NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for MARCH 1943 NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, MARCH 4, 1943 McCAGHREN VISITORS H.J.L. McCaghren had as his guests on Sunday, Feb. 21: Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Preston of Oxford Mrs. Frank Moore of Leighton Mr. and Mrs. Joe Howle and daughter Wilma Jo of Bowdon, Ga. Mr. and Mrs. Homer McCaghren of Heflin Mr. and Mrs. L.M. McCormick and children, Elaine and Donald J.A. Wilson of Heflin Miles McCaghren W.A. Wilson J.W. Banks All of Mr. McCaghren's children were at home during this day except one son, Robert McCaghren of Camp Rucker, Ala. ------- MERRILL PROMOTED TO RANK OF MAJOR Walter Merrill, an Anniston attorney who was called to active duty the latter part of March 1942, is now a Major. His promotion from Captain to Major was made early this month and his wife learned about it yesterday in a letter from him. He is stationed in North Africa. When he was called to duty, Maj. Merrill was a Second Lieutenant. He was promoted to First Lieutenant when he was in England and soon after landing in Africa in early November he received his Captaincy. The Anniston Star, Feb. 24 ------- CLEBURNE COUNTY BOYS IN THE SERVICE News BLANTON ADVANCED Naval Air Training Center Pensacola, Fla. - - - Rupert A. Blanton, 20, son of W.H. Blanton of Rt. 2, Heflin, has been advanced to the rating of Aviaton Machinist Mate, third class, at the Naval Air Training Center, according to the public relations office of that station. Blanton, who reported to the "Annapolis of the Air" in October 1941, enlisted in the Navy in August of that year in Anniston, and was sent to the Naval Training Station at Norfolk, Va. for his preliminary training. ------- IN MECHANICS SCHOOL Amarillo Army Air Field, Texas - - - - A.V. Perry, son of Oley Perry of Fruithurst, Ala., has begun an intensive couse in the study in aviation mechanics in this Army Air Field, one of the newest schools in the Army Air Force Technical Training Command. He will spend several months at this great mechanic's school and upon graduation, wil lbe sent to one of Uncle Sam's Air Bases, there to do his part in keeping America's "Flying Fortresses" harrassing the Axis. In addition to his mechanical training, his course will include Army discipline and courtesy, military drill and physical exercise to put him in the peak of condition. ------ AVIATION MECHANICS Amarillo Army Air Field, Armarillo, Texas - - - - Charles T. Slappy, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Slappy of Muscadine, Ala., has completed his course of studies as an aviation mechanic in this Army Air Forces Technical Training School. His graduation from this technical school now fits him for airplane maintenance and he will be sent to an air base where he will assist in keeping America's "Flying Fortresses" in the air for Allied victory. In addition to completion of the schedule of academic and practical studies as an Aviation Mechanic, he has been thoroughly drilled in military tactics and defense and a course of physical training that has conditioned him to meet all the requirements of an American soldier. ------- LAMBERT IN AIR CORPS Corp. Isom Lambert who is a Radio Repairman in the Army Air Corps, stationed at Odgen, Utah, was reported this week as being back at his job after a 10 day lay-up in the hospital. Corp. Lambert joined the Army in March 1942. HIs parents are Mr. and Mrs. N.T. Lambert of Hopewell. ----- GETS HIGH RATING Des Moines, Iowa - - - - Catherine Glasgow of Heflin, Ala. has been commissioned a Third Officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. She was selected for Officer training on the basis of her ability and record of work as an Auxiliary in the WAAC. Third Officer is the WAAC equivalent of Second Lieutenant. She will be assigned to an executive position in the WAAC Corps immediately taking over a non-combatant Army job, releasing a soldier for combat duty, or particpating int he expanded WAAC training program, which eventually will replace a full field Army with trained womanpower in behind-the-lines jobs. ----- AUX. WILLIE LEE Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Aux. Willie L. Lee of Heflin, Ala. has arrived at this Third Training Center of the Women's Auxiliary Corps to receive her basic training as an Auxiliary. Her four weeks intensive course will include Close Order Drill, Army Supply Procedures, Company Administration, Map Reading and other subjects designed to prepare her to step into an Army job now held by an able-bodied male soldier who will thereby be released for duty on the fighting fronts. Upon completion of her training, she will be assigned to duty at an Army post, or be sent to a WAAC Specialist school. Or she may be selected