1941-1944

Reverend Grover F. Tyner, Sr. became the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dublin on May 1, 1941 and served until 1944. During his pastorate, he served as vice-moderator of the Laurens County Baptist Association, 1941-1942, and as Moderator, 1942-1943. He organized a youth choir during his first year as pastor. Plans were made for the construction of an educational building, and Reverend Tyner raised several thousand dollars for that purpose before he resigned.

At the time he came to Dublin, it was believed that the church membership numbered about 1,000, but he lead in have the rolls updated, discovering that many members had died or had moved away without leaving a forwarding address. The revised roll showed only about 300 members. During his service, 100 members were added to the membership.

A native of Gainesville, Georgia, he worked in the Augusta area for 13 years of which were as pastor of the Crawford Avenue Baptist Church. After leaving Dublin, he pastured the First Baptist Church of Metter. He helped in various ways at least 25 young men who entered the ministry.

For three years he was an evangelist with the Department of Evangelism of the Georgia Baptist Convention and on three different occasions he served as vice- president of the Georgia Baptist Convention. For a time he was Superintendent of Missions for the Baptist Association in South Carolina, from which he retired in 1959. He then served as interim pastor in 26 churches and was frequently enrolled in teaching Seminary Extension Schools in local churches.

He observed the 51^st anniversary in the ministry on December 24, 1967, and died on October 17, 1968. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church in Augusta with Dr. R. J. Robinson, Rev. D. Maurice Smith, and Dr. I. W. Bowen officiating.

He was survived by his wife, the former Nellie Welchel, and their two sons, Ray E. Tyner, and Dr. Grover F. Tyner, Jr., and their daughter, Mrs. I. W. Bowen.

On Monday June 30, 1941, shortly after the arrival of the Tyners in Dublin, members and friends called at the new pastorium on Crescent Drive. The occasion marked the celebration of the Tyner’s twentieth wedding anniversary. Mrs. Milo Smith, Sr., President of the Woman’s Missionary Union, Mrs. B. F. Cochran, and Mrs. O. L. Chivers, Sr. received visitors at the entrance to the home. A musical program was rendered during the calling hours of 5:30 to 10:30 by Mrs. M. Z. Claxton, Soloist, Miss Maria Waldron and Ray Tyner pianists, and Grover F. Tyner, Violinist.