Month: November 2013

Obituary: Rayburn B. Henderson

Funeral services for Rayburn B. Henderson, 80 of Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens with Bro. Roy Benefield officiating. Interment will follow at Davis Cemetery in Athens.

Mr. Henderson passed away on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013 in Athens.

Rayburn Bankston Henderson was born Feb. 6, 1933 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, the son of James Thomas Henderson and Dorothy Taylor Henderson. He married Virginia Rushing in Columbus, Mississippi on May 14, 1955. He was a Baptist and attended Lake Athens Baptist Church. He was a member of the Painters Union # 53 and worked in construction, later owning and operating R.H. Painting and Construction. He could fix or build anything he wanted. Rayburn was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting and fishing and trapping anything he could. He was a family man, a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather and will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Mr. Henderson was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Preston Dee Henderson.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Virginia Rushing Henderson of Athens; two daughters, Pamela Rae Anderson and husband Ed of Ector, Texas, Kimberly Faye Baker and husband Dillon of Kaufman, Texas; four sons, Marty Ray Henderson and wife Pam of Combine, Texas, Terry Glynn Henderson and wife Shelia of Athens, Texas, Gary Lynn Henderson and wife Tracey of Lucas, Texas, Thomas Franklin Henderson and wife Brenda of Kemp, Texas; three brothers, Billy Henderson and wife Winnie of Winfield, Alabama, James Turner Henderson and wife Lucille of Foreman, Arkansas, Robert Joseph Henderson and wife Janet of Broken Bow, Oklahoma; two sisters, Nell Henderson Graham of Fernbank, Alabama, Barbara Grisson and husband David of Athens, Texas; 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and his trusty dog Purdis.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

Serving as pallbearers are Kasey Henderson, Kodey Henderson, Korey Henderson, Holden Henderson, Hunter Henderson, Seth Henderson, Brandon Henderson, Blake Henderson, Jake Evans and Dylan Evans.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at: www.hannigansmith.com

Help HCPAC Earn Matching Grant

50thHCPAC press release

An incredible opportunity has been given to the Henderson County Performing Arts Center (HCPAC) in the form of a matching grant for $50,000. Recognizing our value to the community and encouraging the continuation of our good works, the Murchison Foundation is generously offering this grant if HCPAC can raise $50,000 before Dec. 1 of this year.

This is quite a challenge but, as in the past, we feel our loyal supporters will help us meet this challenge. That means you!

As Vice President of the Board of Directors of HCPAC, it is my privilege to spearhead the Murchison Foundation matching grant drive. My name is Marcia Colbert Tarrance. Most of you know me from the theatre but if you don’t you probably will soon enough as I will be contacting many of you to ask you to join us in our quest.

The Murchison Foundation offer dovetails nicely with the theatre’s Legacy Campaign. Started almost four years ago and scheduled to culminate in 2014, our 50th Anniversary year, the Legacy program will be extended another four years to help us meet our goals.

That’s where you come in. If you haven’t joined the Legacy Campaign, now is the perfect time to do that. Pledge an annual gift for the next four years and be a part of the contributions that will earn the theatre an additional $50,000 from the Murchison Foundation. If you joined us back in 2011 with a Legacy pledge, thank you and please extend that pledge for another four years. We are on the cusp of achieving our goal to be self-sustaining.

Over the years the Murchison Foundation has bestowed over $400,000 to the theatre. They have been instrumental in every phase of our growth. This latest opportunity will not only show them we have loyal supporters who strongly believe in our contributions to the community but it will also encourage them to think favorably about donating to us in the future.

The “new” revenue we need to raise on or before Dec. 1 need only be in the form a pledge from our donors. The Legacy Program gives you an opportunity to pay out your pledge over the next four years.

I look forward to discussing the details with you in the near future. I will be available before and during the intermission of Death of a Salesman and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I will also be contacting many of you that have indicated your desire to support the program and I will be reaching out to those Legacy patrons who started their giving program in 2011.

If you would like to discuss this fantastic opportunity with me, please call me at the theatre at903-675-3908 or reach me by email at [email protected].

What a great gift the Murchison Foundation has given our theatre over the years. I urge you to join them and be a part of our future.

Masonic Youth Celebrate in Ben Wheeler

Pictured, from left, are Carrie Currey, Samantha Ramos, Kayla Rife, Emily Currey, Katie Schaefer, Dixie Rife, and Mrs. Tonya Currey (Mother Advisor) "man" the Gun Barrel City Rainbow Girls booth at the Ben Wheeler Hog Fest.
Pictured, from left, are Carrie Currey, Samantha Ramos, Kayla Rife, Emily Currey, Katie Schaefer, Dixie Rife, and Mrs. Tonya Currey (Mother Advisor) “man” the Gun Barrel City Rainbow Girls booth at the Ben Wheeler Hog Fest.

The Gun Barrel City Masonic Youth Rainbow Girls attended the Fall Feral Hog Festival in Ben Wheeler on Saturday, Oct. 26. They sold sno-cones and cotton candy and distributed fliers and brochures about their organization. The Gun Barrel City Assembly is looking to increase their membership. In addition, to working their booth, they were able to take time out to enjoy the festivities of the day and had a really great time!

