First
Birthday Celebration
Colton Scott Duke, son of Scott and Chastity Duke, turned one
year old on April 2. He celebrated his special day with a
construction zone themed party at his home.
Colton is the grandson of Danny and Jan Duke and Marvin and
Judy Reno. He is the great grandson of Aaron and Teresa
Duke and Esther Reno.
Colton's big sister Hanna, along with lots of other family
and friends, helped him celebrate.
Graduation
Announcement
Dawn Alycia (Bullivant) Smith graduated from Florida A & M
University in Tallahassee on April 27, with a Bachelors of
Science Degree in Nursing. A Pinning Ceremony was held the
previous day for the 36 graduates of the spring School of
Nursing class.
Dawn
served her nursing class in the positions of chaplain and
secretary, holding each position for one semester. In her
third semester, she was elected the class president, a position
she held through graduation. Dawn is a member of the Rho
Kappa Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, the FAMU
chapter of the Student Nurses Association, for which she served
as treasurer, FAMU’s Honor Society, and the National Society of
Collegiate Scholars.
At the April 26 Pinning Ceremony, Dawn received the
Tallahassee Memorial Cathedral Award for vision and leadership,
the Rho Kappa chapter of Sigma Theta Tau’s award for having the
highest GPA of all the graduating members, and was recognized
for outstanding public relations for her work in the Student
Nurses Association. In March 2007, Dawn was one of 24
Florida A & M University students to receive special recognition
from the University Honors Program for scholarship, service, and
leadership.
Dawn is married to John R. Smith and they have two children,
Andrea and Allison. Her parents are Alice and the late
Frederick E. Bullivant, and she is the daughter-in-law of R.
Colonel and Sheila Smith. Dawn has accepted a position as
a nurse on the neonatal intensive care unit at Tallahassee
Memorial HealthCare in Tallahassee, which is the fulfillment of
an eight-year goal. She wants to give thanks to God for all she
has been blessed with and thank her family for their continued
encouragement and support.
Wedding
Announcement
Teresa Slay and Mr. & Mrs. Terry Meadows (Therisa) would like
to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their
children, Lily Katherine Slay and Glynn Wayde Meadows.
Lily is the daughter of the late Johnny L. Slay, Sr. and the
granddaughter of Elza and Geraldine Garney of Bonifay, Willie
Mae Slay of Chipley, and the late Howard C. Slay, Sr.
Lily is a 2006 graduate of Holmes County High School, and a
recent graduate of Chipola College. She plans to attend
Florida State University at the Panama City campus in the fall,
majoring in business.
Wayde is the grandson of Idoma Tew and the late Raymond Tew
of Bonifay, and the late Glynn and Eleanor Meadows of Bonifay.
Wayde is a 2005 graduate of Bethlehem High School and is
currently self-employed with MM&P farms.
The couple will exchange wedding vows at the First United
Methodist Church in Bonifay on May 24 at 4 p.m. A
reception will immediately follow; all family and friends are
invited to attend.
Birth
Announcement
Ted and Kristen Thornton are pleased to announce the birth of
their second child, Brenlea Ann Thornton.
Brenlea was born March 7 at Southeast Alabama Medical Center.
She weighed eight pounds, 15 ounces and was 21-1/2 inches long.
Proud grandparents are Ricky and Brenda Lovett of Chipley,
Chuck and Julie Sasser of Cottondale, and John and Laura
Thornton of Ozark, Alabama.
Great grandparents are Nellie Mitchell of Vernon, Theodore
and Marilyn Meinhardt of Cottondale, and Lawrence Thornton of
Greenville, Mississippi.
Engagement
Announcement
Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Carter (Alice) of Chipley would like to
announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their
daughter, Kari LeighAnn, to Michael Todd Mathis, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Bruce Mathis (Vickie), also of Chipley.
Kari's grandparents are the late H. L. and Edna Helms of
Bonifay, Mr. and Mrs. William B. Carter of Chipley, and
godmother Mrs. Ruth Thomas, also of Chipley.
Kari is a 2004 graduate of Chipley High School and is
presently a senior at Florida State University in Tallahassee
where she is finishing her final year with a degree in
psychology.
Todd's grandparents are Bill and Ginger Sheltman of Virginia
Beach, Virginia and Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Mathis (Mary) of Chipley.
Todd is a 2003 graduate of Chipley High School and presently
serves in the United States Air Force as a senior airman in
Okinawa, Japan.
An outside wedding is planned for Saturday, May 10, at 6 p.m.
followed by a reception, both to be held at the Waits Mansion,
209 West Kansas Avenue in Bonifay.
After a brief honeymoon, the couple will return to Okinawa
where they will be stationed for two years.