to go to Officer Candidate School. Over 100 jobs are now being filled by WAACS. Among them are bakers, camera technicians, chauffeurs, classification specialist, librarians, clerks, cooks, draftsmen, machine record operators, stenographers, telephone operators, truck drivers, typists and weather observers. The Air Corps alone is using women soldiers to fill twenty-five highly specialized jobs. Auxiliary Lee, one of thousands of patriotic women who have offered their services to their county, is the daughter of Mrs. Mary Lee of Heflin, Ala. ----- MACEDONIA Community News Miss Jeannette Cantrell spent last week with her sister, Mrs. Christine Dodson. ----- Mr. and Mrs. Garland Gay were the Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. Ester Smith and also Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Byrd. ----- Mr. and Mrs. Bill Skinner and children visited Mr. and Mrs. E. Ester Smith on Sunday morning, and also visited Mrs. Reba Hayes and son. ----- NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, MARCH 18, 1943 LOCAL News Mrs. Helen Crumpton of Atlanta, came home for the funeral of her aunt, Miss Vera Groover and spent several days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Crumpton. ----- Mrs. B.A. Harris's mother, Mrs. Bishop of Lineville, is visiting her. Later she will spend some time with her daughter Mrs. Leo Jones. ----- DEATHS MRS. STRIPLIN Mrs. Mamie Striplin, 74 year old native of Heflin, Route 2, died at her home early Wednesday morning of last week, after a week's illness. Services were held at the Chulafinnee Methodist church at 2 p.m. last Thursday afternoon, the Rev. H.A. Padgett officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery, Jones of Anniston in charge. Survivors include the son, G.R. Striplin; a daughter, Mrs. E.W. Taylor; and four grandchildren, all of Heflin, Route 3. Pallbearers were Norris and Louis Johnson, Willie and Sam Striplin, John Dodgens and Ross Thrash. ------ R.W. SAVAGE The entire town of Fruithurst and surrounding community was greatly shocked and grieved at the sudden death of one of our best known citizens, Rufus W. Savage, which occurred Saturday evening, March 6, just as he returned home from his work. Mr. and Mrs. Savage came to Fruithurst in 1920 and Mr. Savage was a Rural Letter Carrier for 17 years. He had been our efficient and popular Postmaster in Fruithurst for the past six years. He was very kind and accomodating and the children of Fruithurst will always remember his jolly banter and good humor. Mr. Savage was born at Piedmont on July 29, 1886. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Savage and one of 16 children of which only four brothers survive. He was a Veteran of World War I. We, in Fruithurst, his neighbors and friends, will miss his cheerfulness and our deep sympathy goes out to his widow, Mrs. Annie Savage, and to his little daughter Carol Sue, on which his loss will weigh heavily; to his son, Lieut. Savage, who is now stationed in Montreal, Canada; and to his two sons in Piedmont, Roy and Gordon Savage and their families. He was buried at Piedmont in the family lot and the funeral was held in the Presbyterian church there, which was filled to more than capacity by his friends. The floral offerings were indeed most beautiful. ------- MISS VERA GROOVER Miss Vera Groover, daughter of C.E. Groover, died at a Decatur hospital on March 8, after a brief illness. Miss Groover had been teaching in the Austinville School in Morgan county for the past 14 years. She received her high school education in Cleburne county and later received her degree from Athens' College, in Athens, Ala. Funeral services were held at the Heflin Baptist church on Wednesday, at 3 o'clock, with Rev. Pritchard and Rev. Brasher officiating. A special service was also rendered by the Order of the Eastern Star, Heflin Chapter, of which she was a member. Surviving are her father, C.E. Groover, and two sisters, Mrs. J.M. Crumpton and Mrs. Wallace Ireland, all of Helfin. Pallbearers were Clellon Wager, John Lewis Atkins, Jim McGriff, Fred McMurray and Howard and Hugh Crumpton. ------- NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, MARCH 25, 1943 CARD OF THANKS We wish to thank the friends of Edwardsville and Heflin for their kindness and flowers for our beloved mother and wife, Mrs. Vinnie Cooke, who passed away March 17th. Peggy Welch Geo. Cooke -------- CARD OF THANKS We wish to thank our neighbors and friends for their kindness and sympathy shown us during the illness and death of our dear mother. May God's richest blessings rest upon each of you, is our sincere prayer. