Tomorrow is Marty Stuart Day and you are invited! With an idea conceived by Betty Seward, artfully created by Frankie Harpole, inspired by Marty's early impressions at the Busy Bee Cafe, a swarm of "busy bees" will guide you up Highway 19 north to the unveiling of the highway marker which has been erected at the intersection of Marty Stuart Drive. Following a short program of introduction which will begin at 10 a.m., Marty and his wife, Connie Smith, will unveil the marker. From there the day's festivities will move to the Philadelphia/Neshoba County Museum located at 303 Water Ave., where the Marty Stuart Room will be officially opened.
Alice Rowe, a member of the Historical Museum Council, announces that the museum will remain open until 4 p.m. on Thursday, will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 2 until 5 p.m. on Sunday.
That night our native "busy bee" and Connie will entertain at the 60th anniversary of the Choctaw Indian Fair. The show will begin at 7 p.m. Come join the fun as we share a day that will permanently acknowledge our ties to Marty and his ties to his homefolks! Follow the bees!
When Elizabeth Bailey arrives in Vicksburg for the Miss Mississippi preliminaries July 15-18, there is something very special about her wardrobe. The suit she will wear for her interview with the judges and the ensemble she will be wearing for her talent competition were handmade by her maternal grandmother and friend, Pat Parker. Pat began by making baby onsies for her granddaughter and has followed Elizabeth's stitchery needs with creative prom dresses and now into the Miss Mississippi pageant. Elizabeth was chosen to represent East Central Mississippi at a contest sponsored by Angie Weems at Special Occasions. Elizabeth's interview business suit is made of white sailcloth cotton featuring a bold coral collar. In talent competition, she will perform Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique Op 13 on the piano, wearing a "Pat Original" beaded red and black halter top with black pants, featuring an exciting overlay skirt of platinum taffeta.
Elizabeth, a 2008 graduate from Philadelphia High School, served as Neshoba County's Junior Miss in 2008. Now a sophomore at Mississippi State University, she is a member of Delta Gamma Sorority, majoring in pre-med. She is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-med honor society; the American Medical Student Association; Alpha Sigma Lambda, an academic and leadership honor society; and Beta Beta Beta, a biological science honorary society.
Very visible in the wings during the entire competition will be Elizabeth's parents, Laura and Chip Bailey, her sister, Molley Bailey; her great-uncle Frank Palmer; and her creative grandmother, Pat Parker. Unseen in the audience, but with her all the way, will be her friends here in Philadelphia who are wishing her well. We love you, Elizabeth, and we are so proud of you!
Jenny Lynn Ethridge Wilkerson saying "nothing eventful" happened at the Ya-Ya girls trip to Destin is about as believable as when George
Strait sings, "I've got some oceanfront property in Arizona!" True, they sorely
missed Kay Russell Walker and Molly Ruffin Turner, but I'm sure that the week Kay Irons Duett, Lorraine Harpole Blount, Moni McKee Nowell and Jenny spent at the Pelican Beach Club produced a lot of happy events, just no press releases.
Dixie Adkins' Philadelphia bridge club friends attended a reception at the Union Country Club Friday afternoon, June 26, honoring her husband, L.B. Adkins, for 52 years of service to the City of Union. Bobbye McElroy and Max Sessums were also recognized for their service to the community. Bridge friends attending were Tommie Banks, Beth Darby, Frankie Harpole, Bobbie Holley, Jan Williamson and Carolyn Dearman. Other Philadelphians attending were Dr. Kent and Mitzi Stribling and Janice Payne.
God bless our Philadelphia Utilities staff who not only act quickly and efficiently, but with heart! They were quick to respond last Wednesday morning when a squirrel caused a transformer to "blow" on State Avenue. Not only did they repair the damage, but gave the curious little prankster a proper burial!
Our thanks to Cathy Deason for this report on a week spent at Lake Junaluska:
The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts hosted Music and Liturgical Arts Week at Lake Junaluska, N.C. June 21-26. This week-long event of arts, praise and renewal in the beautiful Smoky Mountains is especially designed for those who want to sing, dance or act all week, as well as those persons who lead these ministries in local congregations. First United Methodist Church of Philadelphia was represented by seven participants.
Michael Hedgepeth and Naomi Bates participated in the adult choir with over 300 participants, under the direction of Andre' Thomas. Dr. Thomas is director of Choral Activities and professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University. He is in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician and director of Honors/All-State choirs throughout the United States, South America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. Michael and Naomi also attended related workshops and reading sessions of new choral music.
Heather Hedgepeth participated in the Middle School Choir, directed by Mark Patterson. Mr. Patterson is an instructor in the School of Music at Texas Tech University and the Director of Children's Choirs at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lubbock, Texas.
Aizlynne Deason was a part of the premier for the children's musical "Table for Five...Thousand", by Tom Long and Allen Pote. Sixteen years ago, Long met composer Allen Pote at Music Week at Lake Junaluska, and the two have since co-authored 12 published musicals, including this one performed at Thursday morning worship service. This was unique in that both writer and arranger were at Lake Junaluska to help with the musical and the staging of the program. Aizlynne, you represented us well!
Darrel Bates, Joanna Hedgepeth and Cathy Deason went along as chaperones. Darrel tried to check on some of the communication tools needed to produce the many programs presented during the week, but like most communication groups they like to keep a few "technical" secrets. Joanna and Cathy enjoyed the time with their children and getting some time to relax and read.
