south alabama living

www.southalabamalivingmag.com

Almost an AMERICAN

IDOLDeJuan Stroud’sFEARLESSFLOWERS

First edition Fall 2010

Inside the SCHERFF MANSION

City of Andalusiawww.cityofandalusia.com

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4 south alabama living

Welcome to South Alabama Living, a new,quarterly magazine focusing on the people,events and places in Covington County andSouth Alabama that make it a special place tolive..

The production of this premiere edition hastaken us to many places - to the woods, to thecity, and inside one of the finest homes in SouthAlabama. Each time, we’ve left excited about thetreasures of our community, the people in it, andthe prospect of sharing these things with ourreaders.

We hope you’ll be inspired to share your sto-ries and photographs with us, and come alongas we celebrate South Alabama Living..

contents fall 2010

EDITORIALMichele Gerlach

Editor

Stephanie Nelson

Kendra Bolling

Shanda Beste

Bob Brooks

ADVERTISINGRuck Ashworth

Marketing director

Jill PrevettMarketing consultant

Jason KillingsworthMarketing consultant

PRODUCTIONErin Johnson

Creative Director

PHOTOGRAPHYRobert Evers

Robert Evers Productionswww.robertevers.smugmug.com

South Alabama Living is published fourtimes per year by

Andalusia Newspapers, Inc.PO Box 430

Andalusia, AL 36420www.southalabamalivingmag.com

(334) 222-2402

Advertising rates and information available uponrequest. Subscriptions are $16 annually. Pleasemake checks payable to Andalusia Newspapers,

Inc., PO Box 430, Andalusia, AL 36420.

Nutcracker isset for Dec. 10-12.

Page 8.

Andalusia’s starvocalist was almostan Idol.

Page 17.

Searching for theelusive Big Foot.

Page 33.

Cover photographby ROBERT EVERS

Fearless flowers, Page 26.Summer abroad, Page 31.

Dream house, Page 21.welcome

www.southalabamalivingmag.com

Almost an AMERICAN

IDOLDeJuan Stroud’sFEARLESSFLOWERS

First edition Fall 2010

Inside the SCHERFF MANSION

DANGER

PORTABLE GENERATORS

Connecting a portable generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly to you and others. The only safe way to connect a generator to your existing wiring is to have a licensed electrical contractor install a transfer switch.

The power is in your hands.

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DANGER

PORTABLE GENERATORS

Connecting a portable generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly to you and others. The only safe way to connect a generator to your existing wiring is to have a licensed electrical contractor install a transfer switch.

The power is in your hands.

www.covington.coop

POThe p

ABLE GENERTTApower is in your hands.

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(334) 222-6591 - www.lbwcc.edu

Focus on your futureAssociate Degrees, Career-Oriented Certificates

University Transfer Courses, Adult EducationBusiness/Industry Specialized Training

Non-Credit & Continuing Education


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Andalusia Location225 East Three Notch Street

Andalusia,AL 36420334.222.2561

Opp Location609 Florala Highway

Opp,AL 36467334.493.2259

Crestview Location1290 North Ferdon Boulevard

Crestview, FL 32536850.682.0484

“The game of life is a lot like football.You have to tackle your problems, blockyour fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity.”

C C B & Y O U . . .g r e a t t e a m w o r k m a k e s g r e a t t h i n g s h a p p e n !

~ Lewis Grizzard


what to do

regional events

10/30 - OppFestA juried art show, arts and crafts and liveentertainment are part of this annual, all-daystreet festival in Opp.

11/14 – Lily Cai Chinese Dance CompanyThe Covington Arts Council presents a visually-stunning blend of traditional andcontemporary Chinese Dance. The perfor-mance is at 2 p.m. in the Dixon Center for thePerforming Arts, Andalusia campus ofLBWCC. Tickets are $15.

12/2 – Alabama Wildlife FederationCovington County Wild Game Cook-OffCovington Center Arena, 6 p.m. Contact:Hunter Grimes, 222-3123.

12/2 – Opp Christmas Parade, 7 p.m.

