Newspaper Page Text
Department of Aferchives
General Library
Watson Family Meets
For First Reunion
The Watson family held a
family reunion at the Mauk
Community House, Sunday, Aug.
14 with 113 family members and
visitors present. The family
members are descendents of
the late Lessle Purvis and Wal-
tOn Watson. This was the first
reunion of the group and it is
planned as an annual affair.
The reunion cake decorated
in white, topped with red roses,
whs inscribed with “Watson
Family First Reunion, 1841 -
1965" on the top. Mrs. Barbara
Mines, a granddaughter brought
the cake to the meet.
Mrs. Evelyn Gill read the
records of the family. It was
found that only 13 deaths had
been recorded in the 125 years
of the immediate family. They
included F. Marion Purvis, M.
Marzille Purvis, Joe B. Watson,
Mattie Watson McGinty, Bill
McGinty, Walton Watson, Les
lie Watson, Joe L. Watson (a
soij Lena Watson, Tim Locke,
Vera Kenny Watson, Gregory
Agnew Wright, Gregory Allen
Locke.
The beginning of the family
was read. Marzille Garrett
Purvis was born April 11, 1853
and Francis Marion Purvis was
born May 13, 1841. They were
the parents of Lessie Purvis,
jhe mother of the family. Mat-
fee Weeks Watson, born on Oct.
J3, 1855, and Joe B. Watson,
“born Feb. 1, 1851, were the par
ents of Walton Watson, the fath
er of the Watson children who
gathered Sunday.
Lessie Purvis and Walton
Watson, after being engaged for
five years were married on
March 27, 1898, at the home of
j. L. Rustin, near Charing with
Mr. Rustin officiating. Johnny
A. Garrett and Miss Georgia
Gill witnessed the ceremony.
Their children were George
Washington, Eliga Lewis, Ar
chie Perry, Claudia Beatrice
(Tim Locke), Mary Cleatie (U.
G. Wall), Alvah Maude (Dave
Harbuck), Evelyn Virginia (Ce
cil Gill), Marion Marzille
(Gardner Pye) and Joe Leo
nard (deceased.)
Also read during the program
on Sunday was the following
letter from Francis Marion
Purvis of Marion County, Ga.,
dated June 5, 1865 and written
from a Forsyth hospital where
he was confined during the War
Between the States. (The spell
ing and arrangement of words
are followed as nearly as could
be read.) June the 5, 1864
Dear Farther and Mother
1 again seat myself this bless
ed sabbath morning in order to
drop you all a few lines to let
you all now how I am. I am
getting so I feel some littal
better thane I have but I am
. very weeke yet. The dirar is
stopped in me or that is it ant
half as bad as it was. 1 have
weaken down so very much but
1 clab able to make about a
littal but very littal. The wether
is very bad and rainy and has
bin for several days. Hoping
that theas few lines will reach
your care saft and find you all
In the injoyment of good helth
and a doing well in evry res
pect. I dont have any nuse to
write that is worthy of your
attention. I wud be very glad
to hear from you all. I rite
you all a letter about a weeke
ago but I have not heart a word
from you all. I want to hear
very bad. I want you all to be
shure and to rite as soon as
you get this and rite all the
nuse. I have not heard a word
from the boys since I came to
this place. I dont now what they
are a doing. I hear they are a
skirmish along our lines tho
1 recan you are better posted
than I am. I dont you to be
uneasy about me. I will try to
take good care of my self that
I can. I have got a good bed to
ly on of the sorte. I am doin
tolerble well tho if I was at
home I think I cud be a heap
better of and treated a heap
better in evry respect. 1 have
got very nurses to wate on me.
The Doctor ses that he will
send me home jest as soon as
I get able to come. Tell you
all to write to me. I wud be
glad to hear from any body
and you all aspesuy. Pleas rite
Soon. So 1 will come to a close
by saying give my love and
Respects to all the family and
relation and frinds and reserve
a due potion to yourself so J
remain your true son, F. M.
Purvis — (A note scribbled
in the top margin upside down
said “hear is the way for you
all to direct your letters to
me Forsyth Ga. chaton hospi
tal")
Mrs. Gill closed her remarks
by saying that."We have been
wonderfully blest and we give
our thanks to the Lord." The
group departed for their
homes with plans to meet again.
