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Society

City Personals
Mary Clay Brooks

Clay Pritchett gives inspirational message to Christian athletes

A big thank you goes out to Clay Pritchett, who was the speaker for Fellowship of Christian Athletes last week at Marshall Academy. He spoke about David and Goliath, comparing the two figuratively. The athletes, coaches and hostesses in attendance really felt the powerful word he had to share. It was wonderful to listen and leave being uplifted by such an inspirational speaker!

The Patriots traveled down to fight for the AA North Half title Thursday. Holly Springs was well represented in the town of Monroe, La., Friday night. A pep bus left the campus before noon Friday loaded with parents of players and fans. Others chose to drive the five hours it took to get there. The stands were packed, as was the fence line that most like to pace during the game.

The football team fought hard, but fell short of a victory that night in Louisiana. I must say that for the past few months, the Patriot team has brought joy to their school, parents, town and fans! They have made memories that will last a lifetime in their pursuit of the championship. Even though they did not come out ahead on the scoreboard Friday night, they came out ahead in life. They could all leave that field knowing that they gave their hearts and soul to their coaches and played to the best of their abilities. It has been a wonderful ride this great group of young men has taken and a very exciting one for those of us who cheer them on from this side of the fence.

What a swell welcome it was for their new football coach, Barrett Donohoe, too! First season with a new-to-him team and they took it all the way to the wilds of Louisiana. That speaks volumes for the type of coach he is, as well as the type of man. He breathed life into this team and helped them become better players and better people this season. What a fine job he did, as everyone was all in following the Patriots all over the countryside!

As we begin the week of Thanksgiving, we should remember the things for which we are thankful. Pick up the telephone instead of sending a text or message on a social media network and let a loved one hear your voice. Tell them how much they mean to you - sometimes that cannot be relayed through a text or computer screen. It seems these days everyone relies way too heavily on “finger communication.”

There was a commercial man, many years ago for AT&T that had the tag line “reach out and touch someone.” It is so easy to send a text message, quickly composed when you are in a rush and don’t have the few minutes it would take to call someone to let them know you are thinking of them. Send out holiday cards - Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year - instead of sending out a mass email to your contacts with “attached” pictures and a note.

Let those around you, and those far away, know you are thankful for them this holiday season. Share the joy with others when you pass them in the grocery store. A simple “how are you” sometimes can cheer even the coldest of hearts! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours - may your cup runneth over with bountiful things for which you are thankful.

(To put your news in City Personals, please e-mail maryclayb@yahoo.com; mail to City Personals, The South Reporter, P.O. Box 278, Holly Springs, MS 38635 or call 662-252-4261. You may also e-mail your City Personal news to southreporter@dixie-net.com).

Museuming
Lois Swaney Shipp
Museum Curator

Christmas in Holly Springs

Tuckahoe

We are having an elegant Christmas party that will be celebrated on December 3-4. This is the 23rd annual “Christmas in Holly Springs Tour”

Tuckahoe is on our Christmas tour for the first time. It was a twin house to “East End,” which was Jack Jones’ home, and they were “Sunday houses” built for weekend retreats by double brothers-in-law, William Crump and John Hull of Memphis.

The house was purchased by Keith and Christy Owens in 1987 and they realized this property was a diamond in the rough. General Grant’s soldiers camped here during the Civil War and during Reconstruction until 1875.

This is Christy’s partial account of the ‘new’ history she discovered.

“The renovation was well underway, a year had passed and the house was in complete disarray. The Owens family was preparing for church on a Sunday morning when they heard a knock at the door. There stood a petite lady in hair rollers as her husband was trailing behind profusely apologizing for disturbing their Sunday morning! The gentleman kindly explained that they had come to Holly Springs to visit friends and on their way home the lady insisted that the husband drive by the property. She coaxed him into pulling in the drive for a closer look and to his surprise the lady jumped out of the car heading toward the house. Mr. Owens graciously invited them in and over coffee they reminisced.

Mrs. Hill explained that she just had to come one more time to visit the old home place. She had such wonderful memories spending her Sundays and summers here as a child. As the Owens and the Hills visited, Mrs. Hill told them she knew “secrets” about their house. To the Owens’ surprise, the visitor unfolded the mystery of the ‘trap’ door that led to the basement and the crawl space under the house. The crawl space was used to store vegetables in the 1800s but she and her friends used it as a secret hiding place. As the Owens family watched their visitor’s animated expressions and listened intently to her stories, the mysteries and secrets came to life. At this moment time stood still and then -- the greatest mystery of all was revealed, the visitor told the story of how the house got its name, “Tuckahoe.” The William Crump family, former owners, also owned property in Memphis, Tenn. Mrs. Owens’ grandfather, Millard Bailey, worked for a Crump family at the Cotton Exchange in downtown Memphis. It was not until that very moment that Mrs. Owens realized that this was the “Crump” family that her grandfather had worked for all those years. In 1937, Millard Bailey married his sweetheart, Christine and as a wedding gift, the Crump family gave them a lot with twin oak trees, located at 198 Tuckahoe Street, in Memphis to build their house.

“In later years “Tuckahoe” was the home of the Roland McAlexander family who lived here for decades.”

The Marshall County Historical Museum is the sponsor for the tour. We are located at 220 East College Ave. and our phone number is 662 252-3669. Tickets bought before November 26 have the reduced price of $18 solo and $15 for ten or more. The week of the tour all tickets are $22 each.

Our antique show will be in the I.C. Levy building on Dec. 2; we will open the Christmas Tour with a gala at 6 p.m. and we would like for everyone to attend.

Hernando is the setting for the Art Show and Sale. It will be stupendious and don’t miss it. Bring your art to sell and to show. Bring it now so we can set it up.

There will be a bazaar in the little Sabbath School Saturday and Sunday.

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Holly Springs, MS 38635
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