Girls With Grandmother Faces
(Playing ~ "Friends
Are Friends Forever")
Dateline 2005 .... Jama has fashioned our
own GWGF logo.
Thanks, Jama, for sharing your talents once again!
"A friend loveth at all times ..." Proverbs 17:17a
Remember this from "It's a Wonderful
Life" ~
"No man is a failure who has friends."
"Many people will walk in and out of
your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."
Heart Friends How generous is God that He has
given me these special women How He must love me that He has let
us find each other There is not blood between us, no
common family history. We speak the same language. We have
come together in How generous is God that He has
given me so many other women ~ author unknown
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This page is dedicated to all the
"Girls With Grandmother Faces"~ GWGF.
These special friends bonded as classmates at
Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee,
where we graduated in the early 1950s.
No use to dwell on winged hours
passing.
|
Some of the GWGF at a Spring Fling
First row ~ Nancy, Wanda, Mattie, Kitty, Marian
Second row ~ Hilna, Carolyn, Helen, Yolanda, Earlene, Barbara G.,
Barbara J.
More GWGF at a Spring Fling
First row ~ Henrietta, LaVerne, Mattie, Earlene
Second row ~ Imogene, Marian, Wanda, Carolyn, Helen
Third row ~ Anna Joyce, Jama, Barbara, Ann, Kitty, Yolanda
A few of the GWGF at a C-N Homecoming ~ on
the campus lawn
Hilna, Carolyn, Barbara, Mattie, Yolanda, Imogene, Jean De, Doris
Ruth
Classes represented here: 1952, 1953 and 1954
Most of us were not able to stay in close
touch in the years of raising children and of careers.
Then, many of us decided we would get together at the 40th
reunion of the Class of 1952
at homecoming at C-N. 1992 became "instant"
1952 again! After a short time of hugging,
talking and laughing, those 40 years simply melted away!!
That was the beginning of a special, added
dimension to our lives. Since 1992, we have been back
to every homecoming. We all stay at the same motel. We have our
own planned activities
in addition to those planned for homecoming by the college.
We have become acquainted with each other's
husbands and, in many cases,
the children ~ and even the grandchildren. (Great-grandchildren
are also
now appearing on the scene.) The group has grown year after year.
Some of us, where possible, get together at
other times during the year. We've had
lots of "fun" times at relaxing places. We've leaned on
each other during times
of sadness as well as the times of joy.
Our annual GWGF Spring Flings (sans husbands)
........
(click,
where possible, for story and pictures)
1994 ~ Asheville, NC ..... mini fling, the idea is birthed!
1995 ~ Carolyn's home, Lebanon, TN
1996 ~ Earlene's home, Carrollton, GA
1997 ~ Mattie's home, Johnson City, TN
1998 ~ Dale's vacation home, Hilton Head, SC
1999 ~ Helen's home, Jefferson City, TN
2000 ~ Large log cabin at Seven Devils, NC
2001 ~ Ann's home, Montgomery, AL
2002 ~ Eight Gables Inn, Gatlinburg, TN
2003 ~ Mary Frances' Wilmington and Carolina Beach, NC
2004 ~ Large log cabin at Seven Devils, NC (reprise
visit)
and also at Dillard, GA
2005 ~ Fairfield Glade, TN
2006 ~ Jean's Lexington, KY
2007 ~ Tar Heel Lodge, Ridgecrest, NC
2008 ~ Tar Heel Lodge, Ridgecrest, NC
(Sometime in the future I hope to have a
write-up
and pictures about the earlier Spring Flings.)
The Carson-Newman Quilt We came. We met. We may or may not
have conquered. But this we know: Each person Each person brought in her own quilt
piece, not knowing exactly how it would fit in Now that the patchwork quilt is
beautifully integrated and formed, it must be taken apart.
~ by Wanda Saylor Palmer
|
Since we are certainly not letting the moss
grow under our feet, almost all of us also
have now joined the electronic age ~ yes, "we have mail."
When we hear special news
that should go out to the group, it goes instantly.
Most of us also have a Ty Beanie Baby, Baldy
the Eagle, or the Coca-Cola
plush eagle, Reegle the Eagle, in honor of our alma mater's
mascot, the eagle.