Those attending were Mr.
and Mrs. Larry Bell, Junction
City; Mrs. C. C. Hobbs Sr.
and Mrs. Dorothy Hill and He
len, Panama City, Fla.; Mr.
and Mrs. John Hill Sr., Mr.
and Mrs. Ronald Wyrick and
Cheryl, Columbus; Mr. and
Mrs. Agnew Wright, Donna
Lynne and Diane, Bainbridge;
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Wat
son and family of Perry.
Miss Melanie Giles of Byron;
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Watson,
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Watson,
Kaye, Eddie, Ginger and Jebb
of Ft. Valley; Mr. and Mrs.
Lewis Watson Jr. Mike, Mark
and Mitch of Howard; Roswell
Locke of Bonaire; Mr. andMrs.
Leon Gill and Larry, Mr. and
Mrs. Nelson Mines, Sandra, Pa
trick and Selane, Mr. and Mrs.
Donald Daye and Daryl, Mr. and
Mrs. Dave Harbuck Jr. and
Kathy of Warner Robins.
Mrs. Herbert Tante and June
of Thomaston; Mr. and Mrs.
H. G. Pye Jr., Tripp and Craig,
Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Childres,
Harold and Kathy of Macon;
Mr. and Mrs. Nat Hamlin, Nat
Jr. and Claudia of Lizella; Mr.
and Mrs. Homer Wall, Jaye and
Robin of Buena Vista; Mr. and
Mrs. Gardner Pye Sr., Mr.and
Mrs. Harold Riddle of Monte
zuma.
Mr. and Mrs. George Watson,
Mrs. Patsy Williams and Lisa
of Charing, Mr. andMrs.Darby
Kirksey, Dianne, Timothy and
David, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Pye and Walter, Mr. and Mrs.
Carl Hobbs Sr. and Jan, Miss
Edith Smith, Perry Watson, Ge
rald Locke, Mrs. Claudia Locke
of Butler; Mr. and Mrs. Norman
Vinson, Marianne and Cindy of
Mableton; Mr. and Mrs. Har
vey Compton, Chris and Tony
of Stephens; Mr. and Mrs. Dave
Harbuck Sr. and Bonnie Sue,
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Gill, Mr.
and Mrs. E. A. Welch Jr., Alane,
David and Billy, Mrs. U. G.
Wall Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Ulus
Wall Jr., Terry and Tracy, Mr.
and Mrs. Lamar Wall and Cindy
all of Mauk.
First Cotton Is
Ginned In Taylor
Taylor County cotton gins be
gan to hum Monday morning as
a Macon County farmer brought
in the first bale to be ginned.
H. B. Perry of Oglethorpe had
the first bale ginned at Sim
mons Gin and Warehouse in
Reynolds early Monday. It
weighed 491 lbs., graded mid
dling 1 1/16 with 810 lbs. of
seed and sold to Simmons Ware
house for 40£ per lb. for the
lint and $70 per ton for the
seed.
Following close behind was
George Trussell of this county
who brought in the second bale
Monday afternoon. It weighed
380 lbs. with 644 lbs. of seed
and it too graded middling.
The cotton gins will soon be
running day and night as Tay
lor County farmers get the
cotton picking and ginning sea
son in full swing.
“1 CAN'T SMILE FACING
THAT SUN", says Stony Bone,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester
Bone, as he posed with his
birthday cake on his third birth
day last week. The neiglibor-
hood children gathered at the
home of his parents for a birth
day party celebration at 3 p.m.,
Aug. 27, complete with cake
and the trimmings.
JACKSONVILLE TRIP-The Taylor Mill Teen Age Clubspent
several days last week at Jacksonville Beach. They were
accompanied by Mrs. Harold Gates, Mrs. W. T. Roberson,
Miss Terry Smith and Ernest Parker. Gordon Phillips was
our driver. We want to express our thanks to everyone that
helped to make this such an enjoyable trip.
TAYLOR TO GET
$70,828 IN ROAD TAX
Byrd Travels Campaign
Trail As Election Nears
Taylor County and its muni
cipalities will receive a com
bined total of approximately
$70,828 in state grants for use
on streets and roads during
fiscal 1966-67, State Treasury
Dept, records show.
State highway use taxes on
trucks will supply approximate
ly $17,636 of the total, accord
ing to the Georgia Motor Truck
ing Association.
Each year, from its motor
STORES CLOSE
The following stores in But
ler plan to be closed on Labor
Day; The Citizens State Bank,
Willis Super Market, Guined’s
Top Buy Food Store, Home
town Loan Corp.
