Happy New Year

I find it difficult to believe that not only is another year history but so is the first decade of the 21st Century.

Hope all of you have a wonderful 2010.

In Memory of Flora Bishop

June Harris wrote the following about her Aunt Flora:

Aunt Flora

My aunt Flora died recently, and a corner of my heart died with her.
I loved Aunt Flora. She was the only girl in a family of seven; she had six brothers, and the Harris boys were a rough and tumble bunch. I’m sure she had to be a tough cookie to stand up to them; I’m equally sure she was quite up to the task. Aunt Flora was a woman undaunted by life’s challenges.

I was the first grandchild of Luther and Maggie Harris, and Aunt Flora took me up for spoiling. She took me places, bought me things, and in general, made me a bit of a pet. She took me to see Snow White, for instance. (I fell asleep, but that’s not pertinent.)
During WWII, Aunt Flora went off to work in Washington, D. C. I’m not clear on what she did there, but I was certainly clear on the fact that I thought it enormously glamorous. Washington, D. C., had to be the center of the universe, and MY aunt was there. She came home with a husband handsome enough to rival Tyrone Power, and a fur coat. I think it was seal; whatever, I envied and admired that coat.

I was a child, sleeping in my grandparents’ bedroom, when my aunt came in to tell them that she was in labor and needed to go to the hospital. She was pregnant with my cousin Laurie. I don’t remember much more of that night, though I recall stories about it. She was taken to the local hospital, but this was during WWII, and most of the competent doctors were off in the war. Those left at home were somewhat less than able. My aunt was in labor for hours—it seems to me that it was something like a day and a half or more—before the doctors finally decided she had to have a cesarean section, and finally delivered my cousin, Laurie. That saved her life; she’d have died had they waited for her to deliver naturally.
Aunt Flora was a woman who was not put off or intimidated by anyone. She was as social as anyone I’ve ever known. My mother said her first view of Aunt Flora, long before my mom had met my father, was of Aunt Flora sitting on a fence, exchanging jokes and chatter with a group surrounding her. That would be typical.

Aunt Flora knew everybody. She’d say, “Well, you remember…” whoever. “No,” I’d say—I’d left Mississippi when I was twelve, and I didn’t know or remember all the people she knew. “Oh, yes, you do,” she’d say. “She was the cousin/aunt/mother of …” Okay.
Aunt Flora went to the Plantersville Baptist Church when she lived there, and her favorite church apparel included picture hats and big button ‘earbobs.’ White gloves were included, but that goes without saying for suitable 50s attire.

She kept my great aunts together and took them out when she was able. I was back in Mississippi in the early 90s and she picked me up and took me around to see the living great aunts. It was the last time I’d ever see them, and I was grateful to her for that.
Her grandsons appeared to adore her, and if they did not, they certainly kept the fact a close secret. They took her places, saw to her well-being, and were available for her whenever she had needs. She was fortunate in her grandsons; they were there whenever she needed them.
Toward the end of her life, she had to give up the handwork she loved because of failing eyesight. She traveled widely, and I was able to accompany her on her trip to see the Grand Canyon.

Her obituary said she was “opinionated.” Hah! That’s vast understatement. Every Harris I’ve ever known—and I’ve known more than a few—was opinionated, and Aunt Flora was no exception. Her opinions were strong, whether political, involving Ole Miss, or with regard to her family.

Aunt Flora was a force of nature, and I will miss her very, very much.

June Harris

Plantersvillle in the Courier

I receive the Lee County Courier by mail and therefore receive it late, so many of you already know this; the Plantersville Mayor's Youth Council is featured on the front page of the Christmas Eve edition of the Courier.

Also, the Courier ran six pictures of the Plantersville Christmas parade.

Sympathy to the Partlow Families

Sympathy to the family of Russell Partlow, especially to Shirley Coggin Collier and her brothers. Mr. Russell died Friday in a nursing home near Starkville. Services will be at two tomorrow at Lee Memorial.


