Fifty years ago on April 9 a beautiful little black-headed girl was born in the hospital in Smithville to the late John and Billie Ann Malone Frazier. Dr. J.K. Twilla delivered Barbara Gail Frazier.
John was working on his masters degree in physics and mathematics at Ole Miss, and he and Billie lived on campus.
They were home for the weekend, and their first child was born at the old hospital which was located where Love and Cantrell Funeral Home is now. John and Billie reared Barbara and her two brothers, Bruno and Henry Bucannan, in Huntsville, Ala., where he worked as physicist for NASA, Marshall Flight Center.
Barbara received her early education and four years high school in Huntsville, Ala.
For college she enrolled and earned her bachelor and masters degree in mathematics at Auburn University.
For a short time, Barbara taught in a college in Georgia, but she was not happy. The next news let her family know that she was enrolled in medical school in Birmingham, Ala.
Four years later, we were honored to go to her graduation where she received her M.D. as a OB GYN Medical Doctor.
She practiced medicine in Utah for several years. For many years, after having gone to U.T. Memphis, she has worked with three doctors in Florence, Ala.
While at Memphis, her class went to Africa where they delivered babies to those in need of their service.
As a young girl, she spent many weeks with her grandparents in the beautiful Dry Creek Valley. Her love for the country never left her.
Several years ago, she asked about land for sale in the valley.
She found the Horace Hubbard farm, which she thought the house was not beyond repair.
Saturday evening 40 relatives attended a “Secret Birthday Party” at this beautiful, restored country home, for this always working doctor.
On her porch was a Cracker Barrel Rocking Chair, a gift from her family.
Tables and chairs were in place in the spacious backyard for all the delicious food prepared by her family.
Those present were Mac and Jean Harney, Mackie and Sandy Harney, Billy and Mary Hooper, Henry and Natalie Frazier, Mark and Rebecca Frazier Smith, Jacob Frazier and friend, Megan, Huntsville, Ala., Bruno and Geri Frazier, Atlanta, Ga., Todd and Michele Kent and Brandon, Elizabeth and Olivia Miller, Lascasses, Ricky and Kathy Hendrix, Jennifer Hendrix, David and Monica Reynolds and Levi, Alexandria, Jimmy and Judy Kimbrell, Jerald and Lisa Cripps, Kenny Edge, Jordan and Nicole Cripps, Justin Cripps and Louise Frazier.
Thanks to Barbara’s husband, Todd Nuckles, and sons, Samuel, Christopher and William Frazier, who were instrumental in getting Barbara Gail to her “Surprise Birthday Party” and her country home at 5 p.m. sharp.
Barbara was the first grandchild of Louise Frazier and the late Woodrow Frazier. The late C.H. and Bernice Yeargin Malone were her maternal grandparents.
Congratulations to Mr. Bobby White of Alexandria who will celebrate his birthday April 22. The White family has been good neighbors and friends for many years. Bobby is the son of James and Ruth White of Dowelltown. He was in high school with the Frazier girls. Ruth’s mother, the late Flora Robinson Thompson, taught school at Cross Roads Elementary with the late Woodrow Wilson Frazier many years ago. Also the Frazier family did its banking with Mr. Robert White. He was the banker at the bank on the main street in Dowelltown. He was an excellent banker and father of James White.
Happy birthday Bobby and we wish you many more happy birthdays.
Ms. Elaine Garrison visited Bobby and Mary Joines Monday and took them their dinner. Mary remains about the same. They express their thanks to friends and neighbors for every kind deed shown to them.
Please remember this family in your prayers.
Sorry to report that we no longer have the Butternut School of “Hands on Learning” in the upper Dry Creek Valley.
So glad to talk with Ruth White in neighboring Dowelltown. She fell at her home last Thursday and is not too well this week. Ruth, we pray for you to feel better real soon.
Mr. Donnie Eledge of Clinton was a recent visitor of Mr. and Mrs. James White in Dowelltown. Donnie hasn’t forgotten where he spent most of his early childhood, and the people who live there.
We say hello to Donnie. I have known him for many years. His daddy, the late Joe Howard Elledge, and the Fraziers and Joines were close kin. Their grandmothers and grandfather, Bob Davis, were sisters and brothers: Felix Davis, Bob Davis, Ma Davis Frazier and Aunt Alice Davis.
Bro. W.L. Baker of Lebanon was the guest speaker at the evening service at Dry Creek Baptist Church, Sunday.
Mothers and Fathers Days are always special at Dry Creek Baptist Church.
In July, everyone is looking forward to white water rafting on Tennessee’s beautiful Ocoee River.
It is just wonderful to gaze on the beauty and splendor of the Ocoee.
Come visit this “little” country church which has been a spiritual lighthouse for over a 120 years and is happy to continue until Christ comes to rapture his church. Bro. Donald Owens, pastor.
“Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matt. 24:44).
“Behold I come quickly; hold that fast which thous hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev. 3:11).
Dry Creek Flashes
The secret birthday party

