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Upcoming
Community Events
GIRL TALK, TOO
GLEASON: The Gleason Clinic and the Weakley County Extension Service will
have "Girl Talk, Too" for mothers and daughters (ages 13-16). Classes will
be April 21, 28, May 5 and 12. Mothers and daughters attend all four classes
together. Class starts at 6 p.m. and is free of charge. To register and for
more information, call the Gleason Clinic at 648-5634 or the Weakley County
Extension Service at 364-3164.
CEMETERY SPRING
CLEAN-UP DAY
GLEASON: New Valley Cemetery, near old Highway 22, Gleason, will have its
annual Spring Clean-Up Day on Saturday, April 19. Come and bring tools to
work, visit, bring a dish and your lawn chair, or a tree/shrub to plant for
an enjoyable day outdoors and beautify this special place where loved ones
are now at rest. Special spring project for 2008 is paving the Cemetery
Drive. Donations for Paving Project can be made that day or sent to: New
Valley Cemetery Fund, Bank of Gleason, 203 Main Street, Gleason, TN 38229,
c/o Mark Hagler.
CEMETERY DONATIONS
NEEDED: New Hope Cemetery, near Gleason, is needing your help. The funds are
depleting due to low interest rates on the perpetual care fund and the
increased cost of having the cemetery mowed. If you have loved ones buried
at New Hope, any contribution would be appreciated. Please send your
contributions to: New Hope Cemetery, c/o Bank of Gleason, P.O. Box 231,
Gleason, TN 38229.
GLEASON SENIOR CITIZENS
NEWS:
By Kathy Johnson
The weather has been so bad lately we haven’t had as good a crowd as we usually
have. Hope it is going to get better. We have been having a good time and are
happy about the new people that are coming each Monday. Come out each Monday
morning at 9 a.m. and join the fun.
On
Tuesday, February 5, we will have
a
karaoke night. Come out and join us.
The Gleason Pickers will be back Tuesday, February 12, and February
26 James and Martha Hayes will be here on Tuesday, February 19. Come
out and bring your music and join us just to listen or sing.
If anyone would like to play or karaoke the last Tuesday night of
the month, l et me know and we will set it up. Call me at 648-2099.
 Gleason
Area News Items
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Gleason Urban Growth Plan
Mayor Dunning suggested that the city of Gleason move
forward with expanding the city’s 20-year urban growth plan
to include property located north of the Highway 22
four-lane. The property in question is situated inside of a
triangle formed by Highway 22 on one side, Janes Mill Road
on another side, and the Middle Fork of the Obion River.
Dunning stated that the property located on the south side
of Highway 22, which is across the road from the proposed
location to be added to Gleason’s urban growth plan, is
already included in the city’s current plan.
“This is an area that has been talked about so many times
for (industrial development),” Dunning said. “I don’t know
if we can get it done, but I’d like to see us get that added
to our urban growth plan.”
Dunning said, “It’s a rather lengthy process.” He explained
that if the board votes to proceed with adding the property
to the city’s urban growth plan, the other mayors in Weakley
County, as well as the county mayor, would have to be
notified, in order to allow other municipalities the
opportunity to make adjustments to their urban growth plans,
if they so desire. He added that a countywide committee
would also have to meet to consider the issue.
Alderman Connell moved to proceed with proposed expansion of
Gleason’s urban growth plan, which was seconded by
Alderwoman Diane Poole and unanimously approved, with
Alderman Richard Horn being absent.
Source: Adapted from the Dresden Enterprise. |
County
Mourns Death of Roy Auvenshine
By
David Fisher, Staff Reporter, Dresden Enterprise
Brother Roy L. Auvenshine, 63,
who served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church at Greenfield, died
of an apparent heart attack Thursday morning.
In addition to serving as
pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Bro. Auvenshine, who resided at
889 Bynum Road, Greenfield, used his carpentry skills as a
homebuilder to help those less fortunate. He was known for his
humanitarian efforts in numerous mission trips to Honduras, where he
and other local volunteers worked to build a church, as well as
church additions.
