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The True Citizen, Wednesday, November 18, 2009 — Page 5A
Dixie Divas
THANKFUL FOR CHARACTERS
By Ronda Rich
Thanksgiving is a time to
come together and celebrate a
family’s be-
loved char
acters, the
ones who
give us
many stories
to declare
and laughter
to share.
For any
storyteller, it is an occasion not
to be missed.
A friend in Los Angeles and I
were having a conversation
about our families, traditions
and get-togethers.
To appreciate this story, know
that his family is one of the most
accomplished in Hollywood.
Collectively, they have played
significant roles in creating
some of the most memorable,
most honored shows in televi
sion history.
“Do y’all get together for big
family dinners for Thanksgiving
and Christmas?” I asked, imag
ining they did, thinking they
must surely live like a perfect
television family.
He burst forth in laughter,
long and loud. The mirth con
tinued so long that, finally, I in
terrupted it. "Why is that so
funny?”
“We never get together for
family dinners. Never. I can’t
remember ever having a
Thanksgiving or Christmas din
ner together.”
I was astounded. I always
knew Hollywood folks were
different but I didn’t realize they
were that different. “You’re
kiddin’ me, right?”
“Nope.”
“Wow, what a shame,” I re
plied in disbelief. “You’re miss
ing out on an awful good op
portunity to get some great ma
terial. Holidays are a smor
gasbord of stories and plots just
waiting to be written.”
Personally, as a writer, I count
on these family get-togethers
for material. I particularly need
them since Mama died and took
some of my best story stuff with
her. Truth be told, it’s been a lot
tougher without the encyclope
dia of stories she used to regu
larly contribute.
As a result, I am now ex
tremely grateful to sit at the
table of characters and break
bread among a host of loving,
colorful folks who provide end
less stories, wisdom and witti
cisms. Food feeds my body but
their personalities feed my soul.
In the South, colorful families
are the norm and the most dra
matically different members are
proudly hailed as characters. We
cherish the holidays when we
can fully express and practice
our entertaining ways as a cel
ebration of our heritage. Any
self-respecting Southerner dedi
cated to preserving our way of
life knows that (we also know
that alcoholic is a fancy name
for a drunk and any man who
refuses to feed his family by
applying himself to physical la
bor is worthless). If we in the
South become fully functional
families then we will be divest
ing ourselves of what makes up
truly unique among Americans.
We can’t have that.
So, again this year, proudly
unique and happily content with
it all, we’ll gather. We’ll rejoice
in the eccentricities that are ours
individually and the bloodline
that bonds us in commonality
and be thankful for it all.
One seat, though, will be
empty.
Jack Pierce, a dedicated man
of God, was legendary for his
fervor of prayer so it was he that
often thanked the good Lord for
the bounty of food and blessings
when we gathered for Thanks
giving. When he bowed his
head, it was clear that he had
stretched his humble hand up to
clasp the almighty hand of God.
Once, as a young preacher, he
had attended worship with an
African-American congrega
tion. At the close of the service,
he was asked to pray so he
dropped to his knees and prayed
as only he could. When the ser
vice ended, an old man ap
proached him and said,
"Preacher, you shore is fixed up
to pray.”
Yes, he was.
Three months after his death,
we are still heart-broken but we
will lift a glass of sweet tea and
toast Jack as well as all the other
characters who we have loved
mightily, who are now gone
from the table of our Thanks
giving fellowship (four in 18
months).
Meanwhile, there are a lot of
babies in our family. Hopefully,
a few of ‘em will grow up to be
real characters. We need to re
place the good ones we’ve lost.
Ronda Rich is the best-selling
author of What Southern Women
Know About Faith. Visit
www.rondarich.com to sign up
for her weekly newsletter.
Letters to the Editor
Burke Happenings
‘I HonorYou’
Editor:
I always count it a joy to be
asked to sing for any occasion.
I was very proud to honor our
veterans today, Wednesday No
vember 11, 2009, by leading
them in “God Bless America.”
What a glorious sound rang
from the halls of Legion Post
120.
Thank you Commander
Clayton and the men of Post 120
and 270.1 honor you.
Sincerely,
Carla Cobb, Waynesboro
Takes issue
with coverage
Editor:
Ok, after breast cancer aware
ness month, countless articles
and reflections with personal
stories of breast cancer survi
vors in The Chronicle, even a
pink newspaper, I read the Au
gusta Chronicle headline this
morning “Guidelines Say Delay
Mammograms.” Should
women, especially, take comfort
in knowing a task force claims
self-breast exams do no good?
Is this one of the new govern
ment medical programs which
may be in control of our
healthcare?
You know what? It just goes
to prove the old saying believe
half of what you read and none
of what you hear. I hope that
many people write in who have
survived breast cancer because
of early detection to contradict
this latest ’’research,” not to
mention relatives of those who
have died at the ages of 30 to
50. When reading a news ar
ticle that seems so ridiculous
and out of the realm of common
sense or even contrary, nine
times out of ten you can bet a
pizza it’s from.. .yes, Associated
Press. My rule of thumb in read
ing newspapers is if an article
source is from Associated Press,
I’ll just skip it and go on to
something else.
Hmmm ... will the next big
headline 10 years from now
read “Breast Cancer Surging To
New Highs?” My wife, who is
a long way from 50, is keeping
her mammogram appointment
in January and will continue her
self-exams. We don’t care what
ASS ociated Press says!
A good reporter from the
Chronicle might consider doing
interviews and stories with
some local physicians and their
comments about this “new
study.” Now THAT might
prove to be interesting reading.
Robbie McMillan
Waynesboro, Georgia
Great season, Bears!
