July 28

Gloria and I have sent out e-mails concerning the homecoming, I'd welcome a better term, to be held at the Plantersville school on Saturday, July 28.

A meal will be served, and we need an estimate of how many to prepare for. Please e-mail me or Gloria and tell us if you and/or your family will attend.

My e-mail is gkelly100@comcast.net

We welcome your comments, suggestions or questions.

Also, please help us spread the word.

Thanks.

Tommy Lines Up A Shot

Tommy Monts lines up shot; is that a 52 Chevy in the background?

The picture was not showing up on my browser so I posted it again; however, am unable at this time to delete the old one.

Richard Carter and Evelyn Grant's Wedding

Robert Rogers wrote that Richard and Evelyn's wedding at the Methodist Church in Plantersville was the first one he ever attended.

The Rogers Family

Robert Rogers sent me the information on Ernestine Rogers Temple used in the previous post and this additional information on his family.

The father of Robert Holland and Achilles Moorman Rogers was Robert Henderson Rogers. There has been a Robert Rogers for six generations. While Holland didn't name his son Robert, Achilles named his Robert Grant. Robert's middle name is Houck; his son is Robert Clinton, and his grandson is Robert Wade. From Robert's father through his grandson, the tradition is to use the mother's maiden name for the middle name.

Robert along with his wife, Joyce, served as pastor to a Baptist Church in Rota, Spain.

Davis L. Temple, Jr.

In 2004, Carole attended a library conference at which Davis Temple, Jr., won the Mississippi Author Award for his novel, Two Letters Then Booger Den. His second novel, published in 2005, is entitled Preacherman.

Davis is a scientist who lives in Connecticut and Florida. We have exchanged e-mails for the past few years. I believe that Davis and his parents lived near Aunt Johnnie at one time when Davis was small.

Davis's mother was Ernestine Rogers, the daughter of Robert Holland Rogers who was the brother of Achilles Moorman Rogers, Miss Willie's husband.

After Ernestine's death, Davis Temple, Sr., married Lefty Sample's sister.

Grant Genealogy

Charlotte Diggs in answer to an inquiry from me, sends the following:

"Grandmother had Evelyn, Samuel, and Daddy. The gentleman you met was
probably Abner Grant, he taught at Pearl River CC or something like
that. He has a son named John who is Freddy's age. My granddaddy's
brother, Jacob and Gussie, were the parents of David, Olivia Polk, and
Abner. There may have been another, but I would have to pull out the
history to be sure. Grandmother's clan, the Towerys, was so large that
Granddaddy's seemed small in comparison."

Oda Gray Smith

Sympathy to the family of Mrs. Oda Gray Smith. Services were yesterday with burial in the Plantersville Cemetery.

The Smiths built the store next to us, and her brother Leighton operated a store next to Mr. Roy's for a while. Did the Smiths own the house behind the post office? I think Leighton lived there and later the O'Callagans (sp).

As mentioned before, I have a friend and neighbor who is Leighton and Mrs. Oda's first cousin.

The Grant Children

Charlotte, Pat and Freddy Grant, since Pat, the baby, was born in 1953; that is probably the year this picture was taken.

The last three pictures courtesy of Charlotte Diggs; thanks Charlotte

Neicy, Freddy and Charlotte

Neicy with Freddy and Charlotte Grant.

Tack and His Children

Tack with his children, Freddy, Charlotte and Pat, taken in July of 1954.

The Grants

Reading Mr. Carter's obituary, I realized there's a lot about the Grants I didn't know even though I lived close to them. I hope Charlotte and her mother will write about Tack's family, especially his siblings. I remember hearing about Evelyn, but don't recall meeting her. I did meet, I think, one of Tack's brothers here in Jackson years ago.

My son-in-law grew up in Kosciusko and knows Evelyn and Richard Carter’s son who is a physician there, but didn't know about the Plantersville connection.

