RFD
By Bonnie K. Taylor General Manager The True Citizen

I believe we still take for granted the amenities of living in a small town. On the way to work Monday morning I had to drop off a tire at the repair shop.

Upon arriving home from church Sunday my husband, Eddie, discovered a screw in the side of my tire and he knew when he pulled it out it would go flat.

He took the tire off my car and placed it in the back of his truck for me to take on my way to work.

I took this as an opportunity to drop off payments at local businesses. I made a complete circle ... City of Waynesboro, Mr. Auto Parts, Capital City Bank night deposit for payments,

Southern Auto for tire repair. Bill Lively inquired, Eddie Sr. or Jr. (gotta keep the bookkeeping straight).

You can argue the pay-on-line is much quicker and you can save postage and gasoline, too, but there is nothing like human contact. The old cliche, "Shop at Home," still means a lot. There is a lot to be said about doing business with your friends and neighbors. When we support each other, we all prosper!

****** I want to wish Hilliard Baker a happy 80th birthday. Hilliard and his wife, Lacy, own Coradell's Wedding Chapel on Academy Avenue.

******

Several families throughout our community have had deaths in their families.

David Clayton who lost his courageous battle to cancer died Sunday night. David attended Botsford Baptist Church. He was present nearly every Sunday until his dreaded sickness kept him from being there.

He and his family knew his cancer was serious but they hoped for the best ... a miracle. If love could have cured his cancer, he would be well ... because his family and friends loved him so much.

I can remember the last time he and I spoke at church, just a few weeks ago. It ended with a big hug with his wife, Gerald, looking on. We all smiled, but I know we were fighting back tears.

To each of his family members, I extend my heartfelt sympathy.

Mrs. Betty Stewart Blackstone died on March 31. The week of her death, her grandson, Chris Stewart's wedding took place.

She is one of those people who comes into your life that you never forget. I first met her through her, son, Mickey Stewart. Everybody knows Mickey!

I became much more acquainted with her when she served as manager of Briarwood Apartments. She was a tough businesswoman. She came into The True Citizen to run ads for the apartment complex.

She would also call our office to check on police reports. She would police her own complex for folks who had no business in the housing area stirring up trouble and report them. If the apartment was rented with only certain folks living in them and more seemed to be camping out with them permanently and refused to leave, she would report them to the authorities and they were forced to leave.

She knew all of the rif-raf and most of their families, especially the troublemakers.

Mrs. Betty did a top-notch job keeping Briarwood safe and respectable under her watch.

To Betty's family, I know you will miss her dearly and so will the rest of us.

To Chris and his new wife, Amy, I wish you all the best!!

******

Ed Taylor is awaiting a bed at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. By the time you read this column, he could already be there.

Many of you know Mr. Ed and are concerned about his health condition.

I know that many of you will want to send him a card during his stay away from home. As soon as I know, I will print the information in next week's column.