Terry Headlight News

Unfortunately, there are two deaths to report this week. The first one was the death of Edna Ruth McManus Keyes. She lived in Terry during her childhood years before her family moved to Crystal Springs. She was the widow of Charles Keyes, and his death had made her a young widow with a son.

The second death is that of Bo Jones on Monday. Bo was the son of the former Clyda Mae Richardson and her husband Fred Jones and was the grandson of a former mayor of Terry. He was the eldest son of Clyda Mae and Fred, who had three older daughters and three more children younger than Bo. Bo lived with his wife Linda and their daughter Hannah on Utica Street. Bo was preceded in death by his eldest sister Susan Jones Smith. I am unable to obtain his obituary this soon after his death, but that of Mrs. Keyes is below.

Obituary for Edna Ruth McManus Keyes

Edna Ruth McManus Keyes passed away February 9, 2024 at Pinecrest Guest Home in Hazlehurst. She was a lifelong resident of Copiah County and a member of Highland Baptist Church, Crystal Springs. She worked for Partridge Propane and retired in 2013. Edna Ruth is survived by her son, Chuck Keyes of Madison; sisters, Mary Alice Harrison of Brandon, Mildred Taylor of Cayuga, Ann Smith of Crystal Springs, Pat McManus of Clinton, Valerie Hickman of Florence, and brother Mike McManus of Crystal Springs; she had several nieces, nephews and cousins who lovingly referred to her as “Aunt E.” Edna Ruth was a strong Christian and family person that will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles William Keyes, and her parents Newt and Irene McManus.

The family would like to say a “special” thanks to all the employees of Pinecrest Guest Home and Dr. Preston McDonnell. We appreciate all the love and care they gave her. Edna Ruth loved them dearly and considered them to be her second family.

Visitation was 9:00 a. m. - 11:00 a. m. Tuesday at Stringer Family Funeral Home in Crystal Springs. The service was 11:00 a. m. Tuesday at Stringer Family Chapel with burial at Crystal Springs Cemetery.

The family requests memorials to be made to Highland Baptist Church, 505 North Jackson Street, Crystal Springs, 39059 or Mississippi Kidney Foundation, 3304 North State Street, Jackson 39216.

There was thunder heard locally on Sunday, February 11th. I am told that this precedes cold weather for April 11th.

Tuesday, Feb. 13, was Fat Tuesday. It was the final day of the Epiphany (Carnival) season and a day to enjoy oneself prior to the forty days of the mournful days of Lent. In some countries Fat/Shrove Tuesday is known as Pancake Day. Pancakes are eaten as the pantries are emptied in anticipation of the Lenten sacrifices. It is also the final day to eat King Cake (with the season having begun on January 6th).

Wednesday, Feb. 14, was both Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. Valentine’s Day occurs every year on February 14th. In 2024, Valentine’s Day fell on Ash Wednesday. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.

Wednesday Feb. 14, begins the Season of Lent 2024. Lent is first and foremost a Season of purification and cleansing. Do not miss this personal encounter with Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist.

Our reflection is inspired from these beautiful words of Jesus: “I do will it. Be made clean. Your sins are forgiven.” These are the words that Jesus said as he healed the leper and restored this man to wholesomeness.

Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) happened this year on Saturday, February 10, 2024. This year ushered in the year of the Dragon. Lunar New Year began on the date (in East Asia) of the second new Moon after the winter solstice, which always occurs in late December. This means that the first day of the Lunar New Year can occur anytime between January 21 and February 20. In 2024, the second new Moon occurred in China on Saturday, February 10, marking the start of a new lunar year.

Next Monday, February 19th will be Presidents Day. Although the holiday is most often called “Presidents Day,” the observed federal holiday is officially called “Washington’s Birth-day.” Neither Congress nor the President has ever stipulated that the name of the holiday observed as Washington’s Birthday be changed to Presidents Day. Additionally, Congress has never declared a national holiday binding in all states with each state having the freedom to determine its legal holidays.

In news from the First Baptist Church of Terry on Raymond, the Women’s Missionary Society (W. M. U.) met on Wednesday, February 13th at 10:30 a. m. in the old church nursery. Also, over three-hundred dollars was raised on behalf of missions recently.

The (Episcopal) Church of the Good Shepherd on Claiborn Street observed its Ash Wednesday service on this past Wednesday at 5:00 p. m. Communion was a part of the service.

That the unrest in the Middle East and in Europe be resolved and the names of the Jones family, the Keyes family and Lurlene Savell Whitehead are asked to be kept in prayer.

