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Community News

Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Betty Love Shaw celebrates birthday

This cold, snowy weather has slowed down everything, especially the travelling.

Jack and Linda Clayton had planned a trip home with their family, where he grew up as our neighbor, but they plan to come later. We love all their family, who live here and there also. Linda had a heart attack and had to have a stint put in recently. Jack is the brother of Joann Mayer, Ralph and Roger Clayton.

Betty Greer, my daughter, drove to Tupelo on Sunday to attend the birthday party for two of my great-grandchildren, Suzette and Sarah Lambert Hollingsworth. David and Teresa Hollingsworth are their parents. My son, Jimmy and Martha Hollingsworth, are their grandparents.

Joyce Clayton drove to Flat Rock Fellowship Hall on Saturday to attend a birthday party for her niece, Brenda Smith.

Betty Love Shaw recently celebrated her birthday at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Lela and Kerry Hale. She was surrounded by her other children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Ervin Ray, Steve, Rhonda, Rachel, Barry, Robin, Hannah, Caleb, Jacob, Chad, Lori, Ally, Kelly, Haven, Ken, and Brook, and also her loving husband, Knowlton Shaw.

We were saddened by the recent death of a dear friend, Jeanette Dunning. We send our love and sympathy to her husband, Ralph, and other family members. We will miss her!

Homecoming was held on Friday night at Potts Camp School in the Carl White Memorial Gymnasium.

Get well wishes are sent to Elaine Jarrett, a member of Potts Camp United Methodist Church.

Thoughts

I. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

God often uses fellow believers to show us His love! When we show love and compassion in simple, practical ways, we are a part of God’s ministry to His people.

II. A Christian’s greatest joy is to be used by God!

III. Read Bible stories to your children — our Sunday school teachers did. They will never forget them. “Tell me the story of Jesus; write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious; sweetest that ever was heard.”

The character of your children depends tomorrow on what you put in their hearts today.

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

Prayer: Father, forgive us for thinking we are superior to others. Help us to remember we are all unique people who are made in the image of God. For Christ’s sake, amen.

Poem

When everything seems 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.

Love is one of the greatest gifts.

We are thankful that Gussie Davis has improved. She is a friend who had heart surgery Thursday at the Tupelo hospital. She still needs our prayers.

Prayers: Charles Henderson, Diane Clayton, Mary Lois Gurley, Mary Jarrett, Henry Tutor, G.R. Thompson, Lina Mae Rhea, Connie Work, Lena Faye Work; and all who suffer and lost loved ones.

Memories and History

I grew up during the Great Depression in the ’20s and ’30s. Our dad read to us in The Commercial Appeal in 1929 how the stock market broke, and people who had lost everything they had were killing themselves by jumping out windows and off tall buildings.

There were no jobs and people were hungry. My dad did have a job; he was depot agent.

In 1932, we were blessed when President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected, the first Democrat in 16 years. We listened to our battery radio as he promised “action now.” I don’t remember all the program, but the WPA that put grown men to work and the CCC camps for grown boys were the most familiar. Suddenly our town was filled on weekends with these strange boys, attending our ball games and churches. At first we wouldn’t have anything to do with them, but they were very much like our own classmates and brothers. The Potts Camp CCC Camp was located one and a half miles from town. They could not own cars, and most of their checks were sent home to help their families, so they walked to Potts Camp and Winborn (nearby). The Potts Camp CCC Camp became a part of the Desoto County National Forest, so they planted trees and built towers to spot fires, and roads and bridges.

One, called the Winborn Tower, was located about one and a half miles from town on Hwy 349. We ran up the tower and looked out over the county, including our town. I’ll never forget it. Later, only the workers could climb it. The CCC boys made “Spring Lake” into “Wall Doxey State Park,” digging out the lake much larger and building brick buildings and fountains. People still enjoy it.

As we went to school every day, truckloads of CCC boys passed and waved to us.

President Roosevelt was re-elected in 1936. Happy days were here again.

My late husband was one of the CCC boys. I miss him, after 47 years.

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