Butterflies are beautiful at this time of year.
Almost the end of July and the advertisements are packed with “Back to School” specials. Can it be that those big yellow school buses will be gassed up and ready to roll in just another 4 ½ weeks? The summer pace has been delightful and yards and gardens look wonderful despite the lack of rain in Davidson. Maybe a stray shower will drench us this week.
Around Davidson has news of Ann Roberts and Steve Donahue’s wedding, a trip report about Peter Krentz and a DUMC group in Greece, a special party weekend for Mary K. Hickle and a beach note from the McRees.
Fun at the beach for the McRee grandchildren (l-r) Ben, Will, Jack, Lily Grace and Sophie.
BEACH TIME FOR THE McREES
Leonard and Beverly McRee are most fortunate to have both their sons, Jon and Jason, living in Davidson so their five grandchildren can spend lots of quality time with Pops and Nonna. Summertime for the McRees means a family trip to the beach with lots of sun and surf at Sunset Beach. We thank the McRees for sharing this wonderful photo of their growing-up-fast stepping stone grandchildren: Lily Grace (9), Sophie and Will (both 7), Ben (6) and Jack (5). Busy families and very busy Pops and Nonna!
LOVE ME TENDER! A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER FOR MARY K HICKLE
Wow! This took some planning. Mary Katherine Sanders Hickle turned 90 years young last Saturday, July 21, and partied all weekend to celebrate. Mary Katherine (Mary K.) was born at home on July 21, 1922, in Laurel, MS, to James Wilford Sanders and Bonnie Mae Norman Sanders. She finished public school in Laurel, received a degree from Jones County Junior College and although her family moved to Memphis, she stayed in Laurel to work as a bookkeeper at the bank.
Hungry? Try an Elvis sandwich!
She met her husband, Lyman Leroy Hickle, while volunteering at the USO, married in 1945 and moved to Ohio. Widowed, she decided in 2002 to come south and live in Davidson close to her only child, Linda Hickle. She “hit the ground running” and in no time had a new circle of friends through neighbors in her Deer Park area, her church family at Huntersville Baptist Church, her Women’s Circle at DUMC and the Cornelius chapter of the DAR – and all groups were well represented at her birthday parties!
A hug for Mom from daughter, Linda Hickle
Nine decades of birthdays have not slowed Mary K. Hickle one bit! She is a big NASCAR fan, especially fond of Michael Waltrip (she was there when he opened his Race Shop in Cornelius), and took some fast laps with a driver at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for her 85th birthday. (She wanted to go 185 mph. around the track to add her age to 100 mph. but the driver was only allowed speeds up to 165!) Mary K. is also a BIG Elvis fan so her daughter took her cue from “Elvis” for the 90th birthday bonanza.
Elvis dedicated “Jailhouse Rock” to Davidson’s men-in-blue including Scott Misenheimer, party escort, of course!
Mary K.’s birthday weekend started with a dinner on Friday, July 20, at the North Harbor Club for her immediate family coming from Clarksville, TN, and Louisville, KY. Daughter Linda promised a quiet lunch at Sabi on Saturday and when Mary K. arrived (with police escort), a room of 100 well-wishers at the Asian restaurant surprised her with cheers and birthday greetings. The theme was “Elvis” and not long after Mary K. recovered from being “All Shook Up” and settled into her “Queen’s throne,” Elvis appeared in his rhinestone suit to croon a few tunes to his favorite birthday gal.
Elvis started with “Love Me Tender” and soon honored Davidson’s Men in Blue (Scott Misenheimer was the birthday escort) with “Jail House Rock.” He ended with Mary K.’s favorite hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Linda Hickle had her very own six girlfriend TCB Band decked out in sun glasses and sideburns (remember that Elvis’ band was TCB – taking care of business) to see that all the guests had name tags and signed the memory book. Grilled peanut butter and mashed banana sandwich (Elvis’ favorite with the recipe on each guest’s napkin) were also carefully prepared by Sabi (bet they don’t have that on the daily menu), and cake and ice cream were enjoyed by all.
On bended knee, Elvis presented Mary K. with flowers
When Elvis finally “left the building” and the crowd dispersed, Mary K. enjoyed a dinner at Sabi with her daughter, family and close friends. The party continued on Sunday morning with a brunch for 25 guests at Mary K.’s home which lasted well into the afternoon. Seems you can’t wear a 90 year old out! As the name tag stickers read, “Still Rockin’ at 90!” We congratulate Mary K. on her birthday and send best wishes for many, many more. Bet Linda is already thinking ahead to another milestone birthday but it will take some real creative thinking to top her mom’s 90th! What fun!
