2 Local Events Named Top 10 in the State
ALABAMA (WPMI) Mardi Gras in Mobile and the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores have been included in a list of the top 10 events for the state in 2014, that's according to the Alabama Tourism Department.Here are the top events:Eagle Watch Weekends at Lake Guntersville State ParkMardi Gras in MobileThe grand opening of the Museum of Alabama in MontgomeryThe Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham and GuntersvilleThe Alabama Music Hall of Fame induction banquet in FlorenceThe 200th anniversary of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in DavistonThe 25th season of To Kill A Mockingbird play in MonroevilleNational Shrimp Festival in Gulf ShoresAlabama Bass Trail Championship in JasperThe Lyric Theater Reopening in BirminghamDetails about the events:Eagle Watch Weekends, Lake Guntersville State Park, Jan. 17-Feb. 23 See eagles in their natural habitat during Eagle Awareness weekends at Lake Guntersville State Park in North Alabama. Eagle Awareness weekends feature guided field trips, knowledgeable guest speakers and talks from the parks naturalist. alapark.comMardi Gras, Mobile, Feb. 1-Mar. 4. Mobile is known as home to Americas Family Mardi Gras. The celebration last for more than two and a half weeks and culminates on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins. The streets are filled with marching bands, float and crowds of parade-goers. Masked riders in costume toss throws of beads, moon pies, doubloons and candy into the crowd. mobilebay.org.Grand Opening of the Museum of Alabama, Montgomery, Feb. 15 The Museum of Alabama has been named the Attraction of the Year by the state tourism department. The new museum is located adjacent to the State Capital at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Displays will include Native American artifacts, Civil War weapons and photographs of the Civil Rights Movement. The centerpiece exhibition of the museum is Alabama Voices containing more than 800 artifacts and hundreds of images from Alabamians telling the story of the state from prehistory to present. Other permanent exhibitions include the The Land of Alabama and The First Alabamians. museum.alabama.gov.Bassmaster Classic, Birmingham/Guntersville, Feb. 21-23 Competition takes place on Lake Guntersville, daily weight-ins and the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. fishguntersvillelake.com, bassmaster.com.Alabama Music Hall of Fame induction banquet, Florence, Feb. 28 Black tie banquet honouring those who have made exceptional contributions throughout their careers to Alabamas musical heritage. VisitFlorenceAL.com.200th anniversary of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Daviston, Mar. 27-29 Experience live cannon fire, the lives of Creek and Cherokee Indians, hunting camps and demonstrations of traditional skills of the early 1800s. nps.gov/hobe.25th season of To Kill A Mockingbird play, Monroeville, Apr.-May Monroevilles 25th annual theatrical production of Christopher Sergels To Kill A Mockingbird, presented by the all-local Mockingbird Players. Tickets go on sale March 1. Performance dates are April 17-19, 24-27 and May 1-3, 8-10, 15-17. discovermonroeville.com.National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Oct. 9-12 The Annual National Shrimp Festival is held each year during the second full weekend in October on the Gulf Shores public beach. The festival is one of the nations premier outdoor festivals attracting 250,000 people, featuring over 250 vendors that offer fine art, arts crafts, a retail marketplace, outdoor world, live music performances and great shrimp. myshrimpfest.com.Alabama Bass Trail Championship, Jasper, Oct. 10-11 Held on Lewis Smith Lake. With 21,200 acres spread over 500 miles of winding shoreline with large impounded creek systems, Lewis Smith Lake offers challenges for even the most experienced bass anglers. alabamabasstrail.org.Lyric Theatre Reopening, Birmingham, late December This 1914 vaudeville theatre, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been restored and is reopening to the public as a world-class performing arts center in downtown Birmingham in late December. facebook.com/lyrictheatre.
Noccolula Falls Roaming Rural Alabama - Bigfoot Society Adventures
Our friend Deborah made a weekend trip to one of Alabama's beautiful tourist attractions and sent us pictures of her adventure to enjoy. To donate or for merchandise go to ...
In Loving Memory Of Ms. Janice Marie Meadows
Ms. Janice Marie Meadows, 44 a resident of 1336 Jones Road, Daviston, Alabama passed away at the home of her sister residing at 2161 Frederick Ferry Road, Daviston on Monday morning, April 4, 2011.
Public Viewing and Visiting hours for Ms. Meadows will be observed on Thursday, April 7, 2010 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
The remains will be in state at the church one hour prior to the services.
Funeral services for the late Ms. Meadows will be held on Friday, April 8, 2011, at 1:00 P.M. from the Cogar Hill C.M.E. Church, Frederick Ferry Road, Daviston, Alabama. Reverend Travis Floyd, Pastor, will officiate, and burial will follow in the adjoining church cemetery at Cogar Hill C.M.E. Church, Daviston.
The Obituary
Miss Janice Marie Meadows was born in Randolph County, AL on November 2, 1966 to the parentage of the late Roy Lee and Mary Lillian (Brisky) Meadows.
