By Rita Howell

Two longtime members of the Truth Seekers Sunday School Class at Batesville First United Methodist Church were honored last Sunday with a brunch in celebration of their 100th birthdays.

Allie Craig turned 100 on October 13 and James Herron will celebrate the century mark on November 20.

“It’s quite unusual for two people from the same church to have 100th birthdays so close together,” Ed Woodall, associate pastor of the church, said.

 Members of the congregation formed a long line as they waited their turns to greet the two ladies, both Panola County natives.

Members said Mrs. Craig is known for being the first to arrive for services each Sunday, driving herself from her home a short distance down Panola Ave.

She is also a member of United Methodist Women Circle II, and OWLS, the church’s senior citizens group. Mrs. Craig delivers copies of devotional books to Fairfield Assisted Living.

In 1924 she joined First Methodist Church, along with her friends Sammie Finch Cromwell and Erin Whitten.

She is the widow of James “Hawk” Craig, a civil engineer whom she assisted with surveying and record-keeping.

Her daughter, Ida Scarborough, lives in Memphis. Mrs. Craig has two grandchildren, one great granddaughter and one great-great granddaughter, and many local relatives.

James Carothers Herron is a member of United Methodist Women Circle III, OWLS, and formerly sang in the chancel choir and participated in Explorer’s Bible Study.

She and her late husband, Bill Herron, were active in the church until he died in 1998. They were married for 65 years.

Mrs. Herron has two children, daughter Nancy Thomson of Batesville and son Billy Herron of Southaven. She is the grandmother of seven, the great-grandmother of 17 and the great-great-grandmother of two.

A teacher at Batesville Elementary for 26 year, she was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma teachers honorary. She is a charter member of the Batesville Woman’s Club and the Panola Historical and Genealogical Society.

She has enjoyed playing bridge, making crafts in the XYZ Sewing Club, knitting, reading and traveling. Though she is now blind, she, like Mrs. Craig, lives independently and enjoys listening to books on tape.