What's Happening Now
in the world of the members of our Sheffield High School Class of 1957.
Mrs. Hovater's 1945-46 First Grade Class at Atlanta Avenue
Photos above and below courtesy of Jo Ann Blackmon Rainey
The mothers of Mrs. Hovater's 1945-46
First Grade Class at Atlanta Avenue School
Much larger views of the two first grade pictures are available in the Photo Albums: Photos - The Way We Were and Mrs. Hovaters 1st Grade. See 7th and 8th down on the Navigation Bar at left. I believe you can see the faces better in The Way We Were....those are really large views. Later I will try to make them accessible for printing. Remember to help identify everyone. Send me the names of the people you recognize and be specific about where they are located in the picture. Send to davis57@gmail.com 8-19-08
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Lisa Pickens HowellMay 6, 1942 - March 7, 2009
Lisa Pickens Howell, Huntsville, died Saturday. She was the sister of our classmate, Pennie Pickens Kirsch, a native of Sheffield, 1960 graduate of SHS and graduate of Florence State University, George Washington University, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oakwood Cemetery in Sheffield.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Huntsville Botanical Gardens .
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Frank received a note from Mary Jo Clendenon White letting us know that she was having surgery on her rotator cuff on March 3rd. The surgery on it two years ago for some reason was not successful.
Thanks Mary Jo for staying touch. May the surgery be successful and the recovery swift.
Robert "Bob" Allen. The way he looks today.
February 10, 2009 - E-mail from Tim Wolf
Tim moved from Sheffield when he was twelve. Also see his comments in the Guestbook
This web page has made my day ! I have nothing but fond memories of Sheffield and of the people I knew. I am living in Aransas Pass, Texas which is about 18 miles up the coast from Corpus Christi, Texas. I have been married for the past 47, yes that's right, 47 years. We have two wonderful kids, a daughter and a son. We have 5 grandkids, three living next door to us along with my daughter and son-in-law. Our other 2 live in Houston where our son and his wife live. Our daughter's oldest son is serving in Iraq at the present time and if things go well will be home this April.
You have my picture in Mrs. Hovater's 1st. grade class. That's me, 6th. from the right on the front row with the long sleeve black shirt. I am also in Mrs. Johnson's 6th grade class picture standing directly in back of Joyce Grainger.
My e-mail address is wolffer@cableone.net and fill free to give it to anyone. I would love to hear from any of my past friends. When ever I am ask where I am from I proudly tell them SHEFFIELD, ALABAMA!!!
Yours truly
Tim Wolf
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
James Wiley is having a pacemaker put in Thursday, January 8th at ECM. Let us remember him is our thoughts and prayers.
Update 1-23-2009 - James is at home but cannot drive for a couple more week. He can be reached at 766-1863.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008Our classmate from so many years ago, Roy Bevis, died on 09/24/08 in Cherokee. Roy fought a battle against cancer and finally lost. Roy's brother is Jimmy Bevis of our class. Jimmy's wife, Helen Woods, was also in our class. Remember Roy's family in your thoughts and prayers.
Monday, August 25, 2008Seventy-nine days ago the lovely smiling Pat Logan Pittman joined us for our 51st Reunion in the Sheffield High School Cafeteria. With deep sadness we learned that Pat passed away this morning at 1:30. Our sincere sympathy to Pitt and other family members. Remember them in your thoughts and prayers.
Visitation will be Wednesday morning, August 27th from 10:00-11:00 at the Cox Boulevard Church of Christ in Sheffield. Funeral to follow at 11:00.
Obituary for Pat by Frank Vetters
Patricia Ann Logan Pitman, age 69, put her earthly cares behind her Monday, Aug. 25, 2008.
Celebration Services are at 11:00 a.m. Wed., Aug. 27, 2008 at Cox Blvd. Church of Christ in Sheffield, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.
Patricia is survived by her husband, Emery "Pit" Pitman, one son, three daughters, two brothers, five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a host of friends. Preceding her in death were her parents, Russell and Montean Logan.