Rev. Greer Tells
Plans For Lay
Witness Mission
Plans are underway for a
Lay Witness Mission at the Rey
nolds Methodist Church on Sept.
9, 10 and 11, according to an
announcement by the pastor,
Rev. Tegler Greer, Tuesday.
Don Whatley will be chairman
of the event.
Coordinator for the event will
be Dr. Ed Dallas of Thomaston
and associate coordinator will
be Roger Coleman of Macon.
The purpose of the meeting
will be to witness to what Christ
has done for the person. A
program of informal sharing
and witnessing is planned.
A further announcement of
this meeting will be told next
week as the plans are completed
for the weekend.
Caldwell Waging
Intensive Race
Sam Caldwell, 38-year-old
candidate for Georgia Commis
sioner of Labor, is waging an
intensive campaign to unseat
veteran Commissioner of Labor,
Ben T. Huiet.
Mr. Huiet, who is now in his
seventies, has served in this post
since it was created in 1937 and
could retire on $15,000 per year.
Cnldwell, former Personnel
Director of the State Highway
Department, is running on a
(continued on page 2)
fuel tax revenues, Georgia ap
portions among the 159 coun
ties approximately $9.3 million
for their use in construction
and maintenance of county
roads. An identical amount is
now apportioned among "eligi
ble and qualified" municipali
ties, according to population,
for road use.
The truck portion is computed
by applying the percentage of
total motor fuel taxes paid in
Georgia by trucks (24.9) against
the total allocations.
As a group, trucks pay more
than $35 million a year in Geor
gia in highway use taxes—chief
ly license plate fees and fuel
taxes. A licence plate for the
largest trucks costs $710. The
state trucking association has
computed that user taxes paid
to operate a single tractor-
trailer unit in Georgia are equal
to the taxes paid to operate 40
automobiles.
Taylor County will receive
$60,492. “Eligible municipali
ties in Taylor County, and the
amount each will receive, are;
Butler, $5,678; Reynolds,
$4,658.
KINDERGARTEN
TO OPEN MONDAY
Mrs. Byrd’s Kindergarten
will begin Sept. 5, Labor Day.
The hours will be from 9 to
12 a.m.
Due to the large enrollment
the fee has been changed to
$15 per month in order to have
a full time assistant teacher
employed.
The kindergarten will be lo
cated in the First Baptist
Church in Reynolds.
NOTICE
The Shehee Insurance Agency
and Public Service Telephone
Company Collection Agency
moves to a new location Sept.
1. This will be next door to the
Telephone Company Central Of
fice in Butler and immediately
behind Childres Grocery, North
Main Street.
Kiwanians Plan
For New Year
In lieu of a program planned
for the Friday meeting of the
Reynolds Kiwanis Club, the
group met in their committees
with each chairman leading in
(continued on page 2)
Garland T. Byrd, candidate
for governor, has urged those
counties which agreed to com
ply with the school guidelines
set up by the Department of
Health, Education and Welfare,
to rescind their agreements.
He pledged that when he is
governor, each county will be
provided by the state with legal
representation to resist these
illegal federal edicts.
“If the counties will resist
Funeral Rites
Held Monday For
W. Otis Scott
Funeral services for William
Otis Scott were held at the Turn
er’s Chapel Freewill Baptist
Church at 4 p.m., Monday with
Rev. A. G. Windham, pastor of
the church, and the Rev. Kenny
Fuller officiating. Interment
was in the Turner's Chapel
Cemetery.
Mr. Scott was born in Taylor
County, son of the late Frank
and Priscilla Bussey Scott, and
had lived here for his entire
lifetime. He was a retiredfarm-
er and lumberman. He died
unexpectedly at his home in
Butler about 1 p.m., Sunday.
Survivors include two sis
ters, Mrs. Hoke Garrett of
Buena Vista and Mrs. Bessie
Averett of Thomaston, two
brothers, Addis and Feston
Scott of Butler and several
nieces and nephews.
Edwards Funeral Home was
in charge of arrangements with
Marshall and Downs Scott, Ran
dolph Averett, Herman Wilson,
Billy and Almon (Hamp) Ave
rett serving as pallbearers.
Billy Mixon
Visits County
Billy Mixon, candidate for
Congress in the General Elec
tion in November, spent Monday
afternoon in Taylor County visi
ting throughout the county. Mr.