Sympathy to the family of Dawn Givhan Partlow who died Wednesday and whose services are today at four at Holland Funeral Home in Tupelo. Dawn was the wife of Kevin and the daughter-in-law, I believe, of Benny Earl Partlow.

Someone help me with the family history of the Partlow families in Plantersville. I assume that Mr. Russell Partlow was related to Mr. Ben Partlow.

Merry Christmas

Carole and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.

We'll be on our way north tomorrow morning after having our family Christmas tonight.


May Santa bring you that one special gift.

Grand Marshall

Jerry Hall was Grand Marshall of the Plantersville Chirstmas parade this year.

Dinner Party

On a happier note, Carly celebrated her 7th birthday with a dinner party at her favorite restaurant. That's the birthday girl standing and smiling.

The boy sitting next to her, of course, is Conner who has been her boy friend for three years.

Sad Times

This week before Christmas has been a sad one; two of Carole's friends and 1960 classmates died this week, Martha Ann Reed and Joe Hodges, and one of our friends from church was found dead at her house Thursday morning.

Christmas Parade

Plantersville Christmas Parade 09

I borrowed a couple of pictures of the Plantersville Christmas parade from Gloria's web site.

In this photo are: n this photo: Sam Fair, Claire Wilder, Jorie Wells, Amy Monts, Casey Shackelford, Blake Estes, Emily Stanford, Blake Estes, Gloria Holland, Mikaela Willams.

Correct me if I am wrong on the names.

Steve and Cathy

Cathy Johnson Garrett was in Jackson today and ran into this young man at the Jackson Medical Mall.

Picture courtesy of Cathy.

Christmas Performance

Our granddaughter, Carly, attends school near Ridgecrest Baptist Church where Flora Bishop's services were last night at seven.

Last night the school had a Christmas performance, that's Carly, on the top row, last candy cane on the left.

As we left the school around seven thirty last night, we passed Ridgecrest. The parking lot was full for Mrs. Flora's services. Don't forget, that there will be a visitation for her at Unity from noon until two today.

Flora Bishop

Received word that Mrs. Flora Bishop died this morning. Sympathy to her family and friends.

There will be a service for Mrs. Flora in Ridgeland on Thursday at seven and on Friday a visitation from noon to two at Unity Presbyterian Church.

Christmas Parade

Carly was in Christmas Parades in Madison and in Ridgeland this past Saturday. This is the First Baptist Church of Ridgeland's float in the Ridgeland parade.

That's Carly in brown with the white glove raised. She was waving at Bop Bop and Mama Cita.

Has Plantersville had its Christmas Parade; if so, I need pictures.

Let It Snow

We had a light snow Friday night. Just a few miles south of us, more than 4 inches was reported.

Gloria at the White House

The mayor of Plantersville, Gloria Holland, recently visited Washington. Here she and friends are pictured in front of the White House. I borrowed this picture from Gloria's site and could not find the names of her companions. Someone please identify them..

Anniversaries

We celebrate two events this week, one not so good and one that was very good. Our daughter, Cam, became ill a year ago yesterday and did not recover until April, and on Thursday, Carly will celebrate her seventh birthday.

We had a mini party on Sunday with Tiley, who is the granddaughter of Mike Davis who was one of my closest friends in the 70s. Unfortunately, Mike is deceased. I consider Tiley my other granddaughter.

City Hall

Plantersville City Hall is being expanded and renovated thanks to a grant from the Mississippi
Development Authority.

Flora Bishop

Flora Harris Bishop recently suffered a stroke and is in a nursing home in Ridgeland. Here is a portion of an e-mail I received from Sherrilyn Helms Brown.

"I have visited with Flora twice since she has been moved to Highland Home
down the parkway from me. The first visit was good, she understood who I was
and even asked about my flower garden. Then Thanksgiving Day when I went,
she was not very responsive as before. I think this is just the way it is,
some days better than others. She is paralyzed on her left side and has a
feeding tube. But she seems to be comfortable. I will let you know when I
go back to visit."

George: I am very sorry to learn about Mrs. Flora's health problems. Some years ago, she often came to Plantersville and took all her aunts out to eat; she always included my Aunt Johnnie, who was her aunt by marriage.