No local invitations will be sent, but all family and friends
are invited to attend.
50th
Wedding Anniversary
The children and grandchildren of Lloyd and Mary Miner would
like to invite you to share in the joyous celebration of their
parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary.
The reception will be held at the East Geneva County Senior
Citizens Center at 134 Bateman St. in Slocomb, Alabama on
Sunday, April 27, from 2 to 4 p.m.
No gifts please; just your presence would be appreciated.
Local
Youth Compete at Southern Raceway MX
Tucker
Alderman, Ashten Tharp and Christian Whitehead recently competed
at Southern Raceway MX in Bainbridge, Georgia.
Ashten Tharp finished second in 50 cc 4-6 year olds. Tucker Alderman finished second in Mini 4 Stroke. Christian Whitehead finished first in 50 cc 7-8 year olds.
Wedding
Announcement
The families of Brandi M. Smith and Patrick M. Dee would like
to announce their upcoming marriage.
Brandi is the daughter of Mr. Reno Smith, Jr. and the
granddaughter of Lenora and Len Campbell and the late Reno
Smith, Sr., all of Westville.
Patrick is the son of Debbie and Howard Culley of Taylor,
Alabama and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. James Dee of Bonifay
and the late Jean Dee of Maryville, Tennessee.
The bride-elect is a 2002 graduate of Ponce de Leon High
School and completed the Practical Nursing Program at
Washington-Holmes Technical Center in 2006. Miss Smith is
now attending Chipola College where she is enrolled as a
pre-nursing student. She is currently employed at Family
Healthcare of Chipley and DaVita dialysis as an LPN.
The future groom is a 1997 graduate of Holmes County High
School and completed the State Fire Certification through
Chipola College in 2001. Patrick is a member of the
Westville VFD and is currently employed at Cinch Underground as
a foreman.
The couple will exchange vows at the First Baptist Church of
Bonifay on Saturday, May 17, at 2 p.m. A reception will
follow immediately after the ceremony in the fellowship hall of
the church. All family and friends are invited to attend;
no local invitations will be sent.
After the exchange of vows, the couple will reside in
Westville where they have purchased a house.
First
Birthday Celebration
Jacob
Benjamin Dale Nichols, son of Joshua Nichols and Natalie
Defreese of Chipley, celebrated his first birthday March 20.
Jacobs "Cat in the Hat" party was held at the Blue Lake
Recreation and Community Center in Chipley on March 22.
Jacob
is the grandson of Phil and Penny Agolio of Bonifay and Joey and
Melissa Nichols of Chipley.
Great grandparents are Roger and Theresa Williams of Esto,
George and Judy Booth of Rehobeth, Alabama, Q. L. and Betty
Nichols of Wausau, and Phillip and Ilene Agolio of Tampa.
Jacob's godmother Patricia Daly of Bonifay (also Natalie's
aunt) served as the "official photographer" for the party.
Patricia's late husband Benjamin is one of Jacob's namesakes.
One uncle, several great aunts, cousins and friends of both
parents were also at the party.
Birthday
Celebration
Madison
LeAnn Peel, daughter of Josh and Amanda Peel, turned two on
March 31.
Maddie celebrated her big day with lots of family and friends
at her carnival themed party complete with games, prizes, a
bounce house, pony rides, a mechanical bull and even a clown!
Everyone enjoyed the hot dogs and popcorn but the birthday
girl’s favorite part was the cotton candy!
Maddie’s maternal PaPa and NeNe are Carl and Wanda Owens of
Chipley.
Her paternal Pawpaw and Memaw are Sheldon and Patti Peel of
Chipley.
Great grandparents are Maitland Owens of Chipley, Bill and
Betty Carroll of Defuniak Springs, Danny and Sue Rudd of Grand
Ridge, Ruth Fielding of Chipley and Myrtle Peel of Chipley.
First
Birthday Celebration
Maddox
Grant Peoples turned one of February 28. He celebrated
with family and friends and several out of town guests.
His favorite gift was a Hot Wheels four-wheeler his grandpa
gave him.
He and his friends enjoyed hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, cake
and ice cream with all the trimmings.
He had a great birthday celebration.
Engagement
Announcement
Mr. and Mrs. Alton Rodgers of Vernon announce the engagement
of their daughter, Jessica, to Daniel Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Keith Lee, also from Vernon.
Jessica is the 2007 valedictorian graduate of Vernon High
School and will begin her junior year at Chipola College in the
fall of 2008, working toward her BA in Elementary Education.
She is the granddaughter of Alton (Red) Rodgers and the late
Hope Rodgers of Edna, Texas, and the late John and Wanda Wiegand
of Yale, Michigan.
