A Valley church celebrates 100 years of service to the area. But as Dennis Biviano explains..St. Augustine Episcopal Church is making history in more ways than you may think.

It all started in 1907 with the vision of Lenora Berry. She wanted to start up an episcopal church for African Americans..and years later it would become a reality. At first the congregation met at St. Johns parish until they were able to obtain property next to the Berry home on Parmalee Avenue. And in 1921 Berry became the first African American female in Mahoning County to charter a church...naming it St. Augustine Episcopal Chapel.

"IT IS THE OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH THAT HAS REMAINED ON THE SAME SITE....WHERE IT WAS ORGANIZED."--Ella Robinson Long-Time Member

Now membership from St. Augustine's Episcopal Church have been listening to the word of the lord from this pulpit for over 100 years. Now decedents of the Berry family still attend to this day. Rose Hodge is a lifetime member of the church and great-granddaughter of Thomas D. Berry, the churches first treasurer and warden. She recalls some fond memories from the churches' early years.

"THEY USED TO HAVE A BIG BIZARRE IN THE FALL EVERY YEAR AND ALL THE CHURCHES FROM ALL AROUND ESPECIALLY THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES, THEY ATTENDED AND IT WAS A BIG AFFAIR."ROSE HODGE\LONG-TIME MEMBER

Another decedent of the Berry family is Youngstown Superintendent Wendy Webb.

"TO ME, THE BERRY FAMILY JUST REPRESENTS THE EPITOME OF OF INTEGRITY AND HIGH ETHICS AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND SAY THAT'S WHERE MY LINEAGE COMES FROM."WENDY WEBB\YOUNGSTOWN SUPERINTENDENT

And after the ceremony....The marker is unveiled...appropriately given the name it had 100 years ago.