Members of the Bear Marsh Church, Carrollton's oldest African-American congregation, are preparing to open their church to the public Friday and Saturday as part of the 175th anniversary of Carrollton and Carroll County. The church was organized in 1869. Here, Bear Marsh members stand where the original church began. One member, Perrine Lott, is a descendant of Henry and Lucinda Askew, founders of the church. In the front row, from the left, are Lott, Ruth Blake, Wanda Bolden and Annie Ruth Shack. In the second row, from the left, are the Rev. Cleaster Randle, Willie Blake and James Hansborough. The pilgrimage will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and Saturday there will be many additional activities on the courthouse square, starting at 8:30 a.m. Photo by Ruth Jensen.
