Just Among Friends
It was a wonderful Christmas for Mike and Cynthia Lauderdale Case this year! They celebrated with Cade and Liza Lauderdale Parsons and their two sons, Arlo and Luca along with David Lauderdale's daughters, Livi and Maggie. Although the Colorado part of the family was unable to make the trip to Mississippi, they had a beautiful white Christmas!
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A couple of months ago, Adam and Zora Senitko decided to join the Slovak folk dancing classes in the village where they now reside. They have had so much fun, according to their mother, Chelsea McClain Senitko, and learned about this unique part of the culture in their new country. Last week they participated in the Christmas program and they did really well. Not only did they perform Slovakian dances wearing authentic costumes from the village, but they also sang in Slovak with the rest of the group.
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On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, 3-star offensive lineman Isaiah Autry signed his national letter of intent to play football for the Sooners at the University of Oklahoma.
He is a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School. Isaiah weighs in at 300 pounds and stands 6 feet 7 inches tall. He was a former Philadelphia Tornado until his family relocated. He will graduate in the spring and enter the University of Oklahoma as a freshman.
He is the nephew of former Sooner Marcus Dupree. Isaiah’s mother, Pashen Thompson Dent, Sr., was also a collegiate athlete who played basketball at the University of Tennessee in the 1990s. His Philadelphia grandmother, Ruby Thompson Brazzle, has always been his biggest fan and strongest supporter along with his parents, Marcus and Pashen Thompson Dent, Sr. Congratulations!
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One of the grades at Philadelphia Elementary School along with their teachers celebrated the beginning of the Christmas holidays with a trip to Canal Place Cinema 7 where they enjoyed the movie, "Wonka.” The concession stand was also a big hit. Kelly Dansby Little organized the event assisted by Megan Leigh Gibson Tubby and Angel Crockett.
After returning to the school, each student received a Christmas gift donated by parents which they opened to find squishmallows! They loved them. Mrs. Little introduced a game with the squishmallows which they played outside and had such fun. She thanked everyone who donated them. It was another great day to be a student at PES for these students!
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This Christmas was an extraordinary one for Shirley Cox who had every one of her family members together at her home. Her daughters, Carla Cox Martin, and Terri Cox McCarver, and son, Tommy Cox, brought their spouses and their children who brought their children down to the newest addition, Frances Collier!
It was such a special time for everyone. Many pictures were taken of the family with their beautiful grandmother who looked so lovely and was glad to see them. God bless them, every one!
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Dec. 27 found Romily and me on an early morning flight from DFW to Jackson after spending the holidays in Dallas with our daughter and son-in-law, Candler and Bert Foster. We got up at 4:30 AM to get to the airport and wait for an 8:22 flight. It was an unusual way to spend our 54th anniversary! We had a McDonald's breakfast of Egg McMuffins at the gate waiting area with a long-awaited cup of coffee for me. Candler came with us and took care of us while Bert took my brother to his gate for an Albuquerque flight.
It had been one of the best Christmases we have had. Candler even unpacked our bag and hung everything in the closet. (She also packed for our return!) We did not do anything but relax and enjoy everyone and everything. It is a wonderful, but strange feeling to be taken care of by our child. We had take-out from The Porterhouse for our Anniversary dinner!
Each morning I am so grateful for Romily's presence here on earth. I will always remember the kindness of all those who prayed and helped during our dreadful ordeal. He is another one of God's merciful miracles! May you each have a Happy New Year filled with joy each day, no matter how small!