12/3 – Andalusia Christmas Parade, “ANorth Pole Fantasy,” 7 p.m.

12/4 – Pilot Club Pancake and SausageDay, and Andalusia BPW Christmas Bazaarand Craft Show. Kiwanis Community Center.5:30 a.m.-noon.

12/5 – Andalusia Luncheon Pilot’s ClubChristmas Tour of HomesLocation: Homes of Drs. Allen and Kim Ward,Norma Riley Goolsby, George and Patricia(Sister) Barnes, and Lindsay Reeves. Homeswill be open from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Ticketsare $12.

12/10-12/12 – The NutcrackerThe Andalusia Ballet will present its tradition-al performance of Nutcracker. Members ofthe Andalusia Ballet Association receive com-plimentary tickets for Opening Night and aninvitation to the annual gala immediately fol-lowing the performance. Performance timesare 7:30 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 10 ($25 tickets); 7:30p.m. on Sat., Dec. 11 ($12 tickets); and 2:30p.m. on Sun., Dec. 12 ($12 tickets).

01/18 – Andalusia Area Chamber ofCommerce BanquetFormer University of Alabama football playerSiran Stacey will be the guest speaker for thisevent. Kiwanis Community Center. The eventbegins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 for members;$35 for non-members.

11/12 – Monroeville FruitcakeFestivalThird annual festival celebratingTruman Capote and the Southernfruitcake made famous by Sook andBuddy in “A Christmas Memory.” 251-575-7433.

10/29 – 11/6 - 66th Annual NationalPeanut Festival5622 U.S. Hwy. 231 S., Dothan.Livestock exhibits, competitions, crafts,food preservation, recipe contests,entertainment, carnival rides andmuch more. Admission charged.

11/6 - Cane Syrup Makin' DayRikard's Mill, between Monroeville andCamden on Hwy. 265. Enjoy biscuitsand syrup and watch a 19th-centurymule-driven cane mill and furnacemake cane syrup as in the olden days.Barbecue available. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.Admission charged.

11/9 - Fannie Flagg in FairhopeJoin Miss Flagg for “An Evening ofDreams” at the Fairhope Civic Center, 6p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $5. In thespirit of her latest book, “I Still DreamAbout You,” pageant dresses, crownsand sashes are encouraged, butoptional. Pre-signed books will beavailable for purchase.

11/2, 11/4-6, 11/11-13 "Come Home,It's Suppertime," BrundidgeWe Piddle Around Theater - Alabama's"Official Folklife Play” tells stories ofordinary people during the GreatDepression of the 1930s. 7 p.m. -10p.m. Admission charged. Tickets usual-ly sell out early. 334-735-3125.

11/13-14 - Mobile Renaissance FaireEat, drink and be merry while beingentertained by jousting knights, magi-cal wizards, jugglers, musical minstrels,Gypsy dancers, pirates, and more. Also

enjoy RenaissanceMerchants’ camel and pony rides,games of skill, Medieval food anddrinks. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Greater GulfState Fairgrounds. Admission charged.

11/25-11/26 - 40th AnnualThanksgiving Pow Wow Poarch Creek Indian Reservation nearAtmore. Dance competition, crowningof the princess, intertribal dancing,food, and craft vendors. Gates open at9 a.m. Admission charged.

11/26 - The Iron Bowl Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa.

1/28 - Pike Piddlers StorytellingFestivalWe Piddle Around Theater, Brundidge.Featuring nationally acclaimed story-tellers Donald Davis, Kathryn TuckerWindham and Barbara McBride Smith.6:30 p.m. 334-735-3125.

For a closer lookat TrumanCapote’sMonroevilleyears, readAndalusia nativeMarianne M.Moates’ “TrumanCapote’sSouthern Years.”

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news + notessouth alabama living 9

There are four days of excit-ing events planned forAbsolutely Andalusia,Homecoming 2010. Here’s apeek at what to expect.

Veterans DayThe Veterans Day parade will

begin at 9 a.m. on Thurs., Nov.11, at Andalusia High School,travel Third Avenue onto EastThree Notch Street before end-ing at Veteran’s Memorial Park,where a program is planned. Areception will follow.