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving in Pontotoc at the Sims' house with family and friends. This picture shows about half our crowd enjoying a Thanksgiving feast.

For those of you who do not know, Paul "Tip" Sims, with his back to the camera, served as interim pastor at First Baptist in Plantersville a few years ago.

Laney Sims, who was injured in an accident back in the summer, is doing well and hopes to avoid any additional surgery on her finger.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We'll be heading for north Mississippi in a few minutes and will spend Thanksgiving Day with the Sims family in Pontotoc.

Finding Homes

The Plantersville Youth Council recently assisted the Humane Society in helping to find homes for dogs and cats.

James and Gail

This picture of James Kelly and Gail Geno was taken recently by Ruth Kelly at Estes Fish House in Plantersville.

James is my cousin, and both he and Gail graduated from Tupelo High School with Carole. I borrowed the picture from the class of 1960's web site which Gail oversees.

Family

A day or so ago, I found this picture of my mother and father and me. I don't remember seeing it before though I must have.

My father worked for the highway department and we lived in several different places; don't have any idea where this was taken or whose car that is. My Dad never learned to drive.

A Deer in Clinton

We live in a fairly large subdivision in Clinton. One day this week a deer was grazing in our neighbor's back yard. Carole took this picture just before the deer disappeared into the old road bed that runs behind our house.

This makes the eighth or ninth deer I've seen in the city limits of Clinton. I never saw a deer when I was growing up in Plantersville; are there deer around now?

Have a Happy and Spooky Halloween

Trunk or Treat

Our church had trunk or trick for the kids last night. From left: Cam, Bat Girl and George.

Miley Long Way

Carly and her friends are standing in front of Miley Cyrus's bus in Little Rock. Six mothers and seven girls made the long trip for the Miley Cyrus concert this past weekend.

John Reed Westmoreland

Sympathy is expressed to the family of John Reed Westmoreland, whose obituary is in today's Journal.

Here Be Dragons

A novel, Here Be Dragons, by June Harris is now available. It may be ordered from iuniverse.com or from Amazon.com.

June is, as most of you know, the daughter of Bill Harris and granddaughter of Luther Harris.

Dr. David Grant

Over the past two days I have had occasion to spend time with two men, one of whom was a missionary for over forty years in Brazil and the other was a minister of education at a number of churches. Both mentioned David Grant. The missionary was in seminary with David, while the other man worked with David when both were ministers in Jackson.

Round Table Discussion

A round table discussion was held at the meeting mentioned in the previous post.

Both pictures courtesy of Gloria.

Dr. Marty Wiseman at Plantersville Meeting

Pictured are Mayor Gloria Holland with Dr. Marty Wiseman, Director of the John Stennis Institute at Mississippi State, who addressed a meeting in Plantersville recently

Earl Repult

Sympathy is expressed to the family of Earl Repult whose obituary is in today's Journal.

Plantersville Youth Council and Adult Volunteers

A picture taken from Gloria's site of the new youth council and adult volunteers. If you double click on the picture, you should be able to read the names.

Plantersville Bank Building

According to the mayor's facebook, the old bank building has been sold, and if I understood Gloria correctly, a drug store will open there.

Reminder

The Plantersville Cemetery Memorial is today at three o'clock at the cemetery; in case of rain, it will be moved to the Methodist Church.

Doris and Cam

On August 29th I posted a picture of Cam that Carole took in front of the apartments in Starkville where we lived when Cam was born.

This picture shows Doris holding Cam in front of those same apartments on the day we brought her home from the hospital.


Cam is wearing a dress made by our cousin Mary Alice Morris of the New Chapel community that I wore when I was born; Carly also wore the dress when we took her home from the hospital in December of 2002. After three generations we retired the dress which is now framed and hanging on the wall in front of where I am sitting as I write this.

Don Hamilton

Carole and I express sympathy to the family of Don Hamilton. Don was married to Barbara Moreland Hamilton, my classmate at Tupelo High School.

