The March Roadrunner

The Gwinnett Calendar
click linked numbers for events on that day

The Gwinnett Roadrunner By Mary Long

Reid Mullins Receives GAEL Membership Service Award
The Georgia Association of Educational Leaders presented Reid Mullins with the GAEL Membership Service Award for exceptional and extended contributions to GAEL, and to the profession of education.

GREA Archives and History Committee Plans for 50th Anniversary
The Georgia Retired Educators Association was chartered in 1958. May 6 - 8, 2008, the GREA will celebrate it's 50th Anniversary at the Athens Oassic Center. This organization's membership presently represents more than 15,000 Georgia Retired Educators. The Archives and History Committee met at the Center recently to finalize plans for this special event. Photo (l-r, front) Dorothy Houston, Marietta; Mary Frazier, Rutledge; (back) Mary Long, Chair, Lawrenceville; Jackie McOendon, Monroe; Mary Holmes, Duluth; Deloris Mullins, Dacula; and Lillian Lynch, Monroe.

A LOOK BACK

A reception to welcome newlyweds, Andrew and Carolyn Perry, to Lawrenceville was held on January 26, 2008 at the home of Daniel and Heather Perry in Lawrenceville. Pictured are: Heather Perry, recent bride, Carolyn Perry, Jan Perry and Wilma Sanders. Wilma is Andrew Perry's grandmother and Jan Perry's mother, Jan is mother-in-law of Heather and Carolyn. Carolyn and Andrew Perry were married in December, 2007 in Illinois. Andrew and Carolyn are making their home in the Atlanta area; Andrew works at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Andrew and Carolyn are graduates of Valdosta College and State University.

Robert P. Baroni has been Lawrenceville City Clerk since May 1, 1974. Bob and his wife, Gloria, have five grandchildren.

"May we always have a clean shirt, a clean conscience, and a bob in the pocket." Irish blessing

Unlike some months that were changed, March has always had 31 days; the month was named for the Roman god of war.
•American Presidents born in March: Andrew Jackson, 7th President born March 15, 1767; James Madison, 4th President born March 16, 1751; Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th President born March 18, 1837; John Tyler, 10th President born March 29, 1790. Grover Cleveland is the only President of the United States to serve non consecutive terms.
•Patrick Henry declared, “Give me liberty or give me death” on March 23, 1775.
•Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, in 44 B.C. That date is known as The Ides of March.
•The March 24, 1917 issue of The News-Herald reported, “Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Brand entertained delightfully Tuesday evening at a Victrolla party.” The Haynes Creek correspondent had the following, “Mr. Elmer Johnson spent Sunday with his father, Mr. Lee Johnson.”
•The minutes of Friendship Primitive Baptist Church in Five Forks show the following names as members in 1833: Thomas Johnson, Lawrence Bankston, Lewis Jenkins, John Lawrence, Sampson Lanier, Abram Garrett, Lodge Langley, Wm. Strickland, Daniel Jenkins, Reuben Jenkins, David Jenkins, Arthur Dilda, John J. Austin, Claburn Vaughn, Allen Jenkins, Dennis Dilda, Nancy Johnson, Permelia Bankston, Mary Bankston, Wilie Bankston, Judith Langley, Susan Spence, Nancy Jenkins, Rebecca Jenkins, Mary Osburn, Jemima Jenkins, Francis Garrett, Susanna Jenkins, Adaline Spence, Vicy Dilda, Elisebeth Dilda, Nancy Gillam, Eliza Austin, Lucretia Strickland, Permela Fowler, Jane Dilda, Mary Stanford, Sarah Waters, Margaret Lanier.
•As many as three buildings have been used for worship since the Friendship Primitive Baptist Church was organized. The present building was erected in 1886, the fellowship hall was added later and many repairs have been made to the original building.

"Firelight will not let you read fine stories but it's warm and you won't see the dust on the floor." Irish proverb

Lil and Ray Crabtree have been married almost 51 years. Since this photo Ray has grown a beard.

Friendship Primitive Baptist Church was organized May 25, 1833 and is located in the Five Forks area of Gwinnett County.