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Street ------- LOCAL News Mrs. Neal Morgan attended the funeral on Monday of her cousin Mrs. Lattimer Mosely of Tallapoosa. Mrs. Mosely was the former Miss Jimsey Little. Her death came as a shock, for she was only ill a few hours. ------ DEATHS GEORGE G. WILSON George G. Wilson, 84, died at the home of R.S. Harris early Wednesday morning, March 17, after a lingering illness. Services were held at the Old Hopewell Baptist church at 2 p.m. last Thursday afternoon. The Rev. Pete Johnson, Rev. Loften and Rev. Dewitt Stovall officiated. A special service was also rendered by the Masons, Heflin Chapter. Interment was in the church cemetery, Brown-Service of Heflin in charge. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. R.S. Harris; Mrs. J.W. Banks Sr., Mrs. Joe Watson, all of Heflin; and Mrs. Jim Brown of Edwardsville; two sons, W.A. Wilson of Hopewell; J.A. Wilson of Heflin; 27 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Hoyt and James Watson, Luther Wilson, Woodrow Wilson, Allen Brown and J.W. Banks Jr. -------- LETTER FROM ENOCH D. OWEN of Wichita Falls, Texas March 9, 1943 To the Editor of the Cleburne News Enclosed you will find $2.00. Please move my subscription up to this amount. As we are always anxious to get the News from our home county and do not want to miss a single copy. I want to take this method to express my appreciation to all of my friends back there for the kindness you showed me while on my visit there two months ago. I regret very much because I did not get around to visit more with some of you. I want to thank you all for the warm invitations to visit you in your homes and can only promise you that if I ever have the opportunity to pay dear old Cleburne another visit, I will hunt you up. The handshakes and the smiling faces of my dear old friends and kin-folks there was worth alot to me, more than I have words to express my gratitude; well it just makes a fellow feel that life is worth living after all and makes him realize, that it isn't what is said or how it's spoken, it is the ones saying it, that counts most. Yes, I enoyed seeing you people once more and the memories of you will always live in my mind. The saddest part of my visit there; I missed seeing so many on the streets in Heflin and missed them more at some of the homes there. These dear friends of mine were there nine years ago when I was there last, but now they are resting peacefully on some hill. Yes, I miss those smiling faces and kind words welcoming me back home. They have done their last good deeds for us here on earth and are now quietly waiting for the "last great round-up." I was not satisfied with just visting with you that were living. I felt deep down in my heart that I owed a tribute of respect to the ones that had passed on. So I visited the "silent cities" where the dead are sleeping and on those dark and deary winter days, I found many resting there. I walked from grave to grave, looking for the names chisled in the slabs and I found them there, the ones I had missed so much in the walks of life. As I stood gazing at the silent tombs of my loved ones and friends resting silently there, my heart was heavy and sad, but I felt relieved that I had payed them this respect, it was all I could do. I am sorry to say that I saw many graves just with a rock at the head and foot, marking the lasting resting place of someone. I could not tell who, though I would have liked to so much. This caused me to to wonder why the living are so careless as this, to me. While walking through those cemeteries I was looking for my friends' graves. I was not looking for costly monuments or flowers, nor blank rocks, it was just the names I was looking for, just a small slab with the name engrabed on it's face was all that counted with me. I trust that I will meet all of you again on this earth, but this is not the way of life we know. If I don't, and the Lord will permit me to visit dear Cleburne again, and I fail to see you among the living, I will look for your slabs out there on some hill and if it's impossible to have the slab, I asked you to have it in your dying request to have your name engraved on a flat rock, so I or others can find your final resting place, as we might happen to be passing that way. Best wishes to all and I truly hope I see you all again. Your friend, Enoch D. Owen To you Editor; I will never forget that dark and drizzle morning when I was going through the cemetery at Edwardsville, I don't think I missed a single one that had any identification, but saw so many graves I could not tell who was put there. I came across your brother Ed's grave there. I did not know he was buried there. I stood by his grave quite a while. I thought back when we were in school together and all the fun we had together. Ed was always my good friend. I wish you boys much luck. Your friend, E.D. Owen -----------