Jimmy Ellis

The last three posts have been sad ones. Jimmy's obituary was in today's paper. Jimmy was the youngest of Bill and Louella Stovall Ellis's children.

Sympathy to his family. When mother married Raymon Stovall, we moved to his house located on a hill four miles east of Plantersville, and at that time Raymon farmed with his brother-in-law, Bill Ellis; Bill and his family lived on the same hill about fifty or so yards away.

When I was seventeen or so, we took our only vacation, traveling to the Smokey Mountains, and Jimmy went with us.

I understand that Jimmy was a very talented musician.

Linda Partlow

I saw Linda Partlow's obituary in today's paper. Sympathy to Cindy and all of Linda's family and friends. As most of you know, her first cousin, Butch, and I were close growing up and her father and grandfather's store was next door so I remember when she was born. I knew that she was battling health issues the past few years but had hoped for the best.

For many years, the girl's tennis teams from Itawamba Community College and Hinds Community College, where I taught, were the two best teams in the state. I kept up with Linda and her success as a coach through the Hinds tennis coach.

Dr. Terry Thornton

Sympathy to the family of Dr. Terry Thornton whose obituary was in today's paper. Dr. Thornton was married to Betty Rooker of Plantersville.

Dr. Thornton was an erudite and scholarly gentleman who after retiring from Troy University used his talents to research the history and genealogy of Monroe and Itawamba Counties. He wrote a column on the history of the hill country of Monroe County for the Monroe County Journal, and had several blog sites, composed numerous Cd's, and wrote many articles.

I never met Dr. Thornton, but we corresponded via e-mail. I was especially interested in the research he had done on Pearce Chapel Cemetery as according to family lore, my great grandmother, Martha Pearce Morris was the first person buried there.

There's an old adage that when an old person dies, a library burn down; since Dr. Thornton was about my age, I certainly didn't consider him old, but his loss is the equivalent of losing a research library devoted to Monroe and Itawamba Counties.

Congratulations to Plantersville

Jackson's newspaper, The Clarion-Ledger published a full page ad showing the winners of the

Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence, and Plantersville was the big winner. Mayor Gloria Holland won the Achievement by a Public Servant while Jack Wuichel took home the Achievement by a Senior Adult.

Achievement by Adult was awarded to the Plantersville Volunteer Fire Department, and town of Plantersville won the Achievement by Community Partnership.

Plantersville or Plantersville folks captured four of the twelve awards given. Also, Helping Hands Ministry of Tupelo received the award for Achievement by a Faith-Based Organization.

Northeast Mississippi remains the most progressive area in the state.

Prudential 1st Real Estate Ribbon Cutting

Recently, Prudential 1st Real Estate offices moved to a new location near the mall at Barnes Crossing.

Our nephew, Marshall Jenkins, is fourth from the right on the front row, and that's Plantersville's own Freddy Grant with the white hair on the back row directly behind Marshall.

More on Computer

When the motherboard failed on my old computer a couple of weeks ago, I lost a lot of data, including e-mails I had from Plantersville folks and those who once lived there. There still is a chance some of the data can be saved, but if you have my e-mail address in your computer, please send me an e-mail so I can put yours in my new address book.

Summer Winding Down

Hard to believe that school begins for Carly and most of her friends next week. It has been a busy end of summer vacation with Bible School last week to which Carly wore her fancy hat, and this weekend, Carly, her mother and two others went to Baton Rouge to the water and amusement park.

I understand some schools in the state started back this week. With the temperature hovering in the 100s, glad I'm not in school.

E-mail Request

The computer I have been using for years has been in the shop for two weeks hence I don't have a lot of data and may lose what was on the computer. May I ask a favor; if you have my e-mail address in your computer, please send me an e-mail, a test if you have nothing to say, so I may put your address in my new address book.

Thanks.

Computer Woes

A week ago last Sunday, my computer became ill, hence have not posted anything much; am working from another computer but just catching up on my files.

Just wanted to let you know I'm still here.

Please send news or pictures or both

Happy Birthday Verona

Verona celebrated its 150 birthday this past weekend. As part of the celebration, the reenactment of Vernon and Gladys Presley's wedding was staged. Although some reports state that they were married in Pontotoc, recent research reveals they were married in Verona with the service performed by Justice of the Peace, Robert Emmitt Kelly, who was my grandfather's brother and Dewey Davis's grandfather.


Yesterday I worked on geneology, and the last name I inserted into Family Tree Maker was Elvis Aaron Presley; Lancaster Tackett was both Elvis (on his mother's side) and Carole's great, great, great grandfather which makes Elvis and Carole cousins.

Dewey Davis

Carole and I express sympathy to the family of Dewey Davis. Paul 'Tip" Sims had informed us at the reunion last weekend that Dewey was in the hospital. Dewey's mother and my father were first cousins.

Barbara and Charlie Mask

This picture of Barbara and Charlie Mask was taken by Joyce Moreland Davis at the class reunion back in May.

Barbara may not remember, but before Carole and I started dating, one of Carole's few visits to Plantersville was to attend Barbara and Charlie's wedding.

Norman and Clara Mae Kingsley

Norman was my mother's oldest brother and Clara Mae was like a second mother to my mom.
They had one son, Charles, who lives in Tupelo; Charles and Grace have two sons, one of whom married Ellen Rooker from Plantersville.

Clara Mae was a Lamb related to the Lambs who lived in Plantersville.

Milan or Osceola

A day or so ago someone mentioned Milan, Tennessee, and I thought about this picture of my Dad holding me in 1940 or 41.

This picture was taken in either Milan, Tennessee or Osceola, Arkansas. My Dad worked in both when I was a baby.

Reunion

Jeffreys from Iowa, Virginia, Washington state, Alabama and Mississippi attended the reunion at Tombigbee State Park on Saturday, July 10.

Seated from the left are Carly, Cam Kelly Chennault, Altha Jeffreys Tackett, Marshall Jenkins, Carole Tackett Kelly; standing are Margaret Tackett Pickard and George Kelly.

Jeffreys Family Reunion

Carole's family on her mother's side held a family reunion this past Saturday at Tombigbee State Park. Sharon Monts also married into this family.

From left at the top are Joan Jeffreys Parmer, Winford Parmer, Sharon, Jimmy Jeffreys. Seated are Amy Jeffreys Bostick and Heather Bostick, Sharon and Jimmy's daughter and granddaughter.

The gentlemen seated on the right is Jeff Jeffreys, my mother-in-law's brother and Jimmy and Carole's uncle.

Troy Marion

Carole and I express sympathy to the family of Troy Marion who died on the fourth. Ironically, Carole and I were talking about Troy a couple of days ago.

Troy was eight years older than I am, and I've known him all my life. He was related to Doris as many of you know.

He will be missed.

Celebrating the Fourth

Across the country, the fourth was celebrated with cookouts, watermelons and fireworks.

That's Carly at the extreme right eating watermelon and waiting for the fireworks. That handsome fellow leaning on the truck on the left is Tim, Carly's Dad and our son-in-law.

Happy Fourth of July

Hope that everyone has a happy and safe 4th. Please be careful around those fireworks.

Mississippi Municipal League Conference

The Plantersville Youth Council are pictured with Mayor Jerry Latch of Corinth, the president of the Mississippi Municipal League.

Members of the youth council along with Mayor Gloria Holland and other city officials attended the conference in Biloxi which was held from June 27 through July 1.