Special to the Advocate

Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Gafford of Smiths Station are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Kene’ Laura Gafford of Birmingham, to Houston Manning of Auburn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Manning, also of Auburn.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen B. Gafford of Birmingham and Mr. and Mrs. Stringer Pritchett of the Spring Creek Community in Butler County. She attended Auburn University and the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and is slated to graduate from UAB on May 6, 2006. Miss Gafford was selected as the University of Alabama in Birmingham’s Most Outstanding Elementary Education Student for 2006.

She is an active member of the Holiness Church.

The prospective bridegroom is the grandson of the late Rev. and Mrs. W.N. Manning Sr. of Tallassee and the late Rev. and Mrs. J.D. Allen of Opelika. He graduated from Auburn University and is the program director for the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Auburn. Mr. Manning is an active member of the Holiness Church.

Following a summer wedding, a honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas is planned. The couple will reside in Auburn.