George Whitefield
George Whitefield (1714-70) was a noted evangelist, born in Gloucester, England. He met John and Charles Wesley at Oxford and with them formed the Holy Club. Ordained deacon in 1736, he followed the Wesleys to Georgia in 1738 and founded Bethesda Orphanage (oldest in American) at Savannah (1740).
After doctrinal differences with the Wesleys he founded the Calvinistic Methodists.
He made seven trips to America, preaching in Georgia, Pennsylvania and New England. He died while holding a meeting in Newburyport, Mass., and is buried there.
Whitfield County (1851), created from Murray, originally Cherokee county, was named for him.
Marker is on North Thornton Avenue (U.S. 41) just north of West Crawford Street, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
