There is much to talk about this week, but first, Happy Easter everyone.
Easter Sunday in the Christian world is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and a happy time for all. Flowers are blooming, trees and shrubs are green again after a long winter of hibernation. There are new outfits for the children and family egg hunts in the backyard.
There is also another Easter egg hunt where for the past few years the Flying Easter Bunny flies, dropping plastic eggs from a crop duster in a freshly mowed grassy field outside the city.
The Flying Easter bunny flew again this morning to the delight of children three and under. This is a good thing and heartwarming as well because proceeds from it go to Creed Love in memory of veteran pilot Frankie Williams.
We really got into the spring feeling at recent events hosted by Sumter Historic Trust. The “friend raiser” was an educational and informative lecture on local history presented by Evan Kutzler, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at Georgia Southwestern State University who was introduced by Lee Kinnamon. And from the standing room only crowd at the Lee Council House the trust garnered many new friends from every nook and cranny of Sumter County who were graciously welcomed by Trust president Meredith Owen, and other members of the board of directors.
A highlight was the presentation of the beautiful oil portrait of the late Carolyn Kinnebrew Daniel, given by the Americus High School Class of 1962, that was created by Modern Studios’ Andy Shivers. Carolyn’s classmates Sandra Treadaway Smith and Sue Turner Chambliss along with Carolyn’s husband, Joe Daniel, unveiled the handsome portrait of Carolyn, a remarkable and much loved lady who did much for her family, friends and community. The portrait will hang in a prominent place at the Council House, Trust headquarters. Among those attending were Carolyn’s sister, Jerry Kinnebrew Crisp, and husband, Henry Crisp.
The Trust’s second event, a fundraiser, was the porch tour at five homes on Taylor Street Sunday afternoon. Mother Nature smiled on the large group of tour goers from near and far, providing warm sunshine and cool breezes. Hats off to Meredith and her husband, Clay Owen, tour chairman Tara Mitchell, and the entire Trust board, especially Chet Crowley who took all afternoon.
A heartfelt thank you is extended to homeowners Mike and Andrea Powell, John and Whitney Crisp, Charles Crisp, John Edgemon Sr. and former state Sen. George Hooks, where the shining star was his grandson and namesake, George Bardin Hooks, five months.
The flower arrangements and delicious treats reflected the South to the core: cheese straws, fudge, cucumber sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches, smoked sausage, prosciutto-wrapped melon bites and other goodies. The camellia blossoms, especially a dark red variety “Black Beauty” from the garden of Rick and Genie Powell, and those grown by Hooks were outstanding. The wreaths of garden flowers gracing the double front doors at John and Whitney’s were created by Karen Werling.
Those glimpsed strolling are too numerous to name but some are Nichole Buchanan, Carleen Peace, Elaine Thomas, Jarrett Hooks, John Edgemon Jr., James Edgemon, Nick Owens, Tiffany and John Dean, Marylynn Joiner, Mark and Anne Barrett, Dave and Kathleen Tucker, Karen Snyder, Kirk Rouse, Bardin and Hayden Hooks, Herschel and Pam Smith, Bunny Byrne, Elizabeth Warnock, Angie and Russell Thomas Jr., Anne Thomas, Dale Undercofler, Mike Messer and his mom, Ricky and Jane Arnold.
Elsewhere, John and Tiffany Dean’s guests last weekend were her parents, Bob and Cathy Slaton, and her brother, Rush Slaton, of Mississippi, coming for the Miss SAR Pageant in which their granddaughter and niece, Mary Catherine Dean, competed.
Mark Barrett celebrates his birthday this week, and smile and say hello to Ashlee and Lindsey Bozsa of Charlotte, weekend guests of their aunt and uncle, Andy and Lori Shivers.
Meanwhile, Sylvia Roland and stepdaughter, Emilee Roland, are home after spending six exciting days touring Italy and its many historic sites. Additional details coming next week.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.