Daniel is the 2006 valedictorian graduate from Vernon High
School and will also begin his junior year at Chipola College in
the fall of 2008, working toward his BA in Business.
Daniel also plans to continue his graduate education with an MBA
from FSU-Panama City. He is the grandson of Charles and
Mary Lee of Vernon and Calvin and Mamie Sapp of Cottondale;
great-grandson of Mrs. Eleanor Howell of Vernon and Mrs. Mary
Ellis of Southport.
The couple is planning a May 2009 wedding.
Birthday
Celebration
Gavin Joseph O’Neill, son of Seamus and Katie O’Neill, turned
two on April 6.
He
celebrated with family and friends at a Western themed party.
Most of the party was spent playing in the rain with his cousin
McKenzie and friend Ryleigh.
Gavin is the grandson of Alfred and Becky Guettler of Chipley
and Terry and Esther Fisher of Chipley.
Wedding
Announcement
Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Grice and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Swartz are
pleased to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of
their children, Jennifer Elizabeth Grice and Eric Scott Swartz.
The couple's wedding ceremony will take place on Sunday, May
25, in Destin aboard the yacht Solaris.
Jennifer is the daughter of Bobby and Glenda (Dean) Grice of
Chipley. Maternal grandparents of the bride-elect are
Leola (Rhames) Dean and the late Curtis Monroe Dean of Panama
City. Her paternal grandparents are the late Bishop Lloyd
Grice and Mary Ann (Wilson) Grice of Red Bay.
Eric is the son of Richard and Judy (Herth) Swartz of Cherry
Valley, California. He is the maternal grandson of
Margaret (Bartkowski) Herth and the late Carl Herth of
Bloomington, California. Paternal grandparents of the
groom-elect are the late Isabel (Taylor) Swartz and Edwin Swartz
of Colton, California.
Following the wedding ceremony and extended honeymoon, the
couple will reside in California.
Engagement
Announcement
Mr. and Mrs. Alphonso Maione of Old Bethpage, New York
announce the engagement of their daughter, Michele Maione of
Charlotte, North Carolina, to Thomas Joel McCullough, also of
Charlotte, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rickey D. McCullough of
Bainbridge, Georgia.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. Joseph Rinaldo of
the Bronx, NY and the late Gladys Rinaldo and the late Frank and
Rachel Maione.
Miss Maione is a 2001 graduate of St. Dominic's High School
in Oyster Bay, NY and a 2005 graduate of Gardner Webb University
with a BA in American Sign Language. Michele was a member
of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and graduated Cum Laude.
She is currently employed with Mecklenburg School System as a
special education teacher of students with autism and will
receive her master's degree from UNC Charlotte, Spring 2008.
The future bridegroom is the grandson of Fred and Celedia
Howell of Bonifay, and the late Henry and Emma McCullough of
Pell City, Alabama.
TJ is a 2002 graduate of Chipley High School, and a 2007
graduate of Gardner Webb University with a BA in Business
Administration. TJ was the point guard for the Running
Bulldogs and the MVP for 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. TJ
is employed with Street and Smith Business Journals as a
marketing and sales specialist.
The wedding is planned for Friday October 3, at 4:30 p.m. at
St. Pius Catholic Church in Plainview, New York. The
reception, dinner and dance will follow at Woodbury Country Club
in Woodbury, New York.
Birth
Announcement
Don and Maria Showalter are pleased to announce the birth of
their first child, Layla Annagail.
Layla was born November 19 at Southeast Alabama Medical
Center at 2:49 p.m., by Dr. Praful Patel. She weighed
seven pounds and was 20 1/4 inches long.
Layla was welcomed home by her maternal memaw and pawpaw
Patti and Sheldon Peel, uncles and aunts Kevin, Laurie, Josh and
Amanda Peel, two big cousins Harley and Madison Peel and great
grandmas Ruth Fielding and Myrtle Peel, all of Chipley.
Layla also had a big welcome by her paternal grammy and pa
Lou Ann and Scott Showalter and great grandpa Donald Harksen,
all of Crestview, and her great grandma and great grandpa Laura
and Donald Showalter of Ft. Walton Beach.
Wrestling
Competition
Brody Paulk participated in the "Dawg Pound Open" wrestling
tournament held at Davidson Middle School in Crestview on March
15. He went 4-0, scoring four pins and taking first place
in his division.
Brody is the son of Bryant and Amy Paulk of Chipley.
He is the grandson of Wayne and Barbara Lee of Chipley and
Mary Lou Paulk and the late Bobby Paulk of Campbellton.
Brody wrestles with Team Dynamic Wrestling Club in Marianna.