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Community News

Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Thomas Goode wins first place in rodeo

We hope all the Dads had a special day on Sunday. I’ll never forget my wonderful dad, also the dad of my three children. The Lord has blessed me and my family! I thank Him every day!

We were saddened by the recent death of a friend and neighbor, Mattie Gurley. We send our love and deepest sympathy to her family. She was really special.

I appreciate the message of thanks from Harley Lemons of Highlands Ranch, Colo., about the death of his aunt, Ruthie St. John in May. She was a special lady! I enjoyed her phone calls.

Thanks to my friend, Mary Minor, who reported last week about the Potts Camp School reunion! She also came to my home and brought tapes and pictures of the reunion. We are proud of our school!

Kenny and Edna Faye Goode attended MS Dept. of Heavy Equipment Rodeo in Biloxi. Their son, Thomas, was a first place winner. District two has won the trophy for the fourth time. Congratulations. He won a trip to Pigeon Forge in October.

Congratulations to Brianna Cheatwood and Hailey Davis, intellectually gifted students at Potts Camp School. Their teacher is Helen Mason.

My special friend, Mary Jo Whaley, wife of Fred Whaley, celebrated her birthday on June 11. She was honored by her wonderful family, Fred and sons Rodney and Bret and their families. We love you Mary Jo! Happy birthday! (They are my cousins also.)

A missionary was in South America; some of the people there were hearing about Jesus for the first time. One man asked the missionary, “Do you know the man in the book?” He said, “Thank God I know the man in the book!” Then he said, “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’ll receive my Jesus then you will love Him too.”

Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Romans 8:39

Before you condemn others, remember there is not one of us who is without sin, and we answer to the same God. When you are depressed, smile and thank the Lord that you are living. “Every day is a precious gift of God.”

Thoughts

“Take Control”

Take control of my thoughts today, let my mind be stayed on thee, that I may know the perfect peace thou O Lord, you have promised me. Take control of my words today, may they tell of thy great love and may the story of thy grace turn some heart to thee. Keep it filled with joy and praise and gratitude for every good thou bestowest on all my days. Take control of my life today. Let thy will be also mine. That in each thought and word and deed I shall be forever thine.

Prayer list: The family of Mattie Gurley and others who have lost loved ones. Roy Foote needs our special prayers. Jean Derryberry, Mary Jo McCallum, Connie Work, Lina Mae Rhea, Juanita Howell, Jessie Pipkin, Lena Fay Work, William Thomas Wicker, Diane Clayton, Betty Fincher. Our men in service. Others who suffer.

History and Memories of Potts Camp

Over the years I’ve enjoyed Montgomery Greer’s lovely book of poems, “Dance of the Butterfly,” written in 1940. She was the daughter of a special doctor, F.P. Boatner and Mary Edward Willis. Her husband, Lester Greer, was the first Potts Camp baby born to some of the first settlers to our little town. A.Q. Greer and Cordelia Greer were their names.

Lester and “Monty,” as she called herself, built a lovely home near the Potts Camp Methodist Church about 1917, when the school was moved to the present lot. She named her home “Sunset View,” and had a lovely rose garden nearby.

Monty, like her dad before her, was a born leader. She organized the first PTAs in North Mississippi and served on the state board many years; she also served as an officer of the Mississippi Annual Methodist Conference. The couple had four children, Dan, Louise, Frank and Ralph. She was a leader in our Methodist church for many years, teaching a young boy’s Sunday school class. She also spoke to the girls my age in church many times.

I remember how she played her piano and taught us Christmas carols; she also built us a playground in her backyard and played games with us. About once a week, she drove a group of young girls my age to Holly Springs in her big car and bought us ice cream cones.

Very few people owned a camera during those depression years, but Monty’s hobby was taking pictures. I have some she took later of my mother and our first child, Jimmy, on our front porch.

