A cemetery must have good fertile soil for growing watermelons. Independence United Methodist Church has a watermelon patch growing in the cemetery with quite a few watermelons. No one planted these watermelons. They also have a hickory nut tree and if you walk under the tree and get hit by one, it may knock you out. I found out all this when the Baptists had to borrow the Methodist Church fellowship hall Friday afternoon. At Tignall Baptist Church there were preparations for a Saturday wedding, so when Marvin Pitts of Stone Mountain, who grew up in Tignall, passed away, a member of Tignall Baptist Church asked if the Methodist fellowship hall could be available to serve the family a meal. We extend sympathy to Marvin's family, his wife, Betty Ann Ware Pitts, who also grew up in Tignall, and her children and their families. Marvin's dad, Onnie Pitts, was the barber in Tignall for many years. Marvin and Betty Ann both had so many relatives from this area that it was like a homecoming for their family. Sometimes funerals become like family reunion in that families get to see each other only at these sad occasions. We were glad they had a chance to visit each other. ƒSome of the family members attending the funeral services of Marvin Pitts were Marvin's brother-in-law, Gwin Ware, and his wife Cliffy of Evans; a brother-in-law, John Joe Ware of Augusta; his brother, John Mell Pitts, and his wife Claudia of Elberton; and a cousin, Joan Ware Davis of Tucker. When she walked up to the cemetery I knew her because she looked just like her mother, the late Mrs. Grace Ware. There were many others but I couldn't name them all. Santa Claus even attended the funeral. This man who looked just like Santa Claus with long flowing white hair and beard with a bright red shirt and suspenders holding up his pants gave several people his cards. He actually does Santa appearances for parties as his occupation. He is a relative of a member of the family. Thanks to the Methodist Church for the use of their fellowship hall. ƒThere was one of the sweetest weddings I have ever attended at Tignall Baptist Church Saturday afternoon. This was the wedding of Wendi Harper and Keith Wolfe. Wendi has a six-yearold son, Evan, who was a big part of the wedding. After ushering everyone into the church, Evan stood with the bride and groom and gave the rings to them. The vows also included Evan. The congregation was asked to sing "Victory In Jesus" in memory of our late pastor, Rev. Dale Fincher. Then Evan walked down the aisle with the couple. The reception was geared to include children, especially one table with a wrought iron tree holding cups of crayons and colorful gummy candy. The table held programs for children to color. Evan said the reason he did so good was because he had a lucky penny taped to the bottom of his shoe. ƒWe'll hear more about another wedding that took place last weekend at St. Simon's Island. That was the wedding of Katie Anderson and Chris Wilson. The family had not returned from the wedding in time to get the news to me. ƒCongratulations to Gracen Ware who was selected homecoming queen of Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School Friday night. Gracen is the daughter of Dean and Cristy Ware. Gracen won Miss Wilkes County two years ago. Gracen is also the senior class president and chairman of the National Honor Society. We are so proud of you, Gracen. ƒWe have two queens from the Tignall area. Little Whitney Dawson won Miss Petite Miss at the beauty pageant last weekend. Congratulations to you Whitney and we are also proud of you., ƒ Dean and Cristy Ware are proud grandparents. Addison Elizabeth Anne Ware was born September 30. The proud parents are Blake and Maegen Ware of Thomson. The great-grandparents on her father's side are Norris and Frances Ware of Washington and Betty Banks and the late Marvin Banks of Lincolnton. Maternal grandparents are Jimmy and Betsy Barnett. ƒGuests for the past week and weekend with Myrline and Jerry Thornton were Rudy and Mary Jacobs of Monticello; Wilda Courney of Atlanta; Joe Riley, Alicia Thornton of Athens; and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fincher of Oglethorpe County. ƒVisiting over the weekend with Wilbur and Ouida Maney was their daughter Ruth Strickland of Loganville. Wilbur Maney's cousin, Betty Scoggins of Commerce, passed away last week. We extend sympathy to their family. Ruth joined Wilbur and Ouida as they attended the visitation Saturday afternoon in Commerce. Wilbur, Ouida, and Ruth went on to a gospel singing in Rabun County Saturday night. Ouida hurt her knee on this trip so she was not able to get out Sunday. Let's hope she gets over this episode soon. ƒScott and Stacey Ware visited Scott's grandmother, Lucy Howell, Friday night at a nursing home in Iva, S.C. ƒWe were glad to see Evan Harrison at church Sunday. He was home from Georgia Tech for a weekend visit. ƒ Scott and Kathy Ware and Stacy joined Kenny Long, Jenny Long, and Niki Fain, Ethan and Chloe, in Augusta Saturday for dinner and a game of minigolf. This was a birthday celebration for Jenny Long. Happy birthday, Jenny. ƒ Celeste Adams and Faye Durham enjoyed the Confederate Roundtable last week at the Jockey Club. ƒHomecoming was held at Pope's Chapel Sunday with Rev. Virginia Beset, minister of Independence United Methodist Church, and Rev. Dan White of Appling speaking. Rev. White spoke about the history of the church and the area. The church was packed. Marjorie Sale Gibson of Dallas, Ga., came to visit her mother, Lois Sale, for the weekend and attended the homecoming Sunday. She gave me the names of her family members who attended. Lois was not able to be there but her sister, Evelyn Oglesby of Elberton attended along with her family members, Tommy and Jan Oglesby of Elberton and Brantley and Vee McIntosh of Dewy Rose. Marjorie and Peggy's brother and his wife, David and Gloria Sale of Dewy Rose were also present. ƒGloria Ware attended the Torrance family reunion Saturday at the Camp Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Milledgeville. This was her mother's family. ƒOwen Hilley of Commerce spent Wednesday through Friday of lat week with his grandparents, David and Nancy HIlley. David and Nancy visited Stacy and Amanda in Commerce on Saturday and kept Owen and Warren Saturday night. They attended Grove Level Baptist Church Sunday with the Stacy Hilley family. They enjoyed a cookout and returned home Sunday afternoon. ƒThere will be an AWANA Orientation class Saturday, October 10, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon at Tignall Baptist Church. There are AWANA home classes for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers of our AWANA students every Wednesday night at 6 p.m. Contact Alan Long or Debbie White for information on these classes. ƒThere will be a silent shower Sunday, October 11, for Keith and Wendy Wolfe. A table will be set up in the Family Life Center at Tignall Baptist Church for the gifts. ƒVivian Wolozin has been a patient at Wills Memorial Hospital last week but is at home now. We hope she continues to improve. Let's also keep the following people in our prayers: Phoebe Davis, Myrline Thornton, Brenda Bunch, calli Nickels, Shirley Roberson, Lisa Roberson, Gloria Harris, Kathryn Anderson, Frances Vinson, Margie Wilson, Ouida Maney, Myrtice Seymour, Lucy Howell, Irene Echols, Christine Burton, Billy Burton, and Albert Rhodes Jr. ƒWe extend sincere sympathy to the family of Deleon Denard who passed away over the weekend. Let's remember his wife, Mary Standard Denard, and his brothers and sisters. His brother, Darden Denard, lives in the Tignall area. ƒThe North Wilkes Museum and Library Committee expresses appreciation to Terri Smith for making the beautiful print curtains for the meeting room in the library. If you are in the area, you should come by and see how nice it looks.