The Mid-South District - LCMS

A Big Move for the Mid-South District

For over two decades, a trip to the Mid-South District Office meant a visit to a charming old home with beautiful grounds. The “Massey Mansion,” as it was often called, provided office space, meeting rooms and even sleeping quarters for pastors traveling through town. The property also included a swimming pool that local Lutheran families would frequent during summer months. This charming property served as the Mid-South District’s “home” from 1976-1997.

From 1976 to 1997, the Mid-South District Office was located in a re-purposed mansion property on Massey Road in Memphis, TN. The property included sleeping quarters, a swimming pool, tennis courts and a charming hearth room—all of which were used by traveling pastors and other visitors. Over time, upkeep of what was essentially an aging home became too costly and plans were made to move the District Office to a more business-friendly property. Still, the Massey Road mansion remains an iconic and cherished part of the Mid-South District’s history.
Mid-South District Office

With repair costs at the Massey location mounting, a 1997 study by the Board of Directors suggested that it was time to move District operations to a more traditional office space. Later that year, the District Office was relocated to a leased office space that would serve as a temporary home for several years while plans were made for a permanent location. The move to the permanent home would take place in June of 2001 when the Mid-South District opened the doors of the Alma S. Coleman Lutheran Center: a 7,000 square-foot building custom designed for the District’s unique needs. The new building was made possible in large part to Mr. Mickey Coleman who shared a generous gift to the District in memory of his mother, a long-time member of nearby Immanuel Lutheran Church in Memphis. The Mid-South District is now in its 25th year at this location!

An enthusiastic crowd from across the District gathered for the 2001 ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Alma S. Coleman Mid-South Lutheran Center in Cordova, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis.