Pleasant Grove C.M.E. Church, Ladonia

The Pleasant Grove C.M.E.Church was organized in 1883 in a brush arbor on the hill 1/2 mile northeast of where the church now stands on the west side of the road. 
At a prayer meeting on a Wednesday night in August 1883, Brothers Andy Bean, A. P. Shaw, Tom Britt, Jake Copp, Elbert Clark, Will Scott, Amzia King, Dave Hendrix, Sisters Mollie Patric Davis, Caroline McKinney, Caroline Britt and also other Christian women were there.  At that prayer meeting the Pastor R. Reed called a church conference and asked what we would call this church.  Mr. Jake Copp rose and said "Mr. Chairman, I move we call this church Pleasant Grove."  Bro. Andy Bean seconded the motion.  It was carried.  Since that day this church as been called Pleasant Grove C. M. E. Church.

Later the brush arbor burned and a church was built out near the road and used for church and school.

Later the church moved a little nearer the road.  This church had 3 1/2 acres of land with the church as the church continued to grow.

Church members and friends came together and built their first wooden building that was used for church and school for many  years. 
The members bought 3 1/2 acres of land and built a church close to the road, this church is the one that still stands today.

Pleasant Grove has over one hundred and twenty years of faithful followers.

Sister Leona Allen was called Mother of Pleasant Grove and was faithful to her call. She worked with old and young to help keep the church going. 
Leona Allen, Elizabeth McKinney, Lillie Fuller, Susie Woods, Neva Harris, Frances Crosby, Roberta Herron, Buster McKinney, Abner Shaw, Odell Harris, Vernon Scott, Willie Woods, Etta Lewis, plus others were stewards, stewardesses, and missionary workers. Plesant Grove has had over fifty pastors over its long history.

The pastors include:

Rev. E. G. Lott; Rev. C. R. Rutherford, Re. E. Harris, Rev. V. M. Thomas; Rev. A. J. Lawson; Rev. R. W. Wright; Rev. W. L. Houston.

In 1929 Mother L. E. Bean asked Pastor W. H. Kelly to start a homecoming /reunion for the church.  It was put on the calendar for the second Sunday of March.  For the first year everyone brought a sack lunch and sat on the ground.