Estes's Fish and Steak House

The September 24th Lee County Courier has a feature on Steve and Sandra Estes who reopened their restaurant in Plantersville which was closed in 2006 due to Steve's health problems. They opened the restaurant where Vernons Restaurant in Tupelo was in July 1983 and moved it to Plantersville in 1985.

Estes's Fish and Steak House is indeed a landmark in the area. It has always been the place for me to encounter people from my past. I hate to be maudlin, but I think of all those who the last place I saw them before their death was at Estes's. Sheriff Presley, Louzell Francis, Marion Helms, Janice Swain, Kitty Morgan, and Mr. David Estes are some I recall.

Aunt Miriam

Found this picture from the 1950s of Aunt Miriam pouring tea; she and Uncle Ernest lived in Memphis a block or so from Overton Park; I'll never forget the first time I spent the night at their house; I woke in the middle of the night thinking I was in Africa because of all the animal noise coming from the zoo.

Aunt Miriam lived to the age of 104 dying a year or so ago.

The Kellys and Scotland Friends

For several years now, I have exchanged e-mails with Sandra Ward of Scotland; she and her family are close friends with Dr. Charles Kelly and his wife of Fulton, and recently the Wards have purchased a vacation home in Monroe County on the waterway.

Dr. Charles Kelly is the grandson of Troy Kelly and the son of Charles Kelly, the younger brother of J. C. and Eddie Wayne Kelly.

Charles Kelly Jr. and Sr. and their wives and family along with their Scotland friends are in this picture taken on July 4th.

Plantersville Cemetery Memorial

The annual Plantersville Cemetery Memorial will be held Sunday, October 11, at 3:00 p.m. at the cemetery; in case of rain, the Memorial will be at the Plantersville Methodist Church.

Plantersville Youth Council

The Plantersville Youth Council along with adult volunteers donated newspapers to the Tupelo-Lee Humane shelter recently.

Clinton's Mayor

Yesterday, Carole attended a meeting where the guest speaker was Clinton's mayor, Rosemary Gibens Aultman who mentioned that she had recently been in Lee County and visited with some of her Plantersville friends.

Rosemary's mother, as many of you know, taught for many years at Lawhon School.

Bob Jackson

I express sympathy to the family of Bob Jackson who died Wednesday in Birmingham. Bob was a classmate who I visited with at the 50th class reunion last year. Bob was married to Mitzi Morris whose father, I believe I am correct, was the principal at one time at Plantersville School.

Mrs. Wages Country Store and Erskin Dacus Drug Co.

Can anyone share any information on either Mrs. Wages Country Store or Erskin Dacus Drug Co. located in or around Tupelo.

I attended school at Tupelo High School with Glenn and Alicia Dacus whose family owned the drug company, I think, but do not remember where it was located or what products they made there.

I don't recall a Mrs. Wages Country Store.

Comment:

There was a Dacus Drug in the area of Bissell. They made products such as
pickling spices, salts, other spices. Somehow the Wages may have been
connected with this.
Not sure this is what you are asking about, but this comes to mind
Lynette P Brown
Plantersville

Thanks Lynette

Jackson Square

Carly with her boa and her pet stuffed rat and Jackson Square in the background. The church is Saint Louis Cathedral.

Driving the Buggy

Our family was on vacation in New Orleans this past weekend; here's Carly with the reins for the buggy which took us on a tour of the French Quarter.

Trio

Our granddaughter, Carly in the center, with two of her best friends, Bailey and Camille. The three of them were at our house this past Sunday, and we're still recovering.

Actually, we went to a movie and spent the rest of the time playing computer games. They are growing up way too fast.

The three of them and their parents are at a church retreat at Roosevelt Park this weekend.

Cameron Kelly Chennault

Our daughter, Cam, stands in front of Roselawn Terrace Apartments in Starkville. We lived in the apartment at the top of the stairs when we brought her home from the hospital a few years ago. Cam was born while I was in graduate school at Mississippi State.

As many of you know, Cam became seriously ill last December and was sick for about four months. As you can tell from this photograph, she is healthy now.

