Munn, Willie Mae Barrett Stepp
Willie Mae Barrett Steps Munn (1900-1972) was one of the original 12 students to enroll the first term of the Bible Training School, now Lee University.
Interestingly, for 99 years Willie Mae's surname was listed incorrectly in any published history related to Lee. This is because the original handwritten student attendance ledger has her last name appearing as Barnett. However, when Louis Morgan was conducting research for Lee's Centennial, he discovered the surname of one of the first students was not a Barnett, but in fact Barrett. Thereafter, it became easy to learn more about Willie Mae and her connection to the school.
Willie Mae Barrett was age 17 when she enrolled at Bible Training School. Originally from the local area, she was the daughter of Reverend Isom C. and Kate Samples Barrett. Her father had been appointed as pastor of the South Cleveland Church of God only a month prior to Willie Mae enrolling at the Bible school.
Willie Mae was an office worker at the Evangel Publishing Company (later known as the Church of God Publishing House), in which building the school's classes were held. Her father had become pastor of the local South Cleveland Church of God the month prior to the school’s opening. She and two other workers at the Publishing House (Stella Champion and Maud Ellis) enrolled at the Bible School at the same time, and each left the school after the seventh day of class, but continued to work at the publishing house. Although it is unknown why they did not complete the first term of the Bible school, it is possible they found it difficult to balance the responsibilities of work and study. The reason remains unknown at present.
Interestingly, Ellis, Champion, and Barrett had ministered together at a revival in Hiwassee, Tennessee, in August 1917 prior to enrolling at the Bible school. At that time, Willie Mae Barrett’s father, Isom C. Barrett, was pastor of the Hiwassee Church. A report of that meeting noted, “We have just closed a two weeks meeting here. Brother Charlie Grisam was in charge, assisted by Brother and Sister White, Maud Ellis and Stella Champion. We appreciated their presence. The Lord greatly blessed them. People came to the services from miles around. Several were saved, some were sanctified and four were added to the church. The meeting closed with many hungry souls at the altar. There are many looking this way.”
Willie Mae continued to work at the publishing house, where she was employed in 1922 when she married Riley S. Stepp, a licensed deacon in the Church of God. Later on, when Willie Mae was a widow, she married Reverend Edwin Munn from Oneonta, Alabama. She died in 1972 and is buried at Charleston, South Carolina.
/ L.F. Morgan
Interestingly, for 99 years Willie Mae's surname was listed incorrectly in any published history related to Lee. This is because the original handwritten student attendance ledger has her last name appearing as Barnett. However, when Louis Morgan was conducting research for Lee's Centennial, he discovered the surname of one of the first students was not a Barnett, but in fact Barrett. Thereafter, it became easy to learn more about Willie Mae and her connection to the school.
Willie Mae Barrett was age 17 when she enrolled at Bible Training School. Originally from the local area, she was the daughter of Reverend Isom C. and Kate Samples Barrett. Her father had been appointed as pastor of the South Cleveland Church of God only a month prior to Willie Mae enrolling at the Bible school.
Willie Mae was an office worker at the Evangel Publishing Company (later known as the Church of God Publishing House), in which building the school's classes were held. Her father had become pastor of the local South Cleveland Church of God the month prior to the school’s opening. She and two other workers at the Publishing House (Stella Champion and Maud Ellis) enrolled at the Bible School at the same time, and each left the school after the seventh day of class, but continued to work at the publishing house. Although it is unknown why they did not complete the first term of the Bible school, it is possible they found it difficult to balance the responsibilities of work and study. The reason remains unknown at present.
Interestingly, Ellis, Champion, and Barrett had ministered together at a revival in Hiwassee, Tennessee, in August 1917 prior to enrolling at the Bible school. At that time, Willie Mae Barrett’s father, Isom C. Barrett, was pastor of the Hiwassee Church. A report of that meeting noted, “We have just closed a two weeks meeting here. Brother Charlie Grisam was in charge, assisted by Brother and Sister White, Maud Ellis and Stella Champion. We appreciated their presence. The Lord greatly blessed them. People came to the services from miles around. Several were saved, some were sanctified and four were added to the church. The meeting closed with many hungry souls at the altar. There are many looking this way.”
Willie Mae continued to work at the publishing house, where she was employed in 1922 when she married Riley S. Stepp, a licensed deacon in the Church of God. Later on, when Willie Mae was a widow, she married Reverend Edwin Munn from Oneonta, Alabama. She died in 1972 and is buried at Charleston, South Carolina.
/ L.F. Morgan