Memories

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday. I am about to exhaust the pictures that Amy Bostick sent and need for others to send pictures and stories. As stated before I envision this site as a place to preserve memories of Plantersville. Sent your memories to me via e-mail (gkelly100@comcast.net).

Huddle Up

One team plans its next play.

Running to Daylight

That is Ken Mitchell, I think, trying to gain yardage.

Football in the Shadows

I always associated Memorial Day with baseball; major league teams used to play doubleheaders on this date; I notice some teams aren't scheduled this year. Things have changed and in keeping with changing times, thought I would post some football pictures today.

Later today many of us might long for the shade of Cecil's pecan trees.

Happy Memorial Day

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Memorial Day.

Pigskin

I have several shots of football games left to post; I'm not sure whether they are the same game or different ones.

Creek?

I posted a picture of this location back at the beginning of this blog; I don't anyone ever clarified where this is?

Amidst the Shadows

I think this is Stan Williams, Gene Monts and Jim Borden. Correct me if I am wrong.

Richard Carter

Service for Richard Carter, the husband of Evelyn Grant who died in 2001, will be at the Plantersville Cemetery at eleven on Monday. Mr. Carter, a long time resident of Jackson, died in Kosciusko Friday.

Evelyn Grant, as most of you know, was Neicy Grant's sister-in-law and aunt to Pat, Charlotte and Freddy.

Bubble Blowing Contest

I think that is Cindy Partlow and Marilyn Sample watching a young lady blow a bubble; I can't identify the boys and wonder if we'll ever know who the young lady behind the bubble is?

Niecy Grant With Others

Cecil's park resembled a three ring circus only there was usually more than three things going on at once; here Niece Grant,is that her children Pat and Freddy flanking her and Betsy Johnson on the end, watch as a croquet game goes on behind the bench.

Plantersville School Building

I borrowed this picture of Plantersville School from Cathy's blog.

Days Gone By

My daughter Cam will be 39 in September (she'll be mad if she finds out I published that), and since she's the little girl in this picture, you can imagine how long ago it was taken.

On the floor: Doris Traylor and Cam Kelly; seated: George and Carole (a blonde), Aunt Grace and Aunt Johnnie.

Baseball Team Picture

A large group of players wearing uniforms that say Verona; are there any familiar faces in this group?

Buddy Returns

Roy Gilbert Partlow Jr.(isn't that correct) returns a shot. He looks so young; I know he served in WWII; how old would he have been in 1962, the date on this picture?

Two Tables, No Waiting

Eight young people are engaged in playing games under the shade trees.

On Three

Another football game in Cecil's yard; this one mainly between girls with one boy on each side or so it seems.

Say Cheese

I have posted almost two thirds of the almost two hundred wonderful pictures that Amy Bostick sent, and though I try to discard one after it is posted, that has not always worked out. I some times encounter a major problem with my computer; it's technical name is an old operator so bear with me if I duplicate posts. The girls in this picture are familiar but not the boy, so I thnk this is a new post.

On the Door Steps

Sitting on Cecil's door steps are Carol and Diane Jackson, Betsy Johnson and Harry Morgan.

Beneath the Spreading Oak

Only this is probably a pecan tree that Jim Borden and Betsy Johnson are beneath.

A Friend From Lawhon

Phillip Jones and Betsy Johnson sitting together; Phillip was a friend from Lawhon Junior HIgh.

Little Joe Deaton

Frances Helms shares this with us:

"Sherrilyn, Patrick, Aaron and I visited the Unity Cemetery and Little Joe was born Nov. 25, 1943 - died Sept 18, 1997."

Thanks Frances, I knew Little Joe was two or three years younger than I am; he was three, and I knew he was born during the war. I was born in 1940, and since Mr. Joe and my Dad were good friends, Mr. Joe sent me gifts from Italy even after his son was born, who he had not seen yet; until Mrs. Ruth had to remind him that he had a son of his own. I still have a bracelet with my name engraved on it that he sent.

Someone Left the Car Door Open

This boy and girl(someone please identify) stand before a car with an open door.