TRAVELS WITH PETER KRENTZ
The Navigators Group is a Sunday School Class at Davidson United Methodist Church. Members enjoy a discussion format weekly when they meet at the Davidson Town Hall at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. When Peter Krentz, Professor of Classics and History at Davidson College, came as a guest teacher and saw the group’s interest in his teachings regarding Greece and Paul’s journeys, he suggested hosting a trip for the class based on an itinerary he had taken before. Since Peter wrote a book on the Battle of Marathon, the schedule started at that locale and included visits to the Peloponnese, the Greek islands (primarily Mykonos) as well as Delphi and Athens. All travelers made their own flight arrangements and gathered in Athens airport on May 24.
DUMC travelers at the Lion’s gate at Mycenae, home of Agamemnon.
After lunch in Marathon, the group of 18 travelers continued to Nafplion with a stop at the Corinth Canal along the way. Additional stops were in Corinth (where Robin Rhodes, son of the late Dan and Ethel Rhodes showed the group around), Epidaurus and Mycenae before a visit to the National Museum in Athens and a trip on a high speed ferry to Mykonos. Two relaxing days on Mykonos with an optional tour to Delos and then the group returned by ferry to Athens to wander the streets of Plaka, visit the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum and a quick trip to Delphi. The last full day in Athens offered an optional trip with Peter to the island of Aegina for lunch in one of his favorite taverns. On Sunday, June 3, the group returned to the US with wonderful memories of a special outing.
Group member Leslie Thomas wrote some wonderful emails about the trip and her impressions. We include one entry regarding the magic of Mykonos: “While some people took the ten minute bus ride to the town of Mykonos for shopping and exploration, we saved that trip for later in the day. Instead, we journeyed on footpaths to a nearby secluded beach where we enjoyed a home cooked lunch at tables right out on the sand. When we arrived, an adorable young man came to serve us, and at his urging, we accompanied him back to the kitchen where he showed us all the fresh foods available for the day. He proudly stressed that the vegetables – zucchini, black eyed peas, beets and greens – were from their large family garden. Then he showed us prepared dishes, meats, fresh seafood (like squid!) available for lunch. We were so enamored with his descriptions and insistence that his mother makes the “best shrimps cooked in the ouzo sauce” that we ordered a feast. Our groaning table could barely hold all the plates piled with mussels and shrimp, salads, bread and vegetables, and finally, fresh plums.”
View of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens (Jerry Hancock photo)
The wonderful stories from this trip are still being told by the travelers which included Joe and Loie Forti, Emmie and Jerry Hancock, Karen and Jerry Holleman, Doug and Judy Martin, Amy Moore, Leslie Thomas, Jeff and Nancy Tate, Jim and Mitzi Yount, and the Smithers family (Keith, Kyle and Valerie). Thanks to a number of the group who shared their trip reports and photos. Thanks as well to Peter for his superb “tour guiding!”
(Just to add a note about Peter and Jeri Krentz’ sons, we learned that Tyler has finished his first year of law school at the University of San Diego and is studying art law in Florence, Italy, this summer. Twins John and Will, students at Denison College, have internships at Merrill Lynch in Charlotte and are waiting tables at the Pines as well before heading back to Ohio.)
WEDDING BELLS FOR ANN ROBERTS AND STEVE DONAHUE
Happy Newlyweds: Ann Roberts and Steve Donahue
Congratulations to Ann Roberts and Steve Donahue who married on June 2. The outdoor wedding took place at Mountain Cove Vineyards in Nelson County, VA, on a beautiful, sunny June afternoon. The Reverend Ellen Longmoore, a good friend who is the chaplain at the University of Virginia’s Transitional Care Hospital where Ann is a nurse, officiated at the ceremony assisted by close childhood friend, Jessica Summers. Ann chose her sister, Louisa Roberts Bennitt, and nieces, Liliana Tess Bennitt and Grace Boudreau Roberts, as her attendants. Steve’s son, Kelley Donahue Van Dilla, stood with his dad as well as Steve’s nephews, William Eliado Donahue and Liam Kinchloe Roberts.
Following the wedding, a reception was held at the same location with entertainment by Acme Swing Mfg. Co., a swing band from Charlottesville. The evening ended with the launching of sky lanterns into the night sky. On Friday evening of the wedding weekend, Steve and Ann hosted a rehearsal dinner for family and friends at the same venue, the Mountain Cove Vineyards.
Ann and Steve posed with members of the wedding party and family following the ceremony in Virginia.
The couple had a delightful honeymoon in Canaan Valley, WV, where they rented a cabin to unwind from the wedding activities. Ann and Steve both work in Charlottesville and are making their home nearby in Crozet, VA.
Congratulations to Ann and Steve and especially congratulations to Ann’s parents, Ed and Jeannette Roberts of Davidson, who now can relax and put their feet up knowing that all four children, Kesler, Will, Louisa and Ann, are married and settled. Hooray!
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Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.
