HATCH 50th Wedding Anniversary Article graciously provided by Doris T. Vinson Submitted by Cynthia F. Daigle Source: Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA Houma Daily Courier & The Terrebonne Press ====================================== ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ====================================== GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY PARTY CELEBRATED BY OVER 300 GUEST News of the observance of the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Gilbert Hatch of 106 Walnut Avenue, Charleston Heights, South Carolina, was recently announced. They were married at Abbeville, Georgia, Wilcox County, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1924. Because of the availability of a better date for the family reunion, the happy couple chose Oct. 19 for their anniversary celebration. The children of Gilbert and Edna invited those near and dear from far and near to share in the joy of God's goodness and mercy to their parents in the Fiftieth Wedding Celebration at the Social Hall of the Charleston Heights Baptist Church between 3 and 5 pm. Approximately three hundred persons, relatives and friends came to felicitate the honorees. They came from California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Edna Ruth Hancock, Mrs. Gilbert Hatch, the jubilarian, was the daughter of Sarah Annie Bowen and Samuel Bently Hancock of Abbeville, Georgia. John Gilbert Hatch was a native of Houma, and many descendants of his ancestral family still reside in Terrebonne Parish and throughout Louisiana. Gilbert was the son of Winslow Gamelia Hatch of the Bayou Black community and Mary Geneva Theriot of Sunrise Plantation along Bayou du Large. They made their home at Houma. His Maternal Grand-parents were Jonas Taylor Theriot and Florence Fidelid Wright of Sunrise Plantation, Bayou Dularge. His maternal great-grandparents were Michel Eloi Theriot and Seraphine Thibodeaux who founded the community of Theriot, Louisiana. With their fourteen children, they founded the first permanent home in that area and opened the territory to settlers and home seekers. His paternal grand-parents were Llewellyn Hatch and Florence Frances Small of the Bayou Black Community. The Hatch and Theriot families had always been sugar cane planters. Gilbert's father, Winslow Hatch, was an enterprising young business man. He was a civic-minded young gentleman who served on the City Council and in other civic offices. Edna's family was represented by her sister, Mrs. Bessie Conner, who is the only other surviving family member. Her son, James Conner, and his wife, Irma, were also present. Gilbert has one sister, Mrs. Florence Hatch Carter of Miami, Florida. She was unable to come because of the critical illness of her daughter. Two of his late brothers were Jonas Llewellyn Hatch of Miami and his twin brother, Gamelia Winslow Hatch of Jackson, Mississippi. The children of Gilbert and Edna along with their adult children were present. Their daughter, Frances Ruth, now Mrs. Thomas Earl Knowles of Charleston, South Carolina, was present with her husband and two sons, Robert Richard of Clemson, South Carolina and William Thomas with his wife Ann Hallman of Greenwood, S. C. Their son, John Gilbert Jr. of San Diego, California and his wife, the former Eva Mae Eblen and their four sons, John Kenneth, Jerry Wayne, Dennis Gilbert and Daryl Ray were there, too. One of their grandchildren, Janet, the d/o Ruth and Thomas, is now deceased. Their great grandchildren included three girls, namely, Mary Ruth, Sharon Theresa and Heather. Mr. and Mrs. Guy Jinkins, Edna's cousins, from Macon, Georgia, came accompanied by other cousins, from Wadley, Georgia, were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Parker. From Jackson, Mississippi came their sister in law, Felicia, the wife of Gilbert's twin brother, Gamelia Winslow. Accompanying her was her sister, Mathilda, Mrs. John Robinson of Jackson and Yazoo City, Mississippi. Miss Ollie Theriot, Gilbert's cousin, from Houma, brought greetings and good wishes from all the Theriot and Hatch families in Louisiana who were unable to join the family reunion. The hall was appropriately decorated for the occasion with a profusion of flowers. A three tiered Golden Wedding Cake topped with the golden figure 50 was the creation of their friend, Mrs. Nadine Callahan, who also prepared and served a feast in their honor. Centering the room was a festive table of refreshments. A Golden Wedding arrangement of chrysanthemums and autumn flowers centered the serving table. Mrs. Peggy Sineth, the guest registrar, recorded the names of their friends as they came to express congratulations and good wishes. Serving fruit punch, were their friends, Mrs. Jack Owens, Mrs. Bobby Ott and Mrs. Ben Bolt. Mrs. Edna Hatch, attired in a long rose colored dress and wearing a large white orchid corsage, accompanied her husband, Gilbert to the cake table where they cut the first slice of the Golden Wedding Cake. Mrs. Rebecca Young and Mrs. Fleta Elliot served the cake to the guest. Each guest received a golden rice bag favor. Among the many guest who came with members of their families were their pastor, the Rev. Jay Snell and his assistants, The Rev. Bob Leuthold and the Rev. Ernie Eudy. Also offering his blessings was their former pastor, the Rev. Dr. John Huss of Charleston. In addition to countless gifts at home, a table at the reception was piled high with Golden Wedding gifts. Towering above all gifts was a golden money tree presented to Edna by her Sunday School class. Climaxing the entire celebration was the singing of a Golden Wedding Song written especially for Edna and Gilbert. Mrs. Peggy Sineth, a young lady of Multi-talents, a TV celebrity, a gospel singer and a singing star in her own right touched the hears of all with her song. A whole week of celebration, picture taking buffet suppers, Gilbert's Birthday Dinner, relatives meeting for the first time and fifty years of nostalgia came to a close when the last out of town guest departed. Photo caption - Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Hatch, of 106 Walnut Avenue, Charleston Heights, S.C., celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Oct. 19. Hatch, a native of Houma, is the great grandson of Michel Eloi Theriot and Seraphine Thibodeaux, who funded the community of Theriot. Note: Courier articles are available on microfilm at the Terrebonne Parish Main Branch Library, Houma, LA.