Mixon climaxed his day with a
talk to the Civil Defense Res
cue Unit. He talked about how
we had let minority groups al
most take over our government
until we no longer have a
government by the people.
Mr. Mixon said “The chall
enges before us today are great.
The hour is late. We must rise
to these challenges for we must
not fail in this struggle to pre
serve our great nation.” He
is a man who believes that
government should be man’s
servant and not his master.
Rites Held Here
For Mrs. McCants
Funeral services for Mrs.
Lora McCants, 81 years of age,
were held at the graveside in
Union Church Cemetery, Sunday
afternoon at 4 o'clock. Rev.
Kenny Fuller officiated.
Mrs. McCants died in the
Our Lady of Perpetual Care
Hospital in Atlanta, Friday night
after a long illness.
Born in Dooly County, Nov.
5, 1884, daughter of the late
Henry and Elizabeth Davis Ru-
chin, she was the widow of the
late Hugh G. McCants of this
county and made her home here
for a number of years. She was
a member of the Methodist
Church.
Survivors include one broth
er, J, H. Ruchin of Americus
and one sister, Mrs. D. C.
Thompson of Atlanta and sev
eral nieces and nephews.
Edwards Funeral Home was
in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Frank Comer
To Speak To
The Garden Club
The Butler Garden Club will
meet on Sept. 7 at the Butler
Community House at 3 p.m.
Mrs. Lewis Beason is program
chairman. Mrs. Frank Comer
will speak to the group on “Pa
tios”.
Hostesses for the afternoon
will be Mrs. Herman Amos,
Mrs. W. E. Hightower, Mrs.
Gregg Hill, Miss Louise Hill
and Mrs. T. B. Joiner.
and will fight, the federal gov
ernment will concede," he said.
“Since my victory in the Tay
lor County case, the Depart
ment of Health, Education and
Welfare has backed off a bit.
In the spring, it was announced
that 53 Georgia school systems
would be cut off from federal
funds because of failure to agree
to the guidelines. Now, since
my successful court suit, only
seven are cut off."
Garland Byrd, as a parent of
children attending the public
schools of Taylor County,
brought a suit against the United
States of America and the De
partment of Health, Education
and Welfare to prevent the cut
off of federal funds because of
failure to achieve forced inte
gration in the schools. The U.
S. attorneys admitted in open
BOY SCOUTS HIKE
Persons Lake area was the
scene of happy shouting young
sters Friday evening as Boy
Scout Troop 233 of Butler pitch
ed tents for a weekend of fun
at nearby Persons Lake.
There were serious moments
too as several of the troop
completed requirements for
Second Class Scout, while
others began preparations for
their First Class Scout Badge.
Under the leadership of Se
nior Scoutmaster Edward Benns
and assistant, Larry Davis, the
boys hiked from Butler to the
camp area. Friday evening the
troop entertained visitors, P.
C.Smith and Larry Wilkerson,
teachers at Taylor County High
School, with an “impromptu
skit" night.
The following members of
Troop 233 were present; Thom
as Elliston, Ben Cheek, Wayne
Taylor, Charles Spillers, Bruce
Robinson, Allen Smith, Chuck
Wright, Ricky Bone, Mike Wat
son, Nick Giles, Willie Payne,
Tony Albritton, Joe Keen, Ter
ry Davis, Johnny Pennington and
Gerald Locke.
Mrs. Trussell To
Be Hostess For
Auxiliary Meet
Mrs. W. H. Trussell will be
hostess to the Butler Unit 124
of the American Legion and
Auxiliary at her home, Friday,
Sept. 2 at 3;30 p.m. Mrs. Ed
Wilson, music chairman of the
group, will be in charge of the
program for the day.
REYNOLDS STORES
PLAN TO CLOSE
The following stores in Rey
nolds plan to be closed on La
bor Day; Windham’s Dime
Store, Citizens State Bank,
Hick's Cash Store, Aultman’s,
G. H. Goddard and Son, Cook's
Department Store, Brady’s,
Dial Gas Company, Georgia Po
wer Company, Goodroe Appli
ance, Ayers Oil Company, Wil
son’s Cleaners and E. T. Shea-
ly.
court that the guidelines vio
lated the 1964 Civil Rights Act
and the Cqnstitution of the Uni
ted States and were, therefore,
illegal, unconstitutional and un
enforceable.
