September 2013 - Page 13 of 14 - Henderson County Now

Brookshire’s to donate more than $100,000 to local high schools

Brookshire’s press release

Regional grocery chain Brookshire Grocery Co. today announced it will donate more than $100,000 to high schools in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas by sponsoring the Brookshire’s Extra Point Instant Win Game sweepstakes Aug. 29 – Nov. 9 at schools in the company’s operating area.

Customers will have the opportunity to win one of 10,000 weekly prizes, with anyone 18 years of age or older living in one of the three states where the company operates being eligible to enter to win. To enter, simply text the word FOOTBALL to the short code 43101. The contest is open for 11 weeks and customers can only text to enter on Thursday or Friday nights of the competition from 4 p.m. CST to 10 p.m. CST.

The 10,000 weekly prizes include $500 Brookshire’s gift cards, free yourpoints and free Brookshire’s Brand items. In addition, Brookshire’s store directors will make check presentations to each participating schools at a home football game during the regular season.

“Community involvement and education are priorities at BGC, which is why we are giving back to our communities by investing in our local high schools,” said BGC President and CEO Rick Rayford. “We believe this money will go toward improving educational and athletic programs, and we are very proud to be a part of the special football game celebrations.”

Obituary: Eva Juanita Frazier

Services for Eva Juanita Frazier, 89, Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 at Carroll-Lehr Funeral Chapel with Rev. Jason Huffman officiating. Burial will follow in Cottonwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Frazier died Sept. 1, 2013 in Palestine.

She was born Dec. 20, 1923 in Troup to the late Joe Earnest and Essie Gretchen Powers Calicutt. Juanita was a lifelong resident of the Athens Community. She loved to play skip-bo and bingo. She had been employed at the A-Tex Café for 20 years. She was a Baptist.

Juanita is preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Roberson; and second husband, J. W. Frazier; sister Odetta Conaway; and brother Arthur Calicutt.

Survivors include sisters Leta Graham, Palestine, Barbara Berry, Trinidad; brother Robert Calicutt, Irving; stepdaughter Debra Tucker, Houston; two stepgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation for family and friends will be 1-2 p.m. Friday prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Cartmell Home for the Aged, 2212 W. Reagan, Palestine, Texas 75801.

Obituary: Bill Yelvington

Memorial services for Bill Yelvington, 84, of Athens will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 at Eastern Hills Church of Christ, Athens with Dan Rogers officiating.

A family graveside service at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Athens will precede the memorial service.

Mr. Yelvington died Sept. 2, 2013 in Tyler after a brief illness.

Bill (also known as “Red”) was born in Athens on Dec. 1, 1928 to the late James Claude and Laura Hall Yelvington.

Bill began a 40-year radio broadcasting career at age 17 at Athens station KBUD with groundbreaking boogie-woogie and blues show. Later, he would host “Radio Rodeo” each afternoon. He took a break from radio from 1954-1961 while serving as Washington D.C. chief of staff for U.S. Congressman John Dowdy. After returning to Athens from Washington D.C. he was employed by the United States Postal Service until retirement in 1988. Bill graduated from Athens High School in 1947 then attended Henderson County Junior College and Kansas State Teachers College. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He was a Jaycee, president of Athens Lion Club in both 1962 and 1974, and was named Outstanding Alumnus of Henderson County Junior College in 1972. Many happy times were spent at the family weekend cabin at Pottawatomie Gun and Rod Club (now Fly-In Lake) and cattle ranching at “the farm” near Cross Roads. He was an active member Continue reading “Obituary: Bill Yelvington”

Johnson Chapel AME Church celebrates homecoming

Descendants of Abe Johnson, members of Johnson Chapel, and local area churches pose for the camera.

By Delanda S. Johnson/Johnson Chapel AME

Last Sunday, Aug. 25, Johnson Chapel AME Church celebrated its Church Homecoming. The church was established in 1897 in the Cedar Creek bottom under a brush arbor on the Abe Johnson’s farm.

Throughout its existence, the church has gone through many disasters. In 1926, the church was divided because of high water and bad roads. Johnson Chapel members remain in the same church building. Others established a church in Trinidad that’s known today as Mt. Vernon AME Church for convenience.

In 1938, the Johnson Chapel members tore down the church and built a small church in Malakoff with kerosene lamps for lighting.

In 1944-45, Rev. S. V. Johnson was assigned as Pastor. Since he was a carpenter, he began to rebuild the church and modern conveniences were added. In 1969, the church was destroyed by fire in which Rev. J. R. Roberts was pastor and services were held at New Hope CME Church in Malakoff. Continue reading “Johnson Chapel AME Church celebrates homecoming”

Obituary: Wanda Wiley

Funeral services for Wanda Wiley, 80, of Athens, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013 at the First Christian Church in Athens with Rev. Bill Hauck officiating. Interment will follow at 3 p.m. at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas.

Ms. Wiley went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013 in Athens.

Wanda Marie Anders Wiley was born Nov. 13, 1932 in Hainesville, Texas to Thomas Benson Anders and Opal Mae Thomas Anders. She was a member of the Gospel Lighthouse Church in Dallas. She enjoyed being involved in her church and loved teaching her Sunbeams Sunday School Class. Wanda enjoyed sewing, quilting and playing dominoes with family. She was a loving mother, grandmother and sister and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband Bratton Ray Wiley, a daughter Phyllis Wiley and her brother Delbert Coleman Anders.

She is survived by one son, Richard Wiley and wife Jan of Athens; one daughter, Dorothy Fleming and husband Bob of Mabank; a sister, Oneta Louise Atwood and husband Gary of Heath, Texas; eight grandchildren, Michelle Willberg, Amanda Harney, Gary Paul Carty, Dennis Ray Carty, Jeremy Scott Howell, Christi Howell, Benjamin Marc Howell, James Allen Summit II; 14 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to express special thanks to Lakeland House, South Place Nursing & Rehab, Genesis Hospice and Ms. Wiley’s niece Ruthie Crim for being a loyal and loving caretakers.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Lila Lane Men’s Outreach; 101 Lila Lane; Athens, TX 75751‎; Phone: (903) 677-3220.