Naydene (Ray) Walker told her father, Belford Ray, and family about land for sale at the Ray Family Reunion. They all were interested in having a church in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where they lived. Her dad, the eldest of eleven children, grew up in Hillsborough with no church. They attended church in Durham, 12 miles away. That was a long trip in a T-Model Ford!
Eleven members in the Durham Seventh-day Adventist Church lived in Hillsborough and decided to start a church group. Ralph and Brenda Cool helped get things started. Pastor Gerald Mobley helped in planning and held the first sermon for Hillsborough Seventh-day Adventist Church in Claude and Naydene (Ray) Walker’s basement. The Ray family donated thousands of dollars the first years to get started. Dr. Claudis Ray and Mervin Ray also donated large sums.
A double wide mobile home was moved on the land in March 1989. Claudis Ray donated the money to pay off the mortgage debt. The mortgage was burned on March 18, 1995. Claudis Ray bought the sanctuary furniture and paved the parking lot.
The church family had many struggles and grew slowly. Naydene has made three photo albums that cover the beginning of our church until 2014. Ten of the very first members are deceased. Claude and Naydene, who were 88 and 91 respectively, attended the 25th church anniversary celebration on June 7, 2014. They continued to be active until 2016, when health matters made it difficult for them to continue an active participation. We miss their presence in the church very much.