Front Porch TourResidents of the J.W. Shreve

Addition Historic District inviteresidents to stroll through theirneighborhood from noon until3 p.m. on Thurs., Nov. 11.

The District includes parts ofEast Three Notch Street, twoblocks on 6th Avenue fromEast 3 Notch down to 2ndStreet, and two blocks onCollege Street from Oak Streetto 5th Avenue. Refreshmentswill be served.

Andalusia in RevueSue Bass Wilson and Paula

Sue Duebelt will stage a historyof Andalusia at 7 p.m. onThurs., Nov. 11, in the DixonTheatre on the LBWCC cam-pus.

Absolutely Andalusia – Thenand Now – A Gallery of Art

Local artists have paintedscenes of Andalusia – either asit is now or as it was in the ear-lier days. Booklets in which theart has been reproduced willbe available for $12.50 each.Visit at LAAC’s new location at116 E. Three Notch Street., 10

a.m. until 6 p.m. Thurs. – Sat.,Nov. 11-13.

Quilt ShowLocal quilters will display

their work at Johnson Park.Thurs., Nov. 11, noon – 5 p.m.;10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Fri. andSat., Nov. 12 and 13.

The Stories We TellThe Andalusia Public Library

will host local authors for abook signing and sales. Fri.,Nov. 12, 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Street DancePre-show begins at 6 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 12, with “Smoke andLace,” Tambry Nix, vocalist, withher band Scott Rogers andPhillip McClung. The “PerfectImage Band” will play from 7p.m. until 10 p.m. Locatedbehind CenturyTel and the oldAndala Building on TisdaleStreet.

Air ShowThe South Alabama Regional

Airport (SARA) and DavidSchultz Airshows will stage anairshow on Sat., Nov. 13. Gatesopen at 9 a.m. 5K at 9:30.Opening ceremonies begin at12:15 p.m.

GalaThe Kiwanis Community

Center will be transformed forthis event, featuring Andalusianatives Alexa Jones and CharlieThompson. Jones, a formerMiss Alabama, will emcee.Thompson is a humorist andmotivational speaker. Ticketsare $30.

Entertaining weekend set for Homecoming 2010

Ryan Doty and Mary-Ann Rabren Johnson make decorations for thehomecoming gala.

Standing Up Main Streetfor

I’m running for StateRepresentative because Main

Streets across Alabama arestruggling, families andseniors are having a hard time

getting by, and jobs are gettingtougher to find. I’ll bring common sense and businesssense to Montgomery andwork to create jobs, improveour schools, and keep ourMain Street businesses open.

As a business owner, David Darbyunderstands the value of a dollar. Asour State Representative, David willwork to keep taxes low and cut wasteful government spending.

Small Business Background

By supporting local schools and jobtraining programs, David will helpworkers of all ages get the tools theyneed to get a job in today’s economy.

Preparing ourWorkforce

In Montgomery, David Darby willwork to create opportunities forlocal businesses to grow, and helpbring new companies and good jobsto our area.

Supporting Local Businesses

DARBYDavid Making a Difference

StateREPRESENTATIVE

Paid political ad by Committee to Elect David Darby, 1001 Stratford Court, Andalusia, AL 36420

south alabama scene

(1) Johnny and Nan Brewer (left) hosted the VIPreception for the Lurleen B. Wallace Foundation sum-mer fundraiser in their stylish home. (2) Frank andMelissa Henderson, (3) Jim and Holly Krudop and(4) David and Laura Darby were among the patronswho enjoyed a cocktail buffet poolside before enjoy-ing “Nat King Cole – As I Know Him,” highlighting thelife and songs of the musician who was born inMontgomery and grew up in Chicago. (5) The pool-side setting was perfect for the late summer eveningevent, (below, left) where (6) Andalusia Mayor EarlJohnson and Andy Cable owner Ivan Bishop (below,right) found an opportunity to catch up.

