Newspaper Page Text
November 21, 2012
PAGE 4C
^Reporter
Thanksgiving Day in Monroe County
BY DIANE GLIDEWELL
Although other countries have set aside
days to express gratititude for blessings,
Thanksgiving Day is uniquely American
with its origins in the Pilgrims giving
thanks for surviving their first harsh
year in the new world and inviting the
Native Americans to a feast to show
appreciation for their assistance and
their unity in the fight for survival
against the elements of nature.
Thanksgiving days create poignant mem
ories for young and old, images of crisp
fall days with family gathering from far
and near to savor special dishes and cre
ate traditions together.
Five 10-year-old fifth grade students at
T. G. Scott Elementary School and five
residents at Heritage Heathcare of
Monroe graciously shared some of their
favorite Thanksgiving plans and memo
ries with The Reporter this week before
Thanksgiving 2012. For the T. G. Scott
students, the most significant part of the
holiday and the greatest reason to be
thankful was family, especially parents.
Family is also important to the men and
women at Heritage Healthcare of
Monroe, but they also expressed great
gratitude for life itself and the joy of feel
ing cared for by others.
For Heritage Healthcare of M onroe residents:
Freida Young
Albert Price
James English
Esther Ballard
Nancy Jefferson
“I thank God I’m alive and for
all folks do for me,” said Freida
Young. “I’ve got so many bless
ings I can’t thank Him enough.”
She grew up in Porterdale and
remembers going to Atlanta with
a preacher and his children on
Thanksgiving night to see the
lighting of the Great Tree.
Young always cooked a turkey
but also cooked a ham for her
husband, who preferred ham to
turkey, and she enjoyed many
Thanksgiving gatherings at her
daughter’s house where potato
salad and potato pie were other
favorites for the holiday meal.
She enjoyed the fellowship most.
Albert Price grew up in
Atlanta and recalls
Thanksgiving as a day for eat
ing, going to church, and being
around friends. He is thankful
for his mother, father, brothers,
sisters, and children.
At Price’s house, there were
games of football and cards
after the big meal. His mother
and grandmother were usually
responsible for the cooking.
Price’s favorite Thanksgiving
dishes include turkey, chittlins,
cornbread dressing, potato pie
and banana pie.
His favorite part of the holi
day is eating and going to
church.
James English grew up in
Covington, the oldest of 12 chil
dren, 10 of whom are stilll living.
He fondly remembers the last
Thanksgiving he spent with his
mother before she passed.
As English was growing up, his
mother did the cooking for
Thanksgiving, but he helped set
the table and wash the dishes.
After a meal that included a big
turkey, chicken dressing with
gravy, potato custard, and pecan
pies, everybody sat around and
talked.
“I am thankful to be alive,” said
English. “I have so much to be
thankful for.”
Esther Ballard grew up in
Bainbridge, one of seven chil
dren.
“Thanksgiving is the time fami
lies need to put aside everything
and enjoy being together,” said
Ballard.
Ballard cooked a feast for many
Thanksgivings, but she fondly
remembers 2009 when she was
in California and called Harvey’s
grocery to order the
Thanksgiving meal for her fami
ly in Georgia. They enjoyed it on
a picnic table outside, and it was
her mother’s last Thanksgiving.
This year Ballard’s daughter is
cooking for her like she used to
cook: turkey and cornbread
dressing, sweet potato souffle,
banana pudding, and pumpkin
pie.
Nancy Jefferson grew up in
Titusville, Fla. She said her fam
ily was small, but she enjoyed
cooking the Thankgiving meal
for her family. Sometimes she
would do so much tasting while
she was cooking that she would
not be hungry when the meal
was ready. She remembers going
to the movies after the
Thanksgiving meal.
There was turkey and giblet
dressing, pumpkin and potato
pies and chocolate cake.
“I thank the Lord first,” said
Jefferson. “I thank the Lord who
made me for my life.”
For T. G. Scott students:
Jimbo Finch
Charlie
Herndon
“I am thankful for family, for having a roof over our
heads, for food,” said Jimbo Finch.
His mother’s family is from Alabama, and his father’s
family is from Athens; so they alternate where they
spend the holidays. It is a tradition for him, his dad,
and his sister to go to the Alabama-Auburn game when
they are in Alabama for Thanksgiving.
He enjoys turkey with all the fillings, and he helps
with the preparations as his mother cooks ahead to pre
pare dishes to take with them to the family holiday
meals.
“I am thankful for having family together and for
being able to buy clothes and pay bills,” said Charie
Herndon.
He enjoys seeing cousins from Florida and South
Carolina. After eating, his family plays football and
watches football games. They go to visit other family
members, and his uncle has fireworks that evening.
One of his favorite treats is the pecan sandies his
grandparents make.
He helps with the Thanksgiving Day preparations.
BOWLing
cenTER
Kingpin Lounge & Grill
1440 Brookwood Ave. • Jackson, GA • 770-775-2190
OPEN THANKSOiyiNPl
2 p.m.-9 p
DAY
Friday & Saturday Cosmic Special
9 pm-12 pm for only $12 /person
Min. 4 players / lane or $3.75 / game
$3.00 shoe rental if needed.
We host special events!
Specials!
i
Birthdays • Family Gatherings • Church Outtings, Company Get-Togethers y
Mon. & Thu.: 10 -10 • Wed.: 10 - 9 • Fri. & Sat.: 10-12 • Sun.: 2-9
CLOSED TUESDAY
Aiden Hitchkad
“I like getting to hug and to see
smiles on the relatives around me,”
said Aiden Hitchkad.
His house is the place when grand
parents, cousins from Maryland, and
many other relatives come for
Thanksgiving. His cousins make a
decoration of feathers for the table on
which everyone writes what he or she
is thankful for, and they read them at
dinner.
Family members watch the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day parade together on
television that morning. Favorite
foods include homemade stuffing, a
special cranberry dish, and grand
mother’s famous pumpkin pie.
Whitney Ray
Whitney Ray’s favorite part of
Thanksgiving is spending time with
family and playing with cousins. A
lot of family members come to her
house for the Thanksgiving meal.
She said her job this year is just to
watch all the cooking and prepara
tions for the day. She is looking for
ward to her mother’s Coca Cola ham,
her aunt’s deviled eggs, and her
mother’s chocolate souffle.
Gavin Atkinson
Gavin Atkinson is looking forward
to visiting with family, eating
Thanksgiving dinner, and playing
with cousins, including games of
hide and seek. Many of his family
members live in Rome, and they
will be gathering at his aunt’s
house.
He helps his dad cook for the
meal, and he helps set the table.
His favorite Thanksgiving foods are
turkey and pie.
f^idgeuuciu Gfiristmas
Tree 7ra rm
Mon ■ Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sun: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tree Stands Also Available
CHOOSE & CUT
$30 $25
Leyland Cypress Virginia Pine
Fraser Fir, Ball & Burlap Leyland Cypress Also Available
f3e sure to visit our gift sfiog for ciders, jams,
jellies, unique gifts and our homemade uureatfisl
2964 High Falls Road
6 miles southwest of Jackson off Hwy. 36
DIRECTIONS: Take Hwy. 36 off 1-75 (exit 201) toward Jackson
approximately 3 miles, then riqht on High Falls Rd. for 1/2 mile.
770-775-3120 i
A