Jack Durham Marable, son of Mr. and Mrs. Brent Marable of Watkinsville, celebrated his fourth birthday with family and friends with a "train" theme party at the Marable home Sunday, July 27. His birthday was July 20.

Jack Durham served as the train conductor and invited his friends to join him on a train ride. The special birthday train was borrowed from family friends, Jay and Angie Durham. The children enjoyed many trips on the birthday train and also had a chance to be greeted by Sir Topham Hat from the Island of Sodor Thomas the Train series. Making the appearance as Sir Topham Hat was Steven Dasher of Athens.

Following the outside fun, guests enjoyed a birthday dinner of hot dogs, "Pop Pop Martin" Burgess' homemade pimento cheese, chips and dip and fruit. The dinner buffet table was decorated in a Thomas the Train theme and held an arrangement of sunflowers and daisies arranged by Jack Durham's mother in his monogrammed birthday bucket. The Thomas the Train theme continued throughout the house and lawn with tables sprinkled with Thomas the Train confetti and arrangements of clear glass vases filled with candy and topped with red, white and blue lollipops which served as party favors. In addition to the red, white and blue lollipops, the children received wooden train whistles.

Following the meal Jack Durham and his guests enjoyed a Thomas the Train birthday cake and ice cream. Jack Durham shares his birthday with close family friend, Dr. Bill Branan. Dr. Branan was presented with a red, white and blue iced cookie cake with "Happy Birthday Daddy Bill".

Celebrating with Jack Durham and his parents were maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin H. Burgess of Washington; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Marable of Watkinsville; aunts and uncle, Molly Burgess of Athens and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Michael, Maggie and Garrett of Watkinsville; his sitters, Alice Marshall and Lauren Ellerbe of Athens; Dr. and Mrs. Bill Branan of Washington, Mr. and Mrs. Brad Sheffield of Athens; great-aunt, Mrs. John Richardson, and Mrs. Kevin Cheek and Haden of Hull; great-uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lane of Rutherfordton, N.C.; Jessie Crook of Gastonia, N.C.; Mr. and Mrs. Burke Johnson, Walker and William, of Danielsville; and Mrs. Ricky Sapp, Hampton and Rosemary, of Atlanta. Other guests attending from Watkinsville were great-uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Marable; godparents, Mr. and Mrs. Luke Moore, Norine and Silas; Mr. and Mrs. Jay Durham, Lizzie and Millie, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Roach, Jeb and Lanie, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Royster, Rylee Ann and Carson, Mr. and Mrs. David Weeks, Whit, West and Zach, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Towler, Claire and Sophia, Mrs. Mindy Burke, Charlie and David, and Elijah Wilkes.

During his birthday weekend, Jack Durham received a special birthday call from his aunt and uncle, Maria and Joel Walker, and cousin, Scout, of Dallas, Tex.