Potts Camp News - Dale Hollingsworth


Thursday, January 3, 2008
Community \| Obits \| Editorial & Columnists \| Society \| Sports \| Education \| Classified Ads \| Calendar of Events \| Features \| Newsbriefs \| Legals \| Archives \| Subscriptions \| Photo Gallery

Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Locals enjoy the holiday season with family and friends

Happy New Year!

Many happy and sad things have happened during the past Christmas season. Celebrating the birth of Jesus never grows old. We praise His Holy name!

We were saddened by the death of Henry Tutor’s brother, George Tutor, age 88, who was buried on Dec. 24 at Carey Springs. We send love and sympathy to Henry Tutor and family, my neighbor.

On Dec. 23, my granddaughter, Vickie, and Earl Winter and daughter Lindsey of Nashville, Tenn. came to visit me. They were en route to Tupelo to spend Christmas with Jimmy and Martha and other family members.

Bonnie Gurley and daughter, Kristy Fincher, invited others to celebrate an early Christmas dinner in Bonnie’s home.

Happy first birthday to Colton Michael Muraco on Jan. 5. He is the second son of Holley and Mike Muraco. Jordan Muraco is his older brother. Holley is the daughter of Mitch and Jeanette Stone.

Family members of Mr. and Mrs. T.M. Stone met at their home on Christmas morning for breakfast.

Thoughts

Poem - Take control of my thoughts today; Let my mind be stayed on Thee that I may know the perfect peace thou, O Lord, has promised me; take control of my words today, may they tell of thou great love and may the story of thou grace turn some heart to thee. Take control of my life today, let thy will be mine, that in each thought and word and deed shall be forever thine. —Lindy’s Newsletter

My Prayer at Dawn

I pray this day will brightly shine with little deeds well done, and thoughtful love for others and that the setting sun, and all the lengthening shadows will bring a peaceful rest, knowing that God guided me to truly do my best. For Christ’s sake, amen.

The family of Fred and Mary Jo Whaley met on Christmas Eve for Christmas dinner. It was a great time for them.

Jeff Smith and his wife, Korrie Stanton Smith, have moved to Hickory Flat; he has been appointed youth director for Hickory Flat Baptist Church; she is a senior at Blue Mountain College and is studying to be a teacher.

Korrie (Stanton) Smith was my neighbor and friend at Potts Camp during high school.

Congratulations to Bubba and Jennifer Stanton of Potts Camp, who are the proud parents of a baby boy, born Dec. 20 and named Weston Stanton. He weighed seven pounds, one ounce. Grandparents are Danny and Gale Stanton.

We welcome Daphne Foster as the new town clerk! We will miss Marie Tate; we love her.

I was happy to see family members and friends on Christmas Day. Among them were Sonya Kidd of Pass Christian and Teresa and Suzette Hollingsworth from Tupelo. They all brought delicious food.

Betty Fincher’s family enjoyed Christmas dinner at her home on Christmas Eve.

Bill and Sue Rowland of the Cornersville Community hosted a Christmas luncheon for the Mary Lois Gurley family on Saturday, Dec. 22 with 62 family members attending. Assisting with the festivities were the Rowland children and their families – Greg, Rhonda, Daniel, Alex and Analisa Smothers of Olive Branch; Jeff, Deanna, Sarah Grace, Caleb and Tyler Knight of Florida; Jay, Roxanne, Christopher and Jayne Rowland of Potts Camp. Most of the Gurley siblings and family members were present for the occasion. Also attending were John and Susan Nelson of Byhalia and Thomas and Kari Ferguson of Memphis.

Jeanette Stone spent part of the Christmas holidays with her daughter, Holley Muraco, and family - Mike, Jordan and Colton near Napa Valley California. Emily Stone was home for the holidays from Chicago where she is employed.

Mary Lois Gurley celebrated her birthday on Sunday, Dec. 23 with family members who visited all during the afternoon and evening. Joan Gurley prepared a delicious lunch for Mrs. Gurley and several family members. She also hosted a brunch on Christmas Day for several family members.

Prayer of St. Francis (my favorite)

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to
understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are
pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Pray for those who are sick and suffering, also those who are lonely and in need and those who have lost loved ones.

Thank God for watching over us and helping us. He is a loving God!

Memories of Potts Camp

Memories of early childhood included climbing the stairs of the two story brick store in front of the depot owned by Doug Laws. His wife, Birdie Laws, and her sister, Myrtle Jones operated a stylish hat shop there. Miss Birdie made the beautiful wide-brim hats all covered with ribbons, flowers and plumes. Mr. Laws bought all kinds of animals; he had a cafe in back o of the store. My dad laughed about the turnip green sandwiches he had his chief Sam Howell serve when they ran out of meat.

In the ‘20s, the two-story Laws store was bought by Greer and Greer, who had operated a store next door since the town started. They sold everything, using the old building for a store house. The windows of their new store had lovely clothes in it. I shopped there as a child and Curtis Greer would call me Grace or Mary. I’d tell him, “My name is Dale.” He said that he attended school with my aunts, and I reminded him of them. Curtis Greer and Lester Greer were really nice; they operated the store.

When the war started, the first old Greer and Greer store become a sewing room for Army clothes.

In 1950, the old warehouse was made into “The Dixie Theater.” A man from memphis came out every weekend and showed the latest movies on a wide, colored screen. People came from everywhere near by to watch the movie on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Willa Floyd sold the tickets and Charles Burris, a teenager, ran the projector. Mr. Floyd became postmaster later after Faye V. Peel retired. One night a fire in the projector sent both Mrs. Floyd and Charles to the hospital, but they were open for business the next weekend.

One Sunday, my husband, L.D., kept the younger children so I could go to see “Gone with the Wind.” I was late getting there, and was looking for a seat, when they called my name. I had won the door prize, $10. That made me happy!

Later, Charles was killed on Sunday afternoon while riding his motorcycle. It was a sad funeral in the Potts Camp Methodist Church; I attended the services, he was the age of my younger brother, Lindy, and Sister, Ann, both deceased. I loved Mr. and Mrs. Burris and Edward.

Report News: (662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
Questions, comments, corrections: south@dixie-net.com
©2004, The South Reporter, All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced in any way without permission.
The South Reporter is a member of the Mississippi Press Association.

Web Site managed and maintained by
South Reporter webmasters Linda Jones, Kristian Jones
Web Site Design - The South Reporter

Back | Top of Page