Brother Wayne Perkins, who
serves as Director of Missions of Weakley County Baptist
Association, said of his lifelong friend Roy Auvenshine, “He’s been
pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church since March of 1976. He had one
church before that – New Hope Baptist Church at Latham, where he was
pastor for about four years. “He was born the Fourth of
July 1944 (in Dresden),” Perkins said. “His dad (C.D. Auvenshine)
also had that same birth date of July 4th. “He grew up partially down
here and partially up north, because his dad went north for work.
“Roy and I met each other in
1948 when my dad was an evangelistic singer and so forth. We went to
their church and that was when I first met Roy. He was four years
old and I was eight. So, we’ve been friends and our families have
been close friends through the years.
“When Roy entered the ministry
in 1972, we became fast friends. I mean, we just welded together and
we were closer than a lot of blood brothers are. “My own brother died last
week; and we buried him last Tuesday. This is just like another wave
of the same storm, because he was so close to me.
“Roy was a graduate of
Mid-Continent University in Mayfield, where he graduated in 1977. “He has played a key role, not
only in his family and church, but also in the association of
churches – our 44 Southern Baptist churches here in Weakley County –
the Weakley County Baptist Association. He’s been a key player in
that all of his life. “He’s been like a rock to a
lot of people, and he’s been admired and respected by everybody that
knew him. He was kind and kind-hearted. “He had a great commitment to
the Lord.
“He was working for Kellwood
when the Lord called him to preach, where he was over quality
control. So, he quit that job and took a church. That was quite a
move in those days. He had a good job and quit that and began
working for the Lord. Then, he worked for Miller Ham Company for
awhile. He went full-time after he got out of college.
“He was also in politics for
awhile. He ran against Roy Herron for State Representative when that
seat first opened up. He was a staunch Republican. But he was more
staunch in what was right against what was wrong. He didn’t even
like all of the Republicans.
Concerning his mission trips,
Perkins said, “Roy was the director of our team when we would go. I
would direct the logistics of it for our association. But, when we
got to the site, Roy was the team leader and head honcho of the
construction team. We went not only here in the states to West
Virginia, where we’d go every summer, but we’d go to Honduras in
January of each year. We were scheduled to go to Honduras three
weeks from tonight, and he was to have been the head of our
construction team again. We were already making plans and talking
about that. He has been there the last three years and this would
have been the fourth. He’s also been on mission trips to Iowa and
Michigan.” Bro. Perkins stated that Roy also did construction team
work here in our area, including the fellowship hall addition at
Fuller Street Baptist Church in Dresden. “It’s like pulling the plug on
one of the main circuits when he was taken out of that role. That’s
minor compared to his family and to his church, but he was very
involved in volunteer missions.
As for his secular activities,
Bro. Perkins stated that Roy also worked as a contractor building
houses in the area, which he did to supplement his income. “It
worked well for him. He could manage that and still be a pastor.
Speaking of the loss of his
friend, Bro. Perkins said, “Personally, it hurts me. A lot of people
are like me, who depended on him. He was just as strong support. He
was sympathetic with you. He had a lot of wisdom. If you thought you
knew what you wanted to do, you’d call him and he would help by
steering you one way or another in helping you to make up your mind.
He was just that kind of person. He was a father figure to a lot of
these young preachers. This county is full of Roy Auvenshine
want-to-be's. All of these young preachers want to be like Roy. He
was an outstanding leader – a key leader – in our entire area. I
doubt there is a man more admired, respected, looked up to, or liked
in this county than Roy Auvenshine. That’s not just talking about
Baptists or the people of Greenfield or Dresden - that’s people from
all over the county – they knew him. He preached lots of funerals
and visited people in the hospital like a lot of pastors do; but he
just went the extra mile with people. He was a strong leader. He
didn’t need to take a survey to figure out what was right. He knew
what was right, and he’d voice that. That’s the way he walked in his
walk (with God). It’s painful for all of us. He somebody we can’t
replace. It’s created quite a vacuum, of course, in his family. And
his church, he’s been there 31 years plus. An in the association and
in my life personally, it’s just a big hole there today.” Source:
Dresden Enterprise.
