The East Salem Baptist Church is located on Highway 57 East, a few miles outside of Leakesville. The Historian for the church is Mary Beard, and she states that they have many of the original records of the church.

The church was established on July 29, 1914. It was a member of the Leaf River Baptist Association, before the Greene County Baptist Association was organized. The first Pastor of East Salem was Rev. Tom Tomlinson. The pastor with the longest time of service was Rev. O. U. Sullivan, who served for about 20 years. Some of their early meetings were held at Adamsville, a few miles North of their present location.

The church is presently without a full-time Pastor, but they have supply preachers for the services.. The services are: Sunday School 10 a.m., Worship 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., with Prayer Meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The church has recently given enough money to purchase a steeple, which will be erected this Summer. There will be a dedication service for the same on Homecoming Day, in October. The service attendance runs about 30, with a total membership of around 50. The present place of worship was built in 1974.

The church has plans to enlarge the cemetery, near the church, and construct a walking track around it to be used for Prayer Walks. The church serves as a prayer partner with the Leakesville Middle School.

Some of the early members of East Salem were W. S. Beard, T. W. Beard, J. T. Miller, Robert Rush, Gatsie Beard, and Ila Byrd.

With thanksgiving in their hearts for a good past, the congregation of East Salem looks toward the future with optimism for God’s blessings upon them.