REV. FRANK LOVE MCCUE

1904-1913, 1915-1918 

Frank Love the son of Richard Thomas McCue and Cornelia Jane Bell was born at Fort Defiance, Virginia on August 13, 1863. He was educated at Hampden- Sydney College and Union Theological Seminary. Having been licensed to preach on May 11, 1888, by the Lexington Presbytery, Synod of Virginia, he was ordained on September 9 of the same year. His first charges were near Charleston, WV. In September 1889, he married Miss Annie Wallace Anderson of Rockbridge Baths, VA, a worthy helpmeet whose chief interest and sole concern was to make their home an adjunct to his work. 

In 1898 the McCues came to the newly established West Side Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS, where Rev. McCue preached nearly six years before being called in 1904 to take charge of French Camp Academy for boys. Rev. Mecklin was in declining health and was apparently unable to perform his duties at the church and Academy. Rev. McCue served as president of the Academy and pastored the church in French Camp until 1918, except for two years (1913-1915) during which time he went back to his roots in Virginia to serve at Stonewall Jackson College in Abington, VA. 

These were hard years for the French Camp community. Their long-time pastor, Rev. Mecklin died in October of 1913. Cotton crops were virtually destroyed by the Mexican boll weevil from 1914 to 1916, causing the closure of many farms and businesses in the area. The Great World War broke out in 1914, and the first registration for the draft in Choctaw County was held on June 25, 1917. Then in 1918 a tragic fire destroyed the buildings of the Central Mississippi Institute which forced its merger with French Camp Academy. 

Rev. McCue left French Camp in 1918 and went on to pastor several other churches before retiring in 1941 from active service. He went to live with a daughter in Rockbridge Baths, VA. There he died on June 3, 1945, with the Gospel of John in his hand.