Thursday, July
30, 2009
Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery
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Thursday, July
30, 2009 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
Community NewsPotts Camp News Emily Stone honored with birthday celebration On Saturday night, a group of members from Temperance Hill Baptist Church drove to Tupelo to hear the singing by the Inspirations. My neighbor, Joyce Clayton, was among the group. Emily Stone, daughter of Mitch and Jeanette Stone, was honored on Tuesday (a day early) with a birthday celebration. A large crowd of children and relatives enjoyed the special food, cake and punch. We love Emily! She is special! We are sorry that G.R. Thompson is unable to stay in his home and has been sent to a nursing home in New Albany. Betty Fincher’s son, Tony and Tammie Fincher of Memphis, visited her recently. They also visited his sister, Connie and Andy Work. Connie is continuing to have problems with her foot. She is in a wheelchair. She needs our prayers. Holley Muraco, the other daughter of Mitch and Jeanette Stone, and her two small boys, Jordan and Colton, flew back to their home in California on Wednesday, where her husband met them. They attended Emily’s birthday party on Tuesday. The Heritage News for the summer 2009 arrival! President Becky Trafford welcomed 13 members in the Marshall County Library in May. No meeting was held in July and August. New members were Ann Reed and Wanda Boyd of Holly Springs. Susan Bolden, a member, attended for the first time from Early Grove. Bill Boston from Potts Camp attended also. Margaret Odell, a member, is in rehab in Jackson. Jim Power, who wrote the books “The Iron Man” and “Mississippi Company of Raiders,” told of six years research. Refreshments were brought by Becky Trafford. Thanks to Mary Frances Fitts for the picture of the Potts Camp Kiddy Band in 1935 and 1936. My young brother, Lindy Potts, was in the group, also her sister, Betty Rose Jones. Thanks to all who wrote to make “The Heritage News” a big success! Pictures of the Potts Camp senior class of 1956 were in the Heritage News this time. The Marshall County Historical Museum is almost ready to reopen after six years of renovation. It will have a large elevator and a picture of the lovely Synodical College, built in the late 1800s, which became the museum in 1970. Thanks to Lois Swanee Shipp for the hard work! Thanks to Sylvia Akin for the following article. A huge fire in Potts Camp on Dec. 6, 1907 wiped out 10 of the 12 businesses in town. The cost was $40,000 with little insurance. 1) A.Q. Greer Store, $2,500; their warehouse, $500. 2) E.J. Jones General Store, $2,000 3) S.B. Laws General Store, $2,500 4) Todd Brother Gun Store, $2,000. 5) S.H. Laws Shop, $500 6) J.R. Taylor Gun Store, $1,800 7) J.W. Cox and Sons General Store, $900. 8) G.F. Boren Drug Store, $6,000 9) Post office, owned by W.B. Miller, $250. The loss stated does not include the stock. We had no fire department at that time. The only two businesses saved were B.A. Edwards and J.A. Potts (my granddad’s) store, (not near the others.) Thoughts A missionary read from the Bible to the people in a village in South Africa. A man asked him, “Do you know the man in the book?” The missionary said, “Thank God, I know the man in the book, I know Him as my Lord and Savior,” and could tell the man about His love and forgiveness. Poem I wish you knew my Jesus and loved Him as I do, for if you knew my Jesus then you would love Him too, He gave His life at Calvary, the sacrifice for you. If you receive my Jesus, then you will love Him too. We are thankful for all the missionaries who travel throughout the world, telling people how Jesus died for us and rose again. I had a burden in my heart, it weighed so much, right from the start, the Spirit’s peace made it depart, I left my burdens there. I breathed a prayer to still a fear of present days and yesteryear. His tender love I felt so near, I left my fears right there. I worried over a business deal another man might claim or steal, to love my brother was revealed. I felt while kneeling down in prayer; His holy presence bright and fair, my fears, my doubts, my great despair, I left them all right there. — Lindy’s newsletter Pray for Diane Clayton, Lina Mae Rhea, Henry Tutor, Charles Henderson, Mary Jo McCallum, Mary Jarrett, Lena Fay Work, Mary Jo Whaley, Connie Work, Betty Fincher, Virgie Kelly, Susie Ash, Mark Jones, Gussie Davis in New Albany Hospital. Pray for our churches, our schools which will start soon, for those whose loved ones have passed away and all who suffer. Don’t forget our men in service; they are away from home and in danger. Pray for them, also the leaders throughout our great country. Thought You never know how far “The South Reporter” reaches. A woman called me today to ask about information on the late Charlie Reid, husband of Mary P. Reid, the only daughter of the first settler of this area. He is a former relative of hers. She had read about them in my news. I’m expecting a letter from her any day now. Memories and History During my childhood, the only music we had was a tall Victrola in the hall. The first records I remember were “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen,” and “Frankie and Johnnie.” We played them over and over. My dad visited the railroad hospital in St. Louis once a year for a checkup. He would return with several “Gold Records” of the famous “singing brakesman,” Jimmy Rodgers. We could hardly wait for his return, and also to listen to the new records featuring bums, railroads, jails, ballrooms and hard times. Even after Jimmie Rodgers was dying with TB, he wouldn’t quit singing; he even wrote a song, “The TB Blues.” Every year, they hold a Hillbilly Music Day” in Meridian in his memory. The late Henry Jones and the late Hayes Henderson attended there every year. My favorite song of Jimmie Rodgers’ was “Waiting for a Train.” I played it so much I felt I was standing beside him in the rain, waiting for a train. Song