Piggy Back

Butch Sample gives his sister, Marilyn, a piggy back ride. Isn't that what it used to be called though I don't know why?

Verona Baseball Team

There are several shots in the pictures Amy sent of baseball players wearing Verona uniforms. Did Plantersville and Verona combine to field a team or are these shots of Plantersville rival? Are there any boys from Plantersville in this picture; I don't recognize any.

Cecil's Old House

I borrowed this from Cathy's site and attemped to crop it to show Cecil's old house; this if from a Johnson family photo and that is Paul's head in the shot. Does anyone have other pictures of the old Johnson house?

Mtch Massey and ?

The young man wearing the tie is Mitch Msssey; is that Johny Parker with him?

Three Young Ladies

Please help identify these three young ladies.

Three for Croquet

These three young ladies are preparing for or have just finished a game of croquet. Need assistance with the names.

Round um Up, Rawhide

Paul Johnson, Ken Mitchel and others look as if they are prepared to herd cattle.

Group of Girls

This group of girls pose for the camera.

Movies in Plantersville

I miss talking about old times with Mike Collier. In one of our conversations, Mike mentioned, if my memory is correct, someone in Plantersville showing movies. I don't have any recollection of that. Where were these movies shown, who showed them,and can anyone remember what movies were shown?



"Buford Partlow was the Movie man in Plantersville. In the early 1950's my dad had a theater in Saltillo and Mantachie. He ordered the movie reels and we picked them up at the bus station. ( I should know, I went everywhere he went). Since he ran these on the weekend, he decided to show the movies at home during the week. So on the east side of our white shingled house we had movies, straight back chairs and a makeshift concession for popcorn and drinks.

We lived on what is Poplar Street today next to Cleon and Sarah Walker, Brenda leaves there today. At the east end of this street were some very large trees, so the movie was free to those who wanted to climb and they
did. This did not last for long, but it was fun having a theater in your own yard. I really can't remember any certain movies, but I feel like most were Westerns, probably John Wayne, Audie Murphy etc. This is briefly what I remember."


Lynette Brown

Thanks to Lynette for sharing and jarring my memory; Mike did mention that they were at Buford's house. Somehow, I missed movie nights, and am sorry I did.

Note from George: I have tried several tricks to correct the formatting problem on this entry; so far hasn't work; if I can't fix it soon, I'll retype the post.

Another Serve

Another serve with a similar view. Whose white pickup?

Woody Serves

As Woody Sample serves this potential ace, behind him is another view of the houses across from Cecil's. Isn't that a couple of young ladies standing in the yard?

Shadows

While young folks play in the shadows of Cecil's pecan trees, the houses across the street are seen. I didn't know anyone in Plantersville had a two car garage.

Plantersville in the Early 60s

Not only do the next three pictures show the activities at Cecil's park, but in the background a portion of Plantersville in the 60s is revealed.

Good Game Buddy

Cathy Johnson Garrett and I, Cathy has done most of the work, have published a new site on Plantersville called Good Game Buddy. Check the link section of this site. Some of the material is from this blog, but there are some entries that are new.

An attempt to add the link to this site a few days ago failed, but it should be operating correctly now.

Wonder Who Won?

I wonder who won in this battle of young versus adult? That's Gene Monts playing Paul Johnson, isn't it?

Table Games

If one tired of all the active games at Cecil's, one could play table games, checkers or cards.

Richard Borden and Ken Boyd are playing with Freddy Morgan, Cathy Johnson, and Beverly Roberts observing.

Three on a Bench

These three young ladies are from left to right: Tonya Philpot, Jane Parker, and Judy Philpot.

Team Shot

Another Plantersville baseball team poses for a team picture. Ken Mitchell is on the left kneeling, and Paul Johnson is standing on the right. I need help with the others.

Croquet

These men engage in a fierce game of croquet while a horse grazes in the background.

Eyes Right

Something seems to be occurring on the right.

