Homefolks in Sylacauga

June Winters
04-24-2008

Joanne Rea is delighted to announce the arrival of her first great- grandchild, and it’s a boy! Grady John Watt arrived April 6, weighing 8 pounds and 3 ounces. He was 21 ½ inches long. He is the first born of Allison and Sandy Watt of Courtney British Columbia, Canada, and maternal grandparents are Dave and Elizabeth (Rea) Shivas of Ft. Murray, Alberta Canada. Sharing great-grandparent honors with Joanne are John and Ev Shivas of Stratford, Ontario Canada, and his very proud aunt is Heather Shivas, a student at the University of Vancouver, Pharmacy School. There’s a blue bow out at Mary Lee and Joe Swindall’s home to announce the arrival of their new grandson! Master Richard Pickering III, was born in Prattville, stopping the scales at 7 ½ pounds. He was 20 inches long. He is the first born of Tamra and Richey Pickering, and he will be called Tripp. Sharing grandparent honors with Mary Lee and Joe are Charlotte and Lee Pickering of Selma, and great grands, Mary Jo Brown, a resident at Spring Terrace Retirement Home and “Great Mama” of Selma. Congratulations are certainly in order for Sylacaugan, Nikki Allen. A junior at Auburn University, Nikki was one of the top five young ladies vying for this year’s “Miss Auburn!” Nikki is a 2005 graduate of Sylacauga High School and is majoring in political science at Auburn. She is the daughter of Sandy James. P inky Pinkerton retired from the Industrial Board and the Economic Board after some twenty years, and last Thursday evening, there was a dinner party to honor him, held at Sylacauga Country Club. Among special guests at the occasion was his daughter Kathy and John English and son, Ian from Birmingham. Annette Gaston was in Birmingham last Thursday to attend the annual luncheon for members of her sorority, Alpha Beta Pi, the University of Alabama. The setting for the occasion was Botanical Gardens at Kathe G’s Restaurant. Also attending from our area was Connie Barnes from Talladega. Annette spent the night with son Charlie and Donna Gaston and Mary Frances, and joining them for dinner was son, Maury and Nancy Gaston and daughter Allison, Friday, Annette was back at Botanical Gardens, where she joined other members of the Camellia Garden Club for a tour of Southern Living Gardens. Villa (Mrs. Jim) Wright entertained members of her Wednesday bridge group last week for play and lunch at Sylacauga Country Club. Places were set and tallies marked for club members Annette Gaston, Jean Camp, Beryl Pitchford, Martha Sims, Mable Ray, Margaret Finn and a guest. Mary Ann Ham was hostess to her Tuesday morning bridge group this week. Guests were Frances Conn and Mable Ray and members enjoying Mary Ann’s hospitality were Annette Gaston, Gladys Brown, Susan Green, Ann Lott, Joyce Newberry, and Peggy Vaughn. Elizabeth (Mrs. Win) Livingston recently had a great trip to North Carolina to spend a week with each of her daughters. First she visited her youngest daughter Margaret Hoelzer in Charlotte and helped her celebrate her 25th birthday on March 30. Joining them was her sister, Martha Hoelzer. Margaret, an Olympian in swimming flew to Manchester, England on April 4th to compete in the U.S. Swim Team at FINA Short Course World Championships on April 9-13. Margaret was voted one of the team captains. Along with four others, Margaret, Jessica Hardy, Rachel Komisarz and Kara Denby broke the world record in the 4 by 400 medley relay and set a new American record in this event. Margaret also placed bronze in the 200 meter backstroke, an event she won in 2006 in Shanghai and in 2004 in Indianapolis. While Margaret was off competing, Elizabeth continued her visit in Chapel Hill, N.C., and joined her other daughter Martha Hoelzer in celebrating her special 30th birthday at a lovely dinner party with friends. After a fun-filled two weeks, it was time for Elizabeth to return to Sylacauga to her husband, Win Livingston. A special event of Saturday night, April 12, was a dinner at Sylacauga Country Club celebrating the 60th reunion of Sylacauga High School, class of ’48. Thirty-two alumni and seventeen spouses attended along with close friends of the class making a total of 52. The last reunion was held in 1973. Casablanca lilies centered each table and red and black balloons floated above the flowers. A lovely mass arrangement of the lilies with red tulips we used in the foyer, and were artistically arranged by class members Sue Malwitz Edfeldt and Nan Barnes Wingo of Birmingham. Leading arrangements for the reunion were Edwin McCoy Ray, Ann Parker Lott, and Dot Coleman Blocker. A “Get Acquainted” hour at 6 p.m., was followed by a humorous presentation by classmate Robert Huel Harris of Decatur. Attending from out-of-town were: William Wilkie Camp, Nan Barnes Wingo, and Sue Malwitz Edfeldt of Birmingham; Edwin McCoy Ray of Cropwell; Edward Hickman Collins of Talladega; Shapan Lamar Grant of Dothan; Doyle Baron Holliday of Venetia, Pa.; John Norris Stewart of Lakeland, Fla.; Harold Jackson Morris of Starkville, Miss.; Jimmy Patterson pf Pensacola, Fla.; Betty Sue Sellers Harris and Robert Huel Harris of Decatur; Glynda Jo Caldwell Field of Travelers Rest, S.C.; Betty Jean Heacock Yuknevice of Harlem, Ga.; Joyce Nealeans Culpepper of Marietta, Ga.; Rose Elnora Cooper Arnold of Alexander City; Gloria Jean Swint Darby of Duluth, Ga.; and Jacqueline Taunton Delaney of Picayune, Miss. Local alumni attending were: Sandy Floye Carter Shaw, Dot Coleman Blocker, Catherine Sue Davis Cochran, Ann Marshall Parker Lott, Emogene Peters Cash, Bettye F. Rozelle Lessley, Gene Lessley, Gloria Ann White Boyette, Edna Atkinson Lusk, Betty Billingsley Taylor, Robert Larry Edmunds, Robert Irvin Grimes, Billy Frank Jones, Talmon R. Morris and Charles Leonard Saffold. Mark your calendar for next Friday, May 2 and the “Special Watches” sale at Coosa Valley Medical Center. This is a fund raising project sponsored by the hospital auxiliary, and gift sets will also be offered. The sale will be held in the lobby of Coosa Valley Medical Center, 7 a.m., until 4 p.m.

About June Winters

June Winters is a staff writer for The Daily Home.

Contact June Winters

Phone:

256-249-4311

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