Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Callahan Incentive Grant awarded to Historic Valdosta (original) (raw)

Published 10:34 am Monday, June 1, 2026

VALDOSTA — A Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Callahan Incentive Grant has been awarded to Historic Valdosta for the First Antioch Missionary Baptist Church window repair and protection project.

The grant will partially fund the work required for the 1921 structure, which was vandalized multiple times between September and November 2025. Historic Valdosta and First Antioch Missionary Baptist Church have collaborated to raise funds for security cameras, installation and monitoring, the repair of five stained glass windows, and protective coatings for all windows.

While the church was built in 1921, the congregation traces its origins to June 21, 1840, in Troupville, Lowndes County. The group began meeting on Reverend Elbert Forrest’s farm, which is now the church’s location, after Valdosta was established.

Historic Valdosta is currently working with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Office of Documentation and Compliance Director on a National Register of Historic Places application.

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