The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a service-oriented, leadership organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20. Rainbow Girls participate in a wide array of activities, including leadership training, service projects, competitions, and annual retreats. Their younger group, the Pledges, have activities for girls ages 7 to 10. Please contact Mrs. Donna Dean at 903-345-2001 or Mrs. Tonya Currey at 903-920-5608 for more information about the Rainbow Girls or visit www.txiorg.org. The Gun Barrel City Rainbow Girls and Pledges are proudly sponsored by the Cedar Creek Lake Masonic Lodge and the Gun Barrel City Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star on Legendary Lane in Gun Barrel City.

60 students attend TVCC PTK’s ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ conference

Cindy Mays of Elkhart High School shows off her unharmed egg after it dropped two stories into a device built by fellow teammates (from left) Laynnie Hogan of Slocum, Kali Oliver of Slocum and Lane Helms of Slocum during PTK's Leaders of Tomorrow Conference Friday.
Cindy Mays of Elkhart High School shows off her unharmed egg after it dropped two stories into a device built by fellow teammates (from left) Laynnie Hogan of Slocum, Kali Oliver of Slocum and Lane Helms of Slocum during PTK’s Leaders of Tomorrow Conference Friday.

By Jayson Larson/TVCC Public Information

Sixty students from 20 area high schools gathered at Trinity Valley Community College’s Athens campus last Friday to participate in the Phi Theta Kappa Leaders of Tomorrow Conference.

School districts selected three students each to attend the morning-long conference.

Students selected ranged in variety from athletes and student government representatives to National Honors Society members and classroom leaders. Each was presented with an award at the conclusion of the conference for being selected.

“We’re honoring these students for being chosen as leaders at their individual schools,” said Nancy Long, TVCC’s PTK adviser and faculty member, “but we’re also talking to them about becoming servant leaders, learning about their leadership styles and helping them understand the leadership styles of others.”

In addition to the leadership workshop, structured after Dr. Taylor Hartman’s book, “The People Code,” students participated in a team-building exercise called “Saving Humpty Dumpty.” The exercise required students to use various household items, such as cereal boxes, shrink wrap, trash bags and plastic utensils, to build a device or vehicle that would allow an egg to stay intact after a two- to three-story drop.

Participating schools and students were: Athens (Hannah Feinsod, Tayron Hall, Caleb Phillips); Canton (Brett Blevins, Gabe Gomez, Scott Munroe); Cayuga (Reichart Bauder, Macie Croft, Kent Pickle); Crandall (Ariel Banda, Sierra Survil, Garrett Wesley); Cross Roads (Carli Ivey, Kelsi Lookabaugh, Seth McGlaun); Edgewood (Baxter Chaney, Kendra McGahee, Thomas McPherson); Elkhart (Jordan Ives, Nathan Jensen, Cindy Mays); Frankston (Cheyenne Gideon, Leah Laudry, Alexandra Porter); Fruitvale (Stephen Holland, Monica McGee, Cody Smith); LaPoynor (Melody Avalos, Marissa Dunn, Stacy Edwards); Malakoff (Fernando Garcia, Michael Silvey, Tiffany Wilson); Martins Mill (Kayla Martin, Cassidy McCoy, Autumn Osborne); Neches (Halea Kendrick, Kelsee Wade, Brittaini Wilbanks); North Forney (Austin Lindler, Mark Mejia, Luissa Ponce); Palestine (Breanna Jackson, Trevon Jones, Elliot West); Slocum (Lane Helms, Laynnie Hogan, Kali Oliver); Terrell (Enrique Gonzalez, Julia Perry, Cameron Smith); Trinidad (Emily Airheart, Alyssia Ned, Brooklyn Snider); Westwood (Eunice Casas, Corey Dorsey, Neeli Hardison); and Wills Point (Chloe Jaeda McCombs, Rachel Katherine Myers, Tiffani Nicole Porter).

Volunteer Hands Needed for Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive

Salvation Army

Help Center press release

Once again it’s time for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. Salvation Army bells and Christmas go together like reindeer and antlers. Volunteers are needed to “ring those bells” and collect donations for those in need in Henderson County. As the “army behind the Army” volunteer bell ringers play a crucial role in the Salvation Army’s ability to provide services.

It’s 1891 in San Francisco and Salvation Army Captain Jospeh McFee resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner to the needy there. From his days as a sailor McFee remembered a large “pot” displayed on the stage landing that took in donations. So a large crab pot was placed on a tripod and the Salvation Army “Kettle” was born. McFee’s call of “keep the pot boiling” drew in much needed donations. Now the Red Kettle Campaign is used worldwide. The campaign is traditionally kicked off during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day football game.

Last year, the local Salvation Army Service Unit Red Kettle Campaign collected $13,392.86 to be used for direct assistance for families in need. Every penny of those funds was used to assist the needy right here in Henderson County. Kim Hodges at First State Bank coordinates all the funds that go into the account, and all the funds that are expended from the account. The Board governs the funds, and how they are dispensed. Continue reading “Volunteer Hands Needed for Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive”