COVID-19 tore through a black Baptist church community in WV. Nobody said a word about it

FAIRMONT — Members of seven predominantly black Baptist congregations in North Central West Virginia packed a small rural church March 15 with the threat still largely unknown.

Ninety to 120 people gathered after regular morning services at Friendship Baptist to mark the Rev. Laverna Horton’s sixth anniversary at the church in Everettville, a rural community north of the Monongalia-Marion County line.

“Typically, black Baptist churches celebrate two major events each year,” said the Rev. Rahsaan Armand, head pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Clarksburg. “That’s the church’s anniversary and the pastor’s anniversary. We go around and celebrate each one of those for each church.”

Inside a church van that morning sat Laverna Horton’s sister-in-law, Viola York Horton, 88, of Marion County, a choir member at Morning Star Baptist just outside downtown Fairmont. The church boasts one of the largest black congregations in North Central West Virginia.

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(Charleston Gazette Mail)