Sally Ruth Ragsdale (Phipps)

Marilyn Kelly (Palmer)

Ruth, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. My mother died in 1990 and my dad and best friend died in 2005. I miss them and think about them every day. I know you will too. Your mother obviously was a wonderful woman to have had and raised a daughter like you. We miss them but what wonderful memories. I pray that when I am gone, my daughter will feel about me the way I felt about my mother. I am so sorry for your loss but as we all know, it was heaven's gain.  Marilyn

Sally Ruth Ragsdale (Phipps)

Marilyn, thank you. I now realize there are many who have walked this path or are traveling it now.  I have to say each day is getting a little better for me.

Exciting News!!! You can get information about my daughter's (Kim Reynolds) upcoming 1st book, Alex Charles: The Evening Oak on her webpages:www.kimreynoldsonline.com or alexcharles2010@yahoo.com.  The book is available at amazon.com NOW and Barnes and Noble.  She is having her book signing party in Charlotte and several in Wendell and Raleigh. What an exciting time for her and us.

The book, Alex Charles is young adult (18-up) fiction but enjoyable reading.  It is about time traveling. The first book content leaps back during the Civil War.  Her second book of the series takes place here in Wendell, NC (our home) during the 40's. It will be out October 1st.  Her third book story line will take place in the 60's. There will be 7 in the series of stories.  Can you tell I am a proud Momma???!    

Marilyn Kelly (Palmer)

Ruth, that is something to be proud of. I will have to read it. Good luck to her and to all of you. Iam proud to know the mother of a "soon to be" famous author. Your mom would be so proud!! Please keep us up to date on how the book is doing. I hear from Bailey Lee every few months. His father-in-law is in bad shape and not expected to live. Bailey is so much fun to chat with. I wish he had made it to our reunion. He has a precious family. They have traveled all over the world.

Again, please keep us all updated on you and your family. I am excited for your daughter too. That must be a mama thing! Marilyn

Sally Ruth Ragsdale (Phipps)

Everyone,

Letting you know!!!!  My daughter (Kim Reynold's) book, (Alex Charles: The Evening Oak) launching, book signing, television interviews, and library book reading happened last week/week-end.  She sold over 100 books at the launching and signing events.  We still don't know how many she has sold on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Her interview can be viewed on Eastern Wake television, click on week-end and see it.  Channel 17, ABC is airing the second interview tomorrow. This has been an experience especially in this little community of ours.  It's like living in Mayberry.  

Marilyn Kelly (Palmer)

Ruth, that is wonderful. I know you are so proud and excited. I will watch her interview. I want to see if she looks like her mother at that age. Please keep us informed as she progresses.  It seems great authors and their parents come from the Delta. Marilyn

Marvin Lott

Ruth,

I am glad to read that your daughter is doing well! Also I wanted to tell how sorry I was that your Mother passed away ,take care of yourself and look forward to hearing from you!

Janice Jeanette Robertson (Dunagan)

Saw in the paper this morning that Diane Cochran (Estes) passed away Friday night.

Marilyn Kelly (Palmer)

Janice, thank you for letting us know about Diane. I knew she had been very sick. She was always a very sweet girl and lady. She had 3 or 4 boys and I know was a wonderful wife and mother. She will be missed!! mkc

Ricky Leroy Campbell

 Don Tharp class of 1970 passed away today after a lengthy illness.  He had been gravely ill for quite some time.

Marilyn Kelly (Palmer)

Ricky, thank you for letting everyone know about Don. We lived and grew up in the same neighborhood - the Les Lane/Robertshaw area. Don was a fine young man and I know he will be missed.

Chad, hope you and your family enjoy your move back home. Maybe now we can plan a fishing trip. Take care, Marilyn 

Sam (Sambo) Fleming

To Those of You Who Remember My Dad,

     I know many of you have either played Legion or Little Legue baseball for my Dad.  He is now 82 years old and has recently suffered two strokes.  Right now he is in the critial care stroke unit at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.  He's had a rough time since my mother died in 2005.  I would appreciate you keeping Dad in your prayers.

Take Care and May God Bless,

Sambo

Phil Lee

Sam: I wasn't much of a baseball player but I did know your Dad as a member of the Guard for two or three years when he was commander of the 2/198th Armored Battalion prior to his being promoted and transfered to Tupelo. I always admired him very much and hope he has a speedy recovery.  

Sam (Sambo) Fleming

Thanks Phil,

     I didn't get into the guard until a number of years after we graduated.  I still think of all of us as kids I guess.  I know Tommy Neldon, Bubba Hinkle, Jim McCarty, Donnie Maranto, and a number of others served with him as I later found out.  I appreciate the thought.  Take care of yourself.

Sambo

Peggy Lynn Gresham (Fisher)

Sam,   Haven't been on the site for a while but was catching up and saw your post about your dad.  I was just telling Tommy about your dad and he said he remembers him from National Guard.   Just wanted to let you know that Tommy and I will keep him in our prayers.  