The class of 1957 annual said of Pat, "Led by sweet simplicity divine", and her obituary said that "She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and generosity". Nothing could have been more true about a genuinely sweet and kind person who was a treasured member of our class. Pat was also very proud to have been a member of the Honor Society for grades 3 & 4.
Pat was able to attend the recent mini-reunion and it was obvious that she enjoyed seeing many of her former classmates and really enjoyed the get-togther.
Flowers will be provided by the SHS Class of 1957.
News on Friday, August 22, 2008
We have learned that Pat Logan is in serious condition after suffering some mini-strokes. She is at Helen Keller Memorial Hospital in Sheffield. Please keep Pat and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
An update on two other classmates: John and Dotty Cochran Rogers have had a tough year with some health issues. John has finished his treatment and radiation for prostate cancer and all traces are gone. Dotty has been put to sleep seven times since February. After several treatments to clear bile duct blockage and biopsies that were okay, the last one showed cancer. She said she was put to sleep thinking she would wake up minus half of her pancreas, half of her stomach, part of intestines and both bile ducts. What a thrill to wake up and find only something called an ampulla was removed, the cancer was only the size of a pea and no chemo or radiation was necessary. After a two-month recuperation she is "good as new and feeling wonderful." Answers to prayers of many friends and family.
Dotty and John have moved his mother to Mobile and won't come back to Sheffield as often. They send greetings to everyone and still plan to one day attend one of our Southland gatherings
Odd bits from the e-mail box since the May update:
One who didn't make it to the Mini-Reunion in June was Ralph Roden. He worked all the day before cutting trees that fell during the storms. The day of the reunion found him in such pain he said he "couldn't have gone to cash in a PowerBall ticket, if I had won." You know, we just cannot do in this century what we could in the last. By the way, have you noticed the frequently used term "mid-century" or "middle of the last century" now refers to our time....not the 1800's!!
In June we learned that John Rogers was undergoing treatments for cancer and Dottie was having surgery for similar problems. Hope their treatments are going well.
Bobby Haddock says he is "just hangin." Remember when Bobby and Harold Holder were our track stars and won medals in the Alabama State Track Meet? Our own medal winners.
Jesse Homan, age 100, passed away July 16, 2008, just a few days before his 101st birthday. He was the father of our Jerald Homan. Jerald recently had surgery and is doing well.
Kenneth Sockwell is doing well as he continues his treatments. Kenneth, we are waiting on some of those e-mails to keep us up to date. I trust you are making good use of that new laptop.
Our e-mail address for Gus Carney is not good. Frank spoke with his sister. She says he is still driving those big trucks.
Note from Kenneth Rhoden. Said he was sorry to miss our mini-reunion; they were playing in Key West. Hope they were away before the arrival of Hurricane Fay. Betty Lou was in Alabama when Dolly went through the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Her little cubbyhole was undamaged and she will be going there in mid-September.
Robert Allen, aka Bob, sent a nice e-mail and responded to a request for a picture. Great to see Bob looking so fit. Photo on the What's Happening page.
A couple more nice surprises on the What's Happening page: two photos send by Jo Ann Blackmon of Mrs. Hovater's first grade class. One is a picture of the students and one of the mothers. Let me know if you and/or your mother are in the picture. Tell me the location and name. We will try to do an identification chart. This website if offering a new Photo Album. When I learn how it works, I will move these picture.
Mike Holland and his grandson had a great fishing trip to Alaska. Mike, will there be a fish fry?
Roy Bevis, our classmate earlier in school and brother-in-law of Helen (Jimmy) Woods Bevis, is not doing well at all. Please remember Roy and all the members of our class who are experiencing health problem. Let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
Our old hangout, The Southland, was closed the first week in August so the meeting place for the August 5th Gathering was changed to Jacks which is just down the street. A good number was there including Donna Blackburn and Gene. Frank will be sending more notes later and Martha has pictures.
