Overheard, out and about, Mrs. Grundy sees all, tells all

By Mrs. C.R. Grundy (Contact) | Andalusia Star-News

Published Friday, November 27, 2009

Peeping through my Venetian blind, I viewed a typical November day – grey, damp, cool, and a horizon of lace-like, bare-branched trees with clusters of mistletoe, visible for the first time since last spring.

Seeing the mistletoe made me hum, “Christmas is coming; geese are getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do. If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you!”

(A “ha-penny” is a half penny.)

Our town’s electric snowflakes look good, all lighted up on the lampposts each night along East Three-Notch, South Three-Notch, and Church streets. The Golden Square looks festive with banners, lights, and the big tree. My, aren’t we blessed to have such decorations!

Dr. Fred Karthaus of First Baptist took some vacation time Thanksgiving week to take his family and mother to Disney World. In his absence Judson Blackstock, associate pastor, and Michael Rodriquez, minister to students, preached the morning and evening services, respectively.

In morning worship One Accord, the finest ladies’ ensemble in town, sang “Wait” to taped music. Those singing were Betty Gay, Beverly Farrington, Kay Ingram, Linda Finlan, Teresa Nelson, Frances Rabren, and Janet Brantley. Sharon Davis, who usually sings with the group, was unable to participate this time.

In the assembly of the distinguished Baraca Class that morning Dr. J. Wayne and Lenora Johnson sang a duet of the two most traditional Thanksgiving hymns, “We Gather Together” and “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.” They were accompanied at the Ann Martin Memorial Piano by Martha (James) Givhan.

In “big church,” as the children call morning worship in the sanctuary, the organ-piano offertory was a duet of Handel’s “Thanks Be to Thee” by Jeanice (Paul) Kirkland and Jason Tucker.

By the way, the tenors in the Adult Choir that morning were l00 percent in attendance; the basses – ahem – were not.

That night John Beasley and Martha Givhan played a piano duet of “Let All Things Now Living,” another traditional Thanksgiving piece.

The Oleander Club’s annual Tasting Fair, set last Sunday in the Adult Activity Center, was a smashing success with 250 – 300 attending. The members, dressed in their colors of red and white, were assisted by their younger, female relatives, called the O2 (for the second generation of Oleander members).

Guests found tables of meats, vegetables, salads, desserts, punches, breads, and you-name-it to sample. My, it was good!

One of the hostesses, Thelma Thomas, said the fundraiser drew the largest crowd yet and described it as a “community fellowship.” It was like a family reunion and church homecoming combined. I saw people I hadn’t seen in years. The festive fair set the mood for the upcoming holidays.

Profits are used by the club for scholarships, yearbook ads, memorial bricks, the proposed arts center, and church activities. The O2 donates school supplies in their neighborhoods.

It was especially good to see Emma Locke at the punch bowl again, looking bright and sunny.

Oleander officers are Addie Simpson, president; Thelma Thomas, vice-president; Mavene Nichols, secretary; Golar Church and Lela Horry, treasurers, and Emma Locke, chaplain and chairman of the Tasting Fair.

I ran into Belle Henley this week. My, it was good to give her a bear hug and renew our friendship.

There was a pretty visitor in “the Dimple of Dixie” this week – precious, little, red-haired Kate Korkowski, just 4-years-old, the daughter of Jeff and Traci (Andrews) Korkowski, here from Woodlands, Texas, to visit her maternal grandparents, Jerry and Linda (Messick) Andrews, for Thanksgiving. Joining Kate for Thanksgiving were her parents and siblings, Andrew (10), and Leah (8). Kate’s cousins, Caroline (11) and Lillian (10), gave thanks, too. They live year-round in the capital of Covington County, the daughters of Michael and Wendy Andrews, Kate’s uncle and aunt.

Some of my best visits are made in the grocery store. For example, this week I ran into Becky Rodgers of Red Level and had fun, catching up.

Dining at Tabby D.’s Friday night, I was pleased to talk with a former student, Joshua Gunter, who is now training pilots for the Blackhawk helicopter at Ft. Rucker in Enterprise. Joshua is as well mannered as they come, a Southern gentleman.

I enjoyed a telephone visit with Mary Nell (Robbins) Johnson of Opp this week.

The Young at Heart, the senior-adult group at West Highland Assembly of God, enjoyed its monthly fellowship November 19 with a supper buffet and program. Betty Mitchell, president of the members, presided. Following songs in the sanctuary, those young at heart re-assembled in the attractive fellowship hall for an excellent, covered-dish supper. Then came a lively sermon by Bob Couch, the retired minister who moved here four years ago with his wife Carol (an accompanist) from the Orlando area. Brother Couch is father to our newspaper’s columnist Jan White and father-in-law to Greg White.

Dewayne Scroggins, owner of Tabby D.’s, recommends to the public an inspirational DVD called The Heart of Texas.

Chad Buck, son of Gary and Sherry Buck, has been accepted into medical school. He is currently earning his master’s at Auburn University in Montgomery, after having completed his studies at Huntingdon, Montgomery. Chad will make Andalusia proud.

Having lunch at Tabby D.’s, I had a nice visit with Abbie Taylor and her daughter, Abbie Miller, here to help with the family Thanksgiving. Mrs. Miller, married to the Birmingham attorney, Tony Miller, brought with her her eldest, Josh Miller. Abbie Miller doesn’t look a day older than she did in high school. Her outward beauty comes from her inward beauty, which comes, I believe, from her faith in Jesus Christ. Also at table were Abbie Miller’s brother, John Taylor, and a friend of the family.

