Fifth Sunday: The Loving Hands Murder

When the members of the Loving Hands Baptist Church are shaken by a murder behind the church, all hell breaks loose, the only black resident of the community is blamed, and if they don’t soon see the error of their ways, the resulting scandal may force the historic church to close its doors.

In March, 1985, Lamont Johnson moved his black American family from Cleveland, Ohio for an executive position with AmSouth Bank Corporation and a new home in the midst of the whites-only Alabama community of Loving Hands. When the body of an exotic dancer is found behind the Loving Hands Baptist Church, Lamont Johnson is arrested for the murder.

The story, inspired by actual events, is told from the perspective of Emmett Hollister who has only recently returned home after a stint in the Navy. Quickly things start looking up for Emmett when he meets and falls in love with new resident, Jane Fitzwater. As their love grows so do the problems in the Loving Hands community resulting in the destruction of their relationship and a scandalous revelation about some of the unloving racist members of Loving Hands Baptist Church.