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Obituary: Wilma Nell Davis

Wilma Davis, 86, a resident of Mabank, passed away on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 in Mesquite, Texas. Wilma Nell Thaxton Davis was born to Calvin and Agnes Thaxton, Nov. 18, 1926 in Florien, La.

Wilma was known for her vivacious personality and an always giving spirit. She had a keen wit and sharp sense of humor. She worked as a seamstress for many years in Dallas and was sought after for her expertise. She had a love for the Native American heritage of her husband. She deeply loved all of her pets and wildlife. Wilma was also an avid fan of the New Orleans Saints.

Wilma is survived by one son, Martin Kennedy, Jr., Gun Barrel City; one brother, Fred Thaxton, Springhill, La.; four sisters, Eva Masters, Colorado, Patsy Tarver, Waller, Texas, Wanda Chance, Garland, Texas and Edith Thaxton, Mesquite, Texas; three grandsons, Brian Kennedy, Steven Kennedy and Sean Kennedy;
three great-grandchildren, Georgia, Dakota and Jasmine; and a host of other family and friends.

Wilma was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband of 40 years, Jeff “Hoss” Davis, married on Dec. 24, 1963; parents, Calvin and Agnes Thaxton; five brothers, Berniss Thaxton, Bailey Thaxton, Elmer Thaxton, Coolidge Thaxton and Harvey Thaxton.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 at Huckabee Tomlinson Funeral Home in Malakoff.

A special thank you to Dr. Steven Whitfield and the staff of Christian Care Hospice and nurses of Acapella.

Wilma was kind, compassionate and deeply loved by many. She will be greatly missed.

Tough day on SNAP

By Jeff Weinsetin

SNAP week update. Yesterday I was still in trial so didn’t get to the grocery store. No breakfast. At lunch, Michael Hannigan and I talked the restaurant into a bowl of tortilla soup for $4.50 including tax. Probably broke the rules by negotiating but you guys know that’s what I do. No dinner because I already went through the budget. Went to bed earlier than normal to avoid thinking about eating.

Jeff’s Day 1 experience

(Editor’s note: Michael Hannigan and Jeff Weinstein have taken the SNAP Challenge, and are eating on the food stamps allowance of $4.80 per day.)

By Jeff Weinstein

First day of SNAP program. Michael Hannigan and I agreed to eat on $4.80 a day just as if we were on food stamps. We are doing this as part of National Hunger Month.

I’m in trial. Probably not the best day to start. No breakfast. Went to lunch but cheapest thing on the menu was over $5 so couldn’t order anything. Dinner at 9 p.m. was pasta noodles and tomato sauce. My planning will be better tomorrow – I hope.

SNAP Challenge: Day 1

(Editor’s note: Michael Hannigan and Jeff Weinstein have taken the SNAP Challenge, and are eating on the food stamps allowance of $4.80 per day.)

By Michael V. Hannigan

First day out of the gate, the world threw a curve ball at me. I wound up helping the boss with a trial in Palestine. Brown bagging it is one thing, doing it on the road without knowing where you can eat adds a new degree of difficulty.

On top of that, we had clients to deal with during the lunch break.Jeff and I wound up sitting in a restaurant drinking water while our clients ate. Of course, we told our clients about the Snap Challenge, so they understood.

But I feel for people who might get put in that situation. Jeff tried to find something on the menu he could eat and even asked the waiter if he could just have a small side salad, but even that cost too much.

I didn’t have the heart to remind Jeff that you can’t use food stamps in a restaurant, anyway.

The fun part is I have to go to Palestine again tomorrow.

Today’s food

Oatmeal … .20 cents
Two eggs …. .30 cents
4 rolls @ .25 …. $1.00
W/ PB&J ………… $1.00
Egg casserole (sausage on sale) …. $1.50
3 bananas (1 lb.) … .50 cents

Total $4.50

The dollar menu answer

By Michael V. Hannigan

As I begin the SNAP Challenge this morning I already have an observation. No conclusion yet, just an observation.

Nearly everybody says the same thing when I tell them what we are doing. Invariably, regardless of age or gender, everyone has said some variation of, “Time to hit the dollar menu.”

Some said it as a joke and some offered it as advice, but almost everyone had the same thought.

It appears that we have been trained like Pavlov’s pets to link the phrase “cheap food” to “dollar menu.” Kudos to the Mad Men of advertising.

Unfortunately, it is a really bad strategy that will leave me hungry and malnourished.

Think about it. The SNAP food stamps daily allowance is $4.80. Take that to any fast food restaurant that serves breakfast and you can get some type of egg sandwich and drink for $2 plus tax. At lunch, you can get some type of .99 cent burger and a drink for $2 plus tax. That should leave me about .50 cents for dinner and a need for around 1,500 calories … plus I’ve had no fruit and no veggies.

Maybe that’s why you can’t use the Lone Star Card, the Texas version of food stamps, at restaurants. So I believe I will be staying away from the dollar menus.

SNAP FACTS – Things that cannot be purchased with the Lone Star Card (source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission):

Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
Any non-food items (For example, pet foods, soaps, paper products, and household supplies);
Vitamins and medicines;
Food that will be eaten in the store;
Hot foods.