CURRENT NEWS

• The wedding of Amanda Nicole Wheatley and Jeffrey Michael Warbington will be at the Lawrenceville First Baptist Church on May 17 at 3 P.M. Amanda is the daughter of Robert and Billie Wheatley of Lawrenceville and Jeffrey is the son of Bill and Diane Warbington of Dacula. Amanda and Jeffrey are graduates of Dacula High School; Amanda is a graduate of Georgia College and State University and is a nurse at Gwinnett Medical Center. Jeffrey is employed by Houston-Stafford Electric in Suwanee.
• New School Leadership: Beginning April 1, 2008 Audrey Baptiste will be principal of Partee Elementary School. Donna Bishop will be Principal of W J. Cooper Elementary for 2008/09; Doris Jones will be the principal at W.E. Britt Elementary for 08/09. Tarsha Chambers will open Rosebud Elementary in August 2008; Leigh Westcott will transfer to R.D. Head Elementary July 1, 2008.
• The New London Theatre is now located at 2485 E. Main Street in Snellville. For volunteering or information call 770-979-3691.
•The funeral for Lawrenceville native, Beatrice Martin was on February 17 at Tom Wages Funeral Home in Lawrenceville. “Bea” was the daughter of the late Alvin W. and Josephine Biggers. She was manager of McConnell Stores for many years when the store was on North Perry Street in Lawrenceville; Bea then worked at Monfort Drug Store for 25 years. Her husband was the late Lovick Richmond "Rich" Martin for whom one of the Lawrenceville Housing Projects was named. Bea is survived by Rich and Margaret Martin of Urbana, Illinois and grandchildren Katrina Martin of Alexandria Virginia, John Martin of Richmond, Virginia; sister Annie Lou Freeman of lawrenceville and many other relatives.
The Friendship Primitive Baptist Church Association will meet on April 27 at 2 p.m. at the church. Plans for use of the building and for upkeep of the cemetery will be discussed.
Present members of the Lawrenceville Downtown Development Authority appointed by the mayor and city council are: Marie Beiser, Danny Gravitt, Kathy Monroe, Mike Reedy, Allan Richardson, Larry Still, Mary kay Jordan, administrative Staff member: Jay Markwalter
Josephine Biggers. She was manager of McConnell Stores for many years when the store was on North Perry Street in Lawrenceville; Bea then worked at Monfort Drug Store for 25 years. Her husband was the late Lovick Richmond “Rich” Martin for whom one of the Lawrenceville Housing Projects was named. Bea is survived by Rich and Margaret Martin of Urbana, Illinois and grandchildren Katrina Martin of Alexandria Virginia, John Martin of Richmond, Virginia; sister Annie Lou Freeman of Lawrenceville and many other relatives.
•The Friendship Primitive Baptist Church Association will meet on April 27 at 2 p.m. at the church. Plans for use of the building and for upkeep of the cemetery will be discussed.
•Present members of the Lawrenceville Downtown Development Authority appointed by the mayor and city council are: Marie Beiser, Danny Gravitt, Kathy Monroe, Mike Reedy, Allan Richardson, Larry Still, Mary Kay Jordan, administrative Staff member: Jay Markwalter
•Jack Baggett was installed as President of the Lawrenceville Kiwanis Club at the regular meeting on Thursday, January 1, 1948. The other officers for the year 1948 are Leonard Hinton, Hubert Tucker and Barrow Burnham. To serve on the Board of Directors: Hubert Tucker, Clarence Monfort, Hope Stark, Grady Gower, Marvin Allison, Paul Kelley, Barrow Burnham, Jack Baggett, Lester Harper and Leonard Hinton.
•George G. Robinson and Rev. George W. Shaffer have been appointed chairmen of the 1948 March of Dimes Drive for Gwinnett County.


This Double wedding of sisters, Dottie and Polly Brannan, happened at 8 p.m. on March 21, 1952 at the Lawrenceville First Baptist Church. In the photo: Don and Polly Brannan Judd, The Reverend James Waters, Dottie Brannan Shafer and Joe Shafer.	Left to Right: Rubye Cates, Harold Hurst, David Dutton attended a meeting at the Friendship Primitive Baptist Church in the Five Forks Community. The church has become inactive and a group is interested in forming an association to care for the building and the cemetery adjoining the church building. The next meeting of those interested will be held on April 27 at 2 p.m. in the church sanctuary.