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15 years ago in the Perry County Herald

Perry County Children’s Policy Council will sponsor a play “Willow Bend,” at Judson College’s Alumnae Auditorium on Saturday, May 12 at 7:0 p.m. Benefits from the program will assist the council in applying programs for Perry County’s children, including job fairs, computer training, and many other activities. 

The play is written by Annie Washington Holmes and will be performed by a troupe based in Birmingham, “Drama in Motion.”

When she returned to Marion in 1981, Holmes began to work with local churches, children’s groups, and many other organizations in the county. She wrote a series of plays in 1992, including “Willow Creek,” “Estates,” and “Willow Bend.” “Willow Bend” was first presented in Marion in 1998 with a cast drawn from the community. 

Rising copper prices have had a disturbing effect on rural areas—a rash of theft has been occurring throughout Perry County. Rural churches, homes, job sites, businesses, and even outside utility boxes have been hit by thieves looking for scrap copper to sell. Thieves are going after copper wiring, tubing, and pipes, and have been known to go to great lengths to get the metal—even as far as stealing entire heating and air units. 

Acclaimed Christian author Eric Metaxas will be in Marion for to days next week for a speaking engagement at Judson College’s Alumnae Auditorium on Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Metaxas will also be at Tallulah’s and at the 102 Green Street art gallery that afternoon beginning at 1:30 for a reception and book signing. Metaxas’ novel, “Amazing Grace,” is a novelization of the major motion picture about the abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain. The idea to have him come speak in Marion came after Marion resident Cecelia Dial read the book. 

Forty family members and neighborhood friends celebrated the 2nd birthday of Amy Lee Smitherman on Saturday, April 28. Her official birthday was April 29. Amy Lee is the daughter of Alicia (Hale) and Paul Smitherman of Summerfield. She is the granddaughter of Barbara Hale of Sprott and Ronnie and Debbie Smitherman of Lowndesboro. The theme of the party was gardening. Little guests planted their own flowerpots with marigolds and zinnias. Guests enjoyed a cook-out with a variety of foods. 

Joe Lipsey Rankin, Sr., age 81, of Faunsdale, Ala., died Thursday, April 26 at his home. Services were held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 30 at Faunsdale Presbyterian Church with the Rev. George McKee and Lt. Colonel Stanley W. Bamberg officiating. 

On Saturday, April 28, the Perry County High School Class of 1962 held its 45th reunion at Osage Hunting Lodge near Greensboro. Attending were Thomasine Barnette Royster and husband Tom Rinehart of Marion; Gloria Gene Brooks Lockhart and husband Ralph of Pensacola, Fla.; Earline Carter Etheredge of Demopolis and her daughter Loretta Etheredge of Ozark; Freeman Coley of Mobile; Linda Lewis Hughes and husband Calvin of Marion; Judy Plummer and husband Jim of Helena; Mary Ellen Stevens Averett and husband Search of Greensboro; Luther Woodfin and wife Martha of Sprott; and Wendy Williams Franklin and husband Don of Marietta. 

The annual Spring Tea honoring members of Marion’s study clubs was hosted by Inter Se at the President’s Home on the campus of Marion Military Institute on Thursday afternoon, April 19. Mrs. James H. Benson, also a member of Inter Se, was a gracious hostess. Greeting members and guests upon arrival was Mrs. Charles Holmes, president of Inter Se. 

On Friday, March 24, 11 Juniors and 4 Seniors were officially inducted into the Lambda Iota Tau chapter of the Pearls. Inductees pledged their loyalty to the organization and received a pink pearl necklace as a reminder of the moral, spiritual, educational, and community values the club promotes. Members were escorted by members of their brother organization—Mu Omega Tau, of “Men of Tomorrow”—fathers, or grandfathers, who all wore black or grey suits with pink ties. Inductees dressed in pink or white formal dress, and member sponsors wore black formals. 

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