The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Memorial services are drawing fewer people




Hope this week’s column finds all well and enjoying the first week of June.

Recently, the Letcher Area Homemakers held their monthly meeting and had a ladies’ tea party. Dresses, hats and good friends — plus good food — made for a delightful time. Former county extension agent Ann Bradley2 and new agent, Nanette Banks, also joining them.

We took our annual trip to Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park recently. Liberty and Noah Campbell joined Don and Coreen Pridemore, Bob, Kenny and I this year. We enjoyed family time, eating, fishing and paddle boating around the lake.

The memorial meeting at the John C. Adams Cemetery had to be moved from the cemetery on Blair Branch to the Blair Branch Church. The rain started just before services were to start, but it was a nice service at the church house with a fair crowd in attendance.

Jeremiah

Arnetta Mae Slone ended up in the hospital a couple of days, but is home doing better now.

This past weekend was the memorial for the deceased members of the Mount Olivet Church at Blackey. On Sunday the names of those members were read and many loved ones were there to pay respect for their memory. After services they also had dinner for all who would stay and eat at the church.

This coming Sunday will be the memorial meeting at the Spring Branch Cemetery and all are welcome to attend. It is one of the few outdoor meetings still held. I enjoy the old time cemetery meetings.

Just a few met on the hill for the memorial meeting at the Nancy Back, Dixon and Smith cemeteries above the Dixon Memorial Church. It’s sad that more do not come out to show love and respect for the memory of loved ones laid to rest on the hillside. We missed those who usually come but are dealing with sickness at this time.

The annual Smith reunion was also held, and despite Tommy Harris’s recent illness, the Friday evening soup bean dinner and Saturday dinner were held. I remember it was always the big dinner and get together for the all the Smiths and friends who would gather at the old J. T. Smith homeplace. Kinfolk would attend the memorial on the hill, then fill up the Dixon Memorial Church before heading over for dinner, and Virgie Smith Adams Stacy’s home. Those were happy times, full of visitors, family and food.

A few attended the American Legion shooting over the graves at Horse Mill Point Cemetery. We also attended it at Burton Hill, too.

Our sympathy goes to the families who have lost loved ones lately. Randy Back of Jeremiah recently passed away. He was a son of the late Stan and Betty Sue Back, and husband of Teresa. So sorry for his family and friends.

Mable Jo Buttrey of Isom was also called away. In her long life she touched many lives and was well known and well loved, and managed to stay active until just recently.

If you’re looking for something to do in the evenings, on Tuesdays there’s a cornhole playing get together at the gazebo below Letcher Elementary School at Clark Drive, and Thursdays are the Blackey Park Music Jam at Blackey.

Since I can only find time to write occasionally, I am looking for someone to take over the Jeremiah column. Please let me or The Mountain Eagle know if you would like to write the weekly column.



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