From: kennethsockwell@comcast.net
May 28, 2008
I have retired again . The people that I have been working with at IP and Champion bought me a Lap Top computer, Printer, and a Router so I could go wireless, They told me that now I had no excuse for not keeping them informed on how I am doing.
I went back to M D Anderson May 19th for my check up and everything is still looking good. I took Chemo Treatments March 17th thru April 30th and the test showed that the Cancer Spot on my Lung and Liver has reduced and they want me to take 6 more treatments starting June 2nd. The 6 treatments will take 12 weeks because I take it for 3 days each week and then take off a week before I take another one. I will go back to M D Anderson around the middle of September to get another check up
I have not let Cancer interfer with any of my daily activities and I do not think about until I go for my check ups.
Please add me to the class EMAIL distribution so I can keep up with what news anyone is sending. Ken
May 2008 Some sad news to report concerning one of our classmates. Barbara Ann Fowler Nesbitt, wife of our Ronald Nesbitt, died Thursday, May 15, 2008. She was a member of the Baptist church, a lifelong resident of Colbert County, and 1958 graduate of Sheffield High School. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Ronald Nesbitt; daughter, Tanya Dennis; son-in-law, Mark Dennis; and two beautiful granddaughters, Amber and Ashton Dennis, of Muscle Shoals. Donations may be made to St. Jude Research Hospital. Please remember this family is our thoughts and prayers.
Janice Diane Davis Lindsey, youngest sister of Betty Lou Davis, died May 6th in Gadsden, Alabama. A memorial service was held on May 11th at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Glencoe. Janice is survived by five beautiful children and three precious grandsons. She spent three years at Blake School before moving to Decatur, Alabama. Born on Juanita Black's birthday (our neighbor at the time), August 20, 1950, Janice was 57 years old.
Thank You Note from Myra Fouts
April 13, 2008
Dear Class of 1957
Thank you so much for all your thoughts, prayers and kindness to Tom and to his family. You have been so gracious to keep us informed. He missed last summer's reunion because we had just learned of the battle that cancer was going to take us through. We wanted an earthly healing and believed for it but God gave us Heaven. He is in charge but we can still knock, seek and ask.
Tom enjoyed all of you friends and many of you called last week. Tom wanted to talk to you and he told everyone goodbye, and he loved them. He was a witness to me in his positive focus. We are totally thanking you for the gorgeous flower arrangement. Thank you.
Love,
Myrna Fouts
Very sad news to report.
Our TOMMY FOUTS died at 4:00 P.M. on April 6, 2008. Tommy was a great guy and will be greatly mourned. The class has provided a purple and gold wreath. Obituary on What's Happening Now page.
Address: Mrs. Tom (Myrna) Fouts
P.O.Box 36, Cornelia, GA 30531-0036.
Remember the Fouts family in your thoughts and prayers.
April 8, 2008
Joseph Thomas Fouts, 68
Cornelia, Georgia
04/06/2008
Joseph Thomas Fouts, age 68 of Cornelia, died Sunday,
April 06, 2008 after a nearly yearlong battle with lung cancer and its complications.
Tom was born October 10, 1939 in Miami, FL., as the oldest son of Jack and Ina Fouts and moved soon thereafter to Sheffield, AL., where he grew up with his brother and three sisters.
Tom moved to Cornelia in 1963 where he started his career in the wholesale tire distribution business and met and married Myrna Kathryn Schaap in 1965. Tom loved the sales aspect of his tire business, which included meeting people, calling on customers and serving their needs. He operated “Tom Fouts Tire” until the diagnosis of his illness in May of 2007 and kept active in the affairs of the business until shortly before his death. The business continues under the guidance of Tom’s son and daughter-in-law, Nathanael and Wendy Fouts.
When he wasn’t selling tires or spending time with his family and many close friends, Tom enjoyed fishing for small-mouth bass, woodworking, bird watching and renovating bass boats. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Cornelia. Tom served our country in the United States Coast Guard. He was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Fouts.