Junior, Carroll and Joe

A picture of these three gentlemen (Junior McWhorter, Carroll Mitchell, and Joe Rogers), evokes these memories:


After Raymon died, my uncle found an apartment for my mother in Tupelo, and Joe Ballard and Junior looked after and worked our place. When Joe Ballard retired from farming, Junior continued to take care of the place.

During those years my mother and I grew to trust Junior totally, and I always looked forward to my visits with him.


When I was growing up, Roy Partlow’s store was next door and Charlie Mont’s was across the street while Mitchell’s was farther away, but I saw Carroll some at his father’s store and also at church; years later during my visits with the coffee club at Matt’s, I renewed my acquaintance with Carroll, and we quickly became close friends. For the last ten or twelve years of his life, Carroll and I spoke and corresponded frequently; in fact, I was composing an e-mail to him when I was informed of his death.

In the spring of 1964, I was employed as credit manager for the Sherwin-Williams Paint Company in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and after working there for a few months, I saved enough money to purchase my first car.

Since my mother and Raymon always bought their cars from Joe Rogers, they insisted I come home and talk to him before my purchase.

Times were different then and Fooks Chevrolet had few used cars and none in my price range. Sunday afternoon I boarded the bus on my way back to Jonesboro, and a few minutes later a beautiful young lady entered and took a seat directly in front of me. I was way too shy to initiate a conversation, but fortunately she spoke to me, and we discovered she had been in the tenth grade at Tupelo HIgh my senior year and was friends with Sherry Sumner, Linda Stovall, and ironically Barbara Rogers. She was on her way to Ole Miss where she was a senior.

Three weeks later, I found a car I liked in Jonesboro, but decided to come home and check once more with Joe Rogers who still didn’t have any cars I could afford.

That Sunday my prayers were answered when the same young lady came down the aisle and sat next to me. The bus trip from Tupelo to Oxford seemed to only take a couple of minutes, and since I would not be riding the bus again, I thought I might never see her again.

Almost exactly a year later in the spring of 1965, I was in Tupelo working part time and planning to commute to Ole Miss to summer school when I ran into that lovely young lady again.

In the spring of 1966, April 2, to be exact, Brother Silas Johnson pronounced Carole and me husband and wife.

I am grateful to Junior for not only looking after our place but making it such a pleasant experience, to Carroll for his friendship, and to Joe Rogers for being the catalyst that brought Carole and me together.

Carole Kelly says: "This is the sweetest, finest essay I have read in some time ..."

On the Bench

Another shot of boys and girls resting on the bench, some watching the tennis action and some not.

Two at the Net

Most of the pictures that Amy sent seem to date from 1962 or after which makes most of the young people six or more years younger than I am. In 1962, I was a senior in college; having not spent much time at Cecil's durng my college years. Nonetheless, I can usually guess at the names in the picture, but prefer not to, but I don't have a guess as to the identify of these two young tennis players.

If I were just a little taller

Cecil opened his heart and his park for kids of all ages. When the tennis court opened, I recall chldren just barely able to hold a racket being allowed to play. This young man plays ping pong; I wonder who his opponent is on the other end.

Boys

Boys of assorted ages gather at Cecil's.

Mother's Day

Hope all the mothers had a wonderful day yesterday.

A Half Dozen Beauties

I recognized Linda Partlow and Cathy and sent it to her to name the others.


Cathy Johnson Garrett:

"Seated: Linda, Me, Carol Russell
Standing: Jane Parker, Betsy, Rosemary Gibens"

As many of you know, Rosemary Gibens is our mayor here in Clinton.

Oh No!

Apparently, a shot has gone awry.

Sitting

These young folks are taking a break. Someone identified Robert Hall as a member of the baseball team in a previous post. I should have recognized Robert. Is he in this picture? I saw Robert, who is the son of Raymon Stovall's niece, at Fred's a few years ago.

Good Buddies

Paul Johnson and Ken Mitchell lived across the street from one another and were best friends; they were also lucky enough to live next door and across the street from Cecil.