Remembering My Dad....A Generation Ends

Everyone has a Dad.  Not everyone has a Dad from the Greatest Generation, serving in World War II and surviving German prison camp for 7 months. Not everyone has a Dad who worked hard to provide for his family. Not everyone has a Dad who loved God and served Him faithfully through the last years of his life. I can claim all of these for my Dad.

Charles Daniel Dugger was born in February 1923 in north Florida, the youngest son of Charlie and Addie. Dan was one of 9 children who moved from Macclenny to Hawthorne in 1929 and remained on that property until his death in April 2015. With his passing, is the end of that generation. My Dad loved to work, it's all he knew. He farmed, chickens, cows and a pig or two.  He had pecans, pears, and planted the most wonderful garden full of vegetables every summer and fall.  I was fortunate to learn how to work hard through his example. I'm sure I didn't understand the importance of what I was learning when I was feeding chickens, picking up pecans, picking peas, shucking corn and many other chores that were in my required of me.

My Dad taught Sunday School from 1960 until 2012.  He taught junior boys, preschoolers and worked in VBS. He was a deacon in the First Baptist Church. He visited the sick, and took vegetables to them from his garden. He sang in the church choir for as long as I can remember.  He gave me a love for music as he made "a joyful noise unto the Lord" - walking to milk the cows.  He was a man of few words, but when he spoke "he didn't stutter"...which meant get busy!  

He was married to my Mom for 62 years, and loved her to the very end. He missed her so much, that 5 months after she passed away he went to join her.  He lived a long, full life that makes me realize how fortunate I was to have such a Godly example. My life was shaped by him in so many ways...thanks Dad for everything!

Shelling pecans at age 91

Taking a walk in the field at age 92, just a few weeks before he went to heaven!
  He loved being outside.

Home 

The last family photo in March 2015.
My Dad went to be with the Lord on Easter 2015, Victory Day!

Wedding in Hawkinsville

Weddings.  Ask my kids, they have heard 'elope' most frequently when asked about the subject of nuptials.  As a musician I have been a part of many weddings and seen the tension, trauma and tears of numerous brides.  I don't have anything against getting married, or weddings in general.  But, the storybook bride is a far cry from the reality of the event.  

As a musician I play for weddings.  Because I work with college students, I am also invited to a myriad of ceremonies.  The latest invitation came from a favorite Berry grad, Golden Goss. What a great name, and it is his given name!  Golden is from the class of 2004. The group of students that attended Berry from 1999-2004 was an awesome crew.  A large contingent poured into the lives of my children. They set Godly examples as they studied, played, loved and ministered. 

Golden graduated and I lost touch with him.  For awhile he was in North Carolina, then I heard he moved overseas to work with  Samaritan's Purse.  Years passed, and I discovered he was back in Rome!  Golden, who was an environmental science major, became a Rome firefighter.  Long story short, we reconnected at Sunday lunch and the rest is history.  In a few months we met Mary Katherine, and liked her immediately. She and Golden seemed perfect for each other.  

There are other Golden stories I could share, but what you need to know about GG is his love for God, his devotion to MK, and his Godly perspective of marriage.  GG & MK were married on Saturday October 12 at the Goss family farm in Hawkinsville Georgia.  It was a wonderful celebration of how God brought these two sweet people together.  I was excited to share a part of their day. The wedding was simple and sweet, just like the new Mr. & Mrs. Goss.

The ceremony would overlook the lake.

MK is an artist.  The guest registry was signed with your fingerprint using a variety of ink colors, thus making a lovely tree.

Josh Clegg, another 2004 graduate and one of Golden's roommates.

Trees and flowers lined the aisle!

Golden waiting for his bride!

Sweet nieces

The beautiful barefoot bride and her father.

Mitch Jolly from Three Rivers Community Church in Rome
led the couple in their marriage vows

Current Berry students who attend TRCC with GG and MK.
They are all vocalist that I have the pleasure to work with on a regular basis.

