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Community News

Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Shower honors newlyweds in Potts home

A three-day revival was held at Temperance Hill Baptist Church last week. The visiting preacher holding services was Andy Russell from Martintown Church in the New Albany area.

Joyce Clayton, her sister, Verla Mae Stanton, and sister-in-law, Betty Smith drove to Hamilton, Ala., on Tuesday, Oct. 21 to visit Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Gilbert and also to visit a few cemeteries where their father’s people are buried.

Say a special prayer for Henry Clifton, who is a patient in a Memphis hospital. He and wife Marjorie are special friends.

Joann Potts, wife of the late Lindy Potts, of Olive Branch, my sister-in-law, visited her aunt, Doris Goode in Hickory Flat on Doris’ birthday, Oct. 13 and they celebrated with dinner in New Albany. I’m sorry I missed Joann when she came to visit me.

On Sunday, Oct. 26, a family reunion was held at the home of Joann Potts, and also a shower for newlyweds, who are relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Mann. I was invited to attend the reunion.

The daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Jim Buchanon, Cristy, has purchased the former home of the late Mattie Gurley (across the road from Potts Camp School, three doors from me). She is a school teacher at Ashland. We hope she will be happy there.

Geraldine Brewer of Olive Branch has been visiting with her sister, Marjorie Clifton a few days while her husband, Henry Clifton, is sick and hospitalized.

Billy and Barbara Smith and daughter, Angela, have returned from a four-day trip to the mountains in North Carolina and other states.

Get well wishes to all the sick people and all who are sad and lonely, also people who have lost loved ones. May God send blessings to them.

I always enjoy the newsletter for the Marshall County Genealogical Society! The president is Becky Trafford and the secretary is my friend, Martha Fant. They had good meetings in August and September at the Marshall County Library.

Sylvia Akin, the daughter of my late friend, Margaret (Alvis) Seymour, submitted an interesting letter from a late relative, Dr. George Alvis, and neighbors.

I also enjoy “Pages of the Past” including stories from the book “Reminiscences of Boys in Gray” 1861-1865, about the Civil War. A picture of 1948 Holly Springs High School Football team was interesting. Also of great interest to me was a report from The South, July 16, 1896. Two boys from the Potts Camp area, Leroy Boren, age 24, and Martin Boren, age 14, sons of A.B. Boren, drowned in Tippah River on July 14, 1886. I remember George Boren, P.C. druggist, and Isom Boren (they were in the river also).

Thanks to Ann Babin for her “Glimpses of the Past,” and also thanks to her for printing two of my “Memories” from The South Reporter.

Thoughts
An artist sought to paint the most beautiful picture in the world; so he asked a clergyman what he thought was the most beautiful thing in the world. The clergyman said, “Faith, you can find it in all the churches.”
The artist searched further and found a young bride. He asked her the same question. “Love” was the answer. “Without it there can be no beauty.” Going further, he asked a young soldier the same question. “Peace,” he said, “is the most beautiful; war is ugly.”
“Faith, love, peace, how can I paint them?” wondered the artist. Entering his home he saw faith in his children’s eyes, love is the voice of his wife and there was peace that faith and love built. So he painted the most beautiful picture in the world, and when he finished it he called it “Home.”
Thoughts
1. For better or worse you and I are the ones Jesus depends on to tell the world how He lived and died on the cross to save us from our sins.
2. Can He depend on us to strengthen the Kingdom of God as He depended on those first disciples?
3. Today’s Christians are all He has and He is depending on us. Anytime anyone does a kindness for another person he could be acting as God’s angel unaware; God has sent them there to be the answer to someone’s prayer. Angels unaware are everywhere, waiting for God to send them to help people. Thank you Jesus for the kind, wonderful angels in the world. Thank you for sending me angels unaware. Lord, I pray that you let me be an angel unaware for someone someday. Praise the Lord! Becoming a Christian is one of the most important decisions anyone can ever make!

Memories and History

When I was a child, my dad traveled to St. Louis by train once a year for a check-up at the Frisco Railroad Hospital. We looked forward to his return. He always brought us some new gold Victrola records of Jimmy Rodgers, a famous American yodeler. Jimmy was born in 1897 and his mother died when he was young. A young Huckleberry Finn type, he did odd jobs and hung around pool halls, railroad yards, his uncle’s barbershop and juke joints. At age 14, his dad became a railroad man, so Jimmy drifted from town to town playing his guitar for anyone who would listen to him. He also worked for a carnival at one time.

In 1927 Jimmy got a big break when RCA Victor Co. recorded him in Bristol, Tenn. He drove to New York City and called RCA Victor Co. and told them he happened to be in the city.