Later, Daddy bought a tabletop radio; we enjoyed “The Grand Ole Opry” on Saturday night in the dining room. James would bring his friends, Dallas King and Melvin, there to enjoy it, too. Later, my dad bought a large radio for their bedrooms and gave the old one to me for my bedroom. Late at night I would listen to the big bands, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Bennie Goodman from the rooftop of Hotel Peabody in Memphis, where they danced. I really enjoyed that. Several years ago my granddaughter, Liesa and young daughter, Lila called from Texas for Betty and me to meet her at the airport. She had rented rooms for us at Hotel Peabody in Memphis for the night. When we went out on the rooftop where the ducks live in cute houses, I thought of the night I listened to those famous bands many years ago in this special place. North Marshall News Task finished with little effort and help of others Just over a year ago I undertook a task that I had put off for several years. My cousin Roy Spencer (I will tell you more later) served his country during WW II. Roy fought across North Africa and was in the frontal assault during the invasion at Salerno, Italy. He was seriously wounded by German machine guns at a location just outside of Rome. He told me he had looked forward to seeing Rome, but due to the wounds he was sent back to the States. He recovered after three months at a hospital in Miami, Fla. He was discharged from the Army when he was released from the hospital. I remember as a child looking at his Purple Heart and would ask about the war. Roy never talked about his experiences. One quote I do have in my memory is he once told me, “I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the experience and I would not want to do it again, not even for a million dollars.” Now back to the task I undertook. I have Roy’s discharge papers and the papers included some information about medals and service ribbons. I searched through the memorabilia I had but could not find any such items. So I contacted the Department of the Army and was referred to the Military Records Archives in St. Louis, Mo. Through some effort and a great deal of help and cooperation from the folks in St. Louis, I was able to receive all of Roy’s medals and service ribbons. This included his Purple Heart, Bronze Star and several service ribbons. I am in the process of making a display case to honor this hero of mine. I am so glad I quit procrastinating on this project. If you would like to do a similar thing for a family member or your hero, you can do so by starting with contacting the National Personal Records Center, St. Louis, Mo. It is best to get the forms you need and other information by going through the internet at the following location: archives.gov/research_room/obtain_copies/standard_form_180.pdf Now back to Roy and why he was one of my heroes. I will be brief and not go into details that would bore you. I lost my father when I was a young boy and Roy was the first man in the family who took time with me when I really needed it. He taught me to hunt and to fish. Great times and memories of fishing on the Tennessee River and watching the beagles run will always be with me. He did many things that fathers do for their sons and so Roy was and always will be one of my heroes. Roy died in 1980. Did You Know On • July 29, 1958 – President Eisenhower signed legislation that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). • July 30, 1956 – The phrase “In God We Trust” became the official national motto. • July 31, 1914 – The New York Stock exchange closed for four months due to WWI. Aug 1, 1941 – During WWII the first Jeep rolled off the assemble line in Toledo, OH. • Aug 2, 1876 – Western frontiersman Wild Bill Hickok was shot dead while playing poker in a Deadwood, South Dakota, saloon. • Aug 3, 1492 – Christopher Columbus sailed from Palos, Spain with the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria on his famous journey to find a western route to the Indies. • Aug 4, 1790 – Congress established the Revenue Cutter Service, later to become the U.S. Coast Guard. This week’s questions Most have been getting the right answers so I will try to make the questions a little harder. Trish and Bobby got the answers to last week’s questions. Lowell got all but one. Who was the first American military officer to hold the rank of general? Who made the first solo flight around the world? “America the Beautiful” was set to a hymn tune. What is the name of that tune? What is the name of the first vessel to reach the North Pole? What president created the Purple Heart Medal? Send your answers to richardps@centurytel.net Got a hero to tell us about? Email me and I will contact you for an interview. |
     
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