rev. laban b. mcelroy
1876-aft. 1940
Life Story
Minister, Farmer, and Revivalist of Newton County
Early Life and Family Roots
Reverend Laban B. McElroy—often recorded as L.B. McElroy—was born on May 24, 1876 (though some records suggest 1878) in Newton County, Mississippi. He was the son of Benjamin McElroy, Sr. and Julia Moore McElroy, emerging from a generation that came of age in the fragile decades following Reconstruction.
Raised in the rural landscape of Newton County, Laban’s early life was shaped by two defining forces: the discipline of agricultural labor and the spiritual grounding of the Black Baptist church. These twin influences would remain intertwined throughout his life.
At the age of 20, Laban married Marcella Sharp in 1898. By 1900, the young couple had established their household in Beat 4, where Laban worked as a farmer. Their union produced several children, including Otis, Ben, Maude, and Judie.
Tragedy struck the family in 1918 with the death of Marcella, marking a turning point in Laban’s personal life. He later remarried Sina Thompson McElroy (born circa 1894), and together they expanded the household with daughters Joanna, Emma, and Sudie.
Like many Black families in Newton County, the McElroy home functioned as a multi-generational anchor. Census records show his mother Julia living within the household at times, and by 1930, Caroline McKinnas was listed as a boarder—evidence of the extended kinship networks that sustained rural Black communities.
Work, Land, and Economic Stability
While Laban would ultimately be known for his ministry, his early life reflects the economic realities of his time. In 1910, he was recorded as a laborer in a local sawmill, a position that highlights the growing timber industry in Mississippi’s Piney Woods region.
Despite these shifts, he remained connected to the land. Over time, he secured ownership of his own farm in Newton County—held free of mortgage. This was no small accomplishment. For a Black man in the Jim Crow South, land ownership represented not only economic independence but also a measure of protection against the instability of the crop-lien system.
By 1930, he had transitioned fully into his role as a minister, listing his occupation as “Minister, Baptist Church”, while still maintaining his agricultural base.
Spiritual Calling and Rise in Ministry
Laban McElroy’s true legacy was forged in the pulpit. He emerged from the Jerusalem M.B. Church, a historic congregation in Newton County that produced an extraordinary number of ministers. McElroy was among at least sixteen members from that church who entered the ministry—a testament to its role as a spiritual training ground.
By the late 1920s, Rev. McElroy had become a recognized revivalist and pastor.
In September 1928, he was “newly called” to serve as pastor of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. His impact was immediate. Assisted by Rev. J.P. Harris of Chicago, he led a revival that brought 41 new members into the church and raised $144.42—a substantial sum for the period.
Throughout the 1930s, McElroy became known for his extended revival meetings and compelling sermon themes. His preaching blended urgency, moral instruction, and community accountability. Among the recorded sermon topics were:
- “Get your sister and brother, son-in-law and daughter-in-law out of town”
- “Has the fire gone out?”
These titles reflect a preacher deeply engaged with both the spiritual and social conditions of his audience.
Revival Work and Regional Influence
Rev. McElroy’s influence extended beyond a single congregation.
In June 1933, he led a major revival at New Prospect Baptist Church, resulting in 56 new members. The services culminated in a large baptismal ceremony held at a local “coal chute,” a vivid reminder of how natural and industrial spaces were repurposed for sacred rituals in rural communities.
Contemporary accounts described him as being “at his best” during these meetings—an organizer who emphasized order, hospitality, and spiritual renewal. His revivals were not only religious events but also community gatherings that reinforced social bonds and collective identity.
Education and Community Standing
By 1940, Rev. McElroy stood as a figure of notable achievement within Newton County.
Census records show that he had completed four years of high school, an advanced level of education for a Black man born in the 1870s South. At approximately 65 years old, he was still actively working 48 hours per week as a minister.
He was also listed as an employer, suggesting that his farm and ministry operations provided opportunities for others within the community.