Tom is survived by his wife, Myrna Fouts of Cornelia, GA; their children and spouses, Lou Fouts of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; Nick Fouts of Peachtree City, GA; Nathanael Fouts of Cornelia; Mary Kathryn Tatum of Demorest, GA; his brother, Ben Fouts of TN; sisters, Fornia Coker of Florence, AL; and Nelbeth Sneed of Green Cove Springs, FL; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 08, 2008, at Cornelia First Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Men’s Disciple Group, c/o First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 165, Cornelia, GA 30531.
March 2008
Ann Darnell Pianta's mother, Ethel Darnell , died on March 20,2008 just two days after her 95th birthday. Ann suffered a severe stroke some 8 years ago and was unable to come back to Sheffield for the funeral.
Some happy news! Glenda Ramsey's precious great-grandson, Joseph Aiden Thigpen, was born March 13, 2008. Time to start carrying the brag-book again.
March 1, 2008 E-mail from Frank Vetters: A sad note this morning. Today's paper had an announcement that our classmate from oh so long ago, Hogan McWilliams, died February 28, 2008 in Waynesboro, Tennessee where he moved to after he left Sheffield. Hogan was in Mrs. Wade's 5th grade class. In the class picture he is on the front row between Jon Guy and Tommy Fouts. It is great to have this class picture in our 50th anniversary book and reflect on classmates from back then. Hogan's mother, Mrs. McWilliams, taught my 5th grade class and could not have been a finer lady and teacher. I know that all of you will remember Hogan even though he moved away shortly after the 5th grade. I remember him as being such a fine young guy. Today Dotty Rogers commented: "I along with almost every girl in the 5th grade was madly in love with Hogan. He was a sweet guy with so much charm." Sidenote: This is Hogan's 4th Grade picture.
February 2008
Juanita Black Rickard has a new granddaughter, Leandra Brooke, who recently came into this wonderful world.
February 9, 2008
Notes are from Frank's letter about the February gathering. In case you missed it, here is an update on some of our classmates who are having some health problems. Let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
Gail Tidwell Mayfield had a heart attack and is not doing too well.
Roy Bevis is having an awful time with lung cancer so we wish him well
Paul Wood is doing pretty good and was sure sorry that he could not make the meeting.
Faye Horton Chastain recently fell and broke her wrist.
Jerald Homan, Larry King and Kenneth Sockwell are all doing better..
Sue Barber's husband Joe recently had surgery but seems to be recovering very well.
February 2008
Keith Collier had hip replacement surgery recently and is doing just great. He gets around so much better, no pain and now he can sleep.
January 2008
Donna Blackburn and William Eugene "Gene" Laughlin celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Tallahassee, Florida on January 3, 2008. Home movies of wedding activities were converted to video and shown during the celebration.
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January 7, 2008 Happy New Year to all the class of 1957. E-mail from Wiley Montana As we start a new year, I am still filled with happiness from the 50th reunion. I really hope there are more opportunities for me to be there this year. My wife is still fighting the back problems, but we are alive and life it good. My birthday is Dec 9th. As for the year, this year will be the big 70. As the saying goes, "if I had known I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." Best wishes for a wonderful 2008 for everyone. Thanks for all of your hard work with the web site. Wiley
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January 5, 2008
Candy York of the Class of 1993, those children, wrote to suggest that we ask for a link to our site be included in the list of Class Reunions on the Sheffield City School website. An e-mail was sent to their webmaster with that request.
December 2007
Sue Barber and Joe Suazo celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on December 22, 2007. Congratulation!!!
December 22, 2007
A recent picture of JoAnn Blackmon Rainey that we missed in our reunion book. This summer she experienced irregular heart beats and after a series of test learned this is normal. JoAnn is healthy and busy preparing for the holidays in Arkansas. Earlier this month they enjoyed an early Christmas with son Joey and family while he and family were home from Saipan.
