Family book has Website

Two weeks ago I wrote a letter introducing all readers in this area to the recently published book, “Save Me A Place In Heaven” that was written by my brother, Jerry Deriso. The book is now available for sale at the family website he created: www.everknown.org. This site will give all interested viewers a glimpse of our family. I must add that it has a beautiful tribute page in memory of my daughter, Rose Ann. I am sure many of you don’t know my family. This is a perfect way to be introduced and, at the same time decide that you would like to become a member of our family by reading Jerry’s book.

I teach fourth- and fifth-grade reading, writing and language arts at Webster County Elementary/Middle School. We are studying expressive/descriptive language that authors use to “hook” or engage their readers. Jerry’s book has proven to be a great teaching tool, as my students have enjoyed hearing his many tales of growing up in the 1950s. In the chapter about our family dogs, Jerry describes one of our granddaddy Deriso’s dogs being a “spote” (sport). One of my fifth-grade students exclaimed, “Mrs. Everett, that is what my grandpa calls me. I didn’t know it was an old-fashioned word!” (We all had a good laugh about that!) They also loved the part about me, as a toddler, being used as “bait” to attract the girls while Jerry was sitting in the Varsity parking lot! My future plan is to have Jerry come to my classes as a guest speaker and entertain my students with his stories (and do a little teaching). After all, they’ve never met a “real live” author before!

We are hoping to have a book signing for him in Americus as soon as October. We will also have a booth at the Pecan Festival in November and invite everyone to come to both events. Even if you don’t want to buy the book, we’d still love to meet you!

There is another reason that Jerry’s book being published right now is so important to him: Sept. 20 would have been our daddy’s 90th birthday. Even though he’s been gone for six years now, we still miss him and think of him often. He was a great influence in our lives, as well as our mother, Rosella Deriso, who is still with us. We were just plain lucky! We were raised in a home full of love and good values (even though I didn’t always live by them!). Our parents worked very hard and instilled this in all three of us. I often think of how proud daddy would be if he could see our family now. When he died in June 2002, he had two great-granddaughters. Now he has three great-granddaughters and four great-grandsons! He is also sharing his heavenly home with my daughter Rose Ann! He would also be as proud as a peacock to know that my son Jayson (who was a grandpa’s boy) is getting married in May 2009. My family has never been wealthy in respect to money, but we are filthy rich when it comes to love, laughter and good memories. For this, I will always be thankful.

I invite each of you to visit my family at www.everknown.org. You’ll be “everknown” glad you did!

God bless you.

Margie Everett

Preston

Thanks for support

“Thank you” each and every one for your generosity. Special thanks goes out to Hearts-N-Hands Old Corinth Baptist Church and our friends and family. We solicit your prayers and also ask God to bless each and every one of you in a very special way.

Ida Mercer

Americus