By Donna Traywick

Mt. Olivet News

This has been a very sad week in the Mt. Olivet community. We buried Pam Franklin only two weeks ago. Her husband Paul was the most devoted caregiver that I have ever known.

Jimmie Barbee passed away last Thursday. He was one of the most faithful members of Mt. Olivet Methodist that I have ever known. Every time someone who was a hard worker in the church dies, the song “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” always come to mind. I think it was written by Willie Nelson.

Tiffani DeMaria, daughter of Windred Lawrence and Donna Weaver passed away last Wednesday. They lived in Florida and have three children. Her funeral was held in Florida, but there will be a memorial service at Mt. Olivet on Saturday night from 5 to 7 p.m.

Tiffani had many friends here and graduated from North Delta School.

You readers probably don’t know who writes the headlines for the articles that Sherry Hopkins, Mary Murphy, and I write. We do not get to write them. For that I am grateful. I think they pick out the most eye-catching news.

Last week I wrote about the Class of 1955, and the headline was “1955 class had characters.” At first glance it read “character” with no s. That changes the whole personality, but it was very fitting, because the class definitely has c-h-a-r-a-c-t-e-r! It has produced some characters.

The late Mac Taylor was a very good singer – and did he sing! In the study hall, in the classroom, everywhere, When the teacher was out of the room he lay on her desk singing Hank Williams’ songs. The old Hank. Not Hank Williams, Jr.

His songs matched the Old Hank very well, drumming on the desk for rhythm. Mac could also copy off my paper looking upside down faster than I could work the problems. I was trying to concentrate and work a problem and here he was drumming away and telling me to hurry up.

One teacher always made us sit in alphabetical order. With a P (for Palmertree), I usually sat somewhere in the the back of the room. I had one person who sat behind me. One day he bent over and bit a plug out of my shoulder. I screamed so loud the teacher sent to the office. Him? Nothing!

I could write much more about the characters and the character of each person in the class. We had one teacher, Mr. W.C. Eaker, who was both history teacher and principal. We must have had pretty good character because he attended each of our luncheons every six months.

He passed away several weeks ago about the age of 97 or 98. I’ve never known a teacher to keep up with the students long after they retired the way he did.

One young man who rode the bus with me for many years got in touch with The Panolian recently. His name was Floyd Malone. We had lots of fun.

He now lives out of state and was curious that someone did not write about the dam breaking on Hwy. 315. Jeremy (the Editor) told him that I had the news in two articles, and he immediately decided to buy a subscription.

Remember the following events this weekend: Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church is having a homecoming of former members Saturday. Mt. Olivet will have a Good Friday service at 7 p.m.  and an Easter egg hunt tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Terza had Maundy Services at their church Thursday night. Cold Springs will have sunrise services at 7 a.m.

My article is very rushed this week. But please read next week’s article. Donald Wright called me with some very interesting news this week – something I had never thought about and don’t think many of you have either.

I’m going to let him be my co-writer next week if it is okay with the paper. His findings are strange, funny, every educational, and not not much worth needing to know. It’s gonna turn your thinking upside down!

The only hint I can give you is this: “Donald, how many toes does the Easter Bunny have?” And next week’s article is going to the dog (not Dawgs).

Ponder that all week and don’t forget to read your paper next Friday. If not my article, then read Mary Murphy, Sherry Hopkins, and the others. Send me your news by text or give me a call. Home number is 563-1742 and text is 901-828-8824.