Thursday, December 2, 2010Correspondents

The Brownsville States-Graphic

pageB3By Vicki Williams

Hillville - Eurekaton News

By Vicki Williams

Hillville - Eurekaton NewsHopefully everyone

had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

My family and I enjoyed a wonderful meal at my mother-in-law’s, Martha Williams, home Thursday, and then with my mother, Olivia Watson on Sunday evening.

The joint Thanksgiving/Cancer Survivor Service held at Harmony Baptist Church Wednesday, Nov. 24, with Good Hope M.B. Church and Mt. Pleasant UMC was truly awesome. Rev. Robert Whitley of Good Hope delivered a wonderful uplifting message to those in attendance. Ten cancer survivors were recognized during this special service. Those recognized were James Hardister, Shirley Morgan, Geneva Littlejohn, Hope Cannon, Vicky Garrett, Fannie Johnson, Marcia Watson, Karen Mills and Patricia Qualls. I am sorry but there was one lady who was recognized that I failed to get her name. Please give me a call if you read this and know who this lady is. This is the third year the community has recognized the cancer survivors and this service seems to grow each year. Next year, this service will

be held at Good Hope M.B. Church so go ahead and mark your calendars.

Thanksgiving Day, my mother, Olivia Watson and I went to Jackson and did a little Christmas shopping. While shopping, we ran into Sue Goodman, Joyce Goodman, Tracy Goodman, Jordan Goodman, Ryan Watson, Haley Campbell and also saw Justin and Kim Hill and Scott Campbell who were also doing a little shopping Turkey Day.

Well, it was a first for me and hopefully the last. I literally spent the night at Wal-Mart Thursday night trying to get some of the great deals. Fortunately I did not see any people fighting over items like I heard happened at the Bolivar and Jackson Wal-Mart.

Happy Birthday to Eli Cannon, Hunter Hayes, Mary Jane Cox, Matthew Edmonds, Tommy Holmes and Scott Stoots.

Those to be lifted in prayer this week are Lillie Goodman, Sandra Goodman, Herbert Hayes, Kathy Watson Doering, Barbara and Boyce Wilson, Carol Wilson, Leah Scallions, Prentice Elrod, Bobby Hayes, Peggy

Lewis, Luther and Edna Austin, Enid Powell, Kate Jordan, Darlene Rossen, Fletcher Lewis, Dorothy Bruce, Earline Benard, Shirley Morgan, Kirk Boullion, Carol and Jordan Bruce, Frances Elrod, the military, the nation and the community.

Please keep the family of Mrs. Margaret Dyer in your prayers. I worked for the Dyers a few years ago and Mrs. Margaret was such a sweet lady and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.

Sympathy is extended to the families of Mr. Godfrey Miller, Mr. Jared Allen, Willie Vaughn and Rev. Richard Rouse in the loss of their loved ones.

In closing this week with the upcoming holidays, our Thought for the Week as published in the Upper Room devotional by F. Richard Garland of Rhode Island is “Christmas is good news — from beginning to end! Christmas is the story of the Christ child-the mystery of our eternal purpose.

If you have news to share, please call me at 772-1885 after 5 p.m.

Until next week Merry Christmas and God bless.

Bethel - Belle Eagle News

By Betty ScottBy Betty Scott

Bethel - Belle Eagle News

The long Thanksgiving weekend was spent by some of us staying home watching football games or shopping, visiting family out of town, or visiting family in town.

Bob and Carolyn Kendrick celebrated the day with their family in their home on Thanksgiving Day. Kenneth and Bettye Sargent and Jim and Rhonda Parks traveled to Atlanta to celebrate the holiday with Jason Ellington and family. Jason also celebrated turning 40 last week, so the family celebrated the holiday and a birthday party over the week. Doyle and Linda Ellington, Jason’s parents,

also attended. Lucille Matlock had a house full of children and grandchildren last Thursday. Afterward, Lucille went home with her daughter, Linda, for a few days.

Ricky and Betty Scott enjoyed Thanksgiving with Greg and Wanda Harwell and their family. Molly Parker Cole of Jackson was hostess for the Thanksgiving gathering of the Harmon family.

Peggy Herron hosted her sons, Gaylon and Ronnie, and their families Thanksgiving weekend in Gatlinburg.