Duet

Two of the members of the THS class of 1959 who became well known for their singing ability. Plantersville's own Price Harris on the left is a musical evangelist, and Guy Hovis is probably best know for his singing on the Lawrence Welk Show.

Memory Walk

This Memory Walk team is making plans for the annual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk in the Jackson area that is set for Saturday, Oct. 10, at Trustmark Park in Pearl. From the left standing are Carole Kelly, Alzheimer’s Mississippi Chapter board of directors secretary; Sara Murphy, formerly of Harrisonburg, Va., who recently joined the Alzheimer’s Chapter staff; Kevin Jones of Hospice Ministries, Memory Walk chair; seated from left, Donna Meadows of Humana; Pam Wilson, Alzheimer’s board of Directors; and Jamie Raspberry of the SilverSneakers Fitness Program, Memory Walk publicity chair. Dates for Memory Walks across the state are Oct 3 in Meridian; Oct. 10 in Amory, Biloxi, and the Jackson-Pearl area; Oct. 17, Tupelo and Greenwood; Oct. 31, Oxford; and Nov. 7, Columbus and Hattiesburg.

Statistics indicate that a case is diagnosed every 71 seconds. Because of family and friends who have faced this brain-destroying disease, we take part in the Alzheimer efforts for research, support groups, education, Medic Alert, Safe Return, resources and referrals. Information about Alzheimer’s disease is available at 601-987-0020 or info@msalz.org. The 24/7 Helpline is 1-800-272-3900.

Gwynne McFarling Daniel

Gwynne's Tupelo High School Class held its reunion in May.

Miss Katherine Rogers

One of Miss Katherine's former students at Milam posted this on the Internet.

Carole Tackett Kelly comments:
Miss Rogers, my dear fifth grade teacher, what vivid memories this photo brings back. I still remember in particular her English classes, still use the grammar rules she taught. Classmates: Ruth Delene Richardson, Sally Cunningham, Joe Crouch . . .Surely there were more than four of us.

Pictures and a Federal Law

I sometimes think there should be a federal law mandating that all pictures must have information written on the back of the picture. Carole and I have inherited a myriad of pictures from Aunt Grace, Aunt Johnnie and my mother as well as from Carole's aunt and grandmother, and many of them are pictures of folks we will never be able to identify and that's a shame.

Plantersville High School 1950-51 Graduating Class

Last week's Lee County Courier ran a picture of the 1950-51 graduating class. Included in the picture were Alvin Alred, Grady McCaskill, James Roden, Lawrence Weeks, Reed Presley, James Roy Russell, Jesse "Shorty" Davis and J. B. Berryman. The girls were Martha Kate Ellis, June Johnson, Elmonta Alred and Guillene Kelly who submitted the picture to the paper.

Since newspaper pictures are copyrighted, I can't copy it and besides newpaper pictures do not transfer well; however, if Guillene or someone would sent me a copy of the picture, I would love to post it on the blog.

Mrs. Lilyan Rogers

Carole and I express sympathy to Bubba, Rodney and Barbara on the death of their mother, Mrs. Lilyan Rogers and to all of her family as well.

Update on Laney Sims

Laney Sims, who was injured in an accident in Starkville several weeks ago, is back in the Starkville Hospital with an infection.

Laney, as most of you know, is the wife of Paul "Tip" Sims who served as interim pastor at First Baptist Plantersville between Brother Sam and Brother Danny, and Laney is Carole's first cousin.

Mississippi State Social Work Advisory Board

Her honor, Gloria Holland, is pictured in the center of the first row with other members of the Social Work Advisory Board of Mississippi State University.

Ellen and Don Wall, George and June

Winnie, Steve and Gloria

June and George

Unity Cemetery Decoration Day

I understand that the Unity Cemetery Decoration Day was yesterday. If anyone has pictures, please share them.

More From Estes

June Harris talks with Steve and Gloria Holland. Also in the picture is Ellen Wall and George Kelly.

June and her family moved to Arizona ca. 1953, a few years before the Holland family moved to Plantersville.

