Peeping through my Venetian blind, I saw the adjuratum and goldenrod, making a royal ribbon down the side of the old country road where I live.

Since last I wrote, I have attended services for two former students, Tony George Miller, known as “Tony,” and Richard French Krudop, known as “Richard.” I want to record some facts about their services, lest they be forgotten.

I am told that the family buried Tony, Friday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m. in a private gathering at Andalusia Memorial Cemetery.

After a meal in the home of Tony’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Jimmy Taylor, visitation followed at 1 p.m. in First Baptist Church where Tony’s wife, Abbie (Taylor), was reared, and where Tony’s mother-in-law, also called Abbie Taylor, still attends.

Tony and his wife were married in the sanctuary where his memorial service was conducted.

Norman Hobson, who was graduated with Tony in the Andalusia High School Class of 1971, represented Foreman-Brown Funeral Home in Andalusia; and another classmate, Alan Cotton, a local florist, arranged floral tributes for Tony. One tribute was an arrangement of red and white carnations, from the Class of 1971. Other 1971 classmates attending were Robert Lee Holley, Dr. Rex Butler, Ricky Russell, Susan (Studstill), Benny Dunn, Nancy (Ptomey) Jones and Eleanor Miller.

Martha (James) Givhan, church organist, played softly as mourners filed past Abbie, her daughter, Chapman, and three sons, Joshua, John Taylor, and Luke, Tony’s brother D.D., and others, sharing their grief.

Among the mourners was Bob and Myra Marsh from Atlanta. He had served once as pastor of First Baptist.

The memorial service, a spiritual experience, began at 2 p.m. as the family re-entered to “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” played by Mrs. Givhan.

John Riddle, a friend and minister from Birmingham, where Tony and Abbie lived and reared their children, offered a prayer.

The eulogy was delivered by “Doc,” a fellow attorney in the same law firm as Tony, who had known Tony some 34 years.

In a wonderful testimony to the life, character and witness of Tony, Doc spoke of Tony’s favorite topics of conversation – his family and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Doc mentioned four areas in which Tony proved admirable – accomplishments, family, courage, and Christian example. Doc detailed Tony’s honors, his esteem by his peers, his loyalty to his Andalusia roots, his good-natured manner, his calm, and his belief in Christ.

A solo by Dot (Pippin) Castleberry, “Be Thou My Vision,” accompanied by Mrs. Givhan, followed. Dot is a friend of Abbie (Taylor) Miller. Dot reminded me of her mother, who also sang publicly.

John Riddle then delivered a sermon, quoting much scripture.

Dot returned to the pulpit to lead all in two verses of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” the theme song of First Baptist.

John Riddle led in prayer once again.

Mrs. Givhan played “Blessed Assurance” as the family exited.

Among those present were Clayton and Barbara Bryant. Tony played basketball at AHS for Clayton and loved him dearly.

Richard Krudop, the youngest of the three sons of Bellaire and Sara Frances Krudop, was in the AHS Class of 1974.

Visitation for Richard was at First Baptist Church.

His body was clothed in a black suit with a white shirt and four-in-hand of gold print.

The open casket was topped with a blanket of fall flowers.

John Beasley, organist at several churches and retired math teacher from AHS, played softly as mourners filed past a visitation line with Richard’s wife Denise, his brothers, Jim and Ballard, and their wives, Holly and Lynn.

A steady stream of mourners offered their comfort from 9:30 – 11 a.m.

As visitation concluded and the lid was closed, Mr. Beasley played “How Great Thou Art.”

Dwight Crigger, minister of music at First Baptist, then read scripture and led all in singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” the church’s theme song, accompanied by Mr. Beasley.

Dr. Fred Karthaus, pastor at FBC, read scripture and prayed.

Dwight Crigger then read more scripture and sang a solo, “It Is Well with My Soul,” accompanied by Mr. Beasley.

Dr. Karthaus followed with more prayer and scripture, delivering the eulogy, emphasizing the happy times in Richard’s life.

The organist played “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” as the family exited.

The morning was overcast; but by the time the mourners arrived at Andalusia Memorial Cemetery, the sun had come out and a gentle breeze was blowing most pleasingly.

Dr. Karthaus read scripture and prayed at Richard’s grave.

****

I took a bite of one of the persimmons Miss Cora Covington had brought over. It was sweet as honey. I avoid the green persimmons. They’ll turn your mouth inside out!

Margie (Jacques) Thomasson has returned from the wedding of her nephew in Austin, Texas. Margie’s son, Clay, and his wife Carrie all drove out. Margie has one sibling, Bill Jacques, who has three sons.

October 15 was National Poetry Day. It was also the birthday of Anna Lois Nall, who was treated to lunch at the Huddle House by her son, Stephen, of Troy, who also presented his mother with a bouquet of white blooms.

Mrs. Nall’s son, Tim, had already taken his mother to dinner previously.

Seen, too, at the Huddle House for lunch, were Janette (Burke) Carroll, and Bobby and Dorothy McGhee, whose only son, Robert, continues to work at WSFA TV in Montgomery.

Seen at Rocky Creek Restaurant in Daleville were Robert Lee Holley and Eddie and Lisa (Bozeman) Williamson. Rocky Creek offers excellent seafood buffets Friday and Saturday nights.

Seen at Green’s Hilltop for the Thursday-night “steakfest” were Bill Law, Morgan and Wilma Moore, Herb and Sue Carlisle, Wes and Nancy Meyette, Kittye Wyatt, Joe Wingard, June Smith, Vivian Hickey, Gillis “the Combman” and Laura Ann Jones and Gordon and Trudy Vickers.

Seen at Green’s by the Conecuh Sunday, Oct. 7, was the matriarch of the family, Mrs. Green, who was celebrating turning 92. She ran Green’s for 65 years, saying, “Work won’t hurt you!”

She was given a birthday cake – half vanilla, half chocolate – and was joined by family and friends, especially those from Gantt Baptist, who brought “heaps” of gifts.

Mrs. Green said that she was “so excited I couldn’t eat!”

Present with Mrs. Green was the ever-faithful Jo Florence.

Dr. Rex Butler, born Oct. 10, was given a birthday party Oct. 6 by his wife Billie Jo, and his two children, Rexanne and Allen, who eagerly helped plan their dad’s happy-return-of-the-day.

Some hundred guests attended the good doctor’s 60th at Butler Hall.

The birthday colors/design were crimson and hounds tooth, in line with the Crimson Tide of Alabama and the Andalusia High School, where Dr. Butler finished with the Class of 1971. Tables were set with miniature hounds-tooth hats, in honor of Paul “Bear” Bryant.

A birthday cake carried out the theme, decorated with a crimson “jersey” with the number 60.

A video captured the life of Dr. Butler, and a “DJ” played songs from Dr. Butler’s youth.

Favors of Hersey bars and M&Ms, decorated in crimson, black, silver and white, with “Rex’s 60th Birthday” and “Age is a number; Rex’s number is 60” on them.

A washtub, decorated in the party colors, kept soft drinks cold for the guests.

A buffet included Martha Washingtons, miniature pies of pecan, German chocolate, and coconut, brownies, mints, fruit salad with strawberry fluff topping, cheese straws, pigs in a blanket, ham and turkey rolls, sausage balls, cheese, ham dip, chips and dip, nachos and salsa.

Seen at Chen’s Garden were long-time friends, Linda Adkison, Beverly Sanders, Zondra Jernigan and Norma McLendon, enjoying lunch to celebrate each other’s birthday.

The celebration of the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, England’s greatest novelist, continues.

This year we also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Christian movie cowboy, Roy Rogers, born Nov. 5.

We also celebrate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts.

Again, I ask that each citizen of Andalusia join the Covington Historical Society and pay its annual dues of $25 so as to help preserve the history of our county, whether you attend meetings or not. Mail to CHS, P.O. Box l582, Andalusia, AL 36420.

To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States, let us return to this week 150 years ago.

Confederate John Hunt Morgan with 1,500 men routed Federal cavalry near Lexington, Kentucky.

Remember to buy Sesquicentennial, Mark Twain, O’Henry, War of 1812, and Girl Scouts stamps.

Gwen Bonner remembers Mrs. Hill Guy, my mysterian, as, having no children of her own, always doing something good for those who couldn’t do for themselves. Mrs. Bonner recalled that her father, R. R. Thomas, a barber, worked in his shop on Pear Street. The shop was called Three Friends because Mr. Thomas and two of his friends cut hair there.

Mrs. Bonner said that her father thought so highly of Hill Guy that he named her brother after Hill Guy, Marlon Guy Thomas, who, as a youth, was hand-picked to play ball at the University of Alabama by none other than Paul “Bear” Bryant himself, who came here to watch Marlon play.

Mrs. Bonner still owns a Fiesta Ware (orange) plate, given her as a wedding gift by Mrs. Guy.

I am leaving the mysterian as Mrs. Hill Guy in order to garner more stories about her.

Someone has told me that her first husband was Henry Opp, for whom Opp is named. I heard that some man became angry with Mr. Opp in our town square and took his cane from him and hit him over his bald head, causing infection and death later. If you can verify this story, please let me know.

Birthdays this week include those of Virgil (Vergil), the Roman poet who was once considered the greatest writer in the world because of his Aeneid, which traced the survivors of the War at Troy to Italy and the founding of the Roman Empire; Helen Hunt Jackson, the American author of “October’s Bright Blue Weather,” a poem, and Romona, a novel about the mistreatment of the Indian; Noah Webster, the American lexicographer (maker of dictionaries) whose name still graces the dictionary today, not to be confused with Daniel Webster, the Senator from Massachusetts; and Christopher Wren, the English architect who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, where he lies buried.

Now, gentle reader, allow me to encourage each of us to be in his place of worship this weekend, Lord willing.

Fare thee well.