Mary Alice Scott Scallions had surgery at Germantown Methodist

Hospital in Germantown on Monday to repair a hole behind her heart. Mary has suffered two strokes and will be in rehab. I have a special friend, Sandi Bishop that is not feeling well, as well as Martha Crutcher and Tammy Bishop, who has serious medical problems. We need special prayers for these four ladies and wish them all a speedy recovery. We never know what tomorrow may bring into our life.

Thought for the week: Make someone’s day a bit more pleasant by making a phone call, writing a note, or running an errand and not expecting anything in return.

By Debbie Sterbinsky

Stanton NewsBy Debbie Sterbinsky

Stanton NewsOur hearts are heavy

this week as we bury one of our beloved citizens. Rev. Rick Rouse was laid to rest this week. Rev. Rouse was well known in our community, having pastored the Douglass Chapel CME Church for several years and served on the Haywood County Planning Commission. He was a resident of the Douglass area and had a vision on how Stanton was going to grow. He and Vice-Mayor Emma Jean Delk had envisioned Stanton someday with an Applebee’s. We hope his dreams come true!

Christmas is three weeks from this Saturday and there is a line-up of activities going on until then. The Stanton Christmas Fest is at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11. We always have the Stanton Christmas activity or parade the second Saturday in December so as not to interfere with the Brownsville parade which is always the first Saturday in December. If you would like to be a part of the Christmas Fest in Stanton, please contact Linda Jones at 731-548-6182 or contact

us at the Stanton Welcome Center/Library at 731-548-2564. Booths may be set up all day, but activities will officially begin at 2 p.m. in downtown Stanton. Santa will visit us again this year too!

We have discovered a new activity near Stanton! Oleo Acres is an educational farm that is keeping the old farming practices and Tennessee traditions alive. The farm, located just on the county line out Hwy 179 toward Covington (269 McDonald Rd.), focusing on environmentally friendly living and communing with nature. You may check our Facebook page for more information on what is available there. They also have their own Facebook page if you want to check them out there. For more information you may call 731-443-0059, or email them at: oleoacres@bigriver.net.

We try to keep our Facebook page updated with the latest around here, although I’ve been behind lately. We had a full house of guests over the Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you all had as

good a time as I did. I love grandkids at the house, even if it does wear me out! It’s a good tired!

During the holiday season, please be a bit more mindful of your neighborhood, as we should all year long. Burglaries are on the rise in all of Haywood County and Stanton is no exception. Our local Neighborhood Watch is keeping an eye out for strange behavior and vehicles in Stanton. If you see anything out of place or anyone behaving in a manner suspicious to you, please call the Haywood County Sheriff at 731-772-2412, or our local Neighborhood Watch Chairman Ward “Smitty” Smith at 731-548-2156.

Residents, and former residents of Stanton, you may mail Stanton news to me at P.O. Box 181, Stanton, TN 38069, reach me at the Stanton Welcome Center/Library at 731-548-2564, or e-mail me at: Proftster@aol.com. Please put “Stanton News” in the subject line. Together we will look at the past, look toward the future, and report current events.

Allen NewsBy Gail BardenBy Gail Barden

Allen NewsI hope that everyone had

a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and enjoyed spending time with family. We are all so blessed and have so much to be thankful for.

Our family spent Thanksgiving Day with Mrs. Barden, W.A.’s mom. We had a delicious meal and welcomed two new babies to the family. Jason, Amber and Julian had lunch with Amber’s parents before coming to the Barden home. Andrew, Alicia, Emily and Claire had lunch with us and had dinner with the Russells. Tyler and Leah were with Leah’s family, and we missed seeing them. I am so thankful for my family.

The Christmas tree collection at College Hill last weekend was a huge success and the trees were lovely. All proceeds from the event benefited

the Carl Perkins Center. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard.

Lots of great things are happening in Brownsville. Kincaid-Gooch Voice Studio will present their Christmas show “This is the Season!” on Dec. 2-5 at the Ann Marks Performing Arts Center. Lots of area students will be performing. Emily will sing her solo on Thursday evening and Julian will sing his solo on Friday evening.

Julian has killed two deer this season! He is so excited and ready to spend some time in the duck blinds now. Way to go, Julian!

Brother Phil was involved in an automobile accident this week. We are so happy that he was not injured, but his passenger and cousin, Ann Rogers, had some

significant injuries. They are both doing okay at this time. Debra Jackson and Connie Hendrix were also involved in an automobile accident, with no injuries. Rain was apparently the cause of both accidents.

