Following my trip to Richmond, VA, I drove to the southern part of the state and visited Dave Roberts and Hal "Oldad" Eaton. I had never set foot in the state of Virginia prior to going to Richmond.

Dave pastors the Main Street Baptist Church in Emporia, VA. He is an excellent preacher and a genuine Mainstream Baptist. Main Street Baptist Church was established in 1839, which was  7 years before the SBC came into existence.  Many famous men have pastored the church.  MSBC was established 166 years before Oklahoma became a state, when the territory was still primarily frontier wilderness and inhabited by Native Americans. There was only one Baptist church in all of Oklahoma when MSBC was established.

     Hal is a man of many talents and interests. Here's a partial list of who he is.

• Lives in Mouth of Wilson, VA
• Is a retired Navy Chaplain
• Has crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans 45 times
• Is the retired Baptist pastor (Young's Chapel on the campus of Oak Hill Academy near Mouth of Wilson)
• Taught at Oak Hill Academy
• Designed and built his own home
• Is a skilled wood worker and has built some of the furniture in his home
• Is a skilled stained glass artisan (created and repaired stained glass windows in Young's Chapel)
• Has a dark room and produced his own photographs (prior to digital technology)
• Is a  prolific reader of theology and philosophy
• Is wise beyond his years (and he's 80 years old)
• Has sung in musical groups (quartets etc.)
• Can play the piano
• Owns a four-string flattop guitar personally handcrafted by famous Bluegrass luthier, Wayne Henderson
• Can play the guitar
• Possesses two unabridged English Dictionaries
• Still has an incredible library (even though he has given away many of his books)
• Can make the best BBQ in Virginia (I've personally tasted it)
• Owns a Datsun Z280 sports car with just over 30,000 miles on it. (In mint condition)
• Can still ride a motorcycle.
• Is the husband of Margie (whose mother was a writer of poetry)
• Owns several quality hunting rifles and shotguns
• Is an avid fisherman
• Personally knows more famous people that I ever hope to know
• Is the retired cemetery custodian at Young's Chapel
  
  It was a joy to become more personally acquainted with Dave and Hal. They are two of the finest BaptistLifers on our discussion forum...
  
  Below are a few selected photographs from my trip though southern Virginia. The first three are from Dave's neck of the swoods. The rest are from Hal's neck of the woods. The two mountain views were taken on the north edge of the Oak Hill campus. That's me standing on Main Street in Mouth of Wilson, VA.  The last photo was taken at Hal's son-in-law's dairy farm. Those Holsteins can climb better than mountain goats in Colorado & Montana.  That brick building on the top of the mountain was standing when Thomas Jefferson was President.
  
  Thanks to Dave and Hal for allowing me to post them.  Enjoy...