Due to the overwhelmingly positive response I received on the Reverend George Washington Blocker article, I decided to write one on another famous Edgefield African American preacher and educator, namely Reverend Frank Augustus Weaver. 

It has been my honor and pleasure to have met and befriended his grandson, Reverend William C. Weaver, several years ago.  

Reverend Weaver recently published a book on his grandfather, entitled “The Memoirs of Frank Augustus Weaver (1863-1942)”, and excerpts from that book have been used in this article, along with several photos, with his kind permission.  

Reverend Weaver is one of those people who radiates sunshine from his soul and lights up a room whenever he smiles. 

I like to believe that his grandfather was the same way - a kind and gentle spirit and a true man of God.

 On December 31, 1863, Reverend Frank Augustus Weaver was born to Allen and Fannie Weaver in Edgefield County, South Carolina.  According to family history, his father belonged to the Allen family, while his mother belonged to the Tompkins family. 

After they married, his father was given to the Tompkins family.  Rev. Weaver and the other children that belonged to the Tompkins family lived together and were raised as one family.

As he grew up, Rev. Weaver was exposed to a good education for that time.  In 1870, he attended grade school and his first teachers were Mr. Simmons and Mr. S. H. Chiles.  He attended South Carolina College in 1877, now the University of South Carolina, in Columbia, S. C.  He also went to Benedict College, in Columbia, S. C. in 1904.  Rev. Weaver always wanted to be a preacher and hoped that someday God would call him and he received that call to preach in 1877.

In the 1870 Edgefield County, Pickens Township, Census, Rev. Weaver was listed as a 10 year old child in the household of his parents, Allen, listed as being 35 years old, and Fanny, 30 years old.  Also in the household were Lissa, 18 years old; Jane, 16 years old; Carrie 12 years old; and Lizzie, 3 years old.  Living only a few doors down from them was James Tompkins, a 21 year old white male, who was a very large landowner with $10,500 recorded as the value of his real estate.  In the 1880 Edgefield County, Pickens Township, Census, Fannie was recorded as a widow and head of household.  She was also curiously listed as being 60 years of age.  Enumerated with her were a son, Frank, 17 years old, and a daughter, Ella, 10 years old.

In circa 1882, Rev. Weaver married Alice Mathis, who was born on May 5, 1866 and died on February 19, 1934.  She was the daughter of Moses and Sarah Mathis.  (Sarah Mathis was living in the household of Rev. Weaver in the 1900 Edgefield County, Pickens Township, Census.  She was listed as being 75 years old and her birth date was recorded as March 1825.  She was a widow and the mother of seven children, with only three still living at that time.) 

Rev. Weaver and his wife, Alice, had twelve children, namely Charlie (not recorded in any census), George (born circa 1883), Rebecca (born circa 1885), Allen (born circa 1887), Frank Ernest (born circa 1890), Cora (born circa 1892), Eura (not recorded in any census), Mackfield (also called Whitfield in the census) (born circa 1894) , Sarah (born circa 1899), Cyrus Augustus (born circa 1903), Elbert (born circa 1905), and Mary Jane (born circa 1907).  Each of these children that lived to adulthood went on to become ministers, educators, and/or entrepreneurs.  Furthermore, their descendants have continued on this path of service and are still viable members of the community.

Rev. Weaver and Alice reared their children on a large plantation near the intersection of Old Chapel Ferry Road and Center Spring in Edgefield County.  They labored hard during those years and acquired a large amount of farmland, becoming prosperous farmers.  

The family’s influence was felt throughout the area.  During his long religious service, Rev. Weaver was the pastor of five Edgefield County churches, including Bethlehem Baptist, Bland Baptist, Macedonia Baptist, Mt. Calvary Baptist, and Shaw’s Creek Baptist.  Rev. Weaver also practiced with remarkable success the ministry of healing.  He stated on one occasion that he had healed thousands of sick persons.  Many of his patients believed that he possessed a spiritual power derived from many years of prayer and meditation.  In a little black book the Reverend Frank Augustus Weaver kept the number of persons to whom he ministered.  Sometimes before his death he said “I have baptized 2,984 persons, officiated at 2,085 funerals and married 1,042 couples.”

Nevertheless, Rev. Weaver’s involvement with the spiritual needs of his fellow man was not his only contribution to the community.  He was also greatly concerned with education as well.  On November 9, 1911, there was an article in the Edgefield Chronicle in which Rev. Weaver announced the opening of his school near Center Spring called the Oak Grove school house.  Rev. Weaver and Alice also “provided the leadership for the acquisition of land at Edgefield Academy so that African Americans could have an opportunity to receive a high school education” (Memoirs, page 7).  There are many articles written to the Edgefield Chronicle by Rev. Weaver encouraging the education of his race and harmony between the two races.

Passionate in his beliefs and convictions, these articles are beautifully and eloquently composed.  Some of them even contain poetry, which Rev. Weaver was also well-known for writing.  

Rev. Weaver was seventy-nine years old when he died on August 10, 1942.  

His funeral was a tribute to the life of a man who was loved and respected by all races of people.  The service was held at Macedonia Baptist Church in Edgefield, S. C.  In his book, Rev. William C. Weaver wrote about his grandfather’s funeral, stating that:

Most of the downtown businesses were closed to mourn the death of one of its most respected citizens. Reverend Frank Augustus Weaver had lived in Edgefield County his entire life.  He had made a major contribution in the areas of race relations, education and religion.  He was also community organizer and a legend of his own lifetime.  He was affectionately called “Pa” by almost everyone.  The long funeral procession started at the residence of his daughter and son-in-law, Jule and Sarah Weaver Anderson at 227 Macedonia Street and marched a full block down Macedonia Street to the Church.  It was indeed befitting to that of a royal family mourning the death of their king.  There were city officials and dignitaries present from local and several adjourning states.  There were more than a thousand Caucasians and African-Americans in attendance.  Several speakers brought greeting and tributes extolling his extraordinary life and ministry.

    The Reverend G. W. Blocker, Moderator of the Mount Canaan  Baptist Association, delivered the Eulogy.  He had known Reverend Frank Augustus Weaver since they were children.  He made the following remarks:  “Frank Augustus lived above the little things of life.  Death for him was not a mournful dirge.  It was a triumphal note of victory.  He is not dead.  He has moved.  And it wasn’t a hard thing for him to do, for he was packed and ready.  The only sad thing about moving is when the landlord tells you to get out when you have no place to go.”

    But Frank Augustus was ready and knew where he was going; Death stung him but couldn’t hurt him.  I said to him one day, “Frank Augustus, you’ve always preaching to others about right living, and preparing for everlasting life, what about yourself?”  He turned to a verse in the Bible that said, “Be ye also ready.”  He had been preaching since he was a little boy, when he had to be lifted up to the pulpit.  He was ready for life.  He was ready for death.  He was ready for everlasting life.  Amen.

After the funeral service was over, Rev. Weaver’s body was taken to Bland Baptist Church Cemetery, in Johnston, S. C.  

He was laid to rest next to his wife, Alice Mathis Weaver, and near the grave of his mother, Fannie Weaver.  In every way possible, Reverend Frank Augustus Weaver walked the path of righteousness and led numerous people to both spiritual and mental enlightenment.  

He was a kind and gentle spirit and a true man of God.