At an early age, she joined the Coger Hill C.M.E. Church in Daviston, where she remained a member until her passing. Janice attended schools in Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
She was a long-time employee of Plantation Patterns in Wadley, where she worked as a machine-operator for over 15 years.
Janice took pleasure in life's little pleasures -- like partying and spending quality time with her family and friends. Her life was greatly enriched by her loving relationship with Mr. Nathaniel Rhoden.
Janice departed this life early Monday morning, April 4, 2011 at the home of her sister in Daviston.
Janice gave many smiles to the world and was loved, supported and will be deeply missed by many, but none more than her beloved family who will forever cherish her memory. They include one (1) son, Joey O'Neal of Daviston; three (3) daughters: Toni O'Neal and Christy R. Battle (Amos) both of Daviston, and Sandra Marie Meadows of Wadley; three (3) brothers: Roy Lee Meadows (Georgia) of Montgomery, Claude Meadows (Doris) of Daviston, and Wilson Meadows (Val) of Daviston; four (4) sisters: Edith Buchanon (Kelvin) and Bessie Baggett both of Daviston, Yvonne O'Neal of Wadley, and Iris Chisolm (Karon) of Camp Hill; her only uncle, Coldon Holloway of Daviston; five (5) aunts: Claire Meadows of Roanoke, Evone Pressley of Daviston, Maggie Briskey of Childersburg, Savannah Meadows of Wadley, and Essie Mae Lewis of Mobile; one (1) great aunt, Hattie Mae Briskey of LaFayette; four (4) grandchildren: Alexis Johnson and Lynn Robertson of Wadley, Frisco Robertson of Wedowee, and Cayleb O'Neal of Daviston; three (3) special friends, Jackie Grant of Newsite, Bonnie Buchanan of Oxford, and Cleaster Walls of Daviston; finally her very special friend, Nathaniel Rhoden of LaFayette, Alabama; and a host of other loving relatives neighbors and friends...
APPRECIATION
The family of the late Ms. Janice Marie Meadows wishes to use this means to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to our many friends, neighbors, and loved ones, for every act of kindness and concern shown during the extended illness and passing of our loved one.
Our prayer is that God will continue to bless each of you. We solicit your continued prayers as we struggle through this difficult time.
To send condolences, visit clarkmemorial.biz
In Loving Memory Of James Eugene Spratling
Mr. James Eugene Spratling, 71 a resident of 17485 Highway 22 East, Daviston, Alabama, passed away on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Lake Martin Community Hospital, 201 Mariarden Road, Dadeville, Alabama.
Public Viewing and Visiting Hours for the late Mr. Spratling will be observed on Monday, May 30, 2011 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Mr. Spratling will lay in state at the Cogar Hill C.M.E. Church Daviston, Alabama on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 from 2:00 PM until the funeral hour.
Funeral Services for the late Mr. James Eugene Spratling will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 2:00 O'Clock from Cogar Hill C.M.E. Church, Frederick Ferry Road, Daviston, Alabama with the Reverend Travis Floyd, pastor, Minister Robert Johnson, Minister Bobby Joe Hunter, and Minister Calvin Purter officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining Church Cemetery immediately after the services.
The Obituary
James Eugene Spratling was born to the parentage of the late George Spratling, Sr., and Lendie Buchanan in Daviston, Tallapoosa County, Alabama on March 3, 1940.
James confessed Christ at an early age and joined Cogar Hill C.M.E. Church in Daviston, Alabama where he remained a dedicated member and served faithfully throughout life. There he served as a Trustee of the church.
He was united in marriage with Ms. Velma Burns. Their union gave rise to five loving children, including two sons and three daughters.
James was a very kind, easy-going kind of person. Although he kept to himself, he enjoyed what he called piddling around Cogar Hill Church -- doing things to beautify the church like cutting the grass; roofing. Fishing was one of his favorite past times.
He was preceded in death by four brothers: Jim Frank Spratling, Robert Spratling, R.T. Lewis and George Spratling, Jr.;and four sisters Dora Spratling, Geneva Battle, Roberta Spratling, Ella Belle Spratling;
James Eugene Spratling departed this life on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at the Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville, Alabama.
He leaves to celebrate his life and cherish many loving memories: his wife, Velma Burns Spratling of Newsite, Alabama; two (2) sons: Gene Spratling, Jr. (Lavenia) and Derrick Spratling, both of Daviston, Alabama; three (3) daughters: Beverly Spratling Shealey, Ami Millner (Barry) of Daviston, Alabama, and Kim Loraine Johnson (Kevin) of Sylacauga, Alabama; twelve (12) grandchildren; four (4) great grandchildren; very special friends, including the Oliver Family, the Russell Family and the Buchanan Family; Darrell Staples, Jimmy (Blue) Spratling, Joe Staples, Preston MaCadory; and finally a great host of nieces, nephews other loving relatives and friends.