Richardson woman has attended same church for all her 100 years _92203

Posted: 9/19/03

Richardson woman has attended
same church for all her 100 years

By George Henson

Staff Writer

RICHARDSON–Amy Rutledge found a church she loved, and she stuck with it–for 100 years.

Rutledge, who was born Sept. 24, 1903, has attended First Baptist Church of Richardson since she was a baby, brought there by her parents. At the time, the church was called Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Amy Rutledge's parents took her to Mount Calvary Baptist Church (today known as First Baptist Church of Richardson) when she was born in 1903. She's stayed there ever since and remains an active member at 100 years of age.

One hundred years later, the church name and many other things have changed, but Rutledge's devotion has been unwavering.

“She's an inspiration to everybody,” said Pastor Brian Harbour. “She's here every Sunday, taught Sunday School until just a few years ago and still sings in our Golden Heirs choir. Her spirit is just amazing.”

The church holds many memories for the still-lively Rutledge.

“I was baptized when I was 12, but I couldn't be baptized at the church,” she recalled. “I was baptized in White Rock Creek. The church had a baptistry, but it leaked so bad we couldn't use it.”

She remembers her mother and father thought she was too young to be baptized until they talked with Pastor P.C. Scott. “They didn't think I knew what I was doing, but he told them I'd been at church all my life and that I knew exactly what I was doing.”

One of her favorite memories is of the dinners on the ground. Her mother brought wash tubs filled with food for the picnics.

She began teaching the junior girls' class when she was 16. She enjoyed teaching so much she continued until she was 92 years old. During all that time, she took only a short break after the birth of her son until he was ready to go to the nursery.

Rutledge had wanted to be married at the church, but her mother was so ill “we had a lawn wedding so she could be there,” she recalled. “I wanted a church wedding, but I wanted her there more.”

That wedding day came in 1926, when she married the love of her life, Jack Rutledge, a statistician with Texas Power & Light Co.

“I remember the day I met him,” she said. “He was staying with some of our relatives who had come out to our house to get some eggs. He had hurt his knee and couldn't get out of the truck, but he saw me.”

He must have liked what he saw, because by the end of the week he had written her a letter.

The couple spent 52 years happily married. Although he died years ago, the thought of him still brings tears to her eyes.

“I was always his sweetheart–that's what he always called me,” she explained. “I had a wonderful husband. He wasn't famous or anything, but we had a good life.”

He, too, was baptized at Mount Calvary. Their son was baptized there as well.

First Baptist Church of Richardson is “my church home, and I've loved it,” she said. “I still do. It's changed quite a bit, but that goes along with being there 100 years. I've enjoyed my church; it's a part of me.”