
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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Comunity News

Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Mary Minor and the Rowland family vacation in Florida

It is wonderful to be able to sit on the front porch in this warm weather in my rocker and watch the cars and people go by!

A large group of people met at Potts Camp School on Tuesday night for a “Principal with Parents” meeting.

Children age 5 who start to school this fall met at Mary Reid School for tests and shots last week with their parents.

Congratulations to my grandson, Clark Hollingsworth, who is almost a graduate of Starkville Academy. Commencement exercises will be held May 16 at Newell-Grissom Building, Campus of Mississippi State University. His parents are Danny and Elizabeth Hollingsworth.

Danny Riley cut his leg badly Tuesday and was rushed to New Albany Hospital. He was at work cutting trees when the accident happened. Pray for Danny.

Congratulations to Sarah Lambert Hollingsworth, age 11, a member of the Tupelo Football Club 96-girl soccer team, who won the Girls Spring Championship in Memphis, Tenn., last weekend. Sarah Lambert and her parents, David and Teresa Hollingsworth, and her grandparents, Jimmy and Martha Hollingsworth, attended the tournament, and they all visited me in my home on Sunday. She was proud of her medal. They are my family.

We are thankful that Robert Hugh King was able to return home from a Memphis hospital, recently, after being airlifted there last week. Get well wishes to him!

Bill and Sue Rowland recently visited their daughter and family (Jeff, Deanna, Sarah Grace, Caleb and Tyler Knight) at Palm Coast, Fla., while Sarah Grace was on spring break. Mary Minor accompanied them on the trip. While in Florida they visited the Princess Place, St. Augustine, Fla., the St. Augustine Lighthouse, went to the beach to collect shells, and visited with other family members in Salt Springs, Fla. – Jack and Laverne Provost (sister of Mary Lois Gurley). Sarah Grace was taken on her first boat ride while visiting the Provost family. On Sunday they attended church with the Knights. They all enjoyed the trip and their visits with family members.

Thoughts
1. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
2. The glory of the sunrise is a wonderful reminder that each day is a gift of God! Being in touch with God is easy when we see the glories of creation.
3. If we believe that God is with us, no matter what the circumstances we can truthfully give thanks for the gift of each new day.
4. Poem
I loved thee because thou first loved me and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree. I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow, If ever I loved thee, Jesus, is now.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

Thoughts
Sometimes parents don’t realize the importance of teaching their children healthy habits from early childhood to teenage years.
My dad taught us many things I’ll never forget:
1. Pay God first; make out your first check to the church.
2. Always save a portion of your pay day (pay bills).
3. Dress clean and neat before leaving home, comb your hair and polish your shoes.
4. Study your lessons, learn all you can.
5. Respect other people’s feelings, including all races.
6. Never disagree with your family in any way; never say ugly words.
7. Say the blessing at the table, after the family is seated, and heads bowed.
8. Attend church and Sunday school on Sunday.
9. Read your Bible and pray. Never go to sleep without saying your prayers.
10. Learn the history of your family and town. Be proud of who you are.
11. Visit the sick and elderly in your town and help them if you can.
12. Be kind and loving to family and friends; take care of the younger children.
My dad was on the school board for 20+ years to help choose the teachers.

Happy birthday to Lela Hale on May 1, also to Arthur Poole and Doris Poole on May 1, and Holley Stone and Jim Hart on May 1.

Happy wedding anniversary to Mable and Lamar Day on May 1.

Happy birthday to Robby Goolsby and Roxanne Rowland on May 2 and George Dickey on May 3.

Happy birthday to a nephew, Charles P. (Chad) Potts on May 5, also a grandson, Lucas G. (Luke) Hollingsworth on May 5; to Susan Howell on May 7.

Some of the information I received about Janet Lokey was wrong. Janet Pegram Sanders Lokey, 96, died March 31, 2008. She leaves her younger sister, Joyce Davis of New Albany; her daughter, Ella Sanders Percy of Cloton, Calif; and her son, Louis Sanders of Memphis, Tenn.

Prayer list: Loy Greer, Jean Derryberry, Lina Mae Rhea, Juanita Howell, Connie Work, Donna Marett, Lena Faye Work, Diane Clayton, Jessie Pipkin, Roy Foote, Henry Tutor, Nadine Vest, Mary Frances Clayton, Scott Brownlee, Mary Jo McCallum, Betty Fincher.

History and Memories

When I was a child, we had a tall Victrola in our hall, the only musical instrument we owned. But my dad, Benton Potts, had to go to St. Louis for a checkup at the railroad hospital.

We looked forward to his return; he always brought us a few gold records of Jimmie Rodgers’, a famous country blues singer; he yodeled too. He was born in 1887. His mother died when he was 6 years old; he was shuffled from one relative to another. His dad was a railroad man.

He traveled from town to town working for carnivals and medicine shows. At age 14 he went to Macon with his dad. He carried his guitar with him everywhere, playing for those who would listen to him. He played at pool halls and dances. In 1924 he contracted TB, a dreaded disease at that time. He never stopped singing. In 1927, he got his big break when he was recorded by RCA Company in Bristol, Tenn. He drove to New York City and checked in a hotel; he called RCA and told them that he just happened to be in town, and he could come by and record another record. The record “T for Texas” was a really big success. Twenty million of his records were sold. He made up songs and sang to the poor working man. He wore a straw hat and a bow tie. He was making a lot of money, but he gave most of it away to friends. He was America’s golden boy for a few years and recorded many, many records. My favorite was “Waiting for a Train.”

All around the water tank, just waiting for a train,
A thousand miles away from home, just sleeping in the rain
I walk up to the brakeman, to give him a line of talk
He said if you’ve got money, I’ll see that you don’t walk
I haven’t got a nickel, not a penny can I show
Get off, get off, you railroad bum, and he slammed the box car door.

We played it so much I felt like I was standing there beside him in the rain.

He died in 1933; a large crowd gathered at the railroad station in Meridian with grief-stricken faces. In the distance they heard a train with Jimmie Rodgers’ body on board in a flower-covered casket.

Finally the train appeared. The crew knew how Jimmie Rodgers loved the sound of the train whistle, so they gave out a long, continuous “whoooo”, instead of the short “who who.”

It was a tribute to their man, the singing brakesman. I’ll never forget his wonderful records!

Harry Jones, once a brakesman, and Hayes Henderson attended “Jimmie Rodgers Day” in Meridian for many years.

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