Today is Monday June 4,2012. The birthdays for the week are: June 4: Tonya McSwain. June 5: Malcolm Weaver, Michael McGhen, Anita Prince. It was the birthday of Charles Ray Williams and Freda Champion McIntosh (I will tell you about Freda later). It is a wedding anniversary for Mr. and Mrs. Luke Motley III, and Mr. and Mrs. Don Schmutz.
June 6: Jay Williams, L.D. Hibbard Sr., Wiley Post, Michael McSwain and L.D. Hibbard Jr. and Christina Patterson. It was the birthday of Hoyt Walker, Mrs. G.W. Griggs, Lorene Foster and Bert Gafford.
June 7: Ann Forbes, Joe M. McNealy Sr., Sherry Garrett Henderson, Kim Hite, Susan Hagler and Kathy Tucker. It is a wedding anniversary for Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bill Mettauer.
June 8: Scott Sonmor.
June 9: Brad Windham, Bob Ballard, David Haley, Connie Barron, Donna Wilson, J.W. McCauley and Myrth Willey Rollings.
June 10: Mrs. Jiggs Smith (Ruth), Carmen N. Bailey and Glenda Haynes. It was the birthday of Helen Hardy and Mrs. Morris (Tess) Cammack. A wedding anniversary for Mr. and Mrs. Richard Prince.
June 11: Eva Melton, Robert Austin Anderson, Kimberly Lakey. It was the birthday of my cousin Lydia Mae Ballard Chandler, Ruth Parker and Mrs. Jim (Eddie) Booth, born 1890, died 1991.
••••••• A baby was kidnapped in California in 1981 and wound up in Center with Chief Jimmy Matthews capturing the young couple on Railroad Avenue, with the baby unharmed.
I called last week and talked to Jimmy about the case. He remembered the kidnapper had some kind of connection in Center, but he never knew what it was.
“Barbara, my wife, took care of the baby. He was so dirty when we got him. Barbara bought new clothes for him and bathed and cleaned him up”, Jimmy said.
Then we talked about our trip to the Federal Building in Tyler where we went to await the arrival of the baby’s parents, and for Jimmy to testify in Judge William Wayne Justice’s court room.
Dan Kane was editor of the East Texas Light in 1981 when this happened and he and I drove to Tyler behind Jimmy, Barbara and the baby. There were others who went to Tyler from Center that night.
As we anxiously awaited at the Federal Building for the arrival of the baby’s parents who were to fly into Tyler at any time, we all took turns entertaining the baby boy.
He seemed to be attracted to me, perhaps because of my age and eye glasses, and kept wanting to come to me.
I never had the desire to hold other people’s babies but somehow, I was a natural with this child.
Needless to say, there was a happy, tear jerking, reunion when the young mother and father clasped their baby in their arms. The girl kidnapper had been the baby sitter of the child.
The next procedure was to go in Judge Justice’s court room, sit down and let him take over.
The first thing he did was to have one of his guards come to me and take my camera. It was one of those big ones that had the foot long flash on the side. I did not want to give it up and he said he would lock it up and I could get it after the trial.
However, it took nearly an hour after the trial to get the camera because it had been locked up in an attorney’s office and he had left with the key.
I was reminding Jimmy of that, and he said, “Well look what the judge did to me! I was dressed like I always do; I never was one to dress up. The judge said for me to leave out with the guard and not come back in his dignified courtroom without a coat and tie! They had a wardrobe there for such occasions and they put a coat and tie on me so I could go back in!”
I don’t remember too much about the trial of the couple or anyone’s testimony. I was too worried about my camera as I had pictures of the baby and the baby’s parents in that camera. And too, it was interesting to watch Chief Jimmy Matthews squirm with that ill-fitting coat and tight necktie. It was after midnight when we got home. What an experience. ••••••• I mentioned in the birthday list of June 5 that I must tell you about Freda’s Center story. A gypsy wagon arrived in Center in the early 1900s and made camp near the First Baptist Church in a space off Thomas Street. Town people began noticing at once that there was a small blonde girl with blue eyes that definitely did not belong to these dark skin gypsies.
The neighborhood children played with these children as they camped, and the older ones did odd jobs around town to help with expenses.
The little blonde girl, Freda, made friends with Bro. Champion’s girls who lived in a two-story house on Cora Street near the church.
When the wandering gypsies loaded up to move to another town, they couldn’t find Freda. The Champion family had hidden her out in their attic.
The gypsies finally gave up their area search, moved out from Center and were never heard from again.
So, little Freda began a new life. Bro. Champion, who legally adopted her, gave her their name Freda Champion.
She graduated from Center school, obtained a degree from college and married a Center boy. His last name was Mills, a brother of Mrs. James Smith (a school teacher).
He had lung problems, so they moved to Colorado for the climate. He died and she married a McIntoch who was a county or state elected official. When he died, Freda was appointed to fill his office, which she served for years until her death.
I became acquainted with her on one of her visits to Center and we corresponded after she returned to Colorado. While in Center, she visited with Minnie Jewel Rogers since they were friends in their youth in school and in church.
The little blonde girl and gypsies was one of the stories often told to us children.
There are many, many other true stories if I could just have another lifetime to relate them!
••••••• Charles “Hutch” Hutcherson’s only brother George Hutcherson died May 20 and was buried May 26 in the Woodlawn Cemetery at Timpson. Charles and his three daughters attended the services.
••••••• I read that the actor who played Goober on the Andy Griffith Show died May 6 age 83 following a brief illness. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Jasper, Alabama where he was raised. His name was George Lindsey and he had two children. Goober starred on the Andy Griffith Show from 1964 to 1968.
••••••• Mrs. Carl (Sallie) Smith said she and others in a beauty shop were talking about an easy peach cobbler recipe that I had printed years ago. They asked that I print it again. Here it is: Easy Peach Cobbler: Place fresh peaches on bottom of baking dish or pan, cut strips of white light bread (about three or four) and lay across peaches.
Then mix ¼ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, one beaten egg and one stick melted oleo.
Pour this mixture over the peaches and bread. Bake in 350-degree oven about 35 or 40 minutes until the bread is browned and sugar juice covers it.
Canned peaches, apples or cherries drained can also be used.
••••••• Janis Furlow was the first to answer the question of what Harmie Smith said when he signed off his radio show. It was “Put the coffee pot on, Mama, I’m coming home”.
••••••• I like letters, cards and surprises, write me.
– Mattie