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Community News

Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Annual Clayton reunion held in Hill home

The annual Clayton Reunion was held at the home of Susie Hill of Potts Camp last weekend with about 45 members attending. Jack and Linda Clayton of Paducah, Ky., probably came the longest distance. The Claytons have always been our special friends and neighbors. We love them!

A relative of Betty Lee Maxey, Bennie Flake, visited her last weekend.

Get well wishes to Kate Black New of New Albany, who fell and broke her hip and is in rehab in Pontotoc. She is the twin sister of Martha Hardy and also sister of Nellie Dawson of Cornersville.

We are proud of Matt Harris who grew up in Potts Camp. He is a young attorney who lives in New Albany with his wife and child. His parents, Tony and Joyce Ann Harris, also grew up in Potts Camp. They are special friends.

We were happy to see Henry Tutor who came home for the weekend from the Ripley Nursing Home. His grandson, Alan Griffin, brought him to visit me.

Mary Minor, Katherine Sundstrom of Holly Springs and Diane Jones of New Albany recently vacationed in Savannah, Ga. They took the Savannah Experience Tour, the Paula Dean Tour, had lunch at Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House, dinner at the Lady and Sons Restaurant, and also visited the lighthouse on Tybee Island.

Little Will Rogers of Potts Camp had recent surgery in New Albany and is in serious condition. He is the son of Will and Cindy Rogers.

Weekend visitors of Jimmie and Margaret Hart were their grandchildren, Zac and Margaret Wilson of Brandon. While here they took a memorable trip to Brownsville, Tenn. They also celebrated the two Margarets’ birthdays over the weekend.

Congratulations to the winners of the Junior Review at Potts Camp High School on Monday night, Oct. 4, and also the winners of Potts Camp High School on Tuesday night, Oct. 5.

David Dawson will return to the USA sometime in October from Afghanistan, not in September as reported. My friend, Nellie Dawson, is his mother from Cornersville.

A large crowd attended the Fall Festival at Temperance Hill Baptist Church, Potts Camp, on Saturday, Oct. 9. They enjoyed the good food, games and gospel singing. Rev. Ken Cooper is the pastor of the church.

A revival was also held at Temperance Hill Baptist Church, Potts Camp, on Oct. 10 through 13. Rev. Harvey Sawell was the guest preacher. Mitch Stone sang.

New Hope

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

Everyone wants to be happy! The right way can be found in the Bible, where Jesus taught all of us that loving happiness comes from being right with God.

We are blessed when we are peacemakers, pure in heart, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, meek, merciful and willing to suffer for Jesus.

Thoughts of the Future

I’ll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord, o’er mountain or plain or sea. I’ll say what you want me to say, Dear Lord, I’ll be what you want me to be.

I Believe

Believe in God’s world and its wonders. Believe that the birds will sing. Believe there is sunshine behind each cloud and that winter will follow spring. Believe that every prayer is answered by the Grace of Heaven above. Believe that a miracle happens each day. Believe in the gift of God’s love.

Happy birthday to Bobby Smithwick on Oct. 15; to Iva B. Smith on Oct. 16; to my youngest son, Danny Hollingsworth, on Oct. 18 in Morristown, Tenn.; to Brad Farr on Oct. 18; to Joshua and Geremy Green on Oct. 19; to Bill Kitchens on Oct. 21; Jack Gadd on Oct. 21; to Daniel Smothers on Oct. 24.

Prayer list: JoAnn Potts, Diane Clayton, Henry Tutor, Charles Henderson, Sank Owen, Doris Goode, Betty Rose Jones. Pray for all who suffer.

“The Touch Of The Master’s Hand”

It was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while to waste much time on the old violin; but he held it up with a smile, “What am I bidding, good folks?” he cried. “A dollar, a dollar, then two, only two? Two dollars and who’ll make it three? Going for three,” but no – from the room far back, a grey-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; then wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet, as a caroling angel sings. The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low said, “What am I bid for the old violin?” and he held it up with the bow. “A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two, two thousand and who’ll make it three? Three thousand and who’ll make it four and going, going, gone,” says he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We don’t quite understand, what changed its worth?” Swift came the reply, “The touch of the master’s hand.”

Many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin. A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, a game and he travels on. He’s going once, going twice, and almost gone.

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd never could quite understand, the worth of a soul and the change that is wrought by “The touch of the Master’s hand.”

Memories and History

Many people remember Kent Marett and his famous store at Cornersville (down Rd. 349 from Potts Camp). Mr. Marett died in 1972 at the age of 96.