UNFORGETTABLE

PHOTOS BY MICHELE GERLACH

south alabama living 11

1

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south alabama scene

(1) Jo and Marcus Kelley hosted a hay field shrimp boil for the Covington Countyarts community. Each artist was asked to bring a piece of current work, and afterdining al fresco, the group enjoyed an impromptu art show. (2) KatherineGrantham shared a mask she created from a gourd. (3) Supper was a traditionallow-country boil. (4) Roger LeCompte, Dot Burkett (hidden), Ruta Prescott andFlossie Durkee enjoy supper.

HAY FIELD SHRIMP BOIL

1

234



south alabama scene

Art Off the Wall, the annualfundraiser for the LowerAlabama Arts Coalition andthe Covington Arts Council,was held in September. (1)Dr. Allan Ward and Dr. KimWard. (2) Sue and WardTaylor. (3) Cathy and RogerPowell. Roger later reap-peared as “Ricky Peterson,” ina standup comedy routine.(4) Rick and Linda Kyle withDoty Henderson. (5) Amongthe entertainers was theyoung band, including (fromleft) Katherine Dean, DanielHenderson, Cal McCalman,James Albritton and ChrisEvans.

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south alabama scene

The Southwest District Association and Women’s Conventionrecently held a Heritage Banquet on the Opp campus ofLBW. The program included a skit, “African American Women- Our Heritage from the Slave Woman to the Free Woman.”Attire was African dress wear. (1) Catherine Johnson, MarthaSmith and Louise Shakespeare as missionary sisters. (2)Mietta Hammond as Oprah WInfrey, Dorise Pryor as Mae C.Jemison, and Eva Giles as Coretta Scott King. (3) MattieFreeney was among the presenters. (4) Teressa Maines. (5)Thelma Thomas. (6) Karen Banks.

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The Andalusia Ballet opened its 28thanniversary season at the AndalusiaCountry Club decked out as a

“Speakeasy” for theRoaring 20s-themedevent. (1) JenniferTaylor and HannahMerrell. (2) LakinThornton, CameronMorgan and TaylorDonaldson were amongthe dancers performing.

(3) Andalusia Ballet Association presidentBeth Weed and Ken Odom. (4) ABAboard member Kathy McMillan.

BALLET PATRONS GO BACK TO ‘20s


south alabama scene

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almost an

idol

story by michele gerlach • photo by robert evers

Tambry Nix is busy. She com-mutes daily to DeFuniakSprings, where she works as

an elementary teacher; is in graduateschool; has a part-time job; cares forher 3-year-old son.

That she’s a juggler never comesthrough when she takes the stage,looking as comfortable as she can be,mesmerizing the audience with hersoulful voice.

“It’s what I’ve always wanted todo,” she said, adding that the busy lifeis what she has to do now.

That almost changed this summer

when she auditioned for AmericanIdol, first in Nashville and then inNew Orleans.

“I’ve always wanted to try out forAmerican Idol,” she said. When shelearned they were auditioning inNashville this past summer, sheloaded up a friend and headed north.

On the night before she was to jointhe “cattle call” in Idol lingo, the twowent out to enjoy Nashville’snightlife. They asked about coolplaces to sing karaoke and learnedabout Wanna B’s.

Forty-five minutes into an estimated

90-minute wait to sing, she was con-sidering leaving when there wereinteresting arrivals.

“These people walked in, and theylooked important. I could tell theyweren’t from there. I thought, ‘Whatthe heck, you never know.’ ”

So she waited for her turn and sangCarrie Underwood’s CowboyCasanova. Five minutes later, shewas approached by one of the interest-ing-looking people.

And then the Idol producer said

audition, feedback

buildmusician’sconfidence

See TAMBRY Page 18


TAMBRY, Continued from Page 17

something that was music to her ears.“Would you rather stand in line to

audition Saturday or come earlytomorrow?”

Early was great, and the scene wasjust like TV. She waited with 30 otherpeople. When Tambry’s name wasfinally called, she was in a room witha camera and three producers, one ofwhom was Simon Fuller.

She was nervous.“I think it showed,” she said.She was told the producers liked her

voice, but weren’t sure she had “starquality.”