Saturday Night at Estes

Carole took this picture of us at Estes on Saturday night.
From left sitting: Ellen Pettigrew Wall; June Harris; Winnie Borden Ballard.
Standing: Don Wall; Willie Schumpert; Burma Ruff Schumpert, and George Kelly.

June, who lives in Texas, was in the area for the Harris reunion which was held earlier Saturday.

Heading North

Carole and I will be traveling to north Mississippi today to attend the get together tonight at
Estes. Looking forward to seeing June Harris and other friends and former classmates.

Mrs. Rebecca "Becky" Long

I would like to express sympathy to the family of Mrs. Long. I did not know Mrs. Long, but graduated from high school with her sister Jo Anne whose husband Maxie Cayson is related to me.

Saturday

Just a reminder that a number of us will be gathering at Estes Fish House in Plantersville tomorrow night starting around 6:30. June Harris is visiting the area from Texas. I hope that you will stop by to break bread with us or to visit.

Mrs. Laura McCaskill

I extend sympathy to Grady, Gerald, Sue and the other family members of Mrs. Laura McCaskill.

Laney and Margaret

Laney Sims and Margaret Pickard, Carole's sister, attended Bob Levey's memorial service Tuesday night at Holland-Harris Funeral Home.

As reported in previous post, Laney and Tip were involved in a serious accident in Starkville last Saturday. Laney's right ring finger was so badly injured that it could not be saved. Laney is in good spirits as you can tell from this picture, and she is left handed.

Steve and Tip

Paul "Tip" Sims, former interim pastor at First Baptist in Plantersville, with Steve Holland this past Tuesday night.

I've been sick this week and failed to report that last Saturday, Tip and Laney had a serious accident in a rental truck in Starkville. Tip escaped with only bruises; however, Laney was not quite so lucky, see next post.

This Week

I ran a fever Monday and was ill all week; doctor listed four or five problems that I have or, I hope, had. I was unable to drive to Tupelo for Bob Levey's memorial service Tuesday night; however, Cam and Carole did drive up Tuesday and come back Wednesday dodging thunderstorms on the way up and back.

I hope to recover enough to be in Tupelo next weekend for a get together with June and other friends and classmates.

Back to School Bash

The mayor forwarded the following:

Event: Back to School Bash
"Because we care about our community"
What: Festival
Host: Plantersville Community Center/Plantersville Youth Council
Start Time: Saturday, August 8 at 11:00am
End Time: Saturday, August 8 at 2:00pm
Where: Plantersville Community Center

Bob Levey

I just received news from Tupelo that our good friend Bob Levey died today; Bob had been in ICU for about a week.

We saw Bob almost every time we were in Tupelo; he will be missed.

August 8 at Estes

June Harris will be in the Tupelo area on August 8, and that night, a Saturday, her classmates and friends are meeting at 6:30 at Estes in Plantersville.

If you would like to join us for a meal, please let me or Burma know so we can reserve a place for you, or if you prefer just to visit, drop by any time between 6:30 and 8:00.

John Samuel Grant Jr.

Sympathy to the Grant family. John Samuel Grant, Jr.'s, obituary was in today's Jackson paper. Mr. Grant was the son of John and Dora Grant of Plantersville. Services will be Tuesday at Alta Woods United Methodist Church in Jackson with burial in Braxton, his wife's home town. Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home of Jackson is in charge.

My family and his family were close neighbors, but since he came to central Mississippi to college where he met and married his wife and then spent most of his life in Jackson, I didn't know Mr. Grant as well as I knew the other members of his family.

The Harold Towery Family

Cathy Johnson Garrett send me this picture of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Towery, Linda, Marjory and Mimi. We are not certain about the boy's name. Someone help us out.

Was this picture taken at Cecil's?

Tupelo Blog

If you have not already, you might want to visit John Nail's blog: http://intupelo.blogspot.com; John, as many of you know, is married to Mimi Towery and friends with Ken Mitchell. John has some wonderful pictures and memories of Tupelo on his blog.

