The Center Informer: Official Newsletter Of The A. M. Hunter Titus Charitable Cultural Center, Inc. 946 South Bateman Road Fairfield, Texas 75840-2902 Phone: 903-389-3482 Fax: 903-389-3552 E-mail: wilburttitus@windstream.net August and September, 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 famly relations. The Center is a nonprofit, 501 (c) (3) charity organization that is dedicated to the Honor of God, to the Service of the community, and to the Memory of Mrs. A. M. Titus. Please send any information that you want to share to me at the above listed address. Wilbur Thirkield (Bill) Titus, Editor Greetings, It is my wish that you are doing well. I hope that you are enjoying the best of health ... that you are receiving the best that life has to offer. I am grateful for being able to hold my own, physically, even though I am experiencing some minor aches and pains. It pleases me greatly to bring news of the Center and the various families to you. I admit that so much has happened since we last visited that I will not be able to report it all. Regrets! Remarkable progress has been made on the writing of my book, See How Far We Have Come. My prayer is to complete it before I become incapacitated. About the Center The Center is coming closer to accomplishing its goal. * We are a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) charity organization. The notification arrived on the 12th. What a blessing! Special thanks to those of you who supported the Center during the long period of negotiation. * The late Cornelius Titus bequeathed the Center the mineral rights under his part of the Willie Titus Estate in northeast Freestone County, Texas. * The Board and members of the Center are busy preparing for the fourth quarter and annual meeting of the Board on October 21, 2009. Amendments to the bylaws will be considered, officers will be elected , committees appointed and plans for the future initiated. * History was made by the Center when it had a car in the 11th. anniversary parade of the Dogan Alumni Association, Fairfield, Texas on July 11, 2009. This was a first time that the fledgling Center had participated in a parade. The car was a black Cadillac Escalade which was decorated with signs that were supplied by Burns Enterprises. It had colorful decorations supplied by Linda Cox Cooper. Linda, who is a member of the advisory council, also drove the car. (See Attachment # 1.) From My Memory Bag Those of you who are mellow and have a Freestone County background will certainly appreciate my recollection of the conventions and "sociations," sponsored by the Middleton District of the Baptist Church, which were held in the tabanackle down in "the flat" of Fairfield, Texas, during the first week in each October. If my memory serves me right, there were several days and nights of meetings, programs, reports, etc. Some of the best food in the county could be obtained at the many concession stands on the grounds. Barbecued beef, pork and goat, fried fish and numerous desserts were available. Vendors, such as Mrs. Rosie Moody had stands every year. There was vigorous activity at these gatherings. While there was preaching or programs in the tabanackle, preteen aged youngsters gorged themselves with goodies. Young lovers paraded the grounds and/or visited in vacant cars. Gamblers and drinkers found delight in the bushes. Occasionally there would be fights. Some would be between gamblers; others would be between two women and still other would be men over lovers. Some of these fighters carried scars to their graves. But times have changed! The tabanackle is abandoned. At this writing, the association is in session at First Baptist Missionary Baptist Church, Huckaby Street, Fairfield, Texas. The lovers, gamblers, and the fighters have fled. Do you remember the Texas Sate Fair? It is still being held and students are still let out of school for the student day. But it is nothing compared to those of days of yore! This is the last day of this year's fair. Spotlight Upon Personalities This period, the Center spotlight is upon the following: * According to the October 6, 2009 edition of The Fairfield Recorder, Glenda Gibson Bass made Freestone County history recently. She and Billy Barlow became the first members of the Fairfield Independent School District's new Police Department. She has an office on the campus of the Junior High. This venture is intended to be proactive to the control of student related problems rather than reactive. Mrs. Bass has deep roots in Freestone County and is related to such trailblazer families as the Durhams, Gabriels, Hunters, and Tituses. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Ruby Jean Keaton Gibson Ford and the great grand daughter of Sally Bell and John Gabriel. She is married to LaCharles Bass, the son of K. D. and Aldessa Henry Bass. Aldessa is the grand daughter of Ellen Titus Durham. (See The Fairfield Recorder, October 6, 2009 for additional information.) * Reverend T. Paul Kethley, Pastor of First United Methodist Church of down town Fairfield, who has accepted the position of Director of the Center Web Site Program, formerly held by Rita A. Tejada of Waco, Texas. * Joe Winston Rischer, Director of the community garden program. During this period, apples, pears and tomatoes, squash, okra, greens and purple hull peas have been harvested. Free okra and greens are available on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. A donation to help cover expenses will be welcomed. Call before coming for vegetables. Visitors to the Center The most recent visitors to the Center are descendants of Andrew Leo (Jack) and Gladys Titus Richard: Jewelene Richard, daughter, and grand children Ros Towmsend, grandson, (son of Richard and Pinkie Richard Townsend of Dallas, Texas), and children of Lucious T. Richard: Dicky Richard and Sharon Richard William and husband of Gardenia, California. Birthdays