Rosalie Averson

For those of you who make arts and crafts and enjoy selling them at arts and crafts bazaars, I have good news for you.

An arts and crafts bazaar is scheduled for March 7 and 8 (Friday and Saturday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Salamy Memorial Building in Whitesville. Call Brenda Willis at 854-2276 to rent a space or for more information. There will be at least four bazaars this year. The next one will be before Mother's Day. Watch this column for more information.

Since this is Leap Year, I thought I would see how many people I could find who have a birthday on Feb. 29, the extra day we have on our calendar every four years. But to my surprise, as of this writing, I have not found anyone who has a birthday on Feb. 29. Do you have a Leap Year birthday? Do you know anyone who does? If so, let me know so I can wish them a happy birthday.

Whitesville Recorder Debbie Anderson said the town is in the process of hiring an animal control officer who will pick up any dogs that run freely in the town. The town has a leash law that states all dogs must be confined or be on a leash with an adult in control of the dog and leash. All dogs must be registered and their owners are required to pay a tax fee. See Anderson for more information.

Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Noah Wiley Sr., of Garrison, who went home to be with our Lord on Feb. 2 after a long illness. His wife, Velvie, is recovering from the heart surgery she had on Feb. 12 at the Charleston Area Medical Center Memorial Hospital. She needs your prayers.

Noah is survived by his brothers — Culey Wiley, of Andrew; Jay Wiley, of Chicago; and Jim Spencer, of Eunice — and their families. He also is survived by his children — sons Teddy Wiley, of Bloomingrose, and Noah Wiley Jr., of Whitesville; stepsons Eddie Carpenter and Johnny Carpenter, both of Keith; and stepdaughter Patty McKinney, of Keith — and their families. He also is survived by 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Noah and I both grew up in Edwight and we were the best of friends. He often brought me a pair of ducks or rabbits because we both loved animals. Noah is a friend I will miss very much. I want his wife and all of his family to know they are in my prayers.

Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Edith Wilhoit, who passed away on Feb. 11 at the age of 83 after a long illness. She was a resident of Peytona and a former resident of Whitesville, where she was the postal clerk for many years. She is the wife of the late M.G. "Butch" Wilhoit, who owned and operated the Wilhoit Laundry and Dry Cleaners in Whitesville. They are the parents of two sons, Mike, of Tennessee, and David, of Peytona. Our prayers are for all of their families. Her burial was in the Blue Ridge Mausoleum in Beckley. David Pettry officiated the burial service.

All the employees at the Whitesville Fas Chek grocery store send get well wishes to employee Ashley Atkins, of Walhonda Village. He is the son of Bobby and Marlene Atkins. Ashley is in the Charleston Area Medical Center Memorial Hospital suffering from a blood clot. They ask that you pray for him.

Rev. Harry and Mattie Riddle, of Sylvester, request prayers for John August, of Stickney; Debbie Kinder, of Seth; and Mattie's brother, Okey Aliff, of Arnett. The Riddles said all of those folks are having serious health problems.

Best wishes for a happy birthday goes to Linda Mutter, of Pettus, who celebrated her birthday on Feb. 16. I hope she had a great day.

Forrest Ramsey, of Fosterville, celebrated his birthday on Feb. 4. Happy birthday wishes go to him.

Happy birthday greetings go to Richard Averson, of Whitesville, who celebrated his birthday on Feb. 8.

Keith Kinder, of Sylvester, celebrated his birthday in February. I hope he had a great day.

Belated happy birthday wishes go to Susan Landy, of Whitesville, who celebrated her birthday on Feb. 6.

A special happy birthday goes to Jenna Lynn Burdette, the daughter of David and Cindy Burdette, of Pettus. Jenna's birthday is on Valentine's Day and that makes her birthday all filled with happy birthday wishes and a lot of extra love for Valentine's Day.

Georgia Arvon Price, of Sylvester, will celebrate her birthday on Feb. 22. She is the former principal at Sylvester Elementary School. Best wishes for a happy birthday go to her.

Rev. Howard Gwinn, of Meadow Bridge, the former pastor of the Whitesville First Baptist Church, will celebrate his birthday on Feb. 17. We all hope he has a happy birthday.

Best wishes go to David Burdette, of Pettus, who celebrated his birthday on Feb. 2.

Susan Landy, who is one of the coordinators for the annual Whitesville Big Coal River Festival, said the event will be held July 23 through July 26 this year. She said town officials already have scheduled Tim Mayers Amusement rides and games for the festival. She also said several new activities are in the planning stages. There might be a King and Queen of the festival chosen this year. Keep watching this column for more updates on the July festival.

Congratulations to the following couples who have February wedding anniversaries: Marilyn and Jimmy Ullman, of Whitesville, on Feb. 11; Terry and Jaunita Williams, of Artie, on Feb. 11; Jimmy and Jeri Howell, of Whitesville, on Feb. 20. Hope those couples have many more anniversaries to celebrate together.