Physically, his World War I draft registration (1917) described him as tall and slender, offering one of the few surviving personal details about his appearance.
Legacy
Reverend Laban B. McElroy died sometime after 1940, leaving behind a legacy that bridged faith, family, and land.
He was more than a preacher. He was a stabilizing force—a man who navigated the shifting terrain of the post-Reconstruction South while helping others do the same. Through his work at Jerusalem M.B. Church, Pleasant Grove, and New Prospect, he contributed to the expansion of Black Baptist life in Newton County.
His life illustrates a broader truth about rural Black leadership in the early 20th century: ministers were not confined to the pulpit. They were landowners, employers, counselors, and community architects.
In that sense, Rev. McElroy was what many in his time would have simply called a “kinfolks leader”—a man whose authority rested not just in his voice, but in his presence, his labor, and his example.
Key Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Reverend Laban B. McElroy |
| Birth | May 24, 1876 (or 1878), Newton County, Mississippi |
| Parents | Benjamin McElroy, Sr. and Julia Moore McElroy |
| First Wife | Marcella Sharp (m. 1898; d. 1918) |
| Second Wife | Sina Thompson McElroy |
| Children | Otis, Ben, Maud, Judie, Joanna, Emma, Sudie |
| Occupation | Farmer; Baptist Minister |
| Churches | Jerusalem M.B. Church; Pleasant Grove M.B.; New Prospect Baptist |
| Education | Completed 4 years of high school |
| Land Ownership | Farm owned free of mortgage |
| Physical Description | Tall and slender (1917 Draft Registration) |
| Death | After 1940 |
Resting Place
Unknown
Photos/Albums
Sources
Census & Vital Records
- 1900 U.S. Census: Mississippi, Newton County, Beat 4, Sheet 8, Dwelling 153, Family 153. Head of Household: Pad [Laban] McElroy; Spouse: Marsellus.
- 1910 U.S. Census: Mississippi, Newton County, Beat 4, ED 91, Sheet 4b. Head: Laban McElroy; Occupation: Mill Laborer (Saw Mill).
- 1920 U.S. Census: Mississippi, Newton County, Beat 4, Household 113. Head: Labon McElroy; Spouse: Sina McElroy.
- 1930 U.S. Census: Mississippi, Newton County, Beat 4, Family 119. Head: Labron B. McElroy; Occupation: Minister (Baptist Church).
- 1940 U.S. Census: Mississippi, Newton County, Lawrence, Sheet 8B, Household 152. Head: L.B. McElroy; Occupation: Minister; Education: High School, 4th Year.
- U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918: Newton County, Mississippi; Labren McElroy, Birth Date: May 24, 1878. Physical description: Tall, slender.
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912–1943: Record for Otis McElroy (son), listing parents Labron McElroy and Marcella Sharp.
Newspaper & Periodical Records
- The Newton Record, “Colored Revival a Success,” September 13, 1928, p. 5. Details on Pleasant Grove M.B. Church revival and Rev. J.P. Harris.
- The Echo, “Wonderful Results from Revival,” June 23, 1933, p. 2. Details on New Prospect Baptist Church services and sermon subjects (“Has the fire gone out”).
- The Echo, “Thanks,” June 30, 1933, p. 2. A formal note of gratitude from Rev. L.B. McElroy to the congregation of New Prospect.
- The Echo, “Wonderful Revival,” July 7, 1933, p. 2. Report on the 58 additions to the church and the baptism at the coal chute.
- The Newton Record, “Jerusalem Church,” February 28, 1996, p. 24. Historical retrospective identifying L.B. McElroy as one of 16 ministers originating from the Jerusalem Church congregation.
Research Notes & Clerical Details
- Variant Spellings: Records utilize Laban, Labon, Labren, Labron, and Pad.
- Church Affiliations: Verified affiliations include Jerusalem M.B. Church (member/origins), Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist (Pastor, called 1928), and New Prospect Baptist (Guest/Revivalist, 1933).
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