Church History Biographical Database
Missionary work had been conducted in the region during the early Church period, but the Southern States mission wasn't officially organized until the April Conference of 1876 when John Brown and several others were called to open the southern states of the U.S. to missionary work.
The mission would shrink between 1893 and 1902 losing: Maryland (1893), Arkansas (1895), Texas (1897), West Virginia (1902), North Carolina (1902), Kentucky (1902), and Tennessee (1902). Although it would gain a few of these states back when the Middle States Mission closed in 1903.
Mission Founded
1876 April 8
Henry Green Boyle Called as President
1876 October 9 – 1877 November 13 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1876 October 9
Set Apart
Ended On 1877 November 13
Arrived at Home
John Hamilton Morgan Called as President
1878 January 25 – 1888 January 4 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1878 January 25
Set Apart
Ended On 1888 January 4
Released
William Spry Called as President
1888 January 4 – 1891 August 13 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1888 January 4
Called
Ended On 1891 August 13
Released
Jonathan Golden Kimball Called as President
1891 July 31 – 1894 May 23 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1891 July 31
Set Apart
Ended On 1894 May 23
Released
Elias Smith Kimball Called as President
1894 May 11 – 1898 June 27 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1894 May 11
Set Apart
Ended On 1898 June 27
Departed from Field
Benjamin Erastus Rich Called as President
1898 June 10 – 1902 July 3 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1898 June 10
Set Apart
Ended On 1902 July 3
Arrived at Home
Ephraim Hesmer Nye Called as President
1902 May 22 – 1903 May 15 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1902 May 22
Called
Ended On 1903 May 15
Released
Nathan John Harris Called as President
1903 June 1 – August 7 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1903 June 1
Called
Ended On 1903 August 7
Released
Benjamin Erastus Rich Called as President
1903 August 7 – 1908 August 8 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1903 August 7
Called
Ended On 1908 August 8
Released
Charles Albert Callis Called as President
1908 April 14 – 1934 February 3 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1908 April 14
Set Apart
Ended On 1934 February 3
Released
LeGrand Richards Called as President
1933 December 29 – 1937 June 19 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1933 December 29
Set Apart
Ended On 1937 June 19
Released
Merrill Daniel Clayson Called as President
1937 June 8 – 1940 August 4 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1937 June 8
Set Apart
Ended On 1940 August 4
Arrived at Home
William Porter Whitaker Called as President
1940 July 17 – 1943 September 10 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1940 July 17
Set Apart
Ended On 1943 September 10
Departed from Field
Heber Meeks Called as President
1943 August 25 – 1948 April 22 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1943 August 25
Set Apart
Ended On 1948 April 22
Released
Media
Southern States (1876 - ?) Profile
Missionaries in an Airplane
Southern States Missionaries
Missionaries of the Southern States Mission
United States Mission Presidents
Publications Office Staff
Mississippi Conference
First Annual Conference of the Presidents in the Southern States Mission
Arriving Elders
East Tennessee Conference, 1895
South Carolina District Conference, November 1928
Arriving Elders
Southern States Mission Photograph, circa 1910
Florida Conference
Southern States Mission Headquarters
Missionaries in North Carolina
New Arrivals
Missionaries at Lookout Mountain
Conference Presidents of the Southern States Mission
Arriving Elders
1902/11: South Carolina Conference - Southern States Mission, 1902 November 15
Southern States Mission Caricature 1907, Circa 1907
Missionaries from the Southern States Mission about 1926, Between 1925 October – 1927 November
Southern States Mission, about 1926, Between 1925 November – 1927 November
First Southern States Mission Home, Circa 1867
Jacksonville, Florida Chapel, Circa 1926
Southern States Mission Companions with John Henry Gibbs and William Shanks Berry, 1884
Tribute to Elders William Shanks Berry and John Henry Gibbs, Circa 1884
Southern States Mission Home in Chattanooga, Tennessee