“If other counties will ap
proach this problem in the pro
per fashion, and resist in
court," Byrd said. “I believe
they will have federal money
restored to them and will not
have to resort to forced inte
gration.”
“Let me remind you again,”
said the former lieutenant gov
ernor, "that full compliance
with the guidelines will amount
to total integration in three
years. While I realize that each
county school board is an auto
nomous body and has a right
to integrate its schools if it
sees fit, 1 say to those that do
not want to that I will provide
the leadership and the legal
representation to prevent their
having to do so."
"I feel also that the forced
transfer of teachers from Ne
gro to white schools and from
white to Negro schools is
morally wrong as well as il
legal,” Byrd continued.
“I urge the people of Georgia
to refrain from violence and
to be patient,” he concluded.
“Help is on the way. When I
become governor, each county
resisting these unlawful, un
needed, unworkable federal
edicts will be provided with
legal representation by the
state."
* * *
Ray Lambert, immediate past
president of the Young Demo
crats of Georgia and presently
vice chairman of the Floyd
County Board of Roads and
Revenue, has endorsed the can
didacy of Garland T. Byrd for
governor. His statement fol
lows:
“As past president of the
Young Democrats of Georgia,
I feel it my duty to do what
little I can to restore the faith
that many millions of Georgians
have had in our party over the
’BO' CALLAWAY
TO VISIT COUNTY
Congressman Howard H, (Bo)
Callaway will be in Butler,
Friday afternoon at 4;15 for a
short visit. His bus will be
parked at the Courthouse
Square.
Congressman Callaway is a
candidate for Governor on the
Republican ticket in the General
Election in November.
All those interested in speak
ing to Congressman Callaway
are invited to come by and vis
it with him at this time.
EASTERN STAR
The first meeting of the Eas
tern Star, Stella Butler Chap
ter, after the summer recess
will be held Friday night, Sept.
2, 8 p.m. in the Masonic Build
ing. All members are urged to
attend.
GARLAND T. BYRD
years. The party that has led
Georgia to the forefront among
our neighboring states of the
great South...the party that has
assembled in our nation's Capi
tol one of the most respected
delegations of congressmen and
senators any state has ever
had.
“The man for that mission
is former lieutenant governor
Garland T. Byrd."
Lambert will be actively
working in Byrd’s state cam
paign headquarters in Atlanta
until Sept. 14, contacting Young
Democrats and other friends
throughout the state on behalf
of candidate Garland Byrd.
Flint Electric
Tells Of Capital
Credit Payment
Capital credit payments to
members of Flint Electric
Membership Corporation total
ing $167,136 are being made
now, representing margins re
turnable to members who re
ceived service from the co
operative during the year 1952,
according to S. J. Tankersley,
general manager.
Capital credits are funds over
and above the cost of opera
tions which are credited to a
member’s account in propor
tion to the electric service
purchased from the cooperative
during any given year in which
there are such margins, Tan
kersley said.
They are being returned to
members by Flint EMC in the
order in which accumulated.
The total margins that mem
bers or their estates have re
ceived, including the current
payments, is $1,055,099.
"Here again is demonstrated
the ‘service at cost’ principle
of doing business which is the
basic principle of our member-
owned business," said Tan
kersley. "In addition to serving
members and areas which might
otherwise still be without elec
tric power, we are able to pro
vide low cost electric power
at rates which permit our mem
bers to enjoy the benefits of
modern living, and our farm
ers to employ efficient meth
ods of operation," he said.
Flint EMC now has a member
ship of almost 20,000.
Edwards Tells
Of Proposed
Industry Here
Ward Edwards, candidate for
the House of Representatives
from the 57th District of Geor
gia, composed of Marion and
Taylor Counties, had the fol
lowing to say regarding the
proposed new industry for
Taylor County:
"The industry that is inter
ested in locating in Butler has
selected the site of their place
of business in the building ad
joining Edwards Office Buil
ding.
"To better acquaint the pub
lic, this industry will manufac
ture children’s clothing and
carries the brand name of
Toddler Tyke. Their proposed
operation is to start with 56
machines and will employ ap
proximately 70 people.
“1 have met with Mr. Charlie
Stone and Mr. H. C. Bond on
numerous occasions and have
worked closely with them to
encourage them to come to our
city.
Toddler Tyke has two other
plants, one in Atlanta and the
other in Franklin, Georgia,
and both plants have been very
successful.
"It will be my purpose to
keep the public informed of
any future developments in this
industry locating in Taylor
County."