Sam (Sambo) Fleming

Lynn and Tommy,

     Thank you for responding.  Dad is improving.  He's in the rehab unit at the hospital.  His main focus at this point is getting well enough for me to take him to see Ole Miss play.  Some things never change.  I think he likes the attention he's getting from the nurses.  Ya'll take care.

God Bless You,

Sambo

Sam (Sambo) Fleming

Chad,

     Thanks for your kind words.  Dad's a tough ole bird and he's certainly giving it his best shot.  Ya'll take care.

God Bless

Sambo

William Charles Spears

Sam (Sambo) Fleming

Scooter,

     I appreciate your kind words about dad.  It is really difficult for me to see him decline as he has.  He was always such a vibrant energetic person, and he is trying really hard to get better and meet this challenge as he has so many others.  Unfortunately, as is true for all of us, things don't get better as we get older, at least from a physical standpoint.  He still loves baseball and football especially the Rebels and the San Francisco Giants.  As is the case with all dementia patients, he has a good memory for things that happened years ago, but has a difficult time with his short term memory.  We sit and talk about the old days a lot, and of course that includes the years he coached legion baseball and I was still a young kid.  I am thankful that I relocated to the Tupelo area so that I can spend time with him, but as I said it also hurts to watch him decline as he has.  We just have to take the bad with the good.  I will share your kind words with him.  He always perks up whenever I tell him about different people who ask about him.

Take Care and May God Bless,

Sambo

Ken Laney

Sam, I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. He is without a doubt one of the finest men I ever met. I remeber all those days long ago the he and Mr McCandless would stand in the hot sun watching you guys practice football. He was so proud of you and with good reason. You have done very well in life and I know a large portion of that has to do with the good influence of such a fine man in your life. He always had time to talk to and say a kind word to those of us in the background all those years ago.

Please know that you, your family and your Dad are in my prayers.

Ken Laney

Sam (Sambo) Fleming

Ken,

     You know it's funny.  When I was in high school, I never felt like there were many people who cared a lot about me.  I wasn't the typical jock who everyone made over.  I just loved sports and that's why I played.  I know your kind words were meant for my dad, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to send me the message, but it also makes me realize that there are people out there who consider me their friend.  It is really difficult trying to make decisions about dad.  I want so much for him to be happy and have things the way he wants them, but his condition continues to worsen and the decisions are getting tougher.  Thank you my friend for thinking of him.

Thank You and May God Bless,

Sambo

Marvin Lott

Sam,

I was sorry to read about your Dad, It only seems like yesterday that I was introducing Him as my hero to about 850 people at the convention in Tupelo in 1989. The time gets away from us, he always made me feel important not only as a football player but as a person. He always had a way of explaining the ways of life to us. If it had not been for you Dad I would have quit playing football my jr. year in High school. I enjoyed that day he explained to me that I was  to get my turn my senior year. Let him know that he is in my prayors as wll as you and Mary. Take care.                    Your Friend! Marvin Lott

Sam (Sambo) Fleming

Marvin,

     Thanks for the kind words about Dad.  I am at that point where some tough decisions have to be made, and I know you've already been through it with your mother.  How is she doing at the nursing home?  I feel it's time for Dad to at least go into assisted living, but he is wanting to stay at home.  I know that's not unusual just impractical at this stage of the game.  Do you regret placing your mother in a nursing home?  If not what do you think the positives have been for your mother?  I value not only your opinion but your friendship, and I know you will tell me like it really is.

Take Care and May God Bless,

Sambo

Sam (Sambo) Fleming

Chad,

     You know there's a rational and an irrational/emotional side of all of us.  My rational mind tells me that my thinking is straight and my decisions sound.  My emotional side though says but he's your dad and you have to respect his wishes.  Man this is a tough one.  With the Lord's help and the support of my wife I'll get through it.  I've always been taught that the Lord never puts more on you than you can handle.  Take care my friend and thank you for your encouragement.

May God Bless,

Sambo

Hugh Robert Singleton

Hi Sam

It's been awhile since I have been on this forum, truly sorry about hearing about your father.

Warmest Regards

Bob Singleton

I do have a question to ask those on the forum. We had some friends of our visit us from Italy this summer. One of the topics of conversation was Italian sauces, they were gracious enough to prepare several Italian dishes prepared with sauces that were past down from their family from many generations. I still recall those wonderful sauces prepared by the Italian family that own the Venetian Cafe. During the 7th grade I went to Bass Jr High and sometimes I would walk home from school and pass the Venetain Cafe. I still recall the lovely aroma of that Italian Gravey being simmered. I also can still see my dear father bringing home that wonderful sauce in a pot for our family meals.

Now for my question, I know the cafe is closed, can the recipe for their wonderful sauces be obtain? If so where? Does anyone have the recipe they could share??

One of the things I still talk to my friends about Greenville, Ms was the good food, who could beat Doe's and the Ventetian Cafe...