of the Period * Persons having birthdays in August are: Wilmer Bonner, 1st., Zahia Cooper, 5th., Ja'nye, 5th., Jennifer Washington, Dorothy Jordan and Minnie B. Toliver, 6th., Kenneth Worthy, 9th., Flora Proctor Neely, 17th., Katie Marie Rischer, 19th., Denise McQuinn, 24th., Andrea Bonner, 26th., * Persons born in September are: Felicia Rischer, 1st., Jamil and Trisha McQuinn, 2nd., Vernice Foster, 2nd., Erica Shantelle Rischer, 9th., Lisa Montgomery, 12th., Sandy Bell, 17th., Patrick Cooper, Deborah Titus Cain, 14th., Mary M Shelby, 16th., Shammach Mack, 17th., Sherita Rischer, 17th., Katrina Rischer, 17th., Lawrence Johnson, 19th., Branniesha Cooper, 18th., Drew Minor, 20th., Lamonte Nash, 22nd., Everett Walker, 22nd., Sheila Mack, 23rd., Blake Foster, 25th., Michael Chandler, 25th., Willie Carl Keeton, Sr., 25th., Monica Miner, Wayne A. Hunter, 26th., Carla R. Rischer, 27th. Engagements Amber Dawn Phillips, younger daughter of Gary and Cheryl Phillips, grand daughter of Louie and Loreta Titus Phillips, great grand daughter of Governor and A. M. Hunter Titus is engaged to me married to Mark Adam Otter on October 28, 2009. Weddings Patricia Jo Titus, lovely and talented daughter of King H., Jr. and Joniecey Titus, grand daughter of King Henry, Sr. and Ena M. Spencer Titus, and great grand daughter of Henry and Lula Averhart Titus was married to Walt Rashad on June 30, 2009, in Los Angeles, California. Professionally, she is still Judge Patricia Jo Titus. Socially, she is Mrs. Patricia Titus Rashad. Congratulations! Persons Experiencing Health Problems, Incapacitated/Sick or Shut-in are: Juanita Durham is with her son Monson and family, Bertha Mae Washington has been placed under hospice care. Ronnie Foster, son of Lawrence and Elise Johnson Foster of San Antonio; Kenneth Worthy who suffered a heart attach continues to recover at home. Jessyka, his daughter has been in the hospital also. Martha Govan, her son Gary Govan spent time in the hospital in August. Eddie Washington and Lula Mae Washington Rischer have been in the hospital also and are now recovering at home. Joe Columbus Rischer, Sr. is in a nursing facility in Fairfield, Texas; King Titus. Jr. is back home. Everett Harris and Jean Robinson are recovering from cancer. Dennis Rischer is recovering at home from recent surgery. Jeremiah Titus, Jr. is experiencing leg problems; Edna Newball who suffered a stroke in June is recovering at home. Martha Ruth Jackson is in a nursing facility. Juanita Manning is recovering from surgery. Fynas Titus, Jr. is recovering from surgery. Mary E. Richardson had foot surgery, Nerissa Lonnetta Williams is experiencing cranial problems. Lee W. Washington is recovering at home. Betty Jean Hunter of Sylmar, California, Wilbur T. Titus; Ora Mae Wilson; J. C. Cox is in a nursing home in Groesbeck, Texas; James Roberts; Ken B. Sessions, of Palestine, Joe N. Walker of Ft. Worth, James "Boo" Perkins, Dallas; Lawrence Johnson, heart problems, Marzie Oreatha Johnson Smith of Rollinsford, NH; Benny J. Fortune, in Nursing Home in Corsicana; Ceatria "Polly" Bonner Marrion, Brenda Joyce Cox, Vernice Rischer Foster, Elease Hunter Emery, Joe Columbus Rischer, Senior ( IN REHAB) and Junior, K. D. Bass, Annie Mae Gabriel, Virgil and Jewel Keeton, Lelia Mae Titus, Marvin D. Titus, V. Mary Titus,. Tommie and Roy Canady, Ella Mae Mims Lee, John Richard Smith, Jr., Eula Grace Willis Bullock, Hazel Grace Mayes, Gladys Herndon; Jimmy Gus Rischer, Sr, Lester Keeton, Sylvester Rischer, Jr., Beth and Reverend Ireland. Departed Souls Listed here are some of the persons that we knew, loved and respected who passed away during the period: Larry Canady, youngest son of Willie Earl and Minnie Jo Coleman Canady, died on Thursday, July 30, 2009, after a prolonged illness. Tom "Tuck" Bonner died on July 27, 2009; Floyd Ray Buurns died on Saturday, August 8, 2009. Boykin Lee, Vernon Brazzle, Jr., Shirley Jones, and Reverend J. E. Reece died on Monday August 30, 2009 and were buried on September 5, 2009. Zenobia Lewis died on September 3, 2009, was buried on September 8. 2009. Dorothy Preston Canady died on September 15, 2009. Frank Ward, local businessman and neighbor died on September 19, 2009. Algerie (Honey Foot) Allen Martin, grand daughter of Rommie and Julia Allen was buried on September 26, 2009. Those passing in October are Alvester Stratford, son of Fess Solomon Stratford, died on October 6, 2009 after a prolonged illness Johnny Turner and Mattie Randle Parks. Ozell "Jo" Perkins Martin died on October 13, 2009 of cancer. Announcements: ? ? Announcements * The public is invited to attend the homecoming celebration of Jones Chapel United Methodist Church of Fairfield, Texas on November 1, 2009. The celebration will include Sunday School, and morning and afternoon services. * Photographs of the Center's opening celebration are available. You may order them. These are the prices: 8 X 10 - $15.00, 5 X 7 - $10.00. Add something for mailing. Proceeds will go into the building fund. * Souvenir booklets of the Center Opening are available for $20.00 plus $3.00 for mailing. Make checks and money orders payable to The Titus Center and send them to the address that is listed above. * The annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Center will convene on October 21, 2009, at 1 pm., in the Center. Please govern yourselves accordingly. * The public is thanked for attending the Homecoming Services of Waymon Chapel AME Church, on October 5, 2009, 2:45 p.m. The speaker was Reverend Darryle Alford, Pastor Bethesda Outreach, Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Sara Smith was a special guest. The church is located in the Bethel Community at 203 FRC 271, Oakwood, Texas 75855-7824. Quote of the Period "A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." - George Bernard Shaw. Remember, my friends, "it takes two to tango!" Until later, ? Bill