Smoke Signals and other news
The painful losses to our town continues. Former teacher, coach, and mentor, LE Malone, passed away June 19. His funeral service was held Wednesday, June 26, at 1 p.m. In the sanctuary of Byhalia United Methodist Church. Visitation was held from noon until service time.
He was extra special to the Class of 1969 as he was our high school “Home Room Teacher” for four years. On Wednesday, the members of our class attended his funeral and sat together as a special tribute to the man who taught us, coached us, and loved us even when we may have been difficult to love.
He and his wife, Rhea, were featured in The South Reporter’s Profile Edition a few years ago, and he loved telling his story. Their interview remains one of my favorites.
I visited him a few times at the Veterans Home in Oxford. When I visited, I was afraid to wake him. I always mentioned how I didn’t want to wake him, if he was asleep, and his classic response was, “If you came this far to see me, you better wake me up.” When visiting, we would chat about days gone by, our families, and current events, but mostly, he just held my hand. Although he knew for sure who I was and knew my name, he always called me Nell because he said I looked like my cousin he had taught at Independence before coming to Byhalia. She was a beautiful lady, so I did not mind.
Rufus Pennington, died Monday, June 17, while fastening the jib on his 35-ton crane. He fell from the truck’s four-foot fender and received a severe head injury. His Celebration of Life and visitation was held on Saturday. It was a beautiful tribute to a friend and a life well lived. The family had a American flag hanging from one of his cranes. It was touching.
When I arrived, a long line of people were waiting to greet the family. I sat with a friend who also could not stand for very long. We watched people from all walks of life who came to express their sympathy to the family.
I told his son, Russell, that I genuinely thought he would recover from this injury as he had so many times before. Rufus was always anxious to have me interview him and so he could tell how he would fool the doctors so he could get back to work. When I heard that he did not recover from the fall, it hit me hard, as it did so many he knew.
We collectively say, “Thank you, Rufus,”
for your friendship and the work you did for people and for God. Continued prayers for his precious family are appreciated as they navigate life without him.
Jim Castleberry, businessman, neighbor, and former mayor of Byhalia, also passed away. I completely missed this news and was not able to attend his services. Sympathy is extended to his family.
Nearing completion of my grandparent’s home restoration gives me hope that one project may soon be off my list. I have been overseeing each stage of the work- replacing some floors, painting, removing trash, cleaning, repairing the well, repairing walls and floors, replacing items taken from the house, doing yard work, and installing a new roof. It has been an expensive journey and learning experience along the way. I can only hope my grandparents are watching with approval.
The house seemed so much bigger when I was a child. It is a small house that my grandfather, uncle, and dad’s hardworking hands built. An addition was added in later years when my aunt and uncle came to live with my grandmother. I don’t know how we all fit in during our Sunday dinners and special occasions, but everyone came. We ate in shifts to fit in the dining area. Men sat at the table to eat first, and children were given plates of food, and they would find some place to eat. The ladies then cleaned up a bit and sat down to eat. So much delicious food came from that tiny kitchen.
Please share your news with me at jchwagg@gmail.com or text or call 901246-8843. You can message me on Facebook as Clair Wagg.