I was not able to be at our First Friday of December, but I made a special effort to be here in Kingsport for our Annual Christmas Gathering at Kathy Morse Parham's.  We usually have a good turnout, so we will keep our fingers crossed about attendance tonight. 

Meeting at 6:30 p.m.  Bring yourself and your spouse or friend and help us celebrate another great year!   We usually have lots of good food to share!

God bless us everyone!

See ya tonight!

BC

SUMMER, HOW QUICKLY YOU ARE FLYING BY!!!
We will be meeting at O'CHARLEY'S on Eastman Road for our First Friday August 2, 2013, since we have heard from O'Charley's that our room is the same except for new wallpaper!  We were told in May that the room would probably be renovated with new high top tables, and so we decided to branch out with lunch at Meadowview Marriott, the Meadows.   It was very nice... we enjoyed it very much.

We are expecting some visitors at our First Friday August from the Class of 1959, and we may need the additional space at O'Charley's. So please mark your calendars, and be there Friday August 2nd to visit with several Class of 1959 members.

What an amazing summer!  The Crowe Coughenour Track and Mural was officially dedicated, and I have to tell you, it takes my breath away each time I see it.  I hope you will be able to visit it someday when you are back in the area.  We had a bit of trouble with Tommy's likeness but the artists listened to our concerns and went back and corrected it.  Such a huge honor!   Thanks to Coach Bob Bingham who originally thought of the mural, and to Principal Hampton and Superintendent Ailshie for
their help getting it funded.  

God bless us everyone!

BC
http://barbaracares.com

First Friday July 2013

First Friday July we met at the Meadows, the restaurant at Meadowview Marriott.   I apologize because I thought I had sent out a reminder, but checking
further, I realize that I must have started the email, but it was never sent!

We had a good turnout anyway:  Nancy Ellis Baldree, Vivian Eversole Brown, Marlene Snyder McConnell, Judy Neff Stapleton, Carolyn Rice Cameron, Carolyn (Bunny) Devault Tichenor,
Sharon Deatherage Fults, Sondra Dotson Bridwell, me and our special guest from Nashville area, Georgia Duncan Koogler who was in town with her sister Wanda, for Wanda's class of 1958 reunion.

I also had several guests from Fredericksburg VA, my daughter Chris, her husband John, her children Adam, Hannah, Jacob and Grace, and Adam's girl friend Sarah.
We really enjoyed the lunch buffet, and oh my goodness, I rediscovered their bread pudding!  Oh My!!  The buffet is $12.99 but that includes the drink.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the
luncheon bar.  You can choose to order from the menu as well.

Because I didn't get the word out for July's lunch, I want to start early and remind you of First Friday August lunch, which will be Friday, August 2nd. 
Sondra received a call from the manager at O'Charley's wondering why we were not there Friday.  Sondra explained that we had been told that the room where we were meeting
each month was being totally renovated, and that there would be high top tables there after the renovation.  NEWS BULLETIN:  The room is exactly the same with some new
wallpaper...  SO WE ARE THINKING THAT WE WILL MEET AT O'CHARLEY'S ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 2ND FOR OUR FIRST FRIDAY LUNCH.

We may decide to go back to Meadowview for First Friday September, but we'll talk about it.   It is a bit farther to walk to get to the restaurant, even though there is now a parking
garage on the back side of the resort, and an elevator which takes you up to the restaurant. 

I will send another email concerning this as we get closer to the time.

God bless us everyone!

BC

Really great turnout today for First Friday!!

Life never ceases to amaze me... Today, I was thinking that perhaps we would not have many folks show up because of the weird weather and the predictions of bad weather! 

Boy, was I wrong!  

We had a big turnout!   Jack Sitgreaves came by since he was in Kingsport on business; Anne Morrison Garber and David Plott was there after being absent for a long time... David said that he has had a really bad case of the flu, and now his wife Becky has it too.  We'll pray for you,  Becky!!
We also had a visit from JanRose's youngest sister, Wanda. 