Tabatha is Golden's sister.  
She attends church with Joe and Abby Fernandez,
another sweet couple from Berry's 2004 class.

Boiled peanuts and apple cider.  Perfect.

Golden and Wes. Berry past and present!
They are in a D group together. 

So excited for Golden and MK.

The only question I have now, is about texting. When I reconnected with Golden he gave me his phone number, but told me he didn't text, because he was saving it for marriage!

Back to the Barn!

An wedding invitation arrived at our house this spring, it read:

Becky Plummer 

is being married in a private ceremony to

Colton Richardson

who has no idea what he's gotten himself into.

Private wedding, but we are invited to the celebration at the barn!!

The barn has a dirt floor, please wear jeans and boots. There will be BBQ, horseshoes, corn hole and awkward but enthusiastic dancing.

This was going to my kind of party, just plain and simple with friends celebrating! The site is also one of my favorite places - the Plummer barn.  The barn has served as a gathering for hayrides, weeny roasts, and line dancing!  The Plummer family is near and dear to our hearts. Jeanie and Bo were our  friends before we had kids. We spent days on the lake, at the pool, on the river, and a lot of time at church with them.  God needed Bo in heaven (2002) before we were ready for him to leave, and he is still missed by those who knew him. 

Bo and Jeanie had four kids, all similar in age to our oldest three.  Anna got married a few years ago, now it's Becky's turn.  Becky happens to be one of Alyssa's best friends from childhood.  

Here are some pictures from a great evening of celebration with Becky and Colton.

These girls have been friends for a very long time! All are married now, except Alyssa.  She is the last friend standing! 

Becky, Taylor, Alyssa & Chelcie (pregnant with child #2)

Becky loves to dance!  Her grandmother, 'Plum Plum' made her sweet and simple dress.

Carrie's childhood friends include the only Plummer boy, Dallas and Lauren Carroll. They were babies together in the church nursery, and continued their friendship over the years!

Lauren, Dallas and Carrie

Taylor Andrews Hines and Alyssa,
currently both reside in Mississippi,
though Taylor is soon to move to north Florida.

Cornhole!

Love the table decorations

Randy, Aaron and Brad solving some issue....just like old times in a deacon meeting!

Alyssa and Bradley...more childhood buddies, both single!

Aaron with Anna Plummer Ray

Outside the barn with Beth (Plum, Plum) and Uncle Ed (Bo's brother)

The Barn

Becky and Dallas enjoying a dance at the end of the night!

Christmas Caroling

This is a tradition at the Nobles household, we go every year! I thought you might enjoy the history of Kathryn's caroling....glad you asked, here it is.

When I was growing up on the farm in Florida, our church youth group would go caroling. It was quite an event, we would start at the dairy down the road from my house and have the DAIRY BOWL. This was touch football in the pasture & it was not pattie free! While some were playing football, others would gather in the large kitchen of the Jost family & bake cookies.  The Jost family was known for their baking, and we just followed their lead.  As it got dark, we would go into town to carol.  We gave out the cookies when we caroled - usually widows in our church.  It was fun tromping around town in the dark with my friends, singing Christmas songs.  Thus, I carry on the tradition today.

I typically go caroling twice during the holidays...once with college kids, once with the children at church.  I like both events, but they are very different.  The college crowd is invited to "Carols, Cookies & Cocoa".  I bake lots of cookies for them to eat, and serve homemade hot cocoa.  We usually carol in my neighborhood, but have done it in various parts of Rome.

2011 Carolers: typical Berry ratio, only 2 guys, but we had 2 Shorter students too!

This is usually a Calvary event, but I invite my music friends from Berry to make sure we have some good singers...cause caroling is definitely better when you have folks that can sing!  The past two years I have had a huge turn out of music majors...they sound really good, though those sopranos can get on your nerves always ending the song with a really high note!  My neighbors love it when we come caroling.  We sing two songs and then We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  As one neighbor said, "just enough for me to be excited, listen and then you leave!"

