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Community News

Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Katie Smithwick celebrates 74th birthday

Bobby and Katie Smithwick joined his sister, Betty and Knowlton Shaw, Terri Smithwick and Betty Maxey at Tippah County Lake last Saturday night for the Blue Grass Jamboree. They had a wonderful time.

Kristie Fincher from Union County, Tenn., visited her mother, Bonnie Gurley; grandmothers, Betty Fincher, and Louise Pruitt; and her aunt, Connie Work, on Sept. 13 and 14.

Joyce Clayton’s daughter, Merion and David Hunsucker of Ashland, visited her on Friday. He is recuperating from a broken bone in his shoulder a few weeks ago. We hope it continues to heal. He needs our prayers.

Katie Smithwick celebrated her 74th birthday with her husband, Bobby Smithwick, and all her family with a dinner in New Albany recently.

Ronnie Russell, who grew up in our town, came back and bought several acres of land on the banks of Tippah River; he wants to build a dock there. I enjoyed a visit with him on my front porch, and I remember his mother, Dorothy Russell of Memphis. He is a cousin of Cary Mayer.

My grandson, David and Teresa Hollingsworth, and two daughters, Suzette and Sarah Lambert, also visited here on Sunday. The Tupelo soccer team had won another championship in Memphis. Congratulations to Sarah and her team!

Henry Tutor drove to Pontotoc Saturday to attend the funeral of his nephew, W.R. Tutor, age 68. The burial was in nearby Randolph Cemetery.

Katie Smithwick and husband Bobby met her twin sister, Catherine, and their twin brothers, Aubrey and Andrew McGregor, in Tupelo over the weekend.

God Is Always Near

I feel His spirit around me at the dawning of the day. His smile is in the sunshine when night shadows melt away. I see Him in the noon time in the blue sky’s sparkling glow, in every tree and flower or winter’s gentle snow. I sense His presence near me as the light of day grows dim and all through the midnight hour I rest safely, trusting Him.

Poem

As I walk along life’s pathway, though the pathway I cannot see, I shall follow in His footsteps for He has a plan for me.

Thoughts

1. When Jesus was asked, “Which is the greatest commandment of all?” He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Then He added: “There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

2. Remember that all people are created in God’s image, therefore everyone is special in some way.

3. Prayer: Lord, forgive us for thinking we are superior to others. Help us to remember that we are all unique people, who are made in your image. For Christ’s sake, amen.

4. When everything is hopeless and life is hard to bear, just find a quiet corner and say a special prayer. Ask God to give you strength to see you through the day. He alone can help you. He will pave the way.

Pray for all the sick people, also the men and women in service. Visit the sick or send get well cards. Love your friends and pray for your enemy. God wants us to love everybody.

Prayer list: Mildred and Billy Bowen, Charles Henderson, Diane Clayton, Mona Dickey, Mary Lois Gurley, Mary Jo McCallum, Connie Work, Donna Marett, Robert Hugh King, Mary Jarrett, Inez Jarrett, Henry Tutor, Betty Fincher.

Memories and History

My dad’s favorite newspaper was “The Commercial Appeal” in the ‘30s, and his favorite writer was Mr. Copeland, who wrote a lot about the South.

One day, Mr. Copeland decided to drive his wife to his native state of Mississippi. He told about when they crossed that imaginary line from Tennessee to Mississippi how the grass seemed a little greener and the birds sang a little sweeter. They visited friends in Byhalia and viewed the historic homes in Holly Springs. When they reached Potts Camp they were tired, so when they saw a sign “Williams Hotel” on Church St. they decided to stay overnight.

The old hotel still stands and has been renovated for a home.

Julia Williams was owner of the famous hotel, built by Charlie Reid for his wife, Mary Reid, in 1880. She didn’t like the location, so they sold it to Dr. Boatner when he moved here from Cornersville, and Charlie Reid built the famous two-story house on the hill behind it on Pontotoc St. I had fun there as a child and Quinn Holley lived there. Quinn was my special friend.

Julia’s daughters, Lona, Edith and Maurine, helped her cook delicious meals and keep the hotel clean. It had high ceilings, good beds and a warm coal fireplace, also the first bathtub in town.

Several Potts Camp School teachers were happy to meet the Copelands that day at the hotel. They invited them to attend a program at Potts Camp School that night, and asked him to make a talk to the people. He talked about love for God and our country.

I remember the program well, presented by our talented music teacher, Eugenia Eason, and Sarah Myers, tap dancing and expression teacher from Holly Springs. Many of us wore pastal dresses and danced. My little brother, Bennie Potts, was dressed like a pullman porter and sang and danced “The Pullman Porter Blues.” The next morning, Mr. Copeland visited the Greer and Greer Store in town to talk to some of the merchants about Potts Camp’s history.

As Mr. and Mrs. Copeland rode out of town, she said, “Why didn’t you tell me about the interesting people in the town of Potts Camp?”

We could hardly wait for his newspaper article the next morning. He told about the friendly teachers of Potts Camp School and the new hotel. He did mention the talented youth in our town, and especially the small boy who sang and danced to the “Pullman Porter Blues,” Bennie Potts, my little brother.

North Marshall News
Richard Simmons

The American’s Creed and how it originated

Since we just spent some days remembering the sacrifices of our fellow countrymen and women I thought it would be a good thing to review a document called The American’s Creed and how it originated.

The American’s Creed came out of a nationwide contest during World War I for the best summary of American political faith. A gentleman from Maryland won the contest. His name was William Tyler Page. The Creed is two short paragraphs but have such power in reminding us of the principles that make America great and the duties required to preserve those principles. Page was coming home from church one Sunday in 1917 when he got the idea of fashioning a creed along the lines of the Apostle’s Creed. He composed the creed by drawing on such great writings as the Declaration of Independence, Preamble to the Constitution and Gettysburg Address. In 1918 the U.S. House of Representatives accepted Page’s winning entry on behalf of the American people as the American’s Creed. A few days later Page used his $1,000 prize money to buy Liberty Bonds and gave them to his church. Here is what Page wrote:

I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a Republic; a sovereign Nation of many Sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend it against all enemies.

Did You Know On

Sept. 23, 1806 – The Lewis and Clark expedition returned to St. Louis from the Pacific Coast.

Sept. 24, 1957 – The Brooklyn Dodgers played their final game at Ebbets Field before moving to Los Angeles.

Sept. 25, 1918 – Eddie Rickenbacker earned the Medal of Honor in the skies over Verdun, France.

Sept. 26, 1789 – George Washington named Thomas Jefferson the first Secretary of State.

Sept. 27, 1777 – Lancaster Pennsylvania became the national capital for one day when Congress fled from the British-held Philadelphia to York, Pennsylvania.

Sept. 28, 1787 – Congress votes to transmit the new Constitution to the states for ratification.

Sept 29, 1892 – The first nighttime football game was played at Mansfield, Pennsylvania, when Mansfield Teachers College faced Wyoming Seminary beneath twenty electric lights.

This Week’s Quiz

In the song Yankee Doodle Dandy what are the words of the second line of the second verse?

What great and beautiful American song is written to the music of Samuel A. Ward’s “Materna?”

What famous Civil War song is still played today to welcome our soldiers home from overseas?

What is the name of the song about a flag written by George M. Cohan for a broadway musical?

What are the first five words of the Marine Hymn?

Answers to Last Week’s Quiz

• Boston Light

• 1716

• Sept 18, 1947

• 2,632 games in 16 seasons

• Detailed plans of West Point

• 102.

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