“Cooter and Topsy”

The two little “Toy Manchester” dogs were under foot most of the time.  Cooter was always snugged up by Teetah in her rocking chair and would not let you come near.  She would growl and show her teeth if you walked by.  Cooter was the Mom and Topsy was her pup.  Teetah used to sit in the floor with a jar of hot water and tweezers ready to attack a flea that might be on one or both of the dogs.  She was quite successful bringing them to their demise.  Needless to say, the dogs brought a lot of joy to our childhood.

We also had a dog that was kept outside in a doghouse.  Sheila was my Dad’s prized Doberman Pincher.  She was our family guard dog and was a beautiful black and tan specimen.  She was not too happy with Mom one afternoon when she took me to the back porch to give me a “switching”.  Sheila promptly grabbed my Mom’s skirt and began to tear it off her!  Needless to say, Sheila was protecting me from harm!  I loved it!  She didn’t harm Mom, but she knew not to get after me in Sheila’s sight again.

Mom aka “Altie B” and Our Wedding

Yes, she was my Matron of Honor.  I learned you can do just about anything you set your mind to…..tradition or no tradition.  You just have to know what you want and listen to your soul.  Our family was steeped in Southern tradition.  It was the best decision to have my Mom at my side.  She resisted at first as she was one to follow tradition most of the time.  She witnessed my marriage to a wonderful man.  Who better for that than she?!  And yes, I bucked another tradition that day.  David and I proudly walked arm and arm down the aisle of the First Christian Church in Meridian, Mississippi to present ourselves to the Lord and to our friends gathered for our holy marriage vows.  We were joined in matrimony by Dr. William Apperson.  David’s Dad, Jack, stood by his side as his best man.  A best man he was!

We had a wonderful and memorable wedding.  I wore a Gunne-Sax dress that I had purchased at Cumberland Mall in Atlanta for a whopping $40.  It was just the right dress and very much my style.  No frills!  Audrey Nolting crafted the perfect veil that hung softly down my shoulders.  I think the lace we used probably cost as much as my dress.  I wore the pearls my Daddy gave me when I was a child.  I felt like a princess.

The reception was held at the Dellwood Country Club. We gathered there with friends and family to toast to our union.   We spent the night at the Holiday Inn off the Highway.  We capped off the night at the infamous Wideman’s Restaurant in downtown Meridian with some close friends.  Our dear friend and roommate, Richard Taylor, drove us back to Atlanta the next day where we would begin the rest of our lives together.

To backtrack a bit, we had an amazing party the evening before the wedding.  It was held at David’s aunt’s home in Meridian.  It was the perfect party house.  Her daughters cleverly decorated every table in the home with the finest crystal, china and wonderful Southern food.  Friends came from out-of-town and we celebrated the upcoming event!  Needless to say, I think I might have been overserved that evening and had quite the headache on my wedding day.  Not good!