7/22/2009 6:00:00 PM
JUST AMONG FRIENDS
| |
|
By RACHEL EVANS
Perhaps like me you have wondered about the motley crew from Possum Creek who burst into our lives with their "Casserole Patrol" in hot pursuit of Possum's lone bachelor. At the social event of the season, newlyweds War-nita (pronounced Juanita outside Possum Creek) and Jasper invited their friends over last Tuesday evening for a casserole supper. While the ladies thought what they put into their casseroles would be the highlight of the evening, they were wrong! Playwright Laura Cole Thrash announced to them, and provided "Friends" with the breaking news that rehearsals would begin soon for the pre-holiday production of "Casseroles and Mistletoe." The Philadelphia-Neshoba County Arts Council production is scheduled for some time in November. What a fun way to begin the holidays!
As a Vietnam veteran who served our country in the U.S. Air Force, David Sanders has a deep and abiding love for our country. He and Priscilla have raised their children to love and honor our country and to respect the flag and what it stands for. David begins early in the summer making plans for the family's Fourth of July celebration, "a day when family and friends get together to eat, play and visit, but most of all to pray for and honor our country's men and women who make our freedom possible." To make David's love for the Fourth of July even more special, their first grandchild, Grace Sanders, was born on July 4 ten years ago. She celebrated her birthday July 4, 2009, with birthday cake and lots of cousins.
Grace lives with her brother, Trey, 8, and their parents, Dave and Candace Sanders, in Maumelle, Ark. where they teach at Academics Plus Charter School and their children attend. Maggie Lee, 5, and Sanders, 3, the children of Wright and Leslie Sanders Griffis, were among the cousins attending Grace's birthday party. As a professional photographer, Wright, of the Griffis Ford family, made sure there were plenty of pictures to commemorate this special day. Leslie teaches kindergarten at Neshoba Central Elementary.
David's mother, Bertha Sanders, who is 90 years old and lives in Bentonia, was a very special guest. As Priscilla told me, "It was a wonderful day, our families being together, watching the children play, seeing all the flags waving, and being so thankful for all our blessings!" As a neighbor, I got a good feeling just passing by.
I love to read sagas where the narrative continues from generation to generation. Such is our story this week. Our heroine is Julia Risher Kelly, who along with her husband, Layne Kelly, and daughters, Taylor, 7, and Mattie, 2 1/2, became the fifth generation of the Myers family to reside at Deemer. Julia's great-grandparents are the late W.D. and Inez King Myers, founders of Deemer Lumber Company. Her grandparents are the late Carolyn Myers Fulton and Bill Fulton, who lives in Standing Pine with Julia's mother, Susan Fulton Risher Barnett, and her husband, Jerry. As an account manager with Aerospace Fasteners, with clients such as Boeing and Eaton and our local AIG, Layne and Julia decided to make the move from Carthage to Deemer, "where our girls could play in the same fields and wade the same ditches I did when I was a little girl.
I could not be happier!" Julia told me. "When we moved into Nannie and Pap's (Carolyn and Bill) house, I had that wonderful feeling of being home again!"
Julia and Layne treasure their family heritage which has been well chronicled by Carolyn. "We have volume after volume of memorabilia she saved and documented." Julia and Layne were united in marriage with the wedding rings exchanged and worn by MawMaw and PaPaw Myers. Julia tucked a handmade handkerchief into her bridal bouquet that her great-great-grandmother, Josie King, had carried on her wedding day, Dec. 25, 1814.
Not only is Julia "back home", but she and her family are in the family pew at First United Methodist Church where "Nannie's large-print hymnal, still in the pew rack, makes us feel that she is smiling down on us." Julia has a further connection to the church where she was baptized as a baby by the Rev. Lovett Weems. Her paternal great-grandparents, W.T. and Bessie Taylor Fulton, were also active members of the church. Julia has become a member of the chancel choir, as were her grandfather and great-grandfather Fultons before her. "I can't get over how good it feels to be back. Everyone has made us feel so welcome!"
Julia's brother, Brian, and his wife, Jamie Stokes Risher, live in Hernando. "They have the cutest little six-month-old girl named Sophia Caroline."
Cleveland and Georgia Parkes and their daughter, Deree Parkes Webb, have returned from a bittersweet visit with their daughter, Dianne Parkes Allison, and their granddaughter, Hollie Hawthorne, in San Francisco. "It was good to see them and so hard to leave them," Georgia told me. Perhaps you recall that Hollie received a severe brain stem injury on Feb. 26 while on a motor bike in India. She remains in a coma in St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco. Dianne sleeps on a cot in the room with her daughter. "We appreciate all the prayers for Hollie and Dianne," Georgia told me. "The Lord sent His angels to care for our girls. He got them out of India to California, and we are trusting that He will provide a way for them to return to Nashville." If you would like to make a love gift to Hollie, you may mail it to her daddy, Doug Allison, 600 Sue Dr., Antioch, TN 37013.
Olivia and Alex Clark of Parker, Colo. (outside Denver) have been here for a two-week visit with their MeeMaw and PawPaw Jones. Both Sue and Mack told me that while Olivia is a firm 7 years old, Alex stretches his three years as far as "three and one-half" will go. Olivia and Alex divided their Mississippi visiting time with their dad, Andy's parents, Patty and Bart Clark in Jackson.
Several senior members of the Neshoba Central High School Big Blue Marching Band drum line enjoyed a crawfish boil at the home of fellow drummer Lucas Calvert. Seniors Michael Hardy, Colby Horton, Chance Barfoot, and Matthew Tingle ate crawfish with all the trimmings under a lighted tent at the Calvert's home in Louisville. Also enjoying the festivities and crawfish (some for the very first time!) were foreign exchange students Laerke Eskerod and Laura Baekal from Denmark, Eugenia Schaeffer from Germany, and host sister Amber Kay. Guests enjoyed a game of Bocci ball before creating desserts of brownies with numerous toppings.
Sarah Breland, a recent graduate of Neshoba Central High School, was honored for her achievements with a Bunco Pizza Blast at the home of her aunt, Jamie Calvert, in Louisville. Guests enjoyed pizza and refreshments on the porch of the Calvert home which was decorated as an Italian bistro with twinkling lights, candles, and greenery. A game of Bunco followed the meal, with prizes suitable for soon-to-be college freshmen awarded to the lucky winners. Guests received individual gifts from hostesses Jamie Calvert and Joanne Adcock, Sarah's grandmother. Senior girls attending the fun included: honoree Sarah Breland, Paige Richardson, Lauren Breland, Lauren Nicholas, Laurel Burnett, Megan Peebles, Leigh Ellen Barefield, Abbie Joiner, Aleisha Routh, Auburn Hedgpeth, Logan Gray, Leslie Morgan, Meredith McKee, Haley Hodgins and Brandy Talbert.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