Here are our attendees around the table:  Jan Rose Dotson Hall and husband Harry, sister Wanda Adams, Judy Neff Stapleton, Wallace Grills, Jack Sitgreaves, Sondra Dotson Bridwell, Janice Jordan Duncan,  Anne Morrison Garber, Linda Lamberth Robinson,  Diana Woodard Agett, Dick Odum and wife Norma Odum, Sharon Tittsworth Johnson, Kathy Morse Parham, David Plott, Vivian Eversole Brown, Marlene Snyder McConnell, Doris Cox, Patty Bray Faris, Cris Moorehouse and wife Theona, Jane Beck Harris...   Honestly I felt like there were more than that, but I think I got everybody!! 

And today, we had a new waitress, Belle.  Our special girl has moved on to O'Charley's in Bristol at exit 7...  someday we will go up to see her!  Belle did a great job, a bit slower than Laura, but look at all the people she had to serve...  and as I was leaving, she introduced herself to me as a former neighbor of ours out in Holiday Hills outside the city limits!  "Do you remember me?  I lived on the hill next to the Jones'? Belinda... "   After she said her name and where she lived, I saw her face
anew... connecting to those earlier days.

Very very nice day. 

God bless us everyone. 

BC

Jan Haney Visit

Had such a good time today visiting my friend, Jan Haney this morning.  She coached cross country at Morristown West High School before her stroke.  She once told me that she wanted to be a coach like Tommy. She told me she picked his brain about coaching ... something must have clicked. Her teams won FOUR state championships!! Two of those were back to back which is really difficult. Jan is tough, and she is working hard to recuperate.

We had such a good visit, remembering some good times.  She remarked that several of her Morristown West cross country runners are running (or have run) at King College in Bristol.   
Kendra Sokol from Dobyns-Bennett Cross Country is running there now. 

Jan, you look great!  Keep on keeping on!!

Barbara 

The First First Friday of the New Year!

Let's start it off with a bang!  Let's have a record crowd there Friday at O'Charley's at 12:30 p.m.

We have so much fun, and the food is good and reasonable!

We really appreciated Kathy having us over for Christmas, and Harry supplying music on his wonderful equipment (Thanks to Jan, who is his helper!)... 

See ya Friday!

God bless us everyone!

BC

Josephine Davidson Pendergrass

   KINGSPORT — Josephine Davidson Pendergrass, 101, of Kingsport, passed away on Saturday (Dec. 22, 2012), after a brief illness.    She was born in Glen Mary, Tenn. on Dec. 13, 1911 to Joseph T. Davidson and Selina Molyneux Davidson, whose families were immigrants from England. The family moved to Chattanooga, Tenn. where in 1936 Josephine married Harry F. Pendergrass, also of Chattanooga. The young couple moved to Knoxville, Tenn., and later to Kingsport in 1948.    A graduate of East Tennessee State Teachers’ College, now ETSU, Mrs. Pendergrass taught first grade in Chattanooga Public Schools and kindergarten at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church.    She was artistic and as a young woman produced many oil paintings and played the piano and violin. She loved plants and flowers, which thrived under her care. At one time she was a member of the Kingsport Garden Club. She has been a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church since 1948, serving in many capacities. She was an avid reader and enjoyed many kinds of needlework, knitting, crocheting, and latch-hooking. She knitted blankets for the Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Mass. She loved animals of all kinds and was very supportive of the Humane Society.    She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Harry F. Pendergrass.    Mrs. Pendergrass is survived by two daughters, Selina J. Woods and husband, Dr. William A. Woods of Winchester, Mass. and Jean Ellen Pendergrass of Arlington, Mass.; two grandsons, Matthew F. Woods and wife, Tricia L. Woods of Otter River Mass. and Dr. Alexander D. Woods and wife, Dr. Tamara Woods of Columbia, Mo.    The family will receive friends at Oak Hill Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 until 6 p.m. and also at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 161 East Ravine Road, Kingsport, Tenn. on Friday from 1 until 2 p.m. prior to the services.    Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Friday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with The Rev. Edward J. Mills III and The Rev. Chris Harpster, officiating.    Entombment will follow in Oak Hill Mausoleum No. III at Oak Hill Memorial Park.    The family wishes to thank the staff of Wellington Place Assisted Living of Colonial Heights for their love and support over several years. 

Selina and Jean, our hearts and prayers are with you as you navigate these difficult times.

God bless us everyone!

BC