We have each given our eagle a Carson-Newman name reminiscent of
the days when we were students. A nice full-color parchment
"birth"
certificate followed each eagle to its home showing both the name
of
the GWGF owner and the C-N name given to the eagle. I have added
a new page about the eagles, the owners and the names.
You may access the eagle page by clicking here.
And so, my Carson-Newman girlfriends, this
is for you.
(In
some cases a name represents more than one friend.)
Ann(s), Anna Joyce, Barbara(s), Betty Gay,
Carolyn, Cecilia, Charlotte, Dale, Doris Ruth,
Earlene, Emily, Helen(s), Henrietta, Hilna,
Imogene, Jackie, Jama, Jane, Jean(s), Jeanette,
Kitty (Bobbie Jean), LaVerne, Lois Jean, Marian,
Mary Ann, Mary Dean, Mary Frances, Mattie, Nancy(s),
Nellie Faye, Norma, Olive Belle, Onita*, Punkin (Frances),
Shirley, Theta, Wanda and Yolanda*
Clicking on an underlined name takes you to
a page in their honor.
* deceased
Each one of you has enriched my life
immeasurably. While it is not possible
to fully express my great joy in your friendship, let me just say
"I love you. Thank you for being my friend."
The wonderful heart-felt poem below was
written in honor
of our group by our good friend and fellow GWGF, Hilna.
From all of us, Hilna, "thank you."
Images Of Dear Friends Just as the water shines, It's hard to make images
stay, Clear ripples and images linger; The more you try to save a ripple, ~ by Hilna Watters Long
|
There is a great deal of talent within the
GWGF, and I plan to showcase
works for which I have been given permission ~ such as the pieces
above.
I have made a special box on my Index Directory page for pages
by category. One such category is for Carson-Newman and one
just for works of the "Girls With Grandmother Faces."
Hilna has written much more brilliant and
beautiful poetry (such as the above)
that will be found in the Index. She is also an accomplished
pianist,
having a God-given talent as a musician that few possess !
Our talented artist Jama is shown here with
one of her wonderful watercolors.
I took this picture at Homecoming (2000) when she and Leon
invited us to their
home for a Saturday afternoon get-together and supper. Her home
is filled with
her beautiful work, some of which has been purchased by her
friends.
In 2005, she fashioned our own GWGF logo seen above!
Jane is another multi-talented musician/artist.
We have enjoyed her
God-given talent as an exceptional musician many times at our get-togethers.
Just request about any song ~ Jane can play it !
Marian is a talented, prolific and
expressive writer, among other things.
She has written a wonderful article about the friendship of the
GWGF entitled
"Friends ... Days of Reunion at Homecoming" which may
be found via a link
in the GWGF Showcase category on my Index Directory page.
For many years Marian wrote regularly for her county newspaper.
Mattie has written two books, Judy ...... and ...... Preachers'
Wives Tell All.
Mattie also has her own web site, and a link can be found on My
Favorite Links page.
She is a sought-after speaker at churches and women's retreats.
Barbara J. also is multi-talented and has
her own web site.
Her help to me in launching my own web site has been immeasurable.
A link to her site also can be found on My Favorite Links page.
Mary Ann has been a life-long close friend,
being raised in the same church and neighborhood,
and she was also a college roommate. Besides being an
accomplished pianist and organist,
she sketches beautifully as a hobby and is a licensed
professional counselor. She has had several
writings published. One such you will find via a link entitled
"Dance Inside" in the GWGF Showcase
category on my Index Directory page. Another is entitled "Wait
For the Springtime."
The poem above, "The Carson-Newman
Quilt" was written by Wanda at the close
of a Spring Fling and to commemorate these annual get-togethers.
It is a beautiful story
of how each GWGF brings her own unique piece each year to
complete
the patchwork quilt for that particular Spring Fling. Wanda has
written
another wonderful story about the Carson-Newman experience
reflecting on her four years as a member of the Class of 1953.
It is also listed in my Index Directory.
I plan to showcase more GWGF talent in the future as the opportunity arises.
I'd love it if you would sign my guest book ... click on my picture.
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Springer Harding
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