About The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 2023)
jenkinscountytimes.com The Jenkins County Times Wednesday, October 25, 2023 - Page 5 Jackie B. Hooks Mrs. Jackie B. Hooks, 87, passed away Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at her residence. She was bom in Screven County to the late Frank and Janie Brower. She and her husband Joel owned the Hooks Barbeque restaurant for many years. She retired from Jenkins County Hospital after many years of service. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Joel Hooks Sr. and son, Joel Hooks Jr. Graveside services were held at 11:00 am Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Elam Cemetery Rev. Brad Asbury officiating. Survivors include her daughter, Julie Conway (Chris) of Hawkinsville; sister, Dorothy Odom,; a brother, Mims Bower both of Sylvania; grandchildren, Carson Conway, Cory Conway (Michala), Catelyn Wheeler (Jared), Brandon Hooks, Sydney Hooks, Coopie Hooks (April) and several great grandchildren. Charles Watkins Mitchell Charles Watkins Mitchell, 91, of Phenix City, Alabama passed away peacefully at Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro, Georgia after a brief illness. He was born on March 8, 1932, to James and Rosa Allen Mitchell in the front bedroom of their Railroad Street Home. He was the second of four brothers. From a young age, Charles loved his country and served it faithfully in the US Navy, reaching the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. Upon retirement in 1971 he returned home to Phenix City, Alabama. He then worked for and retired from the Uniroyal/Michelin Corporation in Opelika, Alabama. The greatest loves of his life were God, his wife Mary Ellen, and his daughter Lynne. Charles is preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife, son-in-law; Danny Bennett, and his brothers; J.S., Joe, and Kay Mitchell. He is survived by his daughter; Lynne Bennett of Millen, Georgia and a host of family and friends, all of whom loved him dearly. The family would like to extend their greatest appreciation to the past and present caregivers and residents at The Gardens of Calvary, Columbus, Georgia, The Lodge at Bethany Statesboro, Georgia, and Ogeechee Area Hospice Statesboro, Georgia. A Celebration of Life Service was held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 2:00 PM in Striffler Hamby Mortuary Phenix City Chapel, 3770 US-431, Phenix City, Alabama 36868. Burial followed at Lakewood Memory Garden. Striffler-Hamby Mortuary Sanders Monument Company Producers of high quality monuments and markers 1484 Halcyondale Road Sylvania, GA 30467 Kenneth & Stacy Sanders Owner/Operators (912] 425-7870 sandersmonumentco@gmail.com (912) 451-6382 sandersmonument.com THE COTTON GIN " Millen's Florist" Since 1987 478.982.2153 717 Cotton Ave. Millen, GA Gee, Ain’t Halloween Fun By Diane Wasden, Special Contributor to The Times Underneath the Harvest Moon, The streets are filled with shrieks of laughter on this magical Halloween night, Where things aren’t what they seem and zombies, ghosts and goblins are filled with devilish delight. Hand made costumes and stores bought too to be worn to scare the wits out of you! Skeletons, scarecrows, vampires will all follow all the pumpkins glow. Beware of graveyards, cornfields too where creeping vines grow and it’s you, they want to take hold. Halloween’s haunting is sure to scare the weakest people I’m told. With squeaking doors, creaking floors, and inside the air is very cold. Up out of the grave a hand grabs your leg, The person inside wants some candy and he starts to beg. You can hear werewolves howling throughout the night, Dracula’s coming before the first morning’s light. Out of nowhere floats a mysterious foggy mist. That mummies and Frankenstein can’t even resist. All creatures big and small are happy to see that it is fall. The golden moon so way up high is the brightest beacon in the sky. You can see witches flying by the moon. Bats and vultures will make the scene soon. Look out for Martians they are evil I’m told, They’ll jump on your body and breathe out your soul. Costumed children are looking for a treat. Ghostly spirits and imagination meet. Reality or myth to a child’s mind. Treat them well and please be kind. So, upon this night we all have to be brave. Because it’s our candy we want to save! It’s a night to be filled with fun and play. Trick or treat are the words you’ll have to say! The Farm Wife at Two Pennies Farm PASTURE WOES Our pasture was designed for two goats. By strip grazing them it provided enough nutrition that I didn’t have to supplement them with hay and grain in the summer. Since they were rotated every two days each strip had a month’s growth between grazing and parasites were reduced to the point that the goats did not need deworming, even against the dreaded Barberpole worm. It took me several years to work out how to maximize that pasture for goats, and then two years ago I gave up milking my goats. I still have my original doe goat, Derby, and her last kid, a wether named Golly. This spring I bought my first horse, a mare named Venus. She’s a good horse and an easy keeper. But our pasture is too small to provide her with all the nutrition she needs. So I was trying an outside the box solution. I was letting Venus loose on the property at night to give the pasture grass a half-day rest and also so that Venus would keep the grass on the rest of the property mowed a bit. I couldn’t do this with the goats as they would prefer to eat shrubs and trees instead of grass, but I thought I was pretty safe letting Venus roam. Our property is well fenced and our Big Red Dog prefers to sleep outside at night, so I didn’t worry about her being harassed by predators. But it seems as if Venus was indulging in some un-horse-like behaviors. But then again. I’m a first time horse owner so I don’t know, maybe this is normal. You see, Venus discovered our fruit trees. I could understand her eating the pears off the tree. Pears are a lot like apples, and everyone knows that horses like apples. She ate every pear she could reach, and since we keep our fruit trees short that didn’t leave Nancy Baker many for us. But that was OK. I’ve not been well enough this summer to do my usual canning and her eating them kept us from having to deal with spoiled fruit on the ground. Pears, however, are not the only fruit trees we have on the property. We have three Fuyu persimmon trees, and they were loaded with fruit. Now the thing with these trees is that the fruit sweetens in late September, and