10/14/2009 6:00:00 PM
JUST AMONG FRIENDS
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By RACHEL EVANS
Life is filled with firsts and sometimes they come in double whammies. Last week Kaye Rowell, Tourism Director for Philadelphia and Neshoba County, asked me to serve as a guide on one of the two tour buses coming to Philadelphia the same day.
I have learned that it is easy to write or talk about anything you love, so I felt qualified to show off my hometown. After meeting the two groups at our historic depot, I took the group from Pine Forest Baptist Church in Collinsville, and Kaye got on the bus with the First Baptist Church of DeKalb.
Our first stop was the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Museum located on the Pearl River Reservation at Choctaw. This was my second "first". If you've never been, you should go. Martha Spencer and Leigh Carol Marshall and their staff will guide you through the pictorial story of the "most progressive identifiable ethnic group in America" and the impact they have made locally.
Our next stop was the Neshoba County Fairgrounds where I was very much at home. After driving around a bit, one of the ladies on my bus said, "I'm ready to go to Peggy's!" and that we did. You don't get any more at home than this, where second-generation Stan Webb met us at the door and Larry Winstead waved to us from his post at the big black skillet in the kitchen.
It was "no sweat" to them and their staff that a two-bus caravan had come looking for fried pork chops! I guess Mike Tinsley is always there, and one of the ladies from DeKalb, Elizabeth Molpus Malner, who sat down next to Bill Molpus, just happened to be his cousin. She is the mother of Eddie Malner, Charlie Sartin's son-in-law. I recognized Jimmy Kemp, former mayor of Meridian, at our table.
We drove through the historic residential district, down Holland and up Poplar, which we, growing up on the other side of town, referred to as "silk stocking streets." We were greeted by Zula Shackleford and Nell Nance at Philadelphia/Neshoba County Museum where this nostalgic story leading to our present day status in Neshoba County stirs the pride in each of us.
Then on to Philadel-phia's finest where Linda and Carson Waltman greeted us at The Cole House, a Philadelphia landmark where the hospitality for which we are known abounds. Parting ways, our visitors, friends by this time, were planning their stops in our "personally Philadelphia" stores.
On the bus from Collinsville were Wayne Roberts, who had driven a Roadway bus for 33 years before retiring; Faye Lee, Janice Powell, William and Elgene Wilson, Janet Lowe, Merle Vance, Virginia White, Bonnie Barker, Lois Miles and Tommy Miles.
From DeKalb, came Gladys Henderson, Elizabeth Molpus Malner, Robert Smith, Billie White,
Dot Shaw, Mary M. Smith, Mildred Ryals, Rusty Ryals, Ethel B. Jarvis and Frances B. Brown.
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The hearts of those attending the bridge benefit for Habitat were warmed when they met Danyel, Brandon and Katelyn Smith for whom the house is being built. The evening was a success in that everyone there had a good time, and enough money was raised to complete the present house and begin construction on another.
We could never have done it without our donors who included Holy Cross Catholic Church, The Neshoba Democrat, Radio Station WHOC, Mary Louise Blanks, Frankie Harpole, Sammie Sharp, Dancing Rabbit Gallery and Press, Jerome Tank - Season to Season, Williams Brothers, Dees, Kademi, Steve's on the Square, The Frame Factory, The Clothes Line, Sybil James, Glenda Lundy, Brenda Matthews, Rachel Evans and Betty Steward, Moni McKee Nowell, Jane Kynerd, Oddlee Unik, Stanley O'Neal, Prince Oil, Phillip Martin, Bobbie Ann's Interiors, Dr. Bill Molpus, The Cole House, Roberta and David Byars, Bill and Nancy Yates, Pearl River Resort, Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel, Riverwalk Casino and Hotel, Isle Casino Hotel and Gold Strike Casino Resort.
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Coming events in Philadelphia: Octoberfest will be staged in downtown Philadelphia this Saturday, Oct. 17. The Rotary Clubs annual Pancake Supper will be held Monday evening, Oct. 19, 5-7 p.m. in the Neshoba County Coliseum.
The time is now to call 601-656-9838 for your tickets to PNC Arts Council presentation of "Casseroles and Mistletoe" scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 3, 5, 6 and 7, and an afternoon performance at 2 p.m. on Nov. 8. Here is just a tidbit of what's going on in Possum Creek. Earnestine was all smiles at choir practice last week. And, since everyone knows that Earnestine NEVER smiles unless she has done something evil, she got everyone's attention.
She was proudly displaying a picture and letter from her son Roy Boy. He was recently voted "Most Likely to Get Paroled Early" by his fellow inmates. She was one proud mom. Thomas Ray, Maudie, Geraldine and the Colonel joined Pastor Green and his wife, Violet, for supper Tuesday night. That's when all the excitement began. Violet began having chest pains and was rushed to the hospital. Word quickly spread as it always does in Possum Creek.
