Columnist: “Goodbye to Tarbaby,” daughter’s dog

I'm thinking that March came in somewhat of a lion; it sure wasn't a meek little lamb.  It is cold, cold on this Sunday night and the wind cuts through you like a knife, but Easter comes early this year, so hopefully spring is just around the corner!  Daylight savings time comes early, too--we spring the clocks up an hour on this coming Saturday night, the 9th.
My daughter, Jennifer Bonner, had a terrible loss this week when her beloved pet dog, Tarbaby, who she had had for 11 years died this past Monday.  He hadn't shown any signs of anything wrong, but he was getting old.  Last Monday when she got up, she noticed that Tarbaby could hardly stand up, much less walk.  After talking him to the vet, they thought that maybe he had a twisted stomach since he was evidently in a lot of pain.  He had to do exploratory surgery and it was then they found out that he had a mass which was cancerous and attached to several vital organs.  The only thing to do was to put him to sleep.  Tarbaby was a very special dog who loved that girl like you wouldn't believe and she loved him.  A lady who she worked with at the time had picked up several strays who someone had put out up at Moreland Ave. in Atlanta.  He was just a baby.  Jennifer adopted him when she was 21 and he had been the absolute love of her life for 11 years.  He was as black as the ace of spades, thus the name Tarbaby, but he was also known as Tarsy and Misters.  He was waiting for her everyday when she got home from work and she took him to ride around the country block every night.  Bruce made him a little coffin out of heart pine that J.D. had and they buried him by a rosebush that came from her great-grandmother.  He is still right by the drive waiting on Jennifer everyday now when she gets home.  She also wrote a good-bye letter to him to put in with him.  Goodbyes are very, very hard.  Then to make matters worse, their other pet, Big Bertha, who was old also, just up and died on Saturday after taking her to the vet.  Jennifer said they knew Bertha had some health issues but she thinks she was heartbroken over Tarbaby and she just grieved herself to death.  J.D. built a box for her and they buried her on Sunday.  THEN.....on Sunday Dustin's dog, Homer, was hit by a car on the interstate close to their house and right now they are not sure if he will make it or not.  As I am writing this on Monday morning, the vet has had to put Homer to sleep; his injuries were too much.  They have all had a hard, hard week.
We need to continue to remember Hazel Jordan on the Bethany Road as she is a resident of Nursecare here in Madison for a while to regain her strength and Ernestine Jackson on the Pierce Dairy Road as she is a resident of the transitional care unit at Morgan Memorial where she receives therapy and recuperates.  We also need to remember Carol Branon Hilsman as she continues to be a patient at St. Mary's in Athens.  Harriette Wade is also feeling under the weather on this Monday.   All of these ladies need our continued prayers.
Fay Walters had a fall recently also, and we send her our get-well thoughts and prayers.  Fay has been hosting the Ladies Bible Study for several years at her home on Academy Street for many of the Bethany ladies and others.  They are suspending the Bible study for the time being, giving Fay time to recuperate.
We also want to send out get-well wishes to Connie Wilson as she had a partial knee replacement this past Thursday in Athens.  She is now at home recuperating.  Her daughter, Karen Thigpen of Statesboro, was up to be with her mother.  Marc, Laurie, Peyton, and Ella Grace Fortson are spending the week with Marty and Connie to help out while she is on the mend.  We all hope she has a swift recovery.
Frances Brewer, the original Mrs. Tri-Bee, has enjoyed several visitors this past week down at The Lake Oconee House.  Her Barrows Grove neighbors, Mary Ellen Shannon and Nancy Mitchell, Millie Henson and Harriette Carpenter, Gerald Cathey, and the Rev. Darrell Van Horn and his wife, Susan all visited this past week.  She had a call from Crew and Hilda Brewer, who due to sickness, have not been able to come down for several weeks.
The Van Horns also paid a visit to Nell Porter up at The Madison House this past week, also.
Rev. Van Horn, who is the pastor at Trinity Baptist Church on the Eatonton Hwy. also brought the chapel message at Source of Light Ministries on Tuesday morning.
All of the Source of Light Ministry workers and their families all had a welcoming dinner for Ron Barnes this past Monday night at the mission headquarters here.  Mr. Barnes has taken over as the general director for the mission.
Esther and Tim Curry attended the wedding of Faye and Jim Sisson's grandson, Justin Sisson to Miss Lacy Patterson, in Blue Ridge on Saturday.  Esther said it was a very sweet ceremony and the guests were treated to a bar-b-cue afterwards.  Faye Sisson is the former Faye Bruce here in the Fairview community.
Rebecca, Jason, and Grayson Kilpatrick spent the weekend in Hendersonville, NC visiting Jason's mom, Necia Silvers.
Morgan County had an excellent showing at the District Project Achievement competitions at Rock Eagle this past weekend.  Jay Moon, son of Jim and Sylvia Moon of Swords won first place in the Dairy and Milk Science category; Constance Johnson, daughter of Cuyler and Christy Johnson of Godfrey took first place in the Jr. Division in Dairy and Milk Science; Will Porter won second place in History, and Ben Porter took second place in Sheep, with both of them losing to first with a very small margin in-between.  Because there were more than 10 young people competing in the history category, Will will advance to the State Congress in July to compete for Master 4-H’er status.  Congratulations to all these young people for their hard work.  Morgan County has four young people who will be attending State Congress this summer--Jay Moon, Will Porter, Claire Woodard, and Cain Bentley.  Will wrapped up his term as Vice-President for the Northeast District and he is already making plans to fun for the State board in June.  Will also won a Community Service Award for organizing the tour of Sandtown Place, the home of his grandparents, as a benefit for Bitsy Robbins, a lady in the Mansfield community, who was very sick and in need of help for her family.  He also had out his project and display boards telling the story of Sandtown Place and was on hand to answer any questions tour-goers had during this time.  Will is also a member of the EYE (Engaging Youth Enterprise) Board and they won a community award also.  Morgan County also received the award for having the most winners in a county.  Congratulations to all these young people and the parents and volunteers who help and assist these children.  4-H is alive and well in Morgan County!
    Gracin Wilkins participated and competed in Access Broadway in Atlanta this past weekend at The Hyatt Regency.  She performed in singing, acting and dancing competitions and she did really well, winning platinum in several events.  Her parents, Luke, Emily, and Thrasher Wilkins, Teresa Thrasher, Harriette Young, and Mark, Carrie, and Raegan Wilkins were all on hand for the event.  Congratulations, Gracin!
   Jack Leo, grandson of Tommy and Raynor Cathey competed in a GISA Atlanta Area Spelling Bee with 25 other fourth graders.  Jack placed third out of the 25.  What a great accomplishment!  Reading well and being able to spell will take you a long way in life!!  Congratulations, Jack!
    Ladies, remember the Ladies Mission Extravaganza that will be held on Monday, March 11 at Madison Baptist Church.  It will be held from 7 - 9 p.m. at the church. The special speaker will be Judy Shafer, missionary to Southeast Asia.  For more information contact: Esther Curry at estherbcurry@gmail.com or at 706-474-5963.
    Also remember the upcoming Buckhead Days to be held on Saturday, April 6.  For more info you may contact Cheryl Cathey or Robin Bone at 706-342-3339 for information on the 5k run, events, vendors, etc.

Printed in the March 7, 2013 edition