Texas Cousins

Rea and Martha Morris stopped by Clinton for a short visit and then traveled to Tupelo where this picture was made.

Rea's grandfather and my grandmother were brother and sister. Archie, the grandfather, moved to Texas when he was a teenager. Rea doesn't remember visiting Mississippi before yesterday; however, he and his family did visit Plantersville in the summer of 1948 when Rea was four or five. I posted a picture in March on this blog of Rea and his family. I have only vague memories of that visit.

Memorial Day

We spent the holiday weekend in Tupelo. Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day.

Mr. Donald Holland

Sympathy to Steve and Mrs. Sadie and their family on the death of Steve's brother, Don.

Kindergarten Graduation

My granddaughter, Carly, lower right corner, receives her diploma from her principal during graduation ceremonies held yesterday morning at Madison Ridgeland Academy. Three of the five classes are shown in the picture.

Golden Anniversary

Someone sent this for posting:

"Golden Anniversary" is the headline in the Sunday 'Journal' followed by a photo of Leon and Jean Willis. The announcement reported that the couple will be honored for their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception Saturday, May 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Eggville Church of Christ. Hosting the celebration will be their children, Ramon Feather, Donna Willis, and Jimmy and Serena Willis, and their two grandchildren.

Jean is my cousin and was known, as were many of us, by her double name, Mary Jean, at Plantersville High School.

Congratulations to Leon and Jean.

Mr. Ted Jutman

Sympathy to Jean Jutman and her family on the death of her father, Ted Jutman. A graveside service will be held at the Plantersville Cemetery on Monday at one o'clock.

Congratulations to Linda Partlow

Linda Partlow, who coached for over twenty years at ICC, was recently inducted into the Mississippi Association of Junior and Community Colleges Sports Hall of Fame.

Linda coached tennis and softball. Her teams won nine state championships, five regionals and were runner ups five times. She was coach of the year four times and "was elected to the NJCAA Women's Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001"

Some of us are old enough to remember when a very young Linda began playing tennis at Cecil's.

During her tenure at tennis coach at ICC, her strongest competitors were usually the team from Hinds, where I taught. I kept up with Linda through our coach.

Stennis Family

Aunt Lucille was the youngest daughter; my Dad was the baby, two years younger than Aunt Cile.
She is pictured here in 1984, I believe, with her family, her son Tom and her grandchildren, their spouses and children.

From left: Aunt Cile, Ginger, her husband, Johnny, Tom Stennis, Janet, Mavis, Karen; behind Karen are Lamar and his wife.

The three children are Ginger's, I think; I know the two oldest are.
Aunt Cile died at the age of 98 in 2004. Ginger and Johnny divorced; Ginger is remarried and lives on the coast. Lamar and his family and Karen who is unmarried live on the coast also. Janet lives in Connecticut and about ten years ago adopted a son who was born in Russia.

As I wrote on this blog before, one of my cousin-in-laws, Margie, used to babysit Ginger.

Summer Day in Olde Towne

Carole won the grand prize offered by the Arts Council of Clinton which was an original watercolor painting by renown local artist, Wyatt Waters.

The painting is entitled 'Summer Day in Olde Towne.'

From the left: George Kelly, Wyatt Waters, and Carole Kelly.

Carole's comments: Isn't this a good pic taken by Charline McCord of the Arts Council? She was the one who called in early December with the thrilling news of our being the grand prize winner of Wyatt's beautiful original painting. Vicki Waters coordinated the framing process, with the frame being my Mother's Day present from George. Couldn't ask for any better . . .

Happy Mother's Day

Hope all the mothers out there have a wonderful day.

Day In the Park

Event: Plantersville Volunteer Fire Department and Youth Council Day in the Park
What: Festival
Host: Volunteer Fire Department and Youth Council
Start Time: Saturday, May 16 at 10:00am
End Time: Saturday, May 16 at 2:00pm
Where: Grant Wuichet Park

They are still accepting vendors for a minimum fee.

Report on Carl Kingsley

I spoke with my cousin, Carl Kingsley, a day or so ago, and he is doing great after his operation.

He's in remarkable shape for a man in his mid eighties.

Kelly Family Gathering

From left: Lucille Kimes Kelly, (Uncle Morris's second wife), Morris Kelly, Elizabeth Kelly Langa, Johnnie Kelly Harris, Grace Kelly Birmingham, and Steve Langa.

I don't recognize the room; it might be Elizabeth and Steve's home in Memphis.

Ladies of Plantersville

I think I recognize the room and the painting on the wall as my mother's apartment.

I am relying on a fading memory, it has been over thirty years since I last saw some of these ladies, and failing eyesight, but I believe that from the left: Halove Morgan, Vera Stovall (though I don't ever remember my mother looking so big), Grace Birmingham, Mary Bucy and Moman Partlow.

Someone correct me if I identified one wrong.

Still Life of Flowers and Cat

This still life of curled cat was taken at Aunt Grace's on September 3, 1994. The flowers are from the celebration of Aunt Grace's 100th birthday on August 31.

Aunt Grace, who can be seen through the bedroom door, became ill the night before the celebration and died two days after this picture was taken, five days past her 100th birthday.

Who Is That Blonde?

Carole with some newspaper colleagues during her blonde period.