On June 12 at 3 p.m. the Georgia Baptist Historical Commission along with the churches of Houston Lake Baptist Church in Perry and First Baptist Perry will commemorate the life of Amos Cooper Dayton (1813-1865) by placing a marker on his grave at Evergreen Cemetery in Perry. Dayton was best known as the author of Theodosia Ernest, the first Southern Baptist novel. At the time of his death, Dayton served the two above named churches, presided over Houston Female College, and was editor of The Baptist Banner, a prominent Baptist paper of his era.