“As I was walking off the stage,heard one of them say, ‘And I reallyhate that because she’s got a lot of starpotential.’ ”

In Nashville, she made it to the thirdlevel of AI auditions. With lots oflocal encouragement, includingfundraising help from WAAO, shedecided to try again in New Orleans,where she had to start at the first level

of auditions, which means getting anarmband and waiting your turn. Shegot another break when she madefriends with a security guard and toldhim she’d really like to try out for thewoman who’d approached her inNashville.

Next thing she knew, he’d calledover someone to help.

“He takes me and puts me next inline to go with her,” she said. “Andthere were like 6,000 people in frontof me. Everything was falling place.”

The woman remembered and likedher. Tambry got a gold ticket.

At the next level, auditions were ina conference room in the hotel and thenumber of potential Idol candidateshad been cut from 8,000 to 150.

“You have a good voice, a strongvoice, but it’s just not what we’relooking for this year,” Tambry recallsbeing told.

“Everybody who was picked wassuper unique-looking,” she said.

“They were attractive people, just dif-ferent looking.”

The experience helped build herconfidence, she said.

“I guess what I learned that I’m alot better than I thought I was. I tookwhat they said and I’m gonna workwith that,” she said.

She knows if she had more time topursue it, she could perform moreregionally than she does now.

“I’m just so busy now. I have to dowhat I have to do for me and Carter.”

She’s performing throughoutAndalusia’s Homecoming 2010 eventsand frequently sings on local stages.

What if a fairy godmother appearedwith a magic wand? What would shewish for?

“That my music would just take offall of a sudden, and I could skip overthe whole singing in the bar sort ofthing,” she said. “Or maybe even thatthe right people would come in to mypath.” ■

Alma’s Star may not light up thenight sky, but it’s proven to be abright spot in Alma Bodiford’s life.

Bodiford created Alma’s Star, hervery own Confederate rose, quite byaccident in 1997. Unlike mostConfederate roses, Alma’s Star willstay alive in a vase for a week and thebloom will remain open for four orfive days.

The shrub has large pink flowersthat consist of five double bloomsbundled into one large bud, andblooms from late summer until thefirst hard freeze.

Thirteen years after she made thediscovery, Bodiford, now ailing, saidthe flower has given her happinessthrough her time of sickness.

Bodiford said Alma’s Star hasproven to be a gift from God as sheovercame health issues during theprocess of receiving a patent for herdiscovery, which she finalized onlyrecently.

Bodiford has had brain surgery, apacemaker inserted and fights anongoing battle with Parkinson’s dis-ease.

“After my brain surgery, I had to

learn to walk and talk all over again,”she said.

Alma’s Star has not only given theLuverne resident and CovingtonCounty Master Gardener something tolook forward to during her time of ill-ness, but also another amazing gift.

“It’s something nice I can sharewith people,” she said.

The discovery came as a surprise toBodiford, who said she planted theroots differently than she had everdone before.

“I cut some cuttings from all of my

alma’s star It was quite by accident thatAlma Bodiford created hervery own Confederate rose

story by kendra bolling • courtesy photos


See ALMA Page 20

jar and rooted them,” she said. “Thatspring, Calvin (her husband) dug a bighole and we put all of them in the hole.”

Bodiford said to her surprise that fall,there was “a sprout” that had one bigbloom, unlike anything she had ever seen.

“I thought, ‘Oh, my God what have Igot?’ “ she said.

So, she called on a botanist friend fromBrewton and asked him to come and seeif she had something new.

“He came, and he was so excited,” shesaid. “I said, ‘Daryl, what will I do withit?’ ”

“He told me to register it with theHibiscus Society of America, and theprocess took about a year for them toaccept,” she said.

“If we would have pulled the rootsapart, we wouldn’t have had this,” shesaid.

Bodiford is convinced this is God’s giftto her.

“I’ve tried to do it again,” she said.

“But I just can’t. God had his hand in this.I give Him all the credit.”

Bodiford then decided to have herflower patented, which is a lengthyprocess.