Oops! Last week, my column said Rev. Keith George was the pastor of the Seth Healing Baptist Church. It should have read that he was the former pastor.

The members of the Whitesville First Baptist Church send happy birthday wishes to the following members who have February birthdays: Gina Dye (Feb. 2), Amy Brown (Feb. 5), Keith Kinder (Feb. 5), Vickie Ferrell (Feb. 8), Jenna Burdette (Feb. 14), Linda Mutter (Feb. 16), Nancy Stover (Feb. 23), Ruth Ballard (Feb. 25) and Travis Nichols (Feb. 25).

A promise and worship service was held at the Whitesville First Baptist Church last Wednesday. The choir sang several beautiful love songs. Zack Karantonis, Lynn Walker and Jimmy Armstrong also sang special songs for the congregation. Poems of love also were read. Church members also offered a lot of praises. All were done to praise our Lord.

I am so glad you enjoyed the stories I had in this column last week about the beginning of the relationship between me and my late husband, Andy "Junior" Averson Jr. So, as I promised, the following is a continuation of our love story. I hope you also enjoy reading "A Real Live Italian Doll" and A Taxi Ride, A Walk Home."

A Real Live Italian Doll

One day, when I was 16 years old, I looked up and saw a real live Italian doll walk through the front door of the Coffee Pot Cafe.

What I saw was the best-looking young man I had ever seen in my life. He had dark black hair, brown eyes and a million dollar sweet smile. I was just about knocked off my feet. Now, I already had a boyfriend. So, I wasn't looking for another one. But I did look. I couldn't help myself. What girl my age wouldn't have.

As I said, I already had a boyfriend and wasn't looking to make a change by getting a new one. But I did make it my business to find out who he was, as he continued to come into the Coffee Pot Cafe.

Several of my friends and me always liked to play cards and we often played in one of the booths in the Coffee Pot Cafe. As we played Rummy or Set Back, he was always standing there watching us play, never asking if he could play with us. He just seemed to like to watch us. I later learned that he was really watching me more than he watching us play cards.

He said his heart did a flip-flop when he first came in the Coffee Pot Cafe and saw me, as mine did when I first saw him. I found out a lot about him in the next few days. His name was Andy Averson Jr., but most everyone called him "Junior." He lived at Whitesville with his parents, who owned and operated the Whitesville Inn and the Averson Esso Station. I also learned he was 19 years old and didn't have a steady girlfriend.

The reason he was in Edwight every day was that he and his daddy had bought a taxicab business and he was the driver of one of the cabs. There were two locations for the cabs. One was at Edwight and the other was at Naoma. The Naoma location was where Junior was supposed to be stationed, but I was later told he chose to be at Edwight because he could see me and talk to me more often.

I also found out this was the same Junior who came in our yard to play softball several years earlier. You remember I told you about him. He was the one who hit me in the head with the ball bat and took off running.

A Taxi Ride, A Walk Home

The following story is from Junior's memory about one taxi ride he says he will never forget. One evening, I wanted to go to Whitesville to see a movie that I had been looking forward to seeing.

I had planned on taking the Greyhound bus to Whitesville. The buses ran every hour on the hour. So, I knew that I would be able to catch one coming back to Edwight after the movie was over.

Junior knew I was planning to go see the movie and catch a bus. So, he told me he was going to Whitesville and that I could just ride with him if I wanted to. So, I did. Mother told him if he happened to be in Whitesville after the movie was over to bring me back home.

Now, Junior said he made sure he was in Whitesville when the movie was over. He parked right in front of the theatre so I could be sure and see him when I came out. He said as soon as I saw him, I came over to his taxi and got in the front seat with him because that was where I always sat whenever I rode anywhere with him.

As we drove toward Edwight, we talked as friends do. Junior was always nice and sweet, making it easy to talk with him. He said all of the way up the road he wanted to pull over to the side of the road and sit and talk to me for a while hoping to get to just touch me or maybe even steal a kiss, but he was scared to stop.

Well, he said he finally got up enough courage to pull over to the side of the road and stop. He said that it was a big mistake because as soon as he turned off the motor, I opened the door and got out and began to walk toward the Coffee Pot Cafe, which was only a short distance from where he had parked. He said he was really scared. He never meant to make me mad or scare me. He said he didn't know what to do. All he could do was start the car up and drive beside of me, all the while asking me to get back in the car and promising he wasn't going to do anything to me. He said he finally told me he loved me and just wanted to sit and talk to me and maybe steal a kiss. But I never got back in his taxi, and I walked the short distance back to the Coffee Pot Cafe.

After he knew I was safe at home, he just drove away. He said he was still scared. But I guess he got over being scared because he was back at the Coffee Pot Cafe the next day. He said he told me he was sorry and to not be mad at him and he loved me and only wanted to steal a little kiss. All was forgiven and we continued to be friends.

As this column comes to an end this week, I want to leave you with the following Bible scripture. Romans 14:10-12: "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."