Rea Morris and Family

Several years ago, the Journal published a query from Rea Morris from Texas asking about a Sarchie Morris Kelly; since then Rea and I have exchanged numerous e-mails. His grandfather, Arch Morris, my grandmother's brother, migrated to Texas when he was eighteen.

Rea had no memory of ever visiting Plantersville until I found this picture from the summer of 1948. Rea is on the left next to his brother, George, I think that's his name, and his sister Sarchie, named after guess who. That's his youngest sister Wanda in front and his mother in the foreground. This picture was taken either on Sunday or Wednesday afternoon note the absence of any cars at the store.

Trick or Treat

Because tonight is Clinton High School's homecoming, trick or treating here was last night.

How many of you went trick or treating as a child? When I was growing up in Plantersville, we had a Halloween carnival at the school, with cake walks, a haunted house, bobbing for apples, and various games, and when I was older, several of us would go serenading on Halloween night which meant throwing fireworks at houses. I didn't know anyone who went trick or treating or at least I don't think I did.

Happy Halloween

Seems as if it were only last week that I was wishing everyone a happy Halloween last year; time flies by.

Beware of ghosts and goblins tonight.

Three Uncles

John Dewey Birmingham, my uncle by marriage, Morris Andrew Kelly, my father's brother, and Uncle Will Morris, my great-uncle in what, I think, is my grandparent's side yard in Plantersville.

This appears to be the west side of the house. I know that they had a fence similar to the one shown here but can't be certain of anything else.

Uncle Will was my grandmother's brother and lived in Amory. He was married to Edna Nabors whose niece was Uncle Morris's wife.

Princess Carly

Carly is, always was and always will be my little princess; however, while recently tracing our family on Ancestry. Com, one of our lines indicates that Carly is the 22nd great-granddaughter of King Henry III of England. I'm not certain where Ancestry finds its information or what difference it makes, but since telling Carly,  she insists I bow when she walks by.

The Troy Kelly Family

Troy and Robbie Kelly with all thirteen of their children.

Picture taken in 1964.

Pocahontaus Chooses a Duck

Halloween began for us last night with the fall festival at church. Trick or Treat will be tonight since tomorrow night is Clinton High School's homecoming.

The Dan Kelly Family

I am not certain whether or not I've posted this picture before; I can't remember what I did this morning much less months or years ago and since there are around one thousand entries on this blog, searching for old pictures is futile.

The picture was taken ca. 1904.  After the picture three other children were born to this family.

Miss Dixie and Little Joe

Miss Dixie, which was what most of us called her though she was a widow, holds her grandson, Little Joe Deaton, in a picture taken in the early 40s as Joe was born while his father was in Italy during World War II.

Miss Dixie was for many of us our first grade teacher.

As I have mentioned on this blog before, after her husband died, Miss Dixie and her sons boarded with my grandparents and became like members of the family. She later bought the house directly across from Aunt Grace.

Update on Mrs. Bostick

Amy sent the following:


"Just wanted to give you an update. Mrs. Bostick went to UAB Wednesday. The doctor spent about 2 hours with her. He wants her off the steroids and has started working on that. He does not understand her loss of balance considering where the tumor is and thinks it may be the steroids. This will take about 4 weeks. She then goes back for him to do his own MRI and other test. After that he will decide how to best deal with the tumor. He says right now considering her age and other health issues he is hoping to be able to do radiation which will be a one time thing. Only Birmingham and one other hospital in the country do this type of procedure. Thanks for all your prayers.

Love,

Heath and Amy"

Kelly's Chapel School

This picture was forwarded to me by Rosalyn Kelly; I think Betty Sue may have the original.

If you double click on the picture, you should be able to read the names; if you can't, let me know and I'll provide them for you. I don't know if the names correspond with the rows or not.

Kelly's Chapel was located in the State Park area, but exactly where I'm not certain; could someone e-mail me the exact location and does anyone know when the school ceased operation.

My grandfather, John Green Kelly, taught at Kelly's Chapel at one time, but apparently not at the time this picture was taken.

Mrs. Nola Berryman

I found this wonderful picture of Mrs. Nola that I wanted to share with you.

The Cavaliers

Paul Ballard was a member of the Cavaliers quartet during his school years at Tupelo; pictured from the left are: Guy Hovis, Buddy Palmer, Paul, and Bobby Verell.

All four were very talented musicians.

Plantersville Question

I had my carpet cleaned today which kept me away from the computer until late, but received the following from Gloria; I'm going to have to give it some thought and try to picture the area. If you have an answer, contact Gloria or me.

