The Center Informer: Official Newsletter Of The A. M. Hunter Titus Charitable Cultural Center, Inc. Wilbur Thirkield (Bill) Titus, Editor 946 South Bateman Fairfield, Texas 75840-2902 Phone: 903-389-3482 Fax: 903-389-3552 E-mail: bill1919@valornet.com January 2009 Edition Message From the Editor The purpose of The Center Informer is to keep its readers informed about the Center, its status, activities, accomplishments and plans. It is also designed to keep family members informed on all facets of family life and family relations. Please send any information that you want to share to me at the above listed address. Editor HAPPY NEW YEAR! May the Heavenly Father grant you a happy and prosperous new year. When I consider the memories of 2008, I find myself grateful for the many blessings that have come to me ... the assistance from the Veterans Administration, Social Security, Agency for the Blind and other agencies and individuals that have enabled me to remain in my own home during my senior years, instead of going to some institution. this has indeed been a major blessing. To show a token of gratitude to the people who work closely with me, we had an office Christmas party on Christmas Eve. It went quite well. Beverly Carter, Dennis Smith, Tammie and Jordan McElroy, Steve and Sherri Hargrove, Carlton Rischer and I listened to Christmas music, exchanged presents, visited and enjoyed chicken salad, pimento cheese sandwiches, grit dressing, cranberry sauce, barbecued smokies, red and green cup cakes, peach cobbler, assorted nuts and mints. We had a real good time. Now, I say thanks to you, who have been the cream of the crop! Your response to my requests has been encouraging. I am grateful for the cooperation that you have given the A. M. Hunter Titus Charitable Cultural Center, Inc., whose anniversary was on December 27th. Your contributions of finance, time, prayers and other resources have been invaluable. Without them we could not have done as well as we have. Thank you! The Center continues to progress. Our annual meeting will be held soon. Then we will evaluate what we have done, elect officers and make plans for the future. More about this later. Spotlight Upon Personalities In addition to the Christ child, our Armed Forces, and President-Elect Barak Obama, we cast our spotlight upon * Linda Marie Cox Cooper , who received the "Woman of the Year" award from the Hopewell Central District of Missionary Baptist Churches. The association is comprised of churches from Longview, Tyler and surrounding east Texas cities. * Donnie R. Shaw, member of the Advisory Council of the Center, who underwent surgury in November and is now recovered and back at work in the Interior Department in Washington, D. C. * Pina and Emma Bonner, Hazel and Roy Mayes, and Joe Winston and his Bennett friend came to visit after having attended James Milford McIlveen's funeral. Hazel brought me two feather pillows for Christmas. Purple Hull Queen of the Hunter Titus Family Reunion, Juanita Durham is in Dallas with her daughter, Earnestine Williams, it is reported by her son Beauford. Beauford Lee Durham, son of one of my favorite cousins, Alonzo and Juanita Durham. Anniversaries . Loreta and Louie Phillips celebrated their 61st. anniversary on Saturday, November 22, 2008. . The A. M. Hunter Titus Charitable Cultural Center, Inc., on December 27th. Engagements Amber Dawn Phillips, younger daughter of Louie and Loreta Phillips is engaged to be married. Her parents accompanied her to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Birthdays of the Period November William Cooper, 4th.; Bobbie L. Rischer, 7th.; Marie Kendricks and Shakayla Worthy, 14th.; Carol Rischer McDonald, 15th.; Elease Hunter Emery, 20; Hylar Tatum, 25th. December Members born in December are Martin (Marty) Emery , 8; Stephon Martin, 8th., Helen Rene McCloud, 11th.,William Emery, 15; Jamal McQuinn, 22nd., Mattie Patricia Mitchell Pitts, 18th.; Betty Wright Hunter, 29. Sick and Shut-in These are the sick and shut-ins for the period. LaVerne Brackens, Ceatria "Polly" Bonner Marrion, Brenda Joyce Cox, Vernice Rischer Foster, Ken B. Sessions of Palestine, Elease Hunter Emery, J. C. Cox, Joe Columbus Rischer, Senior and Junior, K. D. Bass, Annie Mae Gabriel, Allynda Christine Jones, Virgil and Jewel Keeton, Dorothy Lee Titus, King H. Titus, Jr., Lelia Mae Titus, Marvin D. Titus, Wilbur T. Titus, V. Mary Titus,. Tommie and Roy Canady, Ella Mae Mims Lee, Eula Grace Willis Bullock,Hazel Grace Mays, Ruthie Mae Jones, Lee W. Washington, James "Boo" Perkins and Floyd Ray Burns.. Deaths The Grim Reaper has really gathered people home in 2008, and especially in the latter part of the year. The following are some of the persons who died in November and December: Ms. Dora Lee Carter, November 14, 2008. Mrs. Zora Belle Gabriel Daniels on November 17, 2008. Second son of Ezell and Mattie Packer, Robert James died in November, 2008. Mrs. Vernon Lavada Govan Averhart died on November 2008. Mrs. Lurline Sweeney died on November 28, 2008. Mrs. Pearline Willis Dickens, December 8, 2008 and was buried in Rhode Island Cemetery on December 6, 2008. Mrs. Shirley Jean Richard Sandles died on Saturday, December 7, 2008. Millard Jones, formerly of Fairfield, died in Dallas. Pearline Willis Dickens, died on Dember , 2008 after a prolonged illness. James Milford McIlveen died on December 17, 2008. Hobart Durham, Jr. died on 12/27/08. Ruthie Gabriel died on December 28, 2008. Annie Pearl Carter and Gwendolyn Willis. Many others whom I have nor recorded have passed away. Joke of the Season A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary. Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot Yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep, was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior." John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?" Announcements Curtis Byrd, Jr. sent the following announcement that can help intersted qualified persons: Support Soft, Inc (NASDAQ) is hiring Desk Help Tecnicians. The job is full time pays $13.50 to $15.00 per hour plus benefits. The work is done in the home. For additional information, Contact Curtis Byrd, Jr. at 254-625-0665. Benefit Alert for Service members and Veterans: Your GI Bill rate is $47,556. This money is not a loan and is paid directly to you to help cover the costs of getting a degree. Full-time students get $1,321 a month no matter how much tuition costs. Now is the time to start using your benefits. Take the first step and find Military Friendly Schools. Note: Your actual benefits may be higher if you signed up for the Army, Navy or Marine Corps College Funds. Poem of the Month The Last Roundup By Wilbur Thirkield Bonner-Titus July 27, 2008 I am headed for the last roundup, hopefully for the skies. My work on earth is almost done and the steed upon which I ride Is still undaunted, still determined to carry me across the tide. As I approach the last roundup - hopefully for the skies, I hold my hoary head high and am grateful for blessings That the Great Herdsman has given to me, allowing me to Share my accomplishments and the joy of living with society until He decides that judgment for me has arrived. As I enter the last roundup, hopefully for the skies, Though legally blind, I can see more clearly the path - rugged, steep, curved and winding, as it leads to the grand corral that nestles snugly in the skies, I can indicate to travelers where the danger lies. As I enter the last roundup, headed hopefully for the skies - I can hear more clearly the commands of the Master Herdsman As he calls for obedience to His mandates of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, of loving one another and being tender hearted and forgiving each other. Yes, I am headed for the last roundup, hopefully for the skies. My work on earth is almost done and the steed upon which I ride Is still undaunted and determined to carry me where God abides! Always remember that I love you and enjoy hearing from you. Adios!