They recorded him again; this time it was a big hit, “T For Texas,” and his career was off and running. He sold 20 million copies of hit records in just a few years.

But people did not know that he was dying with the dreaded disease TB; he wouldn’t stop singing. One of his songs was about TB.

I’ve been fighting like a lion
Looks like I’m going to lose
’Cause there ain’t nobody
Ever whipped the TB blues

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 walked up to the brakeman to give him a line of talk
He said, “If you 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.

The flower-draped casket with the body of Jimmy Rodgers was taking him home.

A crowd was gathered at the railroad station at Meridian; their faces were sad with grief. In the distance they heard a long, low, mournful sound. Instead of the usual whoo-whoo sound, they heard a long, continuous “whooooo.”

They gave out this long sound as a tribute to their man, “The Singing Brakesman,” Jimmy Rodgers.

Every year in Meridian they have a “Jimmy Rodgers Day.” The late Henry Jones and the late Hayes Henderson of Potts Camp attended that day for many years until their deaths.

Snow Lake News
Barbara Salling

Lisa Bledsoe honored with shower

Now that fall has arrived hot days are being replaced by cool days and jewel-tone leaves dazzling on the water. Long days on the lake, moonlit boat rides and light summer meals shared with friends outside are now just a memory. Dock parties, waving to friends as they pass on the lake or stop for a chat are sadly missed. Winter is just beyond the forest and soon the beautiful fall colors will be replaced by cold grey days, making it hard to enjoy the lake and see your friends. I grumble during the winter and sometimes my selfishness gets in the way of me being able to see the wonder of every day.

Hubby and I start our day on the deck with a cup of coffee, but on a cool morning recently I caught myself grumbling again as I put on a sweater. While sipping coffee I soon realized that this morning was different from those of the summer, maybe because the air was cool and crisp, but whatever the reason, it was beautiful and a joy for Snow Lakers.

In our little solitary spot, steam rising from the springs in the forest drifted our way and hovered over the water and around our last red roses of the season. Fish were jumping higher and making more circles than usual as a great blue heron posed on our dock anxiously waiting for his breakfast while a giant beaver took a morning swim. The geese were especially noisy that morning as they played follow the leader and made an extra circle before landing.

The show continued over a second cup of coffee with dozens of tiny birds circling inches above the water and the song birds singing more than usual, which is a sure sign that peace is in the area. Several squirrels enjoyed a big breakfast of hickory nuts while uneaten or whole nuts made loud music dropping on metal roofs. Soon two large redheaded woodpeckers joined the rhythm of the dropping nuts and we humans surely enjoyed their live show.

Our morning ended with a sure sign of winter as a squirrel tried to make a new home in a birdhouse, while a bird took the first treat from a new birdfeeder and a lone hummingbird possibly makes his last visit before heading thousands of miles south to bask in the sun and enjoy the sweet nectar of South American plants.

What a significant difference between the ordinary and Snow Lake.

The gift that Hubby and I receive from Snow Lake and the surrounding forest every morning is authentic happiness. It’s hard to leave and join the ordinary for even a few hours. We are surely blessed, so Hubby and I have decided to stay for a while, let’s say, forever.

Just a few reminders: we are surrounded by a National Forest, so take precautions when burning leaves. It’s time for week-enders to protect their homes during the winter freezing weather. All Snow Lakers need to give a contact numbers to the town and corporation office in case of an emergency. Check out your generator and have gas nearby. Winterize your boats and motors.

Miss Dolly has been a little ill recently, but it’s hard to get this little lady down. Lisa Bledsoe had a wedding shower recently at the community center and received some wonderful gifts. Everyone wishes her and Jason Ross the very best.

Have a nice week. barb.snow lake@yahoo.com.

Holly Springs News
Henderson Milan

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson Milan celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson Milan celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary Friday, Oct. 24. They toured Tarkio Place, Ida B. Wells Museum, beautiful Rust College and the University of Mississippi campuses and went shopping and had lunch and spent the night at the new Ole Miss Inn. They were married Oct. 23, 1951 at Providence Baptist Church by the late Rev. W.L. Echols.

Hopewell No. 1 MB Church’s annual choir anniversary was held Oct. 26 at 365 N. Bonner Street. Rev. Leroy James, pastor, was M.C. Musicians were Sis. Krystal DeBerry, Tim Allen, Albert Woods, Myron Crittle.

Samuel Chapel Church celebrated their choir, pastor and wife appreciation for one month, ending Sunday, Oct. 19, 3 p.m. Entrance of the first family, Scripture read by Juan Hudson.

A three-night revival was held at Hopewell No. 1 Oct. 22 through 24.

We wish to express our sympathy and love to our first lady Sis. Henretta James.

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