Gin Accident

David Webb posted a story on the Internet about the accidental death on November 3, 1910, of James Repult, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Repult, of Plantersville killed when a smoke stack at the gin fell on him. He was manager of the Allen and Robins Gin.

Where was the gin located; Allen and Robins indicates to me that it was in Tupelo. I think at one time the Repults owned a gin. And does anyone know anything about the history of the gin located behind Plantersville Cash and Carry (Mitchell's)?

Also, was James a brother of Ernest, Earl, Herschel and Curtis?

Fire Prevention

Recently my granddaughter and some of her friends visited the Ridgeland Fire Academy to learn about fire prevention.

Nettleton High School

I recently discovered on the Internet a list of graduates of Nettleton High School from 1908 to about 1930 and found some names I knew. Miss Virginia Thomas, who graduated in 1908, taught school in Tupelo for many years. Mrs. Frankie McGaughy Burney, who was the librarian at Tupelo High School when I attended, graduated in 1910. Was she related to the Plantersville McGaughys? Mr. Roy Partlow graduated in 1918, and Mrs. Celia Sisk Williams in 1919. Wasn't she Mrs. Z. B. Williams? There was also a Charles Thomas Rogers from Plantersville who graduated in 1923.

Plantersville City Officials

Plantersville's newly elected city officials were sworn in last week.

Not certain of the order, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from left bottom row: Renee Morris, Gloria Holland, Vicki Rigby; top row: Jack Wuichet, Sextus Shannon, Ketrick Marion.

Picture courtesy of Gloria Holland.

Rev. Crawford Ray

Thanks to Charlotte Diggs who wrote that June Coggin celebrated his 92th birthday this past June, I can now state that I visited with Rev. and Mrs. Ray in Amory in the summer of 1997. A year later, in the summer or early fall of 1998, my mother and I were walking through the cemetery in Plantersville and I saw Rev. Ray's grave. He died in July of 1998.

Mrs. J. A. Smith

My dear cousin, Sherrilyn Helms Brown informs me that Mrs. J. A. Smith was Oda, wife of Doc. Wonder how Doc Smith acquired that nickname.

Names in the Cook Book

Gwynne McFarling Daniel was kind enough to identify some of the names in the 1962 cook book. Mrs. Chester Smith was Quay Smith's mother. Mrs. Hellweg was a friend of Katherine Rogers while Mrs. Jack Bryson was the wife of Dr. Bryson in Tupelo and a friend of the Williams family. Mrs. Lurene Senter was in the catering business and prepared the reception for Gwynne's wedding. Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Godbold were wives of Methodist ministers in Plantersville. Gwynne could not identify Mrs. J. A. Smith. Thanks to Gwynne for the information.

Some years ago, as part of her job Carole did presentations to various groups, especially senior groups; I went with her to one in Amory, and Reverend and Mrs. Crawford Ray were in the audience. I don't remember the year, but they had just been to Plantersville to attend June Coggin's 80th birthday party.

Plantersville Cookbook

Some of you knew Mr. Ernest Bowen of Tupelo who recently died. His son, Bo, and Carole work together and yesterday, Bo gave us his mother's copy of A Book for Cooks published by the Methodist church of Plantersville in 1962. His mother's copy seems to have been used more than the copy we have that Carole wrote about on this blog back in October of 2006.

As I browsed through it last night, I didn't recognize some of the names and need your help. There are entries by Mrs. J. A. Smith and Mrs. Chester Smith; which one, if either, is Mrs. Doc Smith? Who was Mrs. Hellweg? Who were Mrs. Jack Bryson and Mrs. Lurene Senter? Who were Mrs. C. L. Ray and Mrs. Robert Godbold?

Who was the Methodist minister in Plantersville in 1962? I assume that one of the ladies mentioned above would be the wife of the minister. Would that be Mrs. C. L. Ray?

Cam and Carole

Cam and Carole, with George in the background, at the balloon glow and fireworks event.

What is that stuff outside?

It rained last night and is raining as I write this. The last rain we had was June 4th and that was only a trace.

The Fourth of July

We celebrated the fourth with balloons and fireworks at Ridgeland.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend.