Wilcox-Pulaski County GaArchives News.....Relatives of W. I. Futch Meet at Birthday Party October 1, 1937
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Elaine Turk Nell emturk1976@hotmail.com October 13, 2005, 11:09 pm

Macon Telegraph October 1, 1937
     The sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters of W. I. Futch of 
the Ryals Mill district of Wilcox county gathered last Sunday for a birthday 
celebration at the old home place.
     This is an annual celebration.  Mr. Futch is 73 years old, and is stilll 
in possession of all faculties and is as active as other men at 40 or 50.  The 
father and mother of a big family are usually honored in this way by their 
children in Wilcox county.  Other counties have their clan gatherings, where 
all of the relatives get together, but in Wilcox the custom is for the 
children to show special honor to their parents.  They finance the party and 
prepare the food.  The parents have nothing to do but be guests of honor.  
Occasionally there is a program of entertainment, but generally the feast and 
good fellowship and chats about early days fill up the time.
     The Futches came to the party from nearby and from afar; some were there 
from Florida, and some sent excuses and regrets.
     Mr. Futch has reared a large and honorable family.  His home is not more 
than three or four miles from Cedar Creek church, where once was a flourishing 
schoo, attended by the Futches, Stathams, Wootens, McNalleys, Johnsons, 
Dosters, McDuffies and others--75 students in attendance.  The old blue back 
speller and Wentworth's arithmetic and algebra played a part, and students 
often went out to teach school licensed by the state.  It stood opposite the 
present church building, on the paved highway between Hawkinsville and 
Abbeville.
     Mr. Futch's first wife was a McDuffie, a niece of James B. McDuffie of 
Hawkinsville, and grandniece of Norman McDuffie, a member of the state 
legislature.
     The present wife was Miss Allie [Alice] Cook.
     Mr. Futch remembers the wagon trains that once passed slowly along that 
way to get to Hawkinsville to buy supplies and to carry cotton.  They came 
from as far down as the Florida line, and camped on the way, requiring two 
weeks sometimes to make the distance.  Often the travelers slept on the 
ground, covered only by the stars.  "But they went to town only twice a year," 
said Mr. Futch.
     "The Government came in here to drain the water away from these cypress 
bottom lands," he continued, "but after spending thousands of dollars the 
money gave out, and the project was abandoned before any draining was done.  
Only a ditch was dug."
     Those attending the party included Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Futch, Mr. and Mrs. 
T. A. Futch, Reuben A. Futch, William A. Futch, Mrs. Geraldine Futch Ford, B. 
P. Ford, Harry Futch, Berner Futch, Thurmond Futch, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Futch, 
Mrs. Russell Newnan, Mildred and Norton Futch, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Futch, 
William Otis Futch, Mrs. J. A. Hearn, Paul Hearn and Adele Shirley, Billie 
Jean and Jackie Sue Hearn; Albert Hearn and Wilma, Jane, Thomas, and Lary 
Hearn; Mrs. Weldon Hitchcock and Charles Hitchcock; Mrs. C. D. Good and 
Virginia Carol Good; Mrs. O. B. Adams, Billy Hearn Adams; Christine Hearn, 
Johnnie Clifford, Eton Hearn and Hansel Hearn; mrs. H. H. Hutchinson, Mr. and 
Mrs. N. M. Cohen and children, Jeanette, Robert, Ralph and Patsy Ann; Lois 
Futch, Mrs. J. C. Cook, Johnnie Harold Coook, Mrs. A. W. Cobb, Aurella, 
Frances, Edwin, Windel and Peggie Cobb, Mr. and Mrs. George Cook and family; 
Mr. and Mrs. N. M. Statham and family; Mrs. Dewey Veal and children; Edna, W. 
C. and Homer Cook; Robert Barnes, Lonnie Bruce, Red Rollins; Mr. and Mrs. W. 
H. Ford, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Futch, Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Futch and Mrs. W. G. 
Henry, Mrs. W. E. Ford and Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Means.

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