Paradise Missionary Baptist Church

In 1865, amidst the dust of a shattered nation, a remarkable woman saw a different kind of future. This is the story of Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, a testament to the power of faith and the enduring spirit of Atlanta. Dinah Watts Pace, a former slave and a graduate of Atlanta University, noticed the need for spiritual guidance in the Summerhill community. She started small, gathering neighborhood children for Sunday school classes at the corner of Richmond and Martin Streets. This humble beginning was the seed that would blossom into the thriving Paradise Missionary Baptist Church we see today. The Pleasant Grove Sunday School, as it was first known, flourished under Pace and her colleagues, including Superintendent Arthur Casey and her brothers, Lewis and Albert Watts. Driven by her love for children, Pace dedicated her life to education. Later, in Covington, Georgia, she established the Covington Colored Orphans Home, educating hundreds of children and leaving an enduring legacy. The church itself underwent several transformations, reflecting the growth and evolution of the surrounding community. Under Reverend Robert Epps, the first pastor, the Sunday school transitioned into Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in 1870. The church relocated to Reed Street, a move facilitated by a white realtor who gifted them a former white congregation’s building. The church adopted the name Reed Street Baptist Church, a testament to its new location. The church continued to thrive. Under Reverend Dr. Edwin Posey Johnson, the impressive granite structure that once graced the corner of Crumley and Fraser Streets was built in 1910. This era also saw the first public elementary school in Summerhill named in his honor. The church later relocated to its current location and was renamed Paradise Missionary Baptist Church. A notable figure in the church’s history is Reverend Dr. Clifford Nathaniel Ellis, who served for an impressive 46 years. He oversaw major renovations, the construction of an educational building, and the successful relocation and renaming of the church. He also founded the WSB Chariot Wheels Radio Program, one of the nation’s first African-American gospel broadcasts. The church’s history is a tapestry woven with threads of faith, perseverance, and community. From its humble beginnings as a Sunday school to the vibrant institution it is today, Paradise Missionary Baptist Church remains a beacon of hope in the heart of Atlanta. It serves as a reminder of the power of vision, the importance of education, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.