Community mourns Sharon Maddox’s passing

The Fairview community, as well as the school community family at Morgan County Middle School, was saddened this past week when Sharon Maddox passed away after a hard and long fight with cancer.  Sharon fought many a battle with it and won, only after a time to have it or complications from the treatment of it to return time and again.  No one ever fought a harder battle or had a better attitude than she did.  She was a wonderful mother to her three children, Jace, Davis, and Alaina, and a wonderful and loving wife to John, who will miss her terribly.   When Davis and Sallie married and Emmie was born to them, Sharon absolutely loved being a grandmother to her; she became Gigi to Emmie.  On  Sharon's worst days, Emmie could always bring a smile to her face.  Sharon was an exceptional schoolteacher where she specialized in teaching reading skills to her students.  She loved helping students and helping them realize their true potential.  She was admired by all her peers and enjoyed a close friendship with her  fellow teachers.
A very moving and inspirational memorial service was held at Madison Baptist Church on Friday afternoon where the church was filled with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  The service was indeed a great tribute to a woman who loved life, loved her family, and loved teaching and working.  This is again one of those times in life when you can't help but wonder why, oh why.  David Shytle and Marilyn Elliot sang a beautiful song at her service that touched everyone: "I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger, while traveling through this world of woe.  Yet there's no sickness, trial, nor danger, to that world to which I go.  I'm going there to see my Father. I'm going there no more to roam.  I'm only going over Jordan, I'm only going over home."
The family has all of       our sincerest sympathy, thoughts and our prayers at this sad time in their lives.  Her family will miss her greatly as well as the community and  her school.
We also send our sympathy to Gail and Lee Eaton and their family here on Baldwin Dairy Road as Gail's Uncle, Willie Branch, passed away on Sunday.  Willie and his wife, Peggy Branch had moved in with the Eaton's a month or so ago so that Gail could help look after them, since their health was failing, and were making their home with them.  Peggy will continue to live there.  Graveside services were held this Tuesday at New Hope Baptist Church in Greshamville.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them at this time.
Charles Lancaster, a former member of the Fairview community, also passed away on Friday at his home in Hendersonville, North Carolina.  Charles was a brother to Patricia Stinchcomb of Madison and Troy Lancaster of Hendersonville, N.C.  We extend our sympathy and prayers to that family also.  
There are many in our community who need our get-well wishes and our prayers at this time.  Cole Rolader, who lives off of Baldwin Dairy Road, suffered severe burns on his body on Saturday night after an accident at a campfire.  He was taken to the Augusta Burn Unit where he is receiving treatment. Sandy Sanford, who had bought the Dr. Bob Bennett farm on Bethany Road suffered several injuries after his small plane crashed at the Madison Airport Wednesday last week.  We offer up prayers and healing thoughts for him at this time as he slowly recuperates.
I am glad to report that Trinity Baptist Church on the Eatonton Highway now has a new pastor to minister to the congregation there.  Rev. Darrell Van Horn and his wife, Sue, of Loganville have accepted the church's call and have already begun the ministry at the church.  They invite anyone and everyone in the community to come and worship with them at all of the church services.  We all welcome the Van Horns to the Fairview community and to Madison.
Kristy and Kenneth Davis of Conyers are on a wonderful pleasure trip abroad where they will be visiting Kristy's Aunt Effie Powell and her family in Italy as well as touring around the countryside to see many sights as well as also planning on  going to France and Germany.  Effie, Doug and Rose are excited to see them as well as being able to show them around.  I know they are excellent tour guides!
Keith Brewer has returned from an enjoyable cruise to Mexico with friends this past week.
We all want to wish David Bruce Godspeed and God's blessings on him as he left this past Sunday to begin his basic training at Parris Island, S.C. with the United States Marine Corp.
Grayson Philippi celebrated his first birthday this past Sunday with a birthday party with family and friends at Heritage Park here in Madison.  He had a good time with his birthday cake and opening his presents!  His daddy, Jason, also was celebrating his birthday this past weekend, too.  Chuck Philippi's parents, Myron and Dottie Philippi of Florida, were also up for the weekend to join in the celebrations.  Happy Birthday to Grayson and Jason!
Jake and Blanche Wilson along with Bruce and I attended Grandparents Day at Gatewood Schools this past Friday as guest of Raegan Wilkins.  The students put on a wonderful musical program, we went to Raegan's room to meet the teachers and had lovely refreshments out under the trees.
Raegan also enjoyed a family outing and picnic with her gymnastics group on Saturday at Washington Farms where they went through a big corn maze, enjoyed a hayride, went to the pumpkin patch and many other outdoor activities.
Bruce and I also spent Saturday in the mountains where we went to Young Harris and watched the Hughes family make their wonderful sorghum syrup.  Bruce got to talk with Olin Hughes who has been making sorghum for 54 years.  Bruce and everyone else who tastes it says theirs is the best they have ever had.  The leaves are just beginning to turn up in there; they will probably be at their peak in two or three weeks is my humble estimation.
Dan and Sally Porter also spent this last weekend in the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains as they went up to be with Mary Ainslie, Ron and Mary Jo Prescott and Beth Watkins in Waynesville, N.C.  They enjoyed some wonderful family time and enjoyed listening to some good music.  Dan and Sally also went to their son, Jim's, in Tennessee where they saw the grandchildren participate in soccer tournaments and to help Michaelah celebrate her 13th birthday on Sunday.  On their way up they stopped and had lunch with Jerry Wilkes, a former resident of Morgan County, in Franklin, N.C.  Jerry has a sawmill and saws out log homes to sell up in that area.
Sally and Tony Stephens attended a 19th birthday celebration for Jared Needham, their grandson, on Sunday afternoon up near Rutledge.  Happy Birthday, Jared!
Raymond and Joan Gilbert spent the latter part of last week and weekend with their son and his family, the Don Gilberts, in Baxley where they were helping Don get up the last cutting of his hay from the farm.  On Saturday night they attended the wedding of Doris Clark's grandson's wedding which was also down in that area.  He is the son of Kathy and Randy Daniel of Eatonton.  Congratulations to this new wedded couple!
We also want to congratulate Diane Davies of Buckhead who was recently inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame in Chevy Chase, Maryland.  Diane is now retired but is busy making beautiful pottery at her studio on Apalachee River Road.  She founded the Environmental Education Program at Rock Eagle in 1979 and now it has expanded to all the 4-H Centers in Georgia. Several years ago she was also named a Kellogg National Fellow, a three-year program in which she traveled the world studying various issues and learning many new things, among which was pottery.  This is a prestigious honor and we certainly offer up our congratulations.  Well done, Diane!
The Godfrey Community Park has set Saturday, Nov. 10 as their annual barbecue.  This year it will be a whole hog barbecue as opposed to just cooking Boston Butts.  Plates will be served from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. with adult plates being $9 and children's plates for those  under 10-years-old  will be priced at $5. You may call Esther Curry at 706-474-5963 for more information or to order tickets.
Madison Baptist Church has lots and lots of pumpkins for sale in the pecan grove behind the church.  There are all sizes and kinds.  They are open from 12-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday.  If you need a pumpkin, that is the place to go!
   The Fairview Club cancelled their meeting set for this Wednesday, the 17th, due to a great number of conflicts among the members.

Printed in the October 18, 2012 edition