Before you know it, the ladies of the Casserole Patrol are whipping up casseroles in hopes of getting to comfort a grieving Pastor Green. Much to their dismay, Violet only had a very bad case of indigestion. Sorry girls. Just freeze those casseroles. Someone's bound to die before long leaving a widower behind. Chin up ladies, tomorrow's another day!
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We've watched Kristy Irons grow up as the "in-between" of Ricky and Kathy Irons' beautiful and outstanding daughters. We saw her crowned Miss Neshoba County. After winning the title of Neshoba County's Junior Miss, she went on to wear the coveted crown of Junior Miss for the state of Mississippi.
We saw her wed to Jon Riley and now they are the parents of one-year-old Emily Jayne Riley. All of this for sure, but this past week Kristy was the darling of Meridian Little Theater. Her "cockeyed optimism, as corny as Kansas in August and as high as a kite on the Fourth of July", in the role of Nurse Nellie, created "an enchanted evening" for those of us who attended the Meridian Little Theater's production of "South Pacific."
Adding another personal interest in the cast, The Reverend Rob Gill who sang the part of Emile, is a friend and former pastor of LeeAnne and Tommy Cox in Southhaven.
Following up on Kristy's sisters, Olivia was also crowned Miss Neshoba County. After winning the title of Neshoba County's Miss Hospitality, she went on to claim the title of Mississippi's Miss Hospitality. She is a graduate of Auburn's School of Pharmacy.
Betsy is enrolled in the Meridian Branch of Mississippi State University where she is majoring in secondary education. Like Kristy before her, she won the title, Neshoba County's Junior Miss. We share Ricky and Kathy's pride in their daughters
Seen in the audience Tuesday evening were Barney and Lavinia Nowell, Bobby and Joyce Hardy, and Shirley and Tom Cox. Also, Minnie Jean Fortenberry, Creasey Richardson, Doris Vowell, Janice Payne, Tommy Banks, Nell Dean and Alene Griffith. Barbara Thaggard, Sue Fulton, Shirley Whitehead, Bud Rogers, Suanne Adams and Rosanell Phillips were there, as were Billie Latting, Charlene Webb and Rachel Evans.
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When Carson Waltman is not preparing something delicious at The Cole House, his passion is running. We congratulate him on winning first place in his age group in the 5k race at East Central's homecoming. Carson is making plans to participate in the Octoberfest Race scheduled for Oct. 17. Perhaps you would like to check into it also.
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Sylvia Huffman and Lee and Relf Price have returned from a trip to Arizona with all kinds of interesting information on the things they saw. First, they visited the Grand Canyon, "one of the Earth's most powerful, inspiring landscapes, a sight which overwhelms our senses." Not only did Sylvia, Lee, Relf and Relf's son see the volcano, they flew over it in a helicopter!
In Flagstaff, they visited the Meteor Crater Learning Center and experienced being at the point of impact, which happened 50,000 years ago when a giant meteoric mass weighing millions of tons hurled through space and impacted the Earth. The impact site is nearly a mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference, over 550 feet deep, and as tall as a 60-story building!
They toured the Bradford Science Museum in the Alamos National Laboratory located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. We thank Sylvia for sharing this interesting trip with us. I've learned so much writing this column, hope you have too.
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I had a treat this week when I visited with Beatrice Carter Harris in her Golf Terrace Apartment. Mrs. Harris was born Aug. 24, 1909 and she had celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug. 24, 2009 with two birthday parties. Kay Steele arranged a party at the Golf Terrace Apartments.
"They told me to come out into the lobby at Golf Terrace, and I told them that I was not dressed. They said, come anyway, she told me. "They had a good cake and ice cream."
Later her great-nephew, Mark Duncan, his wife, Joni, and son, Ben, had a late afternoon party in their home for this charming lady who says, "They are so good to me." How many were there, I asked. "Oh, I don't know. A lot, and they only stopped talking when they ate, " She laughed.
Mrs. Harris laughs a lot. Perhaps that's her secret for living to be on hundred years old. "I've found it's better to laugh than to cry", she told me. She and her Gold Terrace resident friend, Mary Ann Winstead, had gotten a good laugh when Doc Parker took them to Lowe's.
"We saw some funny ghosts and witches", they told me. "I'll be back to see you", I told Mrs. Harris upon leaving. "I'll be here until the good Lord calls me home", she told me, with a twinkle in her eye.
In recognition and appreciation for all the volunteer workers do at the Neshoba County Hospital and Nursing Home, Melissa Burnett, Director of Volunteer Services, told me of a dinner they hosted in honor of the volunteers. It was held in the Pearl View Café on the hospital campus.
"They do such an outstanding job and mean so much to the hospital and nursing home, that we wanted to do something to say thank you." Jennie Barrett and her cafeteria staff prepared a delicious seafood dinner for the volunteers who give so much of themselves and their time to help others.
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