October 14, 2007
Helen Woods Bevis will be having knee replacement surgery at Helen Keller on October 23. Remember Helen in your thoughts and prayers.
Louis Buettner's (SHS 1956) brother-in-law, Leonard Fay Young (DHS Class of 1959) died this afternoon around 2:30. Fay suffered a heart attack about 10 days ago. He was married to Helen Young, the sister of Georgia Buettner (Mrs. Louis).
September 20, 2007
On Tuesday, the 25th, your webmaster is off to the Rio Grande Valley, Texas for two months. As soon as I have cleared away all the dust and settled in, I will do updates and add the birthday pictures. SEND SOME NEWS Y'ALL. Betty Lou
September 17, 2007
Betty Jean Black, sister of our Billy Joe Thrasher and Bud Thrasher, member of SHS Class of 1956, died on Monday the 17th of September 2007. She was the aunt of our Juanita Black Rickard.
September 16, 2007
Eunice Laird Farley, mother of Wanda Aston and mother-in-law of our George Aston died Sunday the 17th of September 2007 in Florence.
September 13, 2007
Alice Perry, the mother of our late Mary Katherine Perry Holland died in Sheffield on Thursday the 13th of September 2007.
Our deepest sympathy to our classmates and their families.
Wednesday August 29, 2007
From Laura Dodd Tabbara: "My happy news is that my daughter got married on August 18th, and we all had a wonderful time. It only took me a week to recuperate. If anyone would like to see some pictures, they can email me at l_tabbara@yahoo.com and I'll direct them to a link."
Sunday August 26, 2007
We love hearing from classmates who haven't been in touch for a while or those who missed the reunion...for one reason or another.
Juanita was so excited to receive a call from Sally Christopher Heath. Sally was unable to attend the reunion due to health problems and wanted to "see some pictures." Frank sent her the link for this website. Sally, we missed you. Everyone asked about you. Enjoy the pictures...you will need a lot of time to see everything. Keep checking back as we will continue to add pictures of different activities.
Richard Hull didn't get the information about our reunion. We missed you Richard. Look forward to seeing you at one of the night gatherings...perhaps in October.
August 20, 2007
Elizabeth Ann White Clemmons, a classmate, who was with us through the 11th grade, died last Thursday, the 16th of August.
July 28, 2007
Jesse Homan, former Muscle Shoals mayor (1950-1959) and father of our Jerald Homan, celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday, July 28th with a party and proclamation from the mayor's office read by Jim Holland at Woodward Avenue Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals.
Jesse Homan remembers the first automobile he saw and the fact that he had to move his horse to the side of the road because the car noise frightened it. From Corinth, Mississippi Mr. Homan came to the Shoals to work at Reynolds Metals. When he went into office, first as commissioner and then as mayor, Muscle Shoals was nothing but hayfields...Woodward Avenue, the only paved road, dead-ended at 6th Street. Mr. Homan started the city school system and his son, Dennis, graduated in the first class to finish at Muscle Shoals High School. Three of his four children are SHS graduates: Ed, Joyce and Jerald "Jerry". His lovely wife of 72 years, Mildred, died in 2002.
Please contact the webmaster
at davis1957@gmail.com
with information for these pages
including the correction of errors.
Lisa Pickens HowellMay 6, 1942 - March 7, 2009
Lisa Pickens Howell, Huntsville, died Saturday. She was the sister of our classmate, Pennie Pickens Kirsch, a native of Sheffield, 1960 graduate of SHS and graduate of Florence State University, George Washington University, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oakwood Cemetery in Sheffield.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Huntsville Botanical Gardens .
Wednesday, March 4, 2009Frank received a note from Mary Jo Clendenon White letting us know that she was having surgery on her rotator cuff on March 3rd. The surgery on it two years ago for some reason was not successful.
Thanks Mary Jo for staying touch. May the surgery be successful and the recovery swift.