By Lois Harper

Most everybody has known special people in the past that are still remembered that we knew doing something special influencing us. My earliest memory is of a kind lady when I was about five years old who gave me baked sweet potatoes that were so soft and better than candy while passing her house. This was one time we had neighbors close by. She was Mrs. Stephens using that old iron stove to bake ‘em.
My next recollection is of Deke serving in the war becoming deaf from gas and was taken care of by our landlord at the time, the Garrisons. Deke had a great talent of drawing things in the smoothed dirt with a stick, but never could use paper and pencil for some reason. Mrs. Garrison would write a note and point to our house and Deke brought it to us; once to borrow some flat irons. Mama had sent me to draw a bucket of water that had a snake in it. Deke saved me from getting hit by the bucket, turning it loose screaming. He got the snake and killed it. You can guess how reluctant I was to draw any more water but when Mama said draw it, I scatted, fortunately no more snakes.
My next unforgettable persons were my sixth grade teacher, India Wyatt and Ike Tom Wyatt. He was laughing all the time, always ready to tell a joke. Miss Indy went home for lunch nearby and he watched us for her admonishing the boys not to wrestle while she was gone. When she got out of sight Mr. Ike said go to it, I’ll watch and you stop when I tell you. She was always amazed why the boys were dirtier, asking him if they had been wrestling. He said no innocently as a lamb. Women wear jeans now but back at that time girls wore dresses. They got jeans (called slacks) early start at the store . Mr. Tom was in the store as Mama was interested in getting me a pair. Grannie was angry saying she doesn’t need them girls wear dresses. I’ll whip you if you buy ‘em.
Ike Tom started egging Mama on to buy them making Granny angrier. It was like a circus act, Mama bought a pair for me and when we left the store he was practically rolling on the floor laughing at Grannie’s antics.
We moved away soon after that and I never saw them alive again. Miss Indy was a good teacher but strict, and I can hear his laughter now.
Neighborhood Notes
Rutledge lost a sweet gentle person last weekend when Mitzi Eagle passed away. She had been sick a long time and was waiting on a liver donor for a transplant. Sadly she never received it until too weak. Condolences go out to her family.
Richard and Linda Turk’s grandchildren, Nathan and Matthew Latty and Johnny Turk spent last week with them attending Bible school. Later in the week Alan and Cindy Latty came down from the mountains.
We’re happy that Lee and Glenda Nelms have recovered from being ill last week.
Faye Payne’s daughter Cindy has returned to California after spending two weeks here.
One father who’s especially happy on Father’s day to be home from Iraq was Malcom Gillis who resides in Rutledge. Welcome home.
Congratulations to the staff of the Morgan County Citizen newspaper for being best newspaper.
I received information that Kaye Evans is in a nursing facility now. I don’t know where yet.
We pray that Mary Bruce’s son does well possibly returning home from the hospital this week.
Little Jimmy and Summer Preston stayed part of the weekend with their grandparents, Dean and Betty Edwards. They returned home to Madison where they are now, moving recently.
Baptist Church News
We had a wonderful Father’s Day service with almost a packed church. Hymns selected emphasized that God gives us Christian homes where training starts with the fathers as examples. Jennifer Peterson sang, “Daddy’s Hands,” for her dad and the other dads in the congregation. A lot of children came to church to be with their fathers, honoring them.
I did not get any names, not wanting to leave anyone’s name out.
Wayne’s sermon was powerful, instructing the fathers the importance of influence with children from birth upward in connection.
This is carried out by spending time with the children in any way they could, especially in church; second emphasis was using the Bible as a guide to train in knowledge of God and Jesus; third, put the family first in all ways, loving them so that they don’t forget their upbringing when leaving the nest for any reason. Children will copy what they see, and if alcohol is there the father is not leading them in the right way. Final point, what will it be when facing Christ, a father has an awesome responsibility to the family.
We had a wonderful welcome for the 13 that came, some for baptism, some moving letters, children saved in Bible school, their names will be in the church notes next week.
We had a great success at Bible school last week with 105 enrolled, averaging 72 each night. Four hundred three dollars collection was donated to help stock the food pantry.
A senior trip has been planned for Saturday, June 21 to go to Bonner’s Restaurant. The church van will leave the church at 6:30 p.m. There will be a gospel singing after eating. Let me know if you wish to go 706-557-2877.
Closing with this thought, a father loves his children just as they are giving the best of his self, help in trouble, counsel, rejoice in their success, forgiving mistakes, recognizing that strength comes from Heaven’s grace to do so.