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Whatley-Calhoun reunion another big event The Whatley-Calhoun reunion weekend beginning Friday, June 1, 2007, was full of activities for the family and friends, including eats at every stop. Jean Whatley and her family hosted a dinner in her home in Monroeville on Friday night that included 49 members of the George-Ruby Whatley family. Again this year, Ray and Katherine Whatley of Asheville, NC, hosted a breakfast for 28 at Grove Hill's "Pour House." Glenda Reece furnished homemade strawberry and peach jam for the breakfast, while Betty Whatley and Jo Anne Highfield gave out knitted dishrags to the ladies. Open house at Sadler home From 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday Billy and Elizabeth Sadler and their family hosted "Open House" at their rustic 100- year old Calhoun-Sadler home on Hebron Road, west of Grove Hill. This was the home of Ed and Minnie Calhoun, Mrs. Sadler's maternal grandparents. The house is furnished with vintage appointments. Ninety of the family and friends registered for a tour of the ancestral home. Refreshments were served to the guests. Seventeen of the family made a "Visit to Whatley" to review the history of the buildings, people and sites, and a narration was given at each stop. Hal and Jane Johnson invited everybody for an elaborate spread of food on the dining table of the Godbold-Johnson House in Whatley. She called it "cake and coffee," but as everybody knows, for Clarke and Monroe Counties, she is the "Pearl Mesta" without the politics, a gracious hostess. 114 registered for supper There were 114 registered by Marjorie Garrick, the reunion registrar, for the 34th annual Saturday covered dish supper. Wayne Burge of Poquosin, Virginia gave the invocation. Several of the "first timers" were recognized. Mary and Jeff Taggart of Mart, Texas brought their daughter, Trisha King (from Tennessee) and granddaughters, Sidney and Allison King. Mary Taggart is a great-granddaughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Albert Pugh of Grove Hill. Jane McLeod came up from Mobile. She is a great-great-granddaughter of the late William Allen McLeod, headmaster of old King Institute in the 1880s. Also recognized were Joe and Carolyn Singly for their continual expressions of love and friendship to the Sadlers. Appreciation was expressed to Walter Davis, Gayle Mathews and Maurie Outlaw for cleaning up the Old Union Cemetery; Jean Whatley and family for the dinner on Friday night; Ray and Katherine Whatley for the Saturday breakfast; the Sadler family for the "Open House; Jane and Hal Johnson for the refreshments at Whatley; Shirley Burge and family for managing the kitchen; Marjorie Garrick for registering guests at both the "Open House" and the reunion supper. Appreciation was also expressed to the Grove Hill United Methodist Church for allowing the gathering to be held in the church social hall. An 1890 water pitcher, shell and jewel pattern, was the door prize, won by Marion (Bumpy) Bumpers. A list of new family members was read. Newest family members The new babies were the following: Maggie Peters (June 5, 2006), daughter of Tracy and Mike Peters; Griffin Parker Sadler (August 30, 2006), son of Natalie and Jason Sadler; Kyley and Carley Suchuy (November 6, 2006), twin daughters of Melissa and Frank Joseph Suchy; Sutton Nadia Legendre (January 4, 2007), son of Logan McKenzie and Aubrey Joseph Legendre, Jr.; Cadence Elizabeth Burge (February 23, 2007), daughter of Juli and Larry Burge, Jr,; Keller Garrick Scott (March 21, 2007), son of Jill and Trent Scott; Tanner Mark Hoven (March 23, 2007), son of Julie and Barry Lee Hoven; Nathan Blake Butler (April 30, 2007), son of Jennifer and Warren Blake Butler; Megan Leigh Garrick (May 1, 2007), daughter of Ellen Rebecca and David Paul Garrick. The new spouses to family members are Erin Elizabeth Callaway, married to Jonathan Ryan Sadler, September 30, 2006; Carrie Beth Formby, married to Paul Brandon Garrick, January 13, 2007; John Calvin Reeves, Jr., married to Courteney Elizabeth Skipper; Mary Bryant Mason, married to Gary Lynn Whatley, May 26, 2007; Rachel Elizabeth Smith (will be) married to Kevin Isaac Burge. Remembering those who died The memorial moment recognized those persons who have died since the last reunion. The individuals and dates of death announced were: Rhett Goode Payne, June 1, 2006; Darlene Iafolla Bedford, July 6, 2006; Georgia Wilda Megginson Garrick, July 11, 2007; Helen McGowin Odom, July 18, 2006; Andrew Rudolph (Rudy) Carlson, July 24, 2006; Benjamin Leonard Calhoun, August 10, 2006; Mary Eleanor (Toots) Hicks Robinson, October 27, 2006; Robert Hamilton McConnell, Jr., October 29, 2006; Junior Floyd Fuller, November 22, 2006; Wallace Norman McLeod, December 4, 2006; Billy Calhoun Odom, December 5, 2006; Ralph Morgan Whatley, Jr., January 7, 2007; Joe Payne Lindsey, January 25, 2007; Mary Louise McRaney, March 9, 2007; Florence Junior (Muggs) Robinson, April 28, 2007; Charles (Chick) Elmore Colvin, April 27, 2007; Ann Lynn Glasscock Colvin, April 27, 2007; Mildred Clay Rivers Huggins, May 1, 2007; Zellie Pauline Mills Whatley, May 7, 2007; Thomas Edwin Calhoun, June 2, 2007 (Edwin attended the reunion and died that night.) House's history detailed The special feature of the reunion was the recognition of the 100-year history of the Ed Calhoun farmhouse. Dr. Barry R. Sadler, Sr. gave an interesting address on the emotional significance to the family of the farmhouse. He spoke of the people and events associated with the house, sprinkling in some of the amusing family anecdotes and characterizations of the people who have lived there. He mentioned that six generations have sat in the unique front porch swing at the old house. As the attendees departed, they went home to several states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Bibles dedicated at church
At the Sunday morning worship service at the United Methodist Church in Monroeville on June 3, all six of the surviving children of George and Ruby Whatley, and siblings of Joe, were present. Jean Whatley had placed Bibles in the pew racks of the church in memory of her late husband, Joe R. Whatley, Sr. Dedication of those Bibles was a part of the worship service.
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