History
The story of the Wesley House Community Center began in 1904, when Mrs. Elizabeth Cochran and Mrs. J.R. Whittaker and some ladies of the Central Methodist Church in Meridian, Mississippi felt a calling to “…minister to the least of these…” These Methodist women sought to bring families in a cotton-mill community on the Eastern boundary of Meridian, into the sphere of Christianity. They began by teaching the wives of the mill workers to sew and their children to read Bible stories.
Poverty and illiteracy were rampant, and the Methodist ladies responded with generosity, finding shoes for barefoot children, warm clothes, toys and food at Christmas, Bibles and storybooks to uplift mind and spirit. In the 1930’s, a small wood-frame cottage was donated to what was now known as the Wesley Community House. After school activities, food and clothing distribution, and other services were added. The cottage gained a second floor and a vacant lot became a playground. A missionary deaconess came to serve the mission and, when the old cotton mill was closed, the neighborhood declined into deeper poverty.
Wesley House almost died in the 1960’s when the mission could no longer afford a deaconess. Nell Grissom, a young mother serving as volunteer youth leader at Central Methodist Church, was asked to keep the doors open until a qualified missionary could be found. Soon the search for a deaconess was abandoned as the Center grew under her leadership. Changing demographics in the 1960’s and 1970’s stretched the resources of the Wesley House to deal with racial diversity. The 75 year-old cottage could no longer handle the growing programs. A modern 10,000 square foot facility was built, and soon expanded to 17,500 square feet.
Mrs. Nell Grissom has retired after 40 years of service, but the work goes on under the direction of Ginger Grissom Stevens and a devoted staff of professionals. Today, serving Mississippi and West Alabama through six different and distinct agencies.
Wesley House employs 10 full time staff members and four part-time, with hundreds of trained volunteers. Four out of every five dollars donated to Wesley goes directly to the programs… to the people who are in need. Wesley House has provided people with a “hand up” as opposed to a “hand out”, and continues to offer case work and life tools in order to help break the cycle of poverty and abuse. Wesley has a staff devoted to helping people to help themselves, offering hope for a brighter tomorrow and the belief that it can happen.
