On June 24 was homecoming at Dry Creek Baptist Church. The auditorium was filled to capacity with members, past members, those who just love to visit the church and perhaps some new friends.
Everyone was welcome to come and hear a preacher who grew up in the valley and received his early education at Dry Creek Elementary School, became a barber, and was later ordained to God’s ministry, Kenneth Tramel, who was pastor at Shop Springs for 30 years.
Bro. Kenneth brought an inspiring message from the Book of Ezra.
Guest singers were The Owens Girls, Nancy, Mary, Erin and Krisa of Lebanon. Each sang a solo, and they sang one song together. They are so talented and everyone enjoyed their singing.
At the noon hour a delicious meal was served in the fellowship hall.
The church was honored to have the Boss Men, Larry, Jerry and Phil, sons of one of the best loved pastors, the late Rev. Clay and Mary Lou Boss.
From Smithville, Edward and Frances Frazier, Jerry and Susan F. Hinton, Jack and Frankie Watkins were at homecoming. Thanks to all the people who made this a memorial and happy homecoming.
In a small community most activities center around the church and family gatherings. So it is in the Dry Creek Valley.
For over 120 years the Dry Creek Baptist Church and its beautiful surroundings with the stream of water meandering down the valley has served as a “Spiritual Lighthouse” to people living in the valley and surrounding communities.
When we married and came to this valley with hills extending high into the elements almost everyone living here was members of Dry Creek Baptist Church. That was 73 years ago.
Those of another faith attended also and everybody loved the little church in the country.
There remain only two members living and still active, Vena Fuston of Smithville and Louise K. Frazier of Dry Creek.
We remember all those who have entered into eternal rest who inspired us as young Christians and taught us to be faithful to our Lord and Savior and to Dry Creek Baptist Church. We are thankful for them.
Many thanks to several Christian men dedicated to the “hot” chores of preparing the delicious pork meat that is necessary for homecoming. Those men include Danny Agee, Ben Franklin, Jimmy Kimbrell and Jimmy Midgett. Behind these good men are their helpful wives.
Dr. Bruno and Geri Frazier, Andrew and Ryan, Atlanta, Ga., just happened to be visiting in the valley and caught the aroma of the meat cooking on the hot coals and drove by for a visit with the working crew.
The crew had to have food for this chore, so besides the pork for Sunday dinner, Bruno had a big laugh about the wild turkey, barbecued ribs, chicken and corn cooked in the shucks that kept the crew from getting hungry.
It’s okay to have a little fun when doing a job that required staying on the job until finished.
Yes, Bro. Donald Owens, pastor, at Dry Creek Baptist made his appearance early Saturday morning, in fact before 8 a.m. The men were on the job. After doing some needed chores, a couple of hours later having the utmost faith in the working crew, Bro. Donald went home.
Congratulations to Jerald and Lisa Cripps of Liberty, who celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on June 24. Matthew and Melody Cripps of Murfreesboro took his parents out to eat and invited them to be their overnight guests.
Later Jerald and Lisa visited Bell Buckle and had lunch at the City Cafe. They enjoyed their weekend very much. Best wishes and our love go to this hard- working couple.
Bruno and Geri Frazier and sons, Andrew, who will be a freshman at Berry College, Rome, Ga. this fall, and Ryan a junior in High School, visited their grandmother, Louise Frazier, for a brief visit and fresh blueberry cobbler, Saturday.
Our community extends sincere sympathy to the family of Mr. Bud Hale of Smithville in its time of sorrow. May God comfort and sustain this family in the loss of its loved one.
He was the son of the late Raymond and Mabel Hale of Pea Ridge.
We missed seeing some faithful people whom we normally see at Dry Creek Baptist homecoming, Hartford and June Lewis of Lebanon. We say hello to them, and we hope you are not sick.
We would like to say hello to Jerry and Brenda Parker, Murfreesboro, and let them know that they missed a good homecoming. That’s okay, we just heard that the Parkers were vacationing with their grandchildren, but you were missed.
Teddy Edge of Ardmore was missed also. Hello to Ted and hope you are feeling better. Dry Creek sends love and best wishes to you and your family.
At Dry Creek Baptist a date to remember is on July 14. There will be a church-wide white water rafting trip on the Ocoee River, the group will leave the church at 7:30 a.m.