Cornersville, where several counties (Marshall, Benton and Lafayette near Union County) meet, was once a horse station for stage coaches and is older than Holly Springs. It was incorporated at one time, but later surrendered its charter.

Mr. Kent was the son of Capt. E.J. Marett, who served in the state legislature before 1900 and helped write the present Constitution of the state of Mississippi. He was a civil engineer and surveyed all the land in this area. He fought in the Civil War and was captured and sent to Federal prison camp on Johnson Island in the Mississippi River. He came home after the war.

Supplies for Mr. Kent’s store were shipped by rail to Potts Camp Depot in the early days. The roads were so bad, a large wagon drawn by mules had to be used to pick up the barrels of flour, sugar and other large boxes of food and other supplies. He sold hats, shoes, cloth and food of all kinds. Mr. Kent’s sister, Dot Marett, taught in the county school there until they were consolidated. He had his large, old school bell. I remember the pot-bellied stove sitting in a large box of dirt. Men were sitting around it talking and chewing tobacco. Ben Kirk was Mr. Kent’s helper and later Mr. Nabors. Later they used a T Model truck to haul supplies.

The walls of the store were covered with old fashioned calendars and pictures of by-gone days like Phillip Morris Bell Boy, Garrett Snuff and Coca Colas and Gulf Oil. The old store still stands and is used for storage.

Mr. Kent’s three boys were Fred and Miller, who attended Holly Springs Schools, and E.J., who was our football hero at Potts Camp School (all are deceased).

Did you know?
Richard Simmons

Over 200 years old and getting better

On October 01, 2010, the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) rendered assistance to 16 passengers of a distressed boat found off the southern coast of California.

The fiberglass boat had engine trouble and they were adrift for about 14 hours. After investigation it seems the group was trying to enter the United States illegally. The Navy turned them over to the Coast Guard.

I mentioned this bit of news for two reasons. Today, the 13th of October, is the official birthday of the United States Navy and my grandson is an officer serving on board the USS Boxer. I might mention that we are very proud of our grandson.

For a bit of history, on October 13, 1775 the Continental Congress authorized the outfitting of two armed vessels to cruise in search of British munitions ships. On that day Congress also established a Naval Committee to oversee the new Navy. John Adams was a member of the committee, and although he knew little of naval affairs he got busy making himself an expert.

Historian David McCollough wrote, the committee “met in a rented room at Tun Tavern [in Philadelphia].”

Over the course of the Revolutionary War the Continental Navy consisted of about 50 ships of various sizes. After the war Congress disbanded the Navy, then restarted it in 1794 when it ordered the construction of six frigates. The Navy flag is a dark blue flag that carries the image of a three-masted square-rigged ship underway before a fair breeze. A bald eagle and an anchor are shown in front of the ship. Navy ships do not fly the Navy flag from their masts. The banner is reserved for display purposes and is carried fly honor guards during ceremonies. John Adams drafted the first set of rules and regulations for the new navy, a point of pride for him as long as he lived.

From the USS Constitution launched in 1797 and still afloat, to the USS Reagan, happy birthday to the finest Navy in the world.

Did You Know On

Oct. 13, 1903 – The Boston Americans beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 to win the first World Series, prevailing 5 games to 3.

Oct. 14, 1774 – The Continental Congress adopted a declaration of rights stating that colonists are entitled to “life, liberty, and property.”

Oct. 15, 1951 – The television series “I Love Lucy” began its long successful run.

Oct. 16, 1962 – U.S. spy planes discovered missile bases in Cuba.

Oct. 17, 1933 – Fleeing Nazi Germany, Albert Einstein arrived in the United States.

Oct. 18, 1867 – The United States took possession of Alaska from Russia.

Oct. 19, 1774 – Colonists in Annapolis, Maryland, staged the Annapolis Tea Party by burning the tea ship “Peggy Stewart.”

This Week’s Quiz

What U.S. President authorized the purchase of the Louisiana Territory?

What was the name of the first manned Apollo mission?

Who invented the safety match?

What was the name of the gang that the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday confronted at the OK Corral?

What running back broke Walter Payton’s rushing record of 16,726 yards?

Answers to Last Week’s Quiz

The original name of the Hoover Dam was the Boulder Dam.

The first “Air Force One” went into service in 1962.

Chuck Yeager was the first pilot to break the sound barrier.

The Boston Americans played the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series.

The Brooklyn Dodgers played the Philadelphia Eagles in the first televised pro-football game.

Ref: The American Patriot, US Navy

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