Philippi Baptist Church, Mikesville, Columbia County, Florida

The Philippi Baptist Church and cemetery is located about 8 miles north of High Springs, FL off of US 441. Turn east on Highway 18 and go about 1 mile. The church and cemetery are on the right. It is a beautiful and quiet rural location. Philippi Baptist Church and Cemetery were founded about 1880. Land was deeded to the Church from John and Maddie Vinzant and Candace and Alexander Weeks on August 26th, 1879. Five members of a Vinzant family were buried at Philippi after their remains were moved from a smaller cemetery on private land. History has it that the Vinzants were killed by Indians and the first to be buried in Philippi Cemetery. There are many unmarked graves but the first marked grave was Jesse Jones, buried in 1880. In 1882, Civil War Veteran, John William Cone, Sr. was buried there. According to church records in 1880, some of the first Church members were: Robert Clyatt, J.B. Ellis, H.R. Williams, R.C. Martin, J.A. Carrell, W.L. Townsend, J.N. Howell, Seleta Vinzant, Mrs. Callie Townsend, T.C. Carrell, J.W. Cone, Sr. The Church today is very small but still active. On the edge of the cemetery is an old stump, now enclosed by a wrought iron fence. The mounting stump was used by ladies to mount their horses. After a bad storm, the stump was all that was left of the hitching tree for horses. I can remember my grandmother telling me that story several times. In 1987, a brief history of Philippi was written and this lovely custom was described in it. Years ago, when a person was buried at Philippi, the custom was to decorated their grave with a favorite item such as a piece of china, vase, doll, shaving mug, etc. The graveyard was filled with beautiful items that remained their for years without disruption. Church members would care for the items. The writer describes how in the late 1950’s she visited the cemetery only to find many of these items had been stolen. I thought the custom beautiful and how sad that in today’s times those customs have ceased.