The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Has spring finally rolled around?

Blair Branch


Hello all! I hope this finds each of you doing well. Michael, the boys, and I are doing good, thankfully. I know that I haven’t written in a couple months but I’ve had a lot on my plate.

I’d been trying to recover from surgery that I had in mid January. Due to an autoimmune issue, healing has been a slow process. But I am finally doing better and the surgeon has released me.

I attended church at Dixon Memorial Old Regular Baptist on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. I really enjoyed both services. If you ever get a chance, stop by. Services are held each month on the fourth Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. and the fourth Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. You’ll be treated as family and welcomed with open arms.

I never thought we would see the first day of spring roll around. But it has finally came and went, and I’ve really been enjoying the warmer days that we have had here and there. I’ve heard people say “No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.” But I’d about given up hope.

I try not to complain about the weather because we are blessed to be alive to see it. I’m just thankful to see the warm sunshine, green grass (in places), and Easter lilies instead of snow and ice.

Deidra, Sammy, Kylee, and Brantlee Gibson along with Allen, Jessica, Hayden, Alissa, and Zachary Jent, recently relocated to Madisonville in West Kentucky due to the loss of jobs in the coal industry locally. They’ve found homes, jobs, and are very happy, but them being away from here is hard on the entire family. We miss them so much. I love the babies like they were my own.

Speaking of babies, Brantlee Luke Gibson came into this world at Whitesburg ARH on Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 19 inches long. He is the son of Deidra and Sammy Gibson and has an older sister Kylee, who will be three years old before too long. He is the grandson of Missy and Wayne Fields, and Ellis and Margie Gibson. Mom and Dad, Allen and Sylvania Whitaker, now have five great-grandchildren.

I was ecstatic that Deidra and Sammy were able to come in for church this weekend so that I could cuddle both Kylee and Brantlee. Allen and Jessica were also in, but only for a short time. I was bummed that I didn’t get to see their babies, but hopefully I will get to soon.

The boys and I attended a birthday party for my niece, Lexi, on Saturday, March 1. She is 10 years old and the daughter of Missy and Wayne Fields of Cowan. She had a creative Lego cake that she designed herself. It tasted as good as it looked.

Mom’s kidney is still functioning perfectly and we thank God for His blessing! She caught a cold recently and was pretty sick there for quite a while. Thankfully, it didn’t cause her any problems with the transplant and she is doing much better now.

Dad has been having a lot of problems with his back and hip, but otherwise is doing okay.

Dad’s brother, Roger Whitaker, hasn’t been feeling too well. Dialysis is rough on him as it is on most anyone who has to undergo the treatments. Keep him in your prayers.

Brenda Blair, Willard Blair’s wife who had an aneurism and spent months in the hospital, is doing some better and was well enough that she got to come home.

There will be a benefit dinner and concert for Brenda on Saturday, March 29, at 4 p.m. at the Old Carr Creek High School. Spaghetti dinners will be sold and there will be live music by Taking Up Crosses and Shiloh Music. Everyone is invited.

Charles E. Blair hasn’t been feeling well. Mom spoke with him on Sunday afternoon and said he was having trouble with his sinuses and allergies. I hope he feels better real soon!

Blair Branch has suffered a significant amount of loss to deal with recently.

Carlos and Tracy Adams were tragically lost in a four-wheeling accident. Carlos Adams, 70, and Tracy “Stimey” Adams, 34, of Jeremiah died Thursday, Feb. 6, in Jeremiah. Carlos was the son of Ida Smith Adams of Jeremiah and the late John Adams.

Carlos was the widower of Reatha Blair Adams. He was the father of Stephen Adams and Tracy “Stimey” Adams; a brother of Marvin Adams of Jeremiah, Thelma and the late Donnie Seals of Jeremiah, Joyce and L.C. Adams of Jeremiah, Freda and Doolittle Seals of Jeremiah, and Betty and Chuck Washington of Morehead; and grandfather of Alyssa Newman.

Carlos was preceded in death by two sons, Jamie Adams and Kevin Adams.

Tracy “Stimey” was the son of Carlos Adams and the late Reatha Blair Adams. Surviving are a daughter, Alyssa Newman; a halfbrother, Stephen Adams of Kentucky; and grandmother, Ida Smith Adams of Jeremiah.

Tracy was preceded in death by two brothers, Jamie Adams and Kevin Adams.

Their funeral was held Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Blair Branch Old Regular Baptist Church. Burial followed in the Adams family cemetery at Jeremiah. Continue to pray for their family.

Dad, Allen Whitaker, lost his only sister, Wilma, at the end of February. I know it has been a hard time for him, his brothers, and Wilma’s girls.

Well, it has been a hard time for all of the family, but them especially. She had been sick for a long time, and we know that now she isn’t suffering, but it is still hard.

Wilma Jean Whitaker Halcomb, 69, of Blackey, died Friday, Feb. 28, at Pikeville Medical Center. Wilma was the daughter of the late Amos and Nella Blair Whitaker. She was the widow of James “Jake” Halcomb.

Surviving are two daughters, Nella Renee Halcomb Smith and Jamie Rebecca Halcomb Collins, both of Blackey; four brothers, Allen Whitaker of Blair Branch, Roger Whitaker of Premium, Rulah Whitaker of Somerset, and Johnny Whitaker of Hindman; seven grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

The funeral was Sunday, March 2, at Dixon Memorial Church. Burial followed in the Clarence Blair Cemetery at Blair Branch. Continue to pray for our family also.

I’m so far behind on birthdays, I’ll never catch up. So, I’ll just say happy birthday to all of those that I missed since the last time I sat down to write, and start back off with the beginning of March.

Alissa Jent, Maggie Pratt, and John Lynch celebrated their birthdays on March 1; Alexis Fields, March 2; Rachael Smith- Phillips, March 3; Mariya Lepou and myself, March 5; Naomi Strickland, March 9; Rebecca Halcomb and Judah Strickland, March 11; Chris Strickland and Patrick Lynch, March 13; Venora Combs-Walters, March 15; Marvon Blair, March 16; Kristin Ingram, March 18; Jayln Hensley, March 19; Freda Combs, March 21; Phoenix Emmons, March 23; Kayla Hensley, Johnny Whitaker, and Caitlin Webb, March 25.

Leanna Strickland and Marissa Collie will celebrate their birthdays on March 27; Becky Collie, March 28; David Jent and Katelyn Morgan, April 3; and Raymond Collie, April 5.

I hope all of your special days were filled with love and laughter, and that each of you are blessed with many more!

I know there is much that I have forgot to mention, as it has been a while since I wrote, so please forgive me. I’ll try to do better.

But, if I have left anyone or anything out that someone has asked me to share, just let me know, and I will be glad you get it next time. I hope everyone has a healthy and happy week.

If you would like to contact me, feel free to give me a call or you may email me at alanacouch@hotmail.com.



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