you can eat it straight off the tree until it’s all gone sometime around Christmas. The fruit is crisp like an apple at first, and then gradually softens till it’s like a ripe plum. Hubs makes a killer Persimmon Pie, but most of the fruit we just eat fresh. We’re always sorry to come to the end of persimmon season, but truthfully we have almost had our fill of them by then. In late spring when the fruit has set we start anticipating persimmon season all over again. And this year was no exception. We were so excited as it looked like we would be able to eat our fill and then some. But then, when the pears were gone, oh tragedy! Venus discovered the persimmon trees. The fruit hadn’t even started to sweeten, but she ate it anyway. When Hubs discovered what she was up to, he came in and laid down the law. No more liberty for Venus. A whole year of anticipation was now in the belly of a horse. I am, of course, bummed about the dearth of persimmons, but am also back to square one with the lack of grass in the pasture. We have some areas in the yard that I can fence off with portable electric fencing for her to graze, but putting it up and taking it down is a pain. But I am nothing if not a responsible horse owner, so I guess I’d better get outside and get to work. Find us on: facebook® flyrcns That Touch th£ fteart "O for a Thousand , Tongues to Sing" I have to say that I love the fall season. It's fresh air and fresh aroma's that fills the air is just what the doctor ordered. This particular time of season, reminds me of my Grandparents on my Dad's side. Daddy Mac and Mama Nell Eades. Two of the most caring individuals I have ever known. They would give you the shirt of their back or welcome you with open arms to the family table at anytime day or night. I do remember this one occasion, when my Grandmother was very involved in her Church. She and her lady friends would give food to the homeless on special occasions, such as. Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even preparing meals for them on other occasions too. It was almost like a soup kitchen, but not necessarily soup everytime. Mama Nell really seemed to enjoy doing for others. On this one occasion, she asked my Mother if I could go with her to help. In which, I did. I think it was Thanksgiving and our family usually would not eat at home until after 3:00. (This seemed to work out best with all the cousins and aunts living in different places). While I was only 10 years old, I do remember this one special Lady and Gentlemen that came in to eat. They did not have great clothes, they had rather some kind of odor, but they were as nice B as could be. Both of them had a big smile on their face and even though they were extremely poor and homeless, they had great attitudes of love for everyone there. At this early age, this impressed me. I thought to myself, "how can someone be so greatful and happy in these horrible circumstances?" You see, I had a warm place to sleep, a wonderful family and parents Charles Wesley that loved me with all their heart. And of course as a child, I still wondered, why? As the day progressed, after everyone ate and was full, it came time for singing. Now, it was Thanksgiving, so I expected nothing less. As we all began to sing, this homeless Gentleman and his wife, stood up and said they would like to share a song if they could. They got up slowly, and made their way to the old upright piano in the comer. The older lady sat down to play and the husband stood beside her. I was amazed at what I heard. This homeless lady could play. It was great. Sounded professional to me, then her husband began to sing, "O for a thousand tounges to sing, my great Reedemers praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace." To me, it was like Angels singing. The blend of the two voices, was just right. It was beautiful and the best Thanksgiving I had ever had at that point in my life. Come to find out, the Gentlemen named Lawerence, was once a director of Theatre music in California and his wife, Greta, had been the star of the show for over forty years, when it had to shut down. I have to say, it seemed, we were tmly a gift from God to them, but much more than that, this couple was a very special gift from God for us, and it touched me more that they could or would ever know. O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing is a Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley in 1739. It was the first hymn in every Methodist hymnal until 1983. It praises the glory and grace of God and the triumphs of his redemption. It was inspired by Peter Bohler's words to Wesley, "If I had a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ with them all". It commemorates the first anniversary of Wesley's conversion to Christianity. You see, Charles disliked the prevalence of the psalms in worship songs of his time. Out of that, he gave us this modem type hymn “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” which he wrote for Sunday, May 21, 1739, which was the first anniversary of his conversion on Pentecost Sunday, or Whitsunday as it was known back then. Wesley’s poetic response to his conversion is replete ( defined as being fully or abundantly filled or supplied with something, typically in temis of food, knowledge, or the holy spirit. It is also used to describe with literary elegance and beautiful control of language. Sing along.... O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer's praise The glories of my God and King The triumphs of his grace! My gracious Master and my God Assist me to proclaim To spread thro' all the earth abroad The honours of your name Jesus! the name that charms our fears That bids our sorrows cease 'tis music in the sinner's ears 'tis life and health and peace He breaks the power of cancelled sin He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me To God all glory, praise, and love Be now and ever given By saints below and saints above The Church in earth and heaven O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer's praise The glories of my God and King The triumphs of his grace! My gracious Master and my God Assist me to proclaim To spread thro' all the earth abroad The honours of your name Jesus! the name that charms our fears That bids our sorrows cease 'tis music in the sinner's ears 'tis life and health and peace He breaks the power of cancelled sin He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me To God all glory, praise, and love Be now and ever given By saints below and saints above The Church in earth and heaven
