Special Recital in Clinton: Plantersville Connections

  An afternoon of superb music by Vicki Helms Carter, pianist supreme, captivated an audience at First Baptist Church in Clinton April 18. The Plantersville connections, enhanced with Tupelo connections for good measure, included:  seated from left, Frances Helms, Vicki Carter, Ida Lambert; standing, Sherrilyn Helms Brown, Bunny (Bo, Earnest) Bowen, Vicki Lambert Mixon, Ron Carter, and Rosemary Aultman, back row.  Rosemary, Clinton's mayor, formerly of Tupelo, organized the special event for Clinton, as Vicki and Ron, now residents of East Orange, NJ, tour the state with other stops including Tupelo, Brookhaven, and Rosedale.  Sherrilyn Brown, now of Ridgeland, and Vicki Carter are first cousins.  Vicki's program included works of Johannes Brahms, Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, Scott Joplin, William Balcom, and Eubie Black, closing with a sacred music threesome.  After the program, a reception allowed time for visiting and talking with Vicki about her musical career.  This was also the fun time of renewing the Plantersville-Tupelo-Clinton-Ridgeland, etc., connections.  A memorable afternoon for sure. . .

First Baptist April 7, 2013, Flowers to Remember George

Today was special at First Baptist Church, Clinton, with an impressive sanctuary arrangement of flowers in memory of George from Cam, Tim, Carly and me.  Dr. Bill Hardin was his usually impressive, winning preacher-self in both services held in the new sanctuary in the a.m. service and in the old sanctuary (some do say 'chapel') for the evening service.  The old sanctuary was where services for George were held July 7, 2011, before the final service at Plantersville Cemetery.  I can write the words, but I still find them difficult to process. . .

April 2, 1966: George and Carole Married in Plantersville

A date we always celebrated and rejoiced over . . .Married at Mama Kelly's with family and friends, Doris graciously in charge.  Fittingly enough, yesterday or last night was FiTs meeting night when a group of widows gather to support each other in their losses whether it was immediate, last year, two years ago.  .  . FiTs is 'First Tuesday' since we try a little to avoid the description of 'widow,' but it is what it is.  We laugh, listen, have a devotional and motivational thought or two, and just generally try to 'be there' for each other.  April 2 will always be special to me.  Faye Estes kept the circuit clerk's office open for us as we dashed in from Memphis the evening before to get a license to be wed.  Ah, Plantersville Connections . . .