise Tabernacle Cemetery was provided
by Reverend Thomas J. “Tommy” Chapman. Many thanks and
appreciation to Reverend Chapman for his cooperation and his
sharing this information. He has pastored a church in Rome at
Silver Creek, taught at Pebblebrook and as councilor McEachern.

Another source was information from Find-a-Grave about the
Members buried in cemetery. www.findagrave.com