By Martha Baldridge
Memorial Day weekend is too often thought of as a time for cook-outs, trips, family gatherings, decorating the graves of family members. We need to remember that this is most of all a time to honor all veterans for the great sacrifices they made in protecting freedom, which we too often take for granted. Our deepest gratitude goes out to all these brave men and women; so many gave their lives for the cause, while those who did return bear lifelong scars — visible and/or invisible.
Today, the 25th, we remember with great sadness three lovely young ladies whose earthly lives came to a tragic end much too soon three years ago. They live on in our memories, and we continue to pray that God will constantly give their families and special friends comfort and peace.
We also pray for the families of Odas Slone and Gary Slone; both passed away this past week, and both lived in Hollybush.
We are blessed to have two special ladies in our church and community who are well-known and much loved over the area as they teach character education in the schools and touch so many young lives: “Miss Donna” Dudte and “Miss Hazel” Huff.
They were truly blessed to receive a great gift — a trip of their choice, anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, transportation and driver included. So they left on Sunday the 11th after Sunday School and the morning service, and returned this past Monday. It was truly the trip of a lifetime, with the very best accommodations and the finest restaurants, traveling at their own pace and going places they otherwise would not have seen.
Some of the highlights of their journey were: going to the Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, N.C.; the Holy Land Experience and the flower gardens at Epcot Center (they have a beautiful flower garden of their own), both in Orlando, Fla.; and taking a carriage ride in beautiful Savannah, Ga., with a driver who knew so much of the city’s history.
We are all so thrilled for them, and are happy to have them back on Caney. One sad note, though: Donna’s special 89-year-old aunt, who was in declining health, passed away a couple of days after their return, and they went to Ohio for the funeral. We are praying for this family too, and of course for the many who are sick.
Willie Vernon Slone, son of the late Willie and Verna Mae Slone, was discharged from the hospital in Lexington a few days ago following heart surgery. We are all praying for him, and so thankful that he is recovering well. His wife Mollie passed away recently after a long illness, and is sorely missed.
Congratulations to Keston Howard, a graduate of JBS and Alice Lloyd College, who just graduated from UK with a Master’s degree. Keston is a very gifted musician, composer, entertainer, who was chosen while still at ALC to go to Disney World for a year as part of his varied educational experience. We are so proud of you, Keston!
Kenneth and Margo Sparkman are thrilled with the visit of their daughter Kendra, son-in-law Arlen Knapp, and two little grandsons, Gabriel and Gray. Arlen is in the Navy and they live in the Arlington, Va., area. Kendra is an amazing photographer and is also a graduate of JBS and ALC.
Mary Lois Jacobs’ birthday is tomorrow, Monday the 26th; she had an early surprise celebration last Thursday evening in the mall restaurant when all her sisters came in (including two from Indiana), brought her a lovely bouquet of flowers and a beautiful necklace with all their birthstones, and spent the weekend with her — no cooking on Mary Lois’s part, as they provided all the meals. What a reunion they had!
And there were many family and class reunions this weekend, memorial services at the cemeteries, etc. A good number of people are gone on vacations to different places, but quite a few came “back home” to East Kentucky also.
Happy Birthday wishes to Megan Handshoe and Jamie (Mrs. Darrell) Madden on Friday, the 30th; to Lisa Collins on the 31st; to Sharon Kay Hall and Melodie Robinson on June 2nd; to Stephanie Watts Damron on the 3rd; and to Matthew Stewart on the 5th. And celebrating anniversaries are Andrea Dawn and Dion Slone on the 31st, Claude and Judy Conley on May 1st, Clay and Ryan Lovely on the 3rd, and Jeffery and Sherry Morgan on the 4th. We wish them all many more.
In closing, I wish all of you a blessed week!