In a few weeks I'll go caroling with the kids at church.  The children love running up and ringing the bell or knocking on the door.  We go to the apartment complex behind the church & often take a bag of cookies to those who will open their door.   We sing sacred & secular songs...same format - 2 songs & the closer.  Occasionally the door gets shut before we are finished!  I have sung to many a door that didn't open, but we sing for anyone who is willing to listen. As Buddy the Elf says, "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear"

Miss Them Already

It happens every year, college students that we love & care about graduate, and move away. Every now and then we get to keep some longer because they take a job in Rome. Tommy Murphy, Jonathan Shaw, Tracy Morgan Batchelor, and Hailey Stovall Burns all stayed longer than their college years. Tracy lives in my neighborhood, Hailey is not far...but Tommy & Shaw live far, far away.

Michael & Dana Van Sant also stayed in Rome after graduating from Berry. Michael taught at Rome High for a year, then worked at Winshape Retreat before becoming the student minister at Calvary. Michael's journey at Calvary began his freshman year. His journey in the ministry is now taking him & his precious family to Florida.

Our church will miss him, but the Nobles will miss him terribly. He & Dana were regulars at the Nobles home. We even borrowed a high chair to use for Sadie! My kids have been blessed beyond measure to have this sweet Godly couple as an integral part of their lives.

Kate was honored to be the flower girl at their wedding in March 2005.

Michael was already ready for games at the Nobles house. We love to hear him laugh!

Michale & some college students that he influenced. He actually performed his first wedding for Emily Kettering..now Liles. The guy with Michael & Emily is Chad Rowell (not Emily's husband Chris). Chad is also far away, in Texas at Southwest Seminary. Chad, Chris & Michael were ALL Winshapers.

Dana getting in on the Catch Phrase. I love Dana's approach to life...it's a common sense approach, no frills. She is the perfect minister's wife, always joyful & positive.


Dana with Emily & Rachel before the annual Christmas caroling. I think Dana is popping one of her favorite sweets, Chocolate Oat Bars, in the picture.


The Van Sants were at our house so often they made the family Christmas picture!


We LOVE Sadie! We will miss watching her grow up. She has amazing parents!


We plan to visit Michael, Dana & Sadie at the beach once they get settled...but we'll look forward to seeing them at Mountain Day!! When you live in Rome, Mountain Day is easy. Those that travel - have to plan for it. Please plan to come to Mountain Day!


This picture now adorns our refrigerator. We wish they were really in the kitchen with us, as they were so many days...but I guess the picture will have to suffice.


Thanks for sharing in our lives, you taught us a lot. We love you!

Small World Story

I grew up near Gainesville Florida. The town was Hawthorne, not very big. You know most families, and many have been there for years.

Fast forward to 2003. Randy & Aaron are with the church youth group, and arrive at Centrifuge. A young guy hops on the bus to welcome them. They make connections because he is from Shorter College, which is in Rome...rival to Berry. Randy calls me later to tell me about this kid, Jonathan. He happens to be a pianist, and at Calvary we are always looking for a college student to play the piano. That has been my goal for many years, get students to play, get involved and gain experience while in college.

After that summer, Jonathan started playing at Calvary. One Sunday, Aaron noticed a gators tag on his truck and asked him about it. Turns out that Jonathan Shaw has relatives in Orange Heights Florida...6 miles north of Hawthorne. That presents a whole new relationship. I know Jonathan's mom, Cheryl...she is a few years older than me, but in a small community you know families.

As Shaw continued to play at Calvary, his family would visit, reconnecting with Cheryl and meeting his dad & siblings. Jonathan spent many Sundays at our lunch table, and he can eat! Many days he talked about the future Mrs. Shaw. I'm thankful for the time we got to spend with Jonathan as a young man, and it was wonderful to watch him grow and mature in his relationship with God, and to grow as a musician. This past weekend he got married, and we got to meet the new Mrs. Shaw. It was good to see the family, and catch up with him. Jonathan & Aleesa are following God's call as he takes a church as minister of worship & relationships in Denver Colorado.