Weakley County
Soldier Honored at Grave Dedication Service
by Andrew Pritchett ~ Dresden Enterprise
Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Jeffrey Forrest Camp
No. 323, and the Tennessee Society of the Order of the Confederate
Rose, Mariam Beck Forrest Chapter No. 5 hosted a grave dedication
service Saturday, August 25 at the Sand Hill Baptist Church, located
at 2697 Finch Road, Gleason, to honor Weakley County Civil War
veteran John R. Stalcup (1824 - 1915),
 Stalcup,
who is the great-grandfather of Gleason Mayor Jack Dunning, has the
distinction of being Weakley County's only Mexican War veteran. He
also served with the confederacy during the civil war. John Stalcup
was born June 20, 1824 at Trenton, Tenn.
His father and mother died when he was six years old, and he was
moved to Weakley county to be raised by his grandfather.
Mr. Stalcup joined the U.S. 2nd Infantry at Huntingdon and fought
during the Mexican war under Col. Bill Haskell as part of Gid
Pillow's brigade. Upon arriving in Mexico he took part in battles of
Monterrey, Buena Vista and Cerro Gordo and was present when the U.
S. flag was unfurled over the capital of Montezuma. He was the only
man from Weakley county to have the distinction of fighting during
this war.
In 1861, Mr. Stalcup again went to war, but this time for the
South. He joined the 51st Tennessee Confederate Infantry Co. K. He
fought during the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Perryville (where
he was wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shell), Chickamauga,
Missionary Ridge, Franklin and Nashville. While imprisoned at
Columbus and being treated for a broken arm by federal authorities,
he escaped from the hospital about the time peace was established.
Upon returning to Weakley County, he found his home devastated and
impoverished. He set to work to regain in peace that which he had
lost in war. He married twice and had a total of 10 children with
only five still living by 1915.
The Dresden Enterprise wrote an article about Mr. Stalcup shortly
before his death and described him as "a sterling "Democrat" and
that "his life has been marked by honesty and integrity in all his
dealings, and no man ever lost a dollar on him".
Prior to his death on March 19, 1915, Mr. Stalcup requested that
his coffin be entwined with the U.S. stars and stripes and the
Confederate stars and bars. Source: Dresden Enterprise.
 
LEFT: Gleason Mayor
Jack Dunning receives a CSA battle flag from Confederate re-actor
Billy Alton of the 7th CSA Calvary (Dismounted) during a grave
dedication service on Saturday, in honor of Dunning's
great-grandfather, John R. Stalcup, who served with the confederacy
during the Civil War. Speaker for the occasion was Tony Hensley
Commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp #323 (Jeffery
Forrest Camp'
RIGHT:
Gleason Mayor Jack Dunning (seated) is seen during a grave
dedication service on Saturday, in honor of Dunning's
great-grandfather, John R. Stalcup, who served with the confederacy
during the Civil War. Speaker for the occasion was Tony Hensley
(left) commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp # 323
(Jeffery Forrest Camp). Confederate re-actor Billy Alton of the 7th
CSA Calvary (Dismounted) holds a CSA battle flag.
Mrs.
Opal Dellinger Celebrates 90th Birthday
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Mrs.
Opal Dellinger of Gleason celebrated her 90th birthday, January 31. She
was honored on Sunday, January 28 at the Gleason Cumberland Presbyterian
Church at the close of the service.
Dale
Stephens read a beautiful poem written by his wife, Terri, for the
occasion. Tuva Stephens and Leon |
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Purvis
gave special tributes to “Miss Opal” for her many years of service to
her church.
Brother
Jim Pinnell presented her with an Amazing Grace quilt that was hand-made
by Carol Pinnell and Nancy Higgs and signed by the church members.
Flowers in the sanctuary and a birthday cake for the fellowship luncheon
that followed were given by her
daughter, Karen, son-in-law, Donald and grandson, Andrew Bouldin.
