About The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 2013)
HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS MART continues through December 21 at Suite 70 in the Peach Shops of Byron. All hand made items. Something for everyone. Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday noon until 6 p.m. Be a part of our Award Winning Home town Christmas Tabloid. Give me a call today and reserve your spot. Call 478-836-3195 ISSUE 48 THURSDAY, December 19, 2013 COVERING BYRON AND PEACH COUNTY BYRONBUZZ@PSTEL.NET BY VICTORIA SIMMONS The Byron Buzz Sitting in the late Claudine Gatlyn’s chair, Lauren Chap in, looked very much like the character Kathy “Kitten” she played on Father Knows Best. Talking with her was almost like talking to your best friend, as conversation flowed easily between us as did the laughter. For seven years Lauren played Kathy “Kitten” Ander son on the domestic comedy which presented situations to which viewers could relate about family life which were resolved in the last minutes of the show. Previously a radio program, the television version premiered October 3,1954 with some changes. From 1959-60 the show was ranked the sixth most popular program in prime time. Lauren starred in many TV and radio programs, other movies and commercials. She received five Jr. Emmy’s for Best Child Actress and as an adult has been awarded “Honorable Mayor” of dif ferent cities in at least three states. Today she is involved in ministry and is an ordained minister at Immanuel Church of Vero Beach, were she now resides. She has trav eled to Israel but continues to do autograph sessions as “Kitten”. She has appeared on Regis and Kathy Lee, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight,Oprah Winfrey and more. She helped found “A Minor Consideration”, a non profit organization dedicated to protecting child actors. In addition, she has appeared on several magazine cov ers including TV Guide. She wrote an autobiography titled “Father Does Know Best, the Lauren Chapin Story, which is no longer in print but she is trying to acquire the rights so she can do reprints. Chapin was in town recent ly to speak at the Retired Mil itary Knows Best, Lauren calls “magical”. TV was relatively new at the time and was not demeaning like many shows today. Most shows taught something; there was a prob- Fuii “The world needs S a Feiiow- Love, - Laura Chapin, non ship (RMFGF) Christmas banquet which was held in Forsyth. While life may have seemed perfect on the television series, for Chapin life was not perfect in real life. Her moth er was an alcoholic and she was abused as a child. But she overcame all those obstacles and wants to encourage other women, that they too can overcome what life may have thrown at them. The time spent on Father in the time a show would air. Children then, Chapin said, were allowed to be children; the father was the head of the family; children looked to the mother for comfort. When not filming, Lauren would go to school and would go into other sets. Because she was so “precious”, Lauren says she could get away with a lot. Lauren doesn’t watch a lot of TV these days but does The cast of Father Knows Best back then: in front Kathy ’’Kitten” (Laura Chapin) with her pig tails, and James ”Bud” (Billy Gray). In back are Betty ’’Princess” Elinor Donahue, Robert Young as the father and Jane Wyatt as the mother. like “The Voice” and HGTV. She also feels that social media has done a disservice to our children. “They have lost the art of imagination, they depend on tech nology and it has stolen their ability to be imagina tive,” she said. From the show, Lauren is still in touch with Billy Gray (James “Bud” Anderson, Jr.,) and Elinor Do nahue (Betty “Princess” Anderson, They still do autograph " ttoii ,a,e C,a “ dine Ga#y„ sessions together from time to time. Even as a child, Lauren was aware of God’s presence in her life. She says she was about five the first time she felt God’s presence and that He heard her and His angels were near. But, as you grow, Lauren said, you sometimes lose that connection to God and you find you have a vacancy to fill which you try to fill with things of the world. “I lost myself until I was age 33,” she said. Her son, Matthew, kept after her to go to church with him. Her heart had hardened some by this time, she said and she didn’t think God cared so she wasn’t really interested in attending church. However, her son was persistent and she went to church. It took a while before they found the right match. Many of them she said were cold and unresponsive and she didn’t feel like church °me of Dan Dec emb should be like that. About eight churches later they found one that loved and welcomed them. She was 33 and at that time and smoking three packs of cigarettes a day. When she walked into this church in Orange County, California, she saw people talking to each other and hap py to be going to church. She walked down to the front that day and she cried; something she hadn’t done in 12 years. “It’s been a wonderful ride. When you forget your first love (God), He holds out for you to come back,” she said. “Running from God does not bring you happiness.” Lauren’s desire these days, is to share the love of Christ with everyone. “The world needs love,” she said. She adds that she loves helping people. “It’s a calling.” In addition to her son, she has one daughter and four grand sons. She has quit smoking and “is sold out to Jesus”. “There is no way to live life without Christ. Whatever I’ve done does not compare to what I want to do for Him.” The number one most asked question from people, Lauren said, is “What hap pened to your pig tails?” (No explanation needed!) Fame, she said is a different and sometimes a difficult coat to wear. She said it hasn’t giv en her a big head. Once you were famous and then you are not, helps keep you humble according to Chapin. Humble, genuine, down to earth and sold out to Jesus; that pretty much sums up Lauren Chapin these days. U " ra Wap/„ a(((le(l if iPMIm Emm Hksf mf§ jm mm mmwmm m0mg Santa’s helpers from left: Maggie Lettice, Glenda Myers and Marlene Humphry. Below is Marg Liguano. Photos were taken by Cliff Rabanus and he was assisted by Lynn Bassett. Close to 100 kids had lunch with Santa Saturday. This is the Byron Area Historical Society’s annual event held at the Depot for the children of Byron. Para Vinson, at right, and her help ers presented ”A Vintage 1920 Christmas” with decorations from the past including vintage costumes for Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children got a photo with Santa and lunch. The caboose was also open and decorat ed with vintage decorations from the creative mind of Para Vinson. BA/fS J&mcA ufUASa/Ua Sal., <Dec. U, 20/3
