Potts Camp News - Dale Hollingsworth


Thursday, December 20, 2007
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Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Cornersville Baptist Church hosts Christmas dinner Sunday

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Members of the Church of Christ in Potts Camp delivered delicious trays of fruit and candy last week. We thank them.

Cornersville Baptist Church enjoyed Christmas dinner in the fellowship hall on Sunday after church services. It was prepared by Rev. Joe Epting’s wife, Christine. Many years ago, Rev. Epting was pastor of First Baptist Church. They are special.

Henry Tutor and grandson, William attended a family Christmas dinner in Pontotoc on Saturday.

Henry also enjoyed Christmas supper on Sunday evening at Faith Assembly of God Church in Myrtle, where he is a member.

A large crowd attended a Christmas play by the drama teacher, Mrs. Close, at the Potts Camp School.

Thoughts
1. Prayer is an open line to heaven; use it often.
2. When you know the saving knowledge of Christ, you want others to know Him, also.
3. Jesus is “the greatest physician,” He is always there to hear our prayers and provide the deliverance we need. David said, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from my fears.” Psalms 34:4
4. When we open our hearts to the crucified and risen Savior, we are on the only pathway that will bring us home to God.
5. May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day, by His love and power controlling all I do and say.
6. Love is one of God’s greatest gifts - with a heart full of love, there is no room for hate.

Please say a special prayer for Louise Randolph, who is in St. Frances Hospital.

We send our love and sympathy to Annie Ruth Stone and family in the recent death of her brother, Sidney Holley Jr., age 83 of Jackson. He grew up in Potts Camp and attended school here.

Bro. Steve Wilson, a pastor of Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, visited in my home on Saturday and brought a gift, a wonderful lap robe. He prayed a special prayer for me and my neighbor, Henry Tutor, who was there. We love all Bro. Steve Wilson’s family.

We send our love and sympathy to the family of George Frayser, age 63, in his recent death.

Thanks to all who have sent cards and gifts on my birthday. Thanks to Mary Frances Clayton for the delicious sweet potato pie.

Mitch Stone, song leader at Potts Camp United Methodist Church, was a guest recently on Lois Swanee’s radio program.

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Whaley and daughter, Amanda and Kent Smith, for the special Christmas cards with pictures of children, Joshua Whaley and Jon Gray (grandchildren of Rodney and Betty) on them.

My granddaughter, Liesa Blond, called from San Antonio on my birthday.

Those who came to my home on Dec. 16 to celebrate my birthday were family members Danny and Elizabeth and sons Clark and Jake of Starkville, Betty Greer and Jimmy and Martha of Tupelo. God has blessed me with a wonderful family and a long life with many special friends.

Only God Knows

I do not know what lies ahead, the way I cannot see. But one stands near to be my guide and I know He holds my hand. With God things don’t just happen. Everything by Him is planned. So as I face tomorrow, with its problems large and small. I’ll trust the God of miracles and give Him my all. —Lindy’s Newsletter

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:16

Poem

Weary and tired by life’s full days silently now I kneel to pray. And after a moment of peace I arise ready to meet life’s onrushing tides. I face the world bravely as I face a tall spire. So friend, when you too are tired at heart, kneel with your Master and get a new start.

Take time to pray; it is the greatest power on earth.

Happy birthday to Mary Lois Gurley on Dec. 23; to a friend, Mary Ellen Bowling on Dec. 26 (she fell recently). Happy birthday to Candy Potts on Dec. 28 (she moved to Saltillo with her mother, Maxine Potts, a few years ago, after Mr. Potts died.)

Tammy and Tony Fincher of Memphis visited his mother, Betty Fincher, and Connie Work on Saturday.

Prayer list: Donna Marett, Jean Derryberry, Lina Mae Rhea, Hazel Foote, Mary Jo McCallum, Ella Rhea Whaley.

History and Memories

One cold December morning in 1929, I ran over to my grandparents’ house next door; when I looked out the big window, I almost fainted; only smoking bricks were where our Methodist Church once stood. Grandma asked if we didn’t hear the bells ringing and horns honking when the church building burned the night before. We had no fire department.

The next few months we worshiped in the new Potts Camp School.

Grandpa was J.A. Potts, a merchant and builder of houses, also the town mayor. In 1910 they had moved to town, after rearing their family on Potts Creek, four miles from town. He built “The Potts House,” a two-story house on Front St. Mr. Robert Greer, banker, had the church insured, with the help of the businessmen in town. In 1930, a new pastor of the church was Rev. Lester James; they had five children. Rosalie was my friend. During the Depression, people couldn’t pay the pastor very much, so they let him teach school to support his family. He was our forestry teacher in seventh grade.

He took us on field trips. We enjoyed going to the old Eagle Springs area, where we collected leaves and picked up nuts and learned the different trees. He even took us to the cotton gin to see how it worked. The church was rebuilt, and every family bought a pew; they have been renovated and are still being used. Brother James planned a play to help the church; we had fun that summer, taking the play to Waterford School and Ashland School after showing it in Potts Camp twice. The money was used for chairs and tables for the church. The Greer family donated a lovely Hammond organ in memory of their mother, Cornelia Greer, and a concert was held at the church that day. Others donated gifts also.

In 1989, the Potts Camp Methodist Church was 100 years old, so a big celebration was held; pastor Jim Smith helped plan the event. People came from many towns to celebrate with us. Many of them were former church members. Former pastors took a part in the occasion.

Bishop Robert Morgan, a relative of Flick Ash, brought the message that day. My late brother, Rev. Charles (Lindy) Potts, gave the history of the church. My late sister, Ann Hill who died this year, and her husband, Herman Hill from the Aberdeen area attended also.

The Borens had donated red book hymnals to the church. The Days had donated a new piano. I helped serve the large crowd that day. It was a wonderful time for our church and all of us.

The depot, named Potts Camp, was built in 1886. The town was organized in 1888 and had its first board meeting that year and our church opened its doors in 1889, one year later.

What wonderful memories!

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