Ledger-Enquirer from Columbus, Georgia • 14

TUESDAY DECEMBER 24 1991 olumfaus Kebger Enquirtr 4 RIENDS By Mike HaskeyLedger Enquirer ranklin Smith gets a big hug from Melinda Sue Burrow 7 RW IBM' Ct: itgg gZMMr yP yjOMMNk JM 'I I 1 A Jr mHmL JMHQP 11 JgM I This Santa gladly shares his Christmas gift with children By Tommy Desselle RIENDS Writer Wearing the red woolly outfit has always given him a special feeling no doubt that he has a ball playing jolly old St Nicholas He beams when he talks about the job are special to me great having them sit in my lap and giving them a ranklin Smith said smiling And it means more to him now than ever Having been diagnosed with cancer three years ago he has successfully fought the disease His greatest Christmas gift is life been he said "and I like to share those blessings The been good to Although he was somewhat skep tical and a little nervous when first asked to be Santa Claus at the Boys Clubs five years ago his task has expanded into a labor of love ready to go whenever they call me as much fun for me as for the kids the portly man with a big smile try to do anything differently just be And enough Smith said children usually ask about the reindeer and where he left his sleigh tell them they are close and ready to return to the North See SANTA Page 5 I Jg i I I 'JJ 1 A ob By Larry DaileyLedger Enquirer Emma Gurley shaes a laugh with annie Smith a registered nurse at Oak Manor Nursing Home At 100 still making memories By Tommy Desselle RIENDS Writer The early childhood memory of riding horses around the family farm in Walker County Ga has remained a vivid impression in her mind Although it was more than 90 years ago Emma Gurley remembers the day she got her first riding habit and didn't have to sit side saddle skipped supper and breakfast because daddy said he was going to whip me if he caught me riding cross Mrs Gurley said However her horsemanship impressed her dad and been riding tall in the saddle since gave me a hug and told me how proud he was of Mrs Gurley recalled smiling Christmas always has a special meaning to her since she celebrates her birthday on Dec 23 This last one was especially wonderful it being here 100th To watch her in action though you might guess half that Her parents John and Emma Lee Haines taught her about helping others being a good neighbor and putting God first in her life She listened "We always helped each other when they were down pitching in to do whatever was she said Doing for others is still a Gurley trademark at Oak Manor Nursing Home her residence since November of last year like those things they get in my she said smiling and pointing to a wheelchair She prefers to walk down the halls knock on doors and begin a conversation vr ct Jfeat '1 By Larry DaileyLedger Enquirer Octa Jones gets some help from 100 year old Emma Gurley been blessed with a number of good friends People have been very nice to me" Gurle said Long life runs in her family had two aunts who were 102 and 101" Gurley said She was the sixth child among three sisters and four brothers A sister Olyra Rainey 87 and a brother James Thomas who celebrates his 97th birthday riday live in Americus and Atlanta respectively See EMMA Page 5 4 7 fg Bl iKkiTTj I 1 44 I iRWUj mui By Pat MillerLedger Enquirer Edward and Ruth Smith were married Dec 25 1941 Their Christmas is 50 times more special By Tommy Desselle RIENDS Writer The annual peal of Christmas bells is a reminder of wedding bells which rang one half century ago for Edward Smith and Ruth Galloway Their marriage ceremony on birthday Dec 25 1941 in Camden was performed by her father Wallace at a Baptist Church Because of the holiday the couple obviously never has any difficulty remembering their anniversary aways tease her saying I only have to buy one Smith said laughing While the holiday season makes an indelible print on their anniversary the day he proposed is also a red letter date in American history He asked her to marry him on Dec 7 shortly after hearing the news on the radio about Pearl Harbor being bombed was a little hesitant she realized he could be killed in the Mrs Smith said loved him that was important to Smith who was teaching parachute jumping at ort Benning had been corresponding with Ruth two years brother Vernon brought him home with him one week in she said had a good time together and continued Smith who joined the army March 3 1937 was stationed at ort Leavenworth Kan at the time They continued writing after he was transfered to ort Benning in 1940 He later met a soldier from Camden and went home with him to visit Ruth That was the weekend of Dec 5 7 that plunged America into World War II radio said soldiers must return to their bases I figured it was as good time as any to ask Smith said if anything had happened to me she would have had an insurance he said laughing spent our honeymoon in Columbus staying in the Cardinal Hotel and then an apartment on Mrs Smith recalled They celebrated one anniversary together before Smith went to north Africa in January 1943 A member of the OSS (Office of Strategic Service) the forerunner of the CIA Smith returned to America in November 1944 They lived at Leavenworth until June 1948 when they came to Columbus Smith retired from the army in August 1970 with the rank of sergeant first class Their son John Raymond a rescue pilot was killed in Vietnam in November 1970 and their daughter Cheryl Ann Watson has heart trouble needed me worse than I needed to work I stayed with her most of the Mrs Smith said They have one granddaughter and three great grandchildren two girls and one boy Smith is active in the Masons Shriners Scottish and York Rites and Edgewood Seniors He also collects canes and steins 75 and 85 respectively They attend Edgewood Baptist Church The Smiths plan to observe their anniversary with dinner with friends and relatives usually do anything special just thank God for each said Smith By Richard ThomasonLedger Enquirer Try that one 'ftL 1 'i Il 1 Ax j( WOln8aMMMM Al fy few a A Brenda Storey of irst Alabama Bank helps Jan Gamble selcte a toy Mortgage bankers were at the Salvation Army last week helping children select toys for Christ mas Tood was also given to needy families i i Tuesday December 24 1991 Columbus lebger Tnquiref 4 4 I I.