News and Comment - Toomsboro, Georgia
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Friday, July 18, 2008
CAROLYN (Sis) Petty - Icon of Wilkinson Country Education - Passes
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Excerpts from Miss Petty's obituary:

 "Virginia Carolyn "Sis" Petty, 80, of Irwinton, Georgia passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2008. -Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 2P.M. in the Irwinton United Methodist Church. Reverend Eddie Braswell will officiate. Interment will be in the Masonic Cemetery in Irwinton.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday in the funeral home. -In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Methodist Children's Home, P.O. Box 2525, Macon, GA 31203 and the American Cancer Society. -Couey - Reece - Stanley Funeral Home in Gordon has charge of arrangements.

Sis was born December 7, 1928 in Irwinton, Georgia. She was a servant of God, a devoted daughter, a loving Sister, a special Aunt, a caring cousin, a fabulous friend, a tireless teacher, an energetic volunteer, and a second mother to many. Sis was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Irwinton where she served her God and her church."

Miss Petty's Association With Toomsboro

Miss Petty came to the Toomsboro School right after college and she could easily have passed for one of the students. She lived in Irwinton, where she was raised but was quickly accepted as an honored member of the Toomsboro community. Miss Petty is short of physical stature, but she always set a high standard of conduct as a person, and as a dedicated teacher she taught her students to be respectful and reverent. It was she who first introduced me and many other students to the wonderful world of biology. Miss Petty was a regular at the Toomsboro School reunions, and she missed the one this last April because she was too ill to attend. She will be remembered fondly by her students as a strict disciplinarian with a broad smile and a willingness to help them become better prepared for life after school.

Sunday, June 1, 2008
 Toomsboro Celebrations - June and July

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My sources inform me that June 22 will mark the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Toomsboro Baptist Church. Members are putting together a book which will include historic pictures provided by some of the older members. I hope to get more information about this historic milestone, including pictures, to post on this site. I was a member of the Toomsboro Methodist Church but occasionally attended regular services, as well as revival services at the Baptist Church. And I was a member of the Royal Ambassador chapter that was sponsored by the Baptist Church. I can still hear (in my mind) the music of the chimes from the church. If I recall correctly, the chime system was donated by Mr. H. E. Stephens who was one of the church's most active members. The system played old-time favorite church music every afternoon, as well as on Sunday mornings.

My sources also inform me that the City of Toomsboro and its churches are collaborating in a community get-together to celebrate the Fourth of July. There will be games for entertainment, and food will be provided by the city and the churches. I hope to be able to post more information later. The celebration sounds like fun, and I might drop by to visit with some of the old timers - as well as to get to know some of the new folks.
 

Friday, May 17, 2008

Storm Hits Toomsboro

 
The information in quotes below was extracted from an E-mail message sent to me by a Toomsboro resident. It's clear that the good people of Toomsboro are pitching in to help those who were affected by the storm. I welcome additional information and photos. Send to bobillw@cox.net.

"We arrived at [the Baptist] Church Sunday morning [May 11]; we knew we did not have electricity, but we did not realize tornados had come through. The pastor met everyone; we had prayer and the men went home to get tractors and chain saws to help open the roads, and the women gathered water and ice and went to give it to the workers.

This [cleanup work] has continued this week as we spent one day at our Head of Missions, Charles Asbell's home that received a lot of damage to both trees and home. The men spent the day helping clear the yard and a crew from Samaritans' Purse [an outreach of the Billy Graham Ministry] was on the way to fix his roof at no charge. The ladies fixed a nice lunch and we delivered it to the Asbell's home, for all to enjoy.

What a wonderful community spirit and out pouring of love! We are also in the process of joining with the City, and all churches in Toomsboro to plan a once again July 4 get together for the community. We will have games and food, provided by the churches and city."

 

May 10, 2008
Early Photos of O. C. Weaver and Daughter JoAnn
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O. C. Weaver (1907 - 1961) in doorway of his grocery store in Toomsboro


JoAnn Weaver in front of O. C. Weaver house in Toomsboro

Monday, May 21, 2007

Toomsboro Drug Store Soda Fountain Bar

 
A couple of days ago I talked with Red Carr who told me that he, Marlene Lord Tompkins, and Jimmy Lord were interviewed recently by reporters from TV Station WXIA in Atlanta about the Toomsboro Drug Store Soda Fountain Bar. I think he said that the interview would be aired by WXIA this coming Thursday; I don't recall the time, and I might be wrong about the date. If you have more accurate or any additional information about this matter, leave me a comment at the end of this article or send me an E-mail message at bobillw@cox.net.

Many Toomsboro folk, including myself, remember sipping milk shakes and eating ice cream at the soda fountain bar in the Toomsboro Drug Store which was operated by Doctor and Mrs. A. D. Ware. I remember sitting and watching with sweet anticipation as Mrs. Ware mixed up the wonderful concoction that would become a milk shake or scooped ice cream onto either a single or double-barreled cone. Whether you got a single or a double, as I recall, depended on whether you had a nickel or a dime to spend. The Toomsboro Soda Fountain has been recognized as an important historical object and is on display in a museum in Atlanta.