Seen, too, at Tabby D.’s was the dynamic Mary Wilson, one of Andalusia’s retired teachers, treating her daughter Caryl Lee Jackson and Caryl Lee’s four handsome sons, Will, Ben, Jake, and Gray, to lunch. The boys were out of school all week because of Thanksgiving. None complained!

I’m not through. I also saw Jack and Marie Lawrence, Mr. and Mrs. James Jones, Andy Riley (Mickey was Christmas shopping in Opp), Maggie Shelley, Judy Holmes, Johnnie Davis and his son Derrick and the gregarious Judge Trippy McGuire.

Allison (Moore) Stroud, Meredith (Moore) Jordan, Amy (Pitts) Dugger, Martha (James) Givhan and Carol (Henry) Moore flew to Miami in October to attend the wedding of Whitney Parham to John Oleson. The girls could not resist a side trip to South Beach, too.

Janet Brantley, Betty Gay and Jennifer Dansby, all members of the Adult Choir of First Baptist, are also members of a state Baptist choir for some 60 ladies, all drawn from Baptist churches in Alabama and called the Alabama Singing Women. They recently toured with the A.S.W., singing in First Baptist, Guntersville, Mt. Calvary in Albertville, and for the Alabama State Convention in Huntsville. Also singing at the annual convention were the Alabama Singing Men, which includes as a member, Dwight Crigger, minister of music at First Baptist, Andalusia. The ladies are directed by Gayle Smith of Opelika; the men are directed by Gayle’s husband, Tom. Another A.S.W. member from our area is Pat Bonner of Atmore.

My cousin, Jo Driggers of Lexington, S.Ca., spent a week with us just before Thanksgiving, the houseguest of Betty Mitchell, “the Travel Queen,” with whom Jo has traveled on several of Betty’s bus tours.

Jo arrived Thurs., Nov. l9, and attended the Young at Heart fellowship at West Highland Assembly of God (described above) with her hostess and with her cousin, Joe Wingard.

Friday Jo rode to Dothan with “Miss Betty” and Thelma Glisson for a doctor’s appointment. That night she was the guest of her Cousin Joe at Tabby D.’s for the seafood buffet. The cousins were joined by a friend, Robert Lee Holley.

Saturday Jo attended the annual bash, sponsored by “Miss Betty,” for all who travel with her. Some l50 showed up for a covered-dish lunch at the Shaw Recreational Center, music and door prizes.

“Miss Betty” presided, sparkling with her new diamond earrings, a new diamond ring and a new diamond bracelet, all gifts from her grateful “Buskoteers.” (She hinted for a necklace.) “Miss Betty” knows everyone’s name and history and makes everyone feel at home. She is a remarkable lady.

The Double Nickel Band entertained as attendees lined up for a plethora of good, country cooking. The men continued throughout the meal, sometimes singing, and always playing their instruments. I’m told they’re called the Double Nickel Band because each member is at least 55. The talented “oldies” include Thagard Colvin, Max Davis, the brothers, James and Billy Barnes, Jerry Allen and Calvin Bodiford. They were good!

There were so many present that some of the younger men had to drive over to West Highland for more tables and chairs.

The tables were laid with Thanksgiving centerpieces and matching napkins and cloths.

James Allen worded a devotional and blessing. He mentioned three who once traveled with “Miss Betty” but are now deceased, Cozette Helms, Gene Baisden and Ella Harrelson.

At the end of the two-hour program, tickets were drawn to award door prizes.

Cousins Jo and Joe then motored to the Andalusia Manor to visit Myrtle Ruth (Everage) Welch, 98, whom Jo had never met but had read about in Mrs. Grundy. Mrs. Welch is the oldest living graduate of the Andalusia High School, as far as I know.

While in the manor the cousins also visited Luther Taylor, who was being visited by his only sibling, Bob Taylor of Birmingham. Bob, who calls his older brother, “Bud,” drove down for several days just to spend some time with Luther. Bob shared some brownies with the little group, a sweet treat sent from Birmingham by Bob’s friend, Mary Louise Hodges, who is a cousin to Jo, Joe, and Wayne and Lenora Johnson.

The cousins enjoyed a light supper at the Dairy Queen, Andalusia’s oldest eatery.

Sunday Jo sat in the Sunday-School assembly of the Baraca Class at First Baptist to hear her cousins, Wayne and Lenora Johnson, sing a duet. In church Jo sat with her friend, Bea Miller, with whom Jo has roomed on Betty’s Tours, and got to see her cousins, Joe and Wayne, singing in the choir. The four cousins ate together at the Tasting Fair, described above. Then they enjoyed some coffee at Johnson Hall, the home of Wayne and Lenora. (Wouldn’t their ancestor, John Adam Wingard, have been pleased?)

Later that afternoon Jo toured the town’s museum, guided by Harmon Proctor, had a snack at the Sonic, and dropped in on her cousins, Ken and Mary Ann (Rabren) Johnson, who were working away at their soon-to-be-opened, gift shop on the Golden Square, Mary Ann’s.

Jo and Joe sat with Cousin Wayne in church that night and heard a wonderful sermon by Michael Rodriquez. (Lenora was at home, babysitting little Campbell Johnson.)

The cousins then enjoyed an after-church supper at Larry’s, having a good conversation with June (Grimes) Simpson and her son, Jonathan Douglas.

Jo spent Monday with “Miss Betty” at her and Zolly’s river home; then, headed back to South Carolina Tuesday morning. She said that she has never seen so many nice people as there are in Andalusia.

Gentle readers, this being Saturday, I want to encourage each of us to be in his place of worship this weekend. Fare thee well.