"On the south side of the Plantersville Baptist Church, there is a paved parking area. Due south of this is a grassy area that goes to the road on the south and the west. In that grassy area is a huge, old concrete pipe that is apparently a drainage pipe. Dewey Davis called me last week and brought it to my attention for the town to look at. It is a very old concrete pipe, and no one in our current administration is at all familiar with what this is. Dewey says, and is probably right, that it is definitely a waste water drainage pipe, and likely comes from under the ground and drains into a concrete drain the parking lot. However, we are not sure if it is an old system from when highway 6 was there before the new one went through. The pipe is crack and the ground is sinking, making several holes and could be a hazard to anyone that stepped in them accidentally. What I am trying to find out is, what is it, who put it in, who needs to fix it. It is on church property, and may be the resposibility of the town, and we will be glad to fix it, but I have talked to the county and they say that they can't do it because it is on private property. We got a map from MDOT yesterday from the 1950's but can't tell anything about it from there. If anyone knows anything about that pipe, I would certainly love to hear from you. thanks gH"

Current Update on Martha Bostick

Amy sent the following information on her mother-in-law:


'We got the call yesterday from the doctor in Tuscaloosa. Mrs. Bostick has an appointment next Wednesday at UAB in Birmingham. They will be dicussing her treatment options at that time. Please keep her in your prayers and I will update again when I learn more.

Amy'

Paul Ballard

Sympathy to Winnie and her family. I spent some quality time with Paul in April at our class reunion and was encouraged by his condition then. I had heard that he had regressed in the past few months, but had hoped for the best.

Birthday Party Redux

I have posted this picture of what I believe to be my fifth birthday party before. Gwen McFarling Daniel and I have discussed this picture via e-mail and she thinks that she might be the girl fourth from the left in the back row and that Sherry Sumner and Sherry's cousin, Barbara Ann might be the girls next to her.

If that is the case, still not identified are the girl in the dark dress on the last row, the boy on the last row and the two boys at the end of the first row who might or might not be twins.

If I remember correctly, the Winchester boys lived near us at one time. Could that be them?

Once again, if you have not done so already, put names on the back of all your pictures.

Update on Martha Bostick

Amy forwarded the following:

"Heath's mom is at home. She can not be left by herself at this time due to the medicine they are giving her to reduce the swelling causes her blood sugar to be out of control. She went to the doctor in Tuscaloosa Wednesday and we are waiting for a phone call today or Monday to let us know if she is a candidate for one time radiation of the tumor or if they will have to do surgery to remove it. Both things will be done in Birmingham. Please continue to keep her and the whole Bostick family in your prayers.

Thank you.

Amy"

Plantersville on XM

I hope all is okay in Plantersville this morning. I was listening to 247 on XM radio last night; it is the 24 hour emergency channel and hear a report of a storm heading for Pontotoc, Trace Park, I think the reporter said, Tupelo and Plantersville. Where is Trace Park or did I misunderstand?

Carole spoke to her mother who said Tupelo had only a small amount of rain.

It was a bit of a shock to hear Plantersville mentioned on XM radio.

Mrs. Thelma Young

Sympathy to the family of my former neighbor, Mrs. Thelma Young.

As many of you know, when I lived with Raymon Stovall, his house was on a hill, and about fifty yards or so south was the house of his sister and brother-in-law, Bill Ellis. Stewart and Thelma Young's house was the next one about a quarter of a mile or so away.

For some reasons, the cedar trees on their land seemed superior to the ones that grew on our land, hence I usually crossed onto the Young property to find the best Christmas tree.

No one could ask for better neighbors than the Youngs. I think that Stewart's father had been a drummer boy during the Civil War. Someone help me out.

Ah, There You Are

My doctor polished the lenses from my cataract surgery this morning and now the world has become much brighter. It's amazing how much darker the print on the computer has become. Maybe I'll make fewer typos now that I can see.

Martha Bostick

Amy Bostick send the following:

"Please add Heath's mom to your prayer list. They took her last night by ambulance to the hospital. She has had a mini-stroke. At last report she was resting and they will be doing tests today.

Thanks,

Amy"

Sherry Sumner

My wife, the former Carole Tackett, was in home room in high school with Sherry, and recently, I found this picture among others from Carole's class. I would guess the picture was taken in 1958 or 59.

Sympathy to the Bostick Family

Received this message from Amy Bostick: "Dear family and friends,

Heath's dad passed away peacefully this morning with his family around him. We want to thank each and every one of you have been praying for him and

the Bostick family during this time. We would not have made it through without all of you. Please continue to remember Heath's mom and the rest of the family during this time.

Much love,

Heath & Amy "