My sweet daddy would have been 92 on November 30. I miss him.

Happy Birthday to Susan Leath, Johnny Hart, Bettye Powell and Katie Lewis.

Happy Anniversary to Deborah and Jim Stephenson.

On our prayer list are Martha Crutcher, Jimmy and Carolyn Danley, Jerry Baggett, Carol Wilson, Sue Spencer and Steve White.

Our Bible verse for this week is 1 Chronicles 16:34, which states, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

Have a blessed week!

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, most families I’m sure was blessed to have family members enjoying delicious meals and enjoying each other but being thankful to God for His blessings. Our family enjoyed a bountiful abundance of food at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Watkins with family from Nashville, Chicago, Atlanta, and locally. Ms. Hattie and daughters were great hostesses. Mr. Watkins recently had surgery and is home doing great.

The community was saddened last week of the sudden death of Rev. Rick Rouse, who was a former pastor in the community and very helpful in community affairs. He was just a wonderful person to be acquainted with. Our prayers of sympathy are

with Mrs. Rouse and other family members. Also expressions of sympathy go to the family of Godfrey Miller who recently passed away.

Our sick shut-ins and prayer list include: Jimmie L. Turner, Shirley Hunter, Emma Jones, Clinton Watkins, Rev. J.V. Carney, Opal Watkins, Luevenia Boyd, Jackson Rice, Edward Vaulx Jr., Emma Miller, Callie Brooks, Gladys Bowles, Calvin Watkins, Marie Browning, and Mattie E. Turner. Our prayers also are with the family of Charlie L. Hunt who recently passed away.

The members of Dancyville were very happy to see Mrs. Lavella Pruitt at church Sunday; we’re praying for her a speedy recovery.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lee enjoyed a trip to

Louisville, Ky., to be with family for Thanksgiving. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Franklin traveled to Louisiana to be with family.

We’re so appreciative to those who keep our roadsides clear of all the debris or litter that seems to accumulate and look bad. Thanks is a small word but hopefully it expresses our feelings to what they do to make our community look better.

By Alvis M. Bond

Douglas News

By Sylessie Ross

Union NewsBy Sylessie Ross

Union News

I do hope that everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. If anything we were blessed with health and strength!

Unfortunately there were families that lost loved ones during this time and we continue to keep them in prayer. Our condolences go out to the family of Shirley Rogers. My pastor, Julius Harden, lost his brother, Marus Harden. My granddaughter, Wynyatta, lost her grandfather, Otis Perkins. What started out as a wonderful day ended up not so great for Defro “Pistol” Willis. He slipped and fell Thanksgiving injuring his knee and has spent a few days in the hospital for surgery. My neighbor Genetta Transor was in the hospital for quite some time and we are so glad to have her back home.

We know that Christmas is swiftly approaching. Let us not forget the reason for Christmas, which is Jesus!

Our annual goodwill program was simply awesome this past Sunday

night. The proceeds all go towards helping families and elderly have a brighter Christmas.

Remember in prayer; Defro “Pistol” Wilis, Pearline “Teen” Jones, Stacy Greer, Eugene Snipes, Minister J.V. Carney, Minister J.H and Verma Fuller, Steve White, Mr. and Mrs. Jessie White, Cynthia Bullock Transor, Glenn White, Fannie Anderson.

Thought for the Week - “The Mercy of God”: If the devil had his way, you would be dead. We are blessed to have the hand of God’s mercy and grace upon us. Most, which is unseen and untold. Mercy will follow you wherever you go…to the operating room…to the jail, to the divorce court, to the bank, and everywhere. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6).

Do you realize that no matter how bad your situation is, it could be worse? God’s grace shields us from seeing the level of spiritual warfare that circles the atmosphere around us,

strategizing to attack us. How many tragic

accidents have been missed or how many bullets aimed at you missed their mark? Mercy said, “NO!” Do you know we even receive mercy for things we did wrong? Think about the things we got away with and didn’t get caught. Church folks can be devilishly mean and blatantly wrong at times.

Not one of us has it all together. What would we do if God exposed all of our secrets? But mercy says, “NO!” This doesn’t mean we willfully commit sin and take God’s forgiveness and grace for granted.

There are always consequences for our actions, good or bad. God is still working on us. Therefore, let us “Judge not that ye be not judged.”

The more merciful you are to others, the more mercy you’ll get back, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7.

Have you ever thought about what Mercy looks like? It looks like you.