Happy Birthday:
April 8: Yvette Brown, Carolyn Harrelson, Vickie Mangum, Judge Tom S. Lee, Leslie Webb, Mrs. Carlton Hines, Margaret Madison, Troy Stewart, Betty Frances Chesnut, Sean Franklin, Rebecca Patterson, Vicki Sawyer, Allen Butler, Martha Bell Pinter.
April 9: Tommie Lynn Vance, Mrs. Daniel Hall, Kathy Ezell, Shelton Roberts, Kathy Austin, Theresa Burgess, Raydell Ellis, Joni Alumbaugh, Lorene Brittain, Sherrell Brown, Anita Garey, Mary Frances Bryant.
April 10: Bobby Mahaffey, Linda Herron, Edna Beaver, Carl Jones, Colleen Scott, Jamie Thigpen Murrell, Chris Strebeck, Archie Robinson.
April 11: Bertha Emmons, William Lee Fortenberry, Cheryl Rasco Smith, Bobbie Robinson, James D. Ramey, Jr., James McAdory, Jr., Sydney Leonard Mahony, Beth Eason, Mamie Spencer, Kimberly Spencer, Peggy Brenton.
April 12: Susan Brantley, Mark Chambers, Michael Carter Gaddis, Woody Burt, Ron Buegel, David D. Tadlock, Robbie Sue Harrell.
April 13: Bernice Wise, Hilda Crain, Sandra Durham, Lea Ann McMurphy Burns, Danny Williams, Dawn Windham, Travis Wolverton, Brett Barton, Beverly Puckett.
April 14: Joe Tadlock, Carnathan Driskell, Roy Noble Lee, Jr., Peyton Eady, Jr., Kelly Lee Wells, Susie Tinnen, John Vincent, Kathy Wilbourne.
Hope you had a Happy Easter!
Christy Cofer and her children, Grace and Thomas, of Birmingham, Alabama, visited Palm Sunday weekend in the home of her parents, Gene and Dianne Walker.
It is inspiring to hear accounts of how people who became friends while in Forest stay in touch and care for each other. Recently Ahbay Patel of New Orleans and Stewart Lee of Madison flew to Houston, Texas for a very meaningful visit with their high school friend Daniel Kaskie and his wife Alicia.
Sincere sympathy to Susan Doty Adams whose brother, David Doty, beloved member of the Forest High School Class of 1960, died last week, following an extended illness.
The visitation was last Monday, April 6 at ten, with service at eleven at First Baptist Church in Brookhaven with Riverwood Funeral Home in charge.
(The Graveside Service was to be in Forest around 2:30 or 3:00 pm at the Eastern Cemetery.) The Forest Baptist Church said friends could gather for visitation in their chapel afterwards. David is said to have died peacefully in his favorite chair at his home in Brookhaven on March 31 at around 11:00 AM. The coroner said it was from a heart attack or stroke.
David will be buried next to his wife Cindy who passed away in 2016. David was preceded in death by his parents Sid and Murtis Doty and son Campbell. He is survived by a younger sister Susan, FHS Class of 1963, and several cousins.
Many generations will member David’s parents, as the Dotys were loved and respected as long time educators.
Many of us acquired a deeper love and appreciation of music through the memorable and varied choir and other musical productions through First Baptist Church under Mr. Doty’s direction. Maybeth Ormond often (and fondly) recalled stories of Mr. Doty as her teacher. Many of us also revered Mrs. Doty as one who developed and directed the paths of many young people, as an outstanding speech teacher.
Following in their footsteps, David was a very talented singer, who sang in many of our local weddings, including the wedding of Ben and Loren McKibbens. David went on to be a respected director of church music. He is also remembered as one of the talented members of Forest’s (second) well known FHS quartet “The Cavaliers.” The four then young Forest High School Bearcats were David, and George Gray Townsend, and the late Dan Brantley and Dr. James Verner Gatewood), who after graduating from FHS went on to Baylor University as Baylor’s official Baylor University Quartet, under Dr. H. Porter of Waco.
Friends of Courtland and Pat Gray will be glad to know that Pat is doing well following triple bypass surgery last Tuesday in Pensacola, Florida.
Dr Jimmy Hollingsworth spent several days in Washington D.C. for the American Dental Association Lobby Days. Dentists from around the country were there to lobby our congressional leaders about oral health issues.
While there the Mississippi delegation met with Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Roger Wicker, and Representative Michael Guest. The weather was wonderful and the cherry blossoms were just beginning to come into bloom.
Great trip but always good to return home safely.
Amazing at how much fun former Forest grandparents have meeting up at sporting events where they enjoy reminiscing about their growing up days in Forest. Last Tuesday night Germantown High School vs the Madison Central High School game was played at Germantown High School where Forest native Drew Crowell is an assistant baseball coach. Madison Central had former Forest grandparents Johnny and Diane Smith there to see Tripp Smith play, as well as Tom and Norma Ruth Lee there to see Steven Lee play. They witnessed a most extraordinary game with a 3-2 victory by Germantown. There will be a rematch Thursday at Madison Central, who are the defending State Champions.
Members of our community enjoyed gathering last week for the annual Lenten luncheons. Monday’s and Tuesday’s luncheons were held at Forest Methodist Church - Tim Escue, minister of Forest Methodist Church, spoke on Monday and Andy Boles from Embrace Church was the speaker on Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, the luncheons were held at Forest Baptist Church. Reid Stevens, senior pastor of Forest Baptist Church spoke on Wednesday and Mark Smith of Forest Presbyterian Church was the Thursday speaker.
Congratulations to Sawyer Lochner, who received a special recognition for the Harrison Central Elementary School Honor Roll. Proud grandmother is Merrill Mitchell Hunt of Dolphin Island, Alabama.
Bubby Johnston will be in town Thursday, April 9, from 10-6:00 pm and invites Bearcat alumni to come and reminisce with him and others about the FHS ‘good old days,’ and his book, “The Bearcat Way.” You’ll see photos of friends and chat about days gone by. What a treasure of photos and stories featured in this special edition, only $27. (Make check’s payable to Boonedocks Publishing.)
Tony and Jan Maner are hosting the book signing event at their fabulous Foothills Restaurant on Highway 35 South! Hope to see you there!
Thank you for your response to more items needed for the Column. Have been somewhat under the weather and hope you’ll send more news to lmckibbens@gmail.com. We want to hear from you!