This Sunday will be February 18th. It will be the first Sunday of Lent 2024. The readings are Genesis 9:8-15 (God establishes a covenant with Noah, giving a rainbow as a sign), Psalm 25:4-9 (a prayer praising God for His covenant) First Peter 3:18-22 (In our baptism, we are saved through Christ’s death and Resurrection) and Mark 1:12-15 (Jesus is tempted in the desert by Satan).

This year, the temptation of Christ recorded by St. Mark is read. Compared to the accounts in the other three Gospels, the details are sparse.

On the first Sunday of Lent, the Gospel reading in each Lectionary cycle is about Jesus’ temptation in the desert. This event in the life of Jesus is reported in each of the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—but it is not found in John’s Gospel. This year we read Mark’s account of this event. The fact that Jesus spent forty days in the desert in very significant. It recalls that forty years that the Israelites wandered in the desert after being led from slavery in Egypt. The prophet Elijah also journeyed in the desert for forty days and nights, making his way to Horeb (the mountain of God), where he also was attended by an angel of the Lord.

In Mark’s Gospel, the desert marks beginning of Jesus’ battle with Satan; the ultimate test will be in Jesus’ final hours on the cross. In a similar way, our Lenten observances are only a beginning, a preparation for and a reinforcement of our ongoing struggle to resist the temptations we face in our lives. During Lent, we are led by the Holy Spirit to remember the vows of Baptism in which we promised to reject sin and to follow Jesus. Just as Jesus was ministered to by the angels, God also supports us in our struggle against sin and temptation. We succeed because Jesus conquered sin once and for all in his saving death on the cross.

Recently celebrated birthdays include: Feb. 9: Barbara Sills; Feb. 11: Lisa Anne Hamilton; Feb. 13: Beth Pitts Hall; Feb. 14: Laverna Linton Broome, Sandra Slade Walker, Hailey Smith Tucker, Jay Bailey; Feb. 15: Curtis Skipworth; Feb. 18: Alan Self; Feb. 19: Judge Patricia Wise.

The schedule for ballgames for teams from Terry High School on West L. J. Beasley Street include the following. The softball team will play Pelahatchie High School on Feb. 22, McLaurin High School on Feb. 27 (both teams from Rankin County), Bogue Chitto High School (Lincoln County) on the leap day of Feb. 29. The baseball team will play Crystal Springs High School (Copiah County) on Feb. 23, Morton High School (Scott County) on Feb. 24, Florence High School (Rankin County) on Feb. 27, and Florence High School (again) on Feb. 29. The school’s band concert is scheduled for Feb. 29.

The Town of Terry has planned a celebration in honor of one of its most faithful employees, Mr. Grady Taylor. This was held on Friday, February 18th at 11:00 a. m. in the newly renovated Terry Community Center on Madison Street. Grady is the grandson of Ms. Essie Green and the son of her daughter Jenny Bee. He is a Terry native, having lived so much of his life in the Avenue neighborhood and graduating from Terry High School.

I reported in last week’s column that the sales tax revenue was down in Terry. The Mississippi Today news website reports that tax revenues all over the state are also down.

Saturday, Feb. 24 is the date for the upcoming Democratic Precinct Caucus. Any democrat should report to his or her voting precinct no later that 11:00 a. m. on that date. The meeting will probably last less than one hour. (This is both county-wide and state-wide.)

I close this week with words that were written in the 17th century by Johann Cruger (1598-1662) and later translated into English.

1. “Let the earth now praise the Lord, Who hath truly kept His word And the sinners’ help and friend Now at last to us doth send.

2. “What the fathers most desired, What the prophet’s heart inspired, What they longed for many a year, Stands fulfilled in glory here.

3. “Abram’s promised great reward, Zion’s helper, Jacob’s Lord, Him of twofold race behold, Truly came, as long foretold.

4. “Welcome, O my Savior, now! Hail! My portion, Lord, art Thou. Here, too, in my heart, I pray, Oh, prepare Thyself a way!

5. “King of Glory, enter in; Cleanse it from the filth of sin, As Thou hast so often done; It belongs to Thee alone.

6. “As Thy coming was in peace, Quiet, full of gentleness, Let the same mind dwell in me That was ever found in Thee.

7. “Comfort my desponding heart: Thou my strength and refuge art. I am weak, and cunningly Satan lays his snares for me.

8, “Bruise for me the serpent’s head, That, set free from doubt and dread, I may cleave to Thee in faith, Safely kept through life and death.

9. “And when Thou dost come again As a glorious king to reign, I with joy may see Thy face, Freely ransomed by Thy grace.”

As you are thanked each week for your readership, you are again thanked. You have read the oldest newspaper in the county, and it may be read on a weekly basis. Your submissions, corrections, and additions are always welcomed, and this writer may be reached at terryj1@bellsouth or 601-878-5714. (Pray for PEACE, people everywhere!)