Louise was a lovely girl, she married and moved to a northern state. The couple had one child, Eddie Turner. Louise became ill and died there. Eddie came to Potts Camp to live with his grandparents and attend Potts Camp School. I didn’t know Dan very well; he was older, but Frank and Ralph attended school here when I did. Later, Ralph fought in World War II; he married my friend, Martine Woodash. They lived in Holly Springs. Ralph said that he would never leave Marshall County again after he was married. They both died a few years later. She left two sons, Ralph Jr. Hurdle, son by her first marriage. He was killed in the war.

Frank was our friend; he served on jury duty with my late husband, L.D.; they laughed a lot. He loved Potts Camp and the people here; he came to our home and helped me with “Memories of Potts Camp” and brought pictures. He was one of the first Potts Camp Cardinals and told us how the team collected chickens and sold them to buy their first red suits. It was about 1932, depression years, and people had very little money to donate. Everybody had chickens. He was proud of his two grandparents, A.Q. Greer Sr. and Dr. E.F. Boatner. They were instrumental in making our village of Potts Camp become a town so we could borrow money to put down our first deep well and have water piped to the houses.

The Greers also owned Eagle Springs before 1900. Frank told about visiting a man in a nursing home in Arkansas. He had spent time in his early days at Eagle Springs, drinking and bathing in the magic water. Frank took him several gallons of the special water from Eagle Springs when he went back to Arkansas for a visit. The man was happy!

My dad always told me, “You can always count on the Greers if you need help.” We loved them!

Waterford News
Elmira Curry

Sunrise presents 12 Tribes of Israel at New Hope

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with singing. Psalm 100:1-2.

It was a joyful time with Elmira Curry the second week in May when all of her daughters and their children were home for several days. They started coming Thursday and stayed until Tuesday of the next week.

On Saturday morning, May 10, they attended the 2008 commencement at Memphis Theological Seminary at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where Evelyn C. Elliott received her Master of Divinity, BS, M.Ed. In the afternoon the family and friends gathered at Greenfield Church for dinner.

Other relatives home for the weekend were Magdalene Hughes, Vanetta Moore and their families from Illinois; Bonnie Curry and her family from Oxford.

On Sunday Terrlyn Avery delivered the Mother’s Day sermon at Greenfield Church. A large audience of family and friends were present to hear the speaker.

Sunrise Chapter #166 O.E.S. of Eastern Star celebrated Esther Day on June 8 at the Waterford Lodge Hall. Chapters present were Philadelphia #227 and Bathsheba #27 and Water Valley Chapter. Thanks to the visitors.

On Saturday, June 21, Sunrise Chapter #166 O.E.S. will present the 12 Tribes of Israel Program at New Hope M.B. Church in Laws Hill, 6 p.m. The public is invited.

Holly Springs News
Henderson Milan

Miles Stone speaks at Asbury during children and youth celebration

Memorial Day was observed Saturday, June 7 at Union Valley Cemetery. Special attention was given to the veterans’ graves. Prayer was offered by a deacon. Two songs, “America,” and “God Bless America” were sung. Origin of Memorial Day was given by Lorraine Wiseman. The program closed by giving the Pledge to the U.S. Flag. One deacon present from Union Valley Church. They came from Memphis, Bradford, Tenn., and surrounding communities. Vanilla ice cream, cake and cookies were served to more than 70 people.

We wish to express our love and sympathy to the family of Vary Jackson of Detroit, Mich., who was killed on her way to work. She was a niece of Mary Milan and Genetha Smith and cousin of Michael Smith. Attending the funeral from Mississippi were Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith and two children of Jackson and Mary Milan of Holly Springs.

Children and youth were celebrated Sunday, June 8, 10:45 a.m. Youth were in charge of the whole program. Members’ birthdays: Marquis Boga, 1; Ira Mae Ford, 6; Courtney Woods, 13; Melvin DeBerry, 13; Mikeal Crittle, 15; Marlon Crittle, 18; James R. Anderson, 20; Deadre Beard, 2; Ethel Terry, 27; Emma Greer, 28; Pashana Pinson, 29.

During the morning session, high school and college graduates who were members presented a token of appreciation.

Afternoon speaker was 7-year-old Miles Stone of Asbury United Methodist Church. Beautiful music was provided by Hopewell No. 1’s youth choir.

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