Mr. and Mrs. Larry McPherson and granddaughter, Amanda Larry and Mary Turpin McPherson of Wilkes County were honored on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary at a reception Saturday, October 24, at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center in Thomson.

Festivities were hosted by their sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, Michael and Louise McPherson, John-Michael, Amanda, Joseph and Jacob, of Forsyth County, and Bruce and Angela McPherson, Augustus and James, of Roswell.

The couple was married October 24, l959, by Baptist minister, Rev. Charles J. Herring of Lincoln County at the N.R. Bennett home. The bride was given in marriage by her father, John Claud Turpin, and the original wedding cake was baked by her mother, Lona V. Turpin. Also present were the bridegroom's parents, H.A. and Mamie Sue McPherson.

For the celebration Mrs. McPherson wore a tea-length wine-colored dress with a chiffon overlay adorned with sequins. Multi-colored pearls, an anniversary gift from Mr. McPherson, complemented her dress. She was presented an orchid corsage by her children and grandchildren. Mr. McPherson was attired in a black suit. His red rose boutonniere was a gift from his children and grandchildren. His gift was a Stetson hat, buckle and belt.

The couple's grandson, John- Michael, wearing his ROTC Marine uniform, escorted his grandparents.

The entrance to the Family Life Center was graced with a huge banner with a photograph of Mr. McPherson in his Air Force uniform dreaming of his Mary, and a present day photograph of the couple. The center date was October 24, 1959 - October 24, 2009.

The couple's sons and daughtersin law welcomed guests who registered in the gold and white registry with the nearby white pen. This table was covered in white linen and accented with a gold runner and gold basket for cards.

A huge bouquet of flowers that included white chrysanthemums, gypsophila and stock, was arranged by their granddaughter, Amanda, and placed on the table where the honored couple was seated.

Tables were covered in white linens and enhanced with gold runners. White napkins were inscribed in gold with the date of the marriage as well as the anniversary celebration date. Floating golden balloons added to the festive celebration and graced the McPhersons' driveway as well. Silver appointments were used to serve the buffet of heavy hors d'oeuvres. Anne Horne of Norman Park assisted.

The anniversary cake, served by Grace Huberty of Marietta, was a five-tiered confection frosted in white and topped with wedding bells.

The silver punch bowl centered another table also covered in white linens. Orchids also enhanced this setting. Serving punch was granddaughter, Amanda, and Elizabeth Rose Horne of Norman Park.

Grandson, Bruce McPherson, assisted by Angela McPherson who gathered old and new photographs of the McPhersons, provided a DVD that played throughout the reception with music of the time period of his grandparents' wedding. The DVD depicted the couple's lives from their infanthood to the present. Headlines of newspapers, declaring these events and the DVD were presented to the couple.

Pictures of the celebration were made by grandson, Joseph McPherson, and Dot Cofer of Thomson who also made a DVD for the couple.

Guests were requested to give no gifts; however, many honored the couple with donations to the Gideons for giving Bibles in their honor while others donated monies to the Methodist Church Children's Home in Decatur.

The couple's sons and grandchildren supplied the decorations and the daughters-in-law prepared the food and arranged the festivities. Chuck and Grace Huberty of Marietta, Philip Knowles of Roswell, Monica Buice of Alpharetta and Anne and Elizabeth Horne of Norman Park assisted the hosts in setting up the beautiful tables and the serving area. All assisted the guests.

More than 100 guests joined the McPhersons for the celebration.

Among those attending was Mr. McPherson's best man, David Turpin of Murphy, N.C., and Mrs. McPherson's attendant, Lois Hoffman Poss of Washington Tim Turpin, who died last year, also served as best man, and attendant, Myrtle Sue Davis was unable to attend.

Others attending were Eve De- Maria and Bernie Howard of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Krista Turpin of Barrow County, Barbara F. McPherson of Kennesaw, Sherri Rakestraw, Betty Sampsel, Ella Jacobson, Sarah McPherson Foster, Susan F. Kersey of Marietta, Clarence and Nell Wright of Elbert County, Connie W. Covington of Monroe, Mae Dell Huff of Athens, Peggy Hollows of Evans, Mike and Trudy Matthews of Harlem, Sean McPherson of Cobb County, Charles and Billie Ann Stewart of Matthews, Shannon Whitaker, Jack and Shirley Crook, Ralph and Margaret Montigny, Woody and Lynda Woodard of Lincolnton, Billy Dunaway, Linda Standard, Sarah Huff, Joyce Holloway, Ann Mansur, Carrie Towne, Evelyn Wright, Richard and Brenda Phillips, Wanda White, Winston and Patsy Bailey, Coryer and Lois Poss, Allen and Patricia Burton, Paul J. Bennett, Claude and Sherry Ingram, Vivian Walker, Jean Steed and Rose Ware of Washington, Wendy and Dot Cofer, Pat Niemann, Billy and Nan Tam, Wahldean Brunson, John F. Barnes, Glenn Wilson, Sue H. Norman, Beverly W. Castevens, Willard and Janice Askew, Doris J. Banks, Bill and Vickie Howard, Wella White, David Barrow, Jeanie Josebury, and Tom and Carolyn Black of Thomson, as well as members of the McPhersons' church family.