Editor:
To Coach Parker and staff,
you’ve proven that you have
one of the best upcoming pro
grams in the state of Georgia.
Some say you are already there.
Your efforts are greatly appre
ciated.
Senior Bears, you’ll look
back one day and say, “We
started that fire.”
You guys who are coming
back, pray, hit your books, hit
the weight room and come back
stronger and more determined
next season.
We’ll be waiting!
Bear Backers
Charles Johnson, James
Young, Mike Davis, Sherman
Jenkins and James Reedy.
DAR
The Edmund Burke Chapter
Daughters of the American
Revolution will meet at 10 a.m.
on Saturday, Nov. 21, at The
Meeting Place on Shadrack
Street. Lunch will be served at
noon. November is American
Indian Heritage month, and the
program will be on the Indian
Youth of America Summer
Camp.
Self Defense
First United Methodist
Church and WPD will co-spon
sor a self defense awareness
seminar for women. Topics in
clude violent crime awareness;
the law and your rights; firearm
safety; defensive moves and the
personal approach.
Representatives will speak
from the Rape Crisis Center,
The district attorney’s office, the
Police Academy, WPD and ka
rate expert Tyrone Tablada.
The seminar will be held 9:45
a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Nov.
21, at First Methodist Church in
the fellowship hall. The event
is free, and donations will be
taken for sack lunches only.
Empty Stocking Fund
Empty Stocking Fund appli-
- See Happenings, Page 6A
Other Voices
Back By Popular
Demand
NEW PILLOW-TOP
MATTRESS SETS
By F. Leslie Jenkins Jr.
Burke Banter Boy
Joseph Cain and a buddy
went walking in the woods. Jo
seph loved the woods behind his
home. This day he found a patch
of wild flowers, so he picked a
big bouquet. When Joseph re
turned home he went to the front
door and rang the bell. Joseph
handed the flowers to his
mother and said, “I love you.”
Joseph told his mother he loved
her every day and always with
a hug.
Joseph was a good boy, Jo
seph was an exceptional boy,
Joseph was one of God’s own.
Joseph loved his mother and
Joseph loved God. As a young
boy, he talked about becoming
a North American Missionary.
Nancy Cain has many loving
memories of her oldest son that
she holds deep within her heart.
On Oct. 24, 2003, the accident
occurred. Joseph was just one
month shy of his birthday.
At the tender age of fourteen,
Joseph went to be with his Lord
Jesus. He was not alone in the
accident, his sister Olivia and a
friend were also involved.
Minutes after the accident,
Nancy drove upon it. She as
sumed no one survived.
Nancy’s first question to God
was, “Why me God? I love You
and serve You.”
God’s answer was, "Didn’t
you give your life to me?”
“Yes,” she said. “Then your life
is not your own,” God replied.
Accepting God’s response she
prayed, “God if You are Who
You say You are, and You can
do what You say You can do,
then I need You now. There is
no way I can get through this
without You.”
Later, she was informed that
her daughter had survived the
accident, but her son and their
friend did not.
Two days later, God spoke
through Nancy at Joseph’s fu
UN WAVE RING FAITH
neral. God’s peace and comfort
were upon Nancy. Her great
love for God was restored, and
she related God’s message of
salvation to the hundreds listen
ing.
Many that day accepted that
salvation and many more since.
The most amazing thing was
what was done in Nancy’s life.
Her faith grew even stronger
and God eased her grief. Her
witness for Jesus knows no
boundaries.
Just as Joseph was not
ashamed, even in front of a
friend, to tell his mother he
loved her, Nancy was not
ashamed to proclaim the gospel
of Jesus Christ to all. Nancy told
those in the audience that day
that she knew Joseph was in
Heaven and happy there. She
did not like that God had taken
him, but God is God. God is
utimately in control.
Nancy found peace and com
fort in the Word of God. The
scripture that was her mainstay
comes from Philippians 4:6-9,
“Rejoice in the Lord always.I
will say it again: Rejoice! Let
your gentleness be evident to
all. The Lord is near. Do not be
anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and peti
tion, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus. Finally, Whatever
is true, whatever is noble, what
ever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable - if anything is ex
cellent or praiseworthy - think
about such things. Whatever
you have learned or received or
heard from me, or seen in me-
put into practice. And the God
of peace will be with you.”
Other Bible verses that helped
Nancy through her trials are
Isaiah 61:1-3 and Isaiah 53:4-
5.
It’s been six years since the
accident. Nancy’s faith is stron
ger than ever.
Nancy is still not afraid or
ashamed to proclaim the name
of Jesus as the only hope of a
lost and dying world. Nancy,
who once was a shy quiet lady,
now is proud to have the chance
to tell others of what Jesus has
done in her life.
She tells of the love Jesus has
for us all. When one is near
Nancy that love flows from her.
This love she exhibits makes her
message of the Cross even more
meaningful. Nancy can think of
no more fitting memorial to Jo
seph than having someone
come to Christ as a result of her
and Joseph’s story.
To all those out there who are
missing peace, comfort and joy
in their lives, to all those griev
ing, to all those who need a Sav
ior, Jesus is the only answer.
Jesus answered Nancy during
the most trying time in her life.
Nancy’s unwavering Faith
brought her through this terrible
tragedy with a stronger Faith
and a secure Hope.
Jesus will answer you, too. He
is the Way, the Truth and the
Life.
You can contact F. Leslie
Jenkins Jr., Burke Banter Boy,
via email: f291@bellsouth.net
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Over the past decade, many funeral homes
in the area have changed ownership and
the way they are operated.
However, we are committed to remaining
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commitment is helping families who may
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has shown that when families transfer their
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Call us at any time if you have questions
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