“Miss Opal” was also recognized with a poem and a card at the Gleason
Woman’s Club luncheon on Tuesday, January 30. On her birthday, she
enjoyed lunch with her daughter, Karen Bouldin, and niece, Carol Mc
Daniel.
She received many calls and cards throughout the week from
friends, family and former students. Miss Opal taught first and second
grades for 34 years in Gleason.
Karen was with her mother from January 27 until February 4 to enjoy all
of the events of the week. Donald Bouldin was in Gleason for the church
celebration and returned the following weekend with Andrew, who is a
junior at UT Knoxville. |
Recognizing Contributors to the Gleason Community Center
Three years ago, under the
direction of then Gleason Rotary Club President, Kenneth Byrd, construction
began on the club’s centennial project - The Gleason Community Building. Without
the hard work and dedication of the club and the community through donations of
time, talent and money, this community building would not be possible. The
Gleason Rotary Club wishes to thank Cary Lehmkuhl and Ronnie and Martha Ann
Arnold for their contributions toward this project.
Click Here for Full
Story and Pictures
The
Life and Times of Mr. Roy Travillian
By Ernie Smothers
smothers@mckenziebanner.com |
It
has been said that effort constitutes the defining line between those who dream
and those who achieve. Gleason’s Roy Travillian is an achiever. He has not only
dreamed great dreams, but through hard work and diligence, nurtured those dreams
into reality. A spiritual and earnest man, he has lived a life that casts
shadows on most. Laborer, farmer, salesman, business owner, college graduate at
68, author—-it’s easier to state what he hasn’t done rather than list all that
he has accomplished. Quick to smile and even quicker to wit, Roy Travillian is a
man with a story to tell.
The Great Pretenders
Ronnie and Martha Arnold - Founders of "The Great Pretenders" - Home Grown
Entertainment Now in its 10th Year
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By Deborah Turner
~ dturner@mckenziebanner.com |
Every year about July, Edgar Floyd of Gleason starts
growing his beard because he knows the community wide production of "The Great
Pretenders" is just around the corner. That's when physician assistant J.C.
Carey is transformed into a giggling lunatic who makes racy, late night phone
calls to the "Margaret" of Ray Stephens fame. The Great Pretenders, a full-scale
impersonation of famed characters that over the past ten years has taken West
Tennessee by storm, helps to fund worthy causes from civic club projects to
Project Graduations.
Source: The McKenzie Banner.
Click Here for Full Story
Gordon Stoker
Gordon Stoker - Part of Half a Century of Music History
The Jordanaires greeted their fans at their induction into the Country Music
Hall of Fame in 2001. They have sung backup for Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn,
Patsy Cline and other legends. Quartet members are (from left) Curtis Young,
Gordon Stoker, Ray Walker and Louis Nunley. Source:
Weakley County Press.
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Click Here For
Full Story
Featured Series From the
McKenzie Banner
Gordon
Stoker - Gleason's Musical Marvel Makes it to Nashville:
Part one of a two-part series
By Deborah Turner
Source:
The McKenzie Banner
Gordon Stoker - "The Amazing
Years":
Part two
By Deborah Turner
Source: The McKenzie Banner
Mike
Snider
Mike Snider-Always Gleason's Hometown Boy
By
Deborah Turner ~
dturner@mckenziebanner.com
Mike Snider surged from 1983 national
banjo champ to a member of the Grand Ole Opry. After 26 years of perfecting
the three-finger style of banjo playing, three years ago he switched to the
clawhammer style in keeping with his interest in old-time mountain music.
Some who gain fame take due pride in being able to say they’ve never
forgotten their roots. Celebrated banjo player, Mike Snider, on the other
hand, dug his roots still deeper in the town of Gleason from which he’d
sprung, after being welcomed heart and soul into the close-knit bosom of the
Grand Ole Opry and adoring fans everywhere.
Source:
MckenzieBanner.com
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Click Here for Full
Story
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