City Personals

Joseph Wheeler planned a perfect farewell for a phenomenal human, his Daddy and my Uncle Charles Sunday, April 21, in Newnan, Ga. Laura Wheeler, Grady Brooks and I spent the weekend in Newnan with my Daddy, Hank Wheeler, for the event. The crowd who showed up to celebrate his life was absolutely incredible. His old boss, Frank, was there, as well as many of his friends. Speaking to everyone there, he touched so many with his kind spirit and soul. He never met a stranger and never had any unkind words to say about anyone. Ever. He loved the broken, the off center, the weird, the black sheep – he loved us all fiercely, whole heartedly and unapologetically. He didn’t care who was fussing with who – family was his everything. Katie and Taylor Collins opened up their beautiful home to everyone and we all shared stories about Uncle Charles, Meagan Moore included. It was great seeing everyone and meeting the best, most delightful person named Angie. She was so welcoming and sweet to us. We caught up with Wendy (Wheeler) and Joseph at Daddy’s house late yesterday afternoon. I have to say, it was time well spent celebrating a man who simply put was “loved by all who were lucky enough to know him.” Even though Uncle Charles was painfully private, I believe he would have approved had he known all of the magical stories that were shared all because he lived.

Some of my readers will remember Uncle Charles from his younger days. He had visited Holly Springs a few times with my Grandmama and then later in life, with his own family. He was one of a kind. If he knew you, he loved you and that is no joke. In all my years, I only ever heard him raise his voice once. Just a quiet man with a heart the size of Texas. Having gone from talking to him literally all the time to silence has been a hard pill to swallow. I am sad he is gone but so incredibly grateful for all of the years I had loving him. His memory will live on in every one of us.

Love like Uncle Charles did, do the thing you have been putting off (well unless it is felonious in nature), take the trip, love your babies and grandbabies fiercely, protect them at all costs. Time is an absolute thief and had I known the last time I spoke to Uncle Charles was going to be my last, I would have kept him on the phone for hours.

Walker Entzel, son of Rachel (Hurdle) and Kyle Entzel, got busy last week in the kitchen of his school, Northlake Christian School in Covington, La. He had a grand time creating masterpiece.

Newlyweds Juston and Ragon Mask recently returned from their honeymoon down under. The duo spent an incredible nine days hiking around Sydney, Australia. They enjoyed a dinner cruise, the pristine beaches along the coastline and even had breakfast with koalas.