History of Dothan Rescue Mission

The Dothan Rescue Mission was established by local churches and individuals who wanted to offer assistance to those in need in the community. Since that time, thousands have benefited from its programs and ministries.

Reverend and Mrs. Frank Williams held a meeting with church and community leaders interested in establishing a Rescue Mission on January 22, 1979, at 7 o’clock in the evening at the First United Methodist Church in Dothan, Alabama. In March that same year, the Dothan Rescue Mission secured a loan on the property and house located at 214 South Appletree Street. Only two months later, the doors were opened for operation which at the time consisted of an office, a soup kitchen, a transient lodge which served homeless men, women and children, a chapel and supervisors’ quarters upstairs.

In January of 1983, Reverend and Mrs. Williams resigned their positions as Superintendents of the Rescue Mission, and on March 21 that year, Harry Culbreth and his wife, Anna, became the new directors of the Rescue Mission. On April 8, 1984, Rev. Culbreth was ordained into the ministry by Dr. Samuel Maddox at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Columbia, Alabama.

The Rescue Mission opened a thrift store in the fall of 1979, and Mrs. Lovie Mae Copeland was its first employee. The store began its operation in a rented location and relocated several times after that. In the spring of 1984, the Thrower Estate allowed the Rescue Mission to renovate and use the building at 117 South Foster Street as a clothing store. This property and building which was purchased by the Rescue Mission in 1991, serves as a Sales Center for all donated items. The Rescue Mission acquired the property and building at 119 South Foster Street in December, 1988. Major renovations were then made on the buildings at 115,117 and 119 South Foster Street. Upon completion, these buildings combined to form the Dothan Rescue Mission Sales Center. The Sales Center’s address was later changed to 165 S. Foster Street. A smaller, adjacent building provides a location for regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

After purchasing the property and house at 205 East Washington Street in January, 1985, the upper section of this house was used for the Rescue Mission office, Clearing House Ministry, and food pantry, with bottom being utilized as a Women’s and Children’s lodge as well as a supply closet. The building at 214 South Appletree Street remained the men’s lodge, chapel and soup kitchen. This building was dedicated in 1988 to the memory of Mr. Charles Dunseth, Sr. who had been a charter member as well as past president of the board of directors.

In October, 1987, the Rescue Mission purchased the property and house at 211 South Appletree Street. It served to lodge homeless women and children, and in 1990, was named in memory of Mrs. Louise Crammer, a charter member of the board of directors, a past president, vice president, and secretary of the board. The Quiet Room at this lodge was decorated by the Kay Williams Sunday School Class of the First United Methodist Church of Dothan and was subsequently named in the memory of Mrs. Kay Williams, wife of Mr. Milton Williams.

In 1997, the Rescue Mission began construction on a chapel that would also serve as a dining room and kitchen. This construction which was completed that same year is located at 219 East Washington Street (formally 209 East Washington Street). The building was dedicated in the fall of 1997, and its debt was paid off in 1999.

In January of 2000, the Men’s Lodge at 214 South Appletree Street was partially destroyed by fire. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire. The winter rains finished the destruction of the building. The remaining structure was used as a training site for the Dothan City Fire Department and later demolished.

Because the mission houses many more homeless men than women and children, the building named The Louise Crammer Women and Children’s Lodge at 211 S. Appletree Street was used to house only men after the fire. For a time there were no provisions at the Rescue Mission for women and children. They were sent to a motel for lodging paid for by the Rescue Mission.

In July, 2000, Mary E. McLeod, Executive of the Estate of Carley Stewart McLeod, donated property from that estate to be used for the construction of the Men’s Lodge located at 211 East Washington Street.

The Jones Investment Company (Jackie J. Baird and Bolling Brooks) donated property for the construction of a new office located at 216 East Crawford Street.

In 2001, the Rescue Mission’s board of directors voted to build three new facilities: a new lodge for homeless men, a new lodge for homeless women and children, and a new office.

The new Rescue Mission office was completed in October, 2001. The new Men’s Lodge opened in November of that year. Then in February, 2002, the Women and Children’s Lodge was opened. The old mission office at 215 East Washington Street was demolished in April of that year.

On Sunday, May 5, 2002, the Dothan Rescue Mission held an open house to celebrate the erection of the three new buildings. The board of directors, ladies auxiliary, directors, and staff opened the doors for the kind and loving friends of the Rescue Mission to enjoy the blessings that the Lord made possible by those who have cared and shared.

The foyer of the new Dothan Rescue Mission Women and Children’s Lodge was decorated by the Dothan Rescue Mission Ladies Auxiliary and named in loving memory or Mrs. Maragret McGary. Margaret was a faithful long time member of the Dothan Rescue Mission Ladies Auxiliary.

The new Men’s Lodge was named the Julian Turner Men’s Lodge. The Julian M. Turner Trust was a major contributor to the building fund.

The new Administrative Office was named for Rev. Harry Culbreth and Mrs. Anna Culbreth in honor of their untiring contributions to the mission.