“I had never talked to anyone who hada patent,” she said. “They make you countevery petal, all the scallops around theedge of the leaf – everything.”

Bodiford said in order to get a patent,one must cut the plant and root it to see ifit produces the same plant for 10 years.

Bodiford found instant success whenThe Luverne Journal published an articleabout her.

“I received 1,000 orders,” she said. “Itook every order, thinking it would be10 or 12 at the most. When I got done,I said, ‘I can’t fill all of these myself.’ ”

Bodiford took her plant and the articleswritten about Alma’s Star to SouthernGrowers in Montgomery and met withBill Cook, the company’s vice president.

“He said he’d take it,” she said. “This

was a big deal for me. We went aheadwith the patent.”

Bodiford recently received it, andAlma’s Star is all across the South fromTexas to Virginia and West Virginia.

Bodiford said the discovery has givenher more than she’s ever imagined.

“I can’t tell you how much I’ve madefrom this,” she said. “But, the people I’vetouched is a greater reward.

“If I can help someone along the way, Isure will,” she said. “God is still in com-mand.”■

south alabama living 20ALMA, Continued from Page 19

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The story of SpringdaleEstate has its beginningsonce upon a time in the

early 1900s, when 19-year-oldJohn G. Scherf, immigrated to theU.S. from Germany with nothingmore than his meager personalbelongings. Educated as a lawyerand civil engineer and able to

speak seven languages, he wouldrevolutionize the small SouthAlabama town where he planteddeep roots.

Scherf built an empire as thehead of Alatex and AndalaIndustries, which at one pointemployed more than 3,500 area

When the City ofAndalusia bought the

historic Springdale Estate,it preserved one man’s

finely-craftedtestament to

the american dreamstories by shanda beste • photos by robert evers

Former Andalusia Mayor John

G. Scherf, a German immi-

grant, not only lived the

American dream, he also

brought it to life for many

in the place he called home.See DREAM page 22

22 south alabama living south alabama living 23

citizens and carried this communi-ty through the economic throes ofthe Great Depression, creatingjobs, bringing opportunity andinspiring the hope of a brighterfuture.

Many of the now-prominentfamilies in the community startedout by sweeping floors in Scherf’sfactories and rose through theranks to accomplish their ownAmerican Dreams.

As Mayor Earl Johnsonexplained, “Andalusia would benothing more than a little cross-roads town if it weren’t for theworks of John G. Scherf.”

And with the city’s recent acqui-sition of the Scherf mansion morethan 60 years after his passing, the

roots of Scherf’s vision, his genius,his industry and leadership shouldonce again nourish the souls of thecommunity he loved.

In October, the City of Andalusiafinalized the purchase of the estatefrom local radiologist Dr. CharlesTomberlin, who owned and residedat the property with his familysince 1981.

Built around 1935, Scherf’smansion is known as “SpringdaleEstate,” so-named because of thefresh water spring where localsused to go to do their laundry.

Scherf commissioned the build-ing of this estate in the early1930s, a mere decade or so afterimmigrating to this land of oppor-tunity.

The home’s Old World Germanicinfluences remind its visitors of abygone era in home constructionwhen the craftsman’s skills werevalued in the days before the big-box store with factory-made crownmolding, trim, handrails and pre-hung doors and windows. In thosedays, if you needed a door, youhad build it from scratch.

“This architectural and historicalmasterpiece was purchased in per-fect working condition. Dr.Tomberlin took excellent care ofthis property. The City acquired itin perfect working condition. Norepairs are needed. Everything isperfect,” Mayor Johnson said.

Johnson described some of thecity’s plans for the property.

“Since it connects to theVeteran’s Memorial Park and toCity Hall, we are planning to makethe front entry gate of the estate anentrance only, for safety reasons,and clear out some of the kudzu inthe back and connect it with aparking lot” on the acre-and-a-halfcommercial lot also included in theproperty acquisition.

Johnson foresees the property’suse to include as a day use parkwith trails and picnic areas, as adestination for weddings, recep-tions and parties, for industrial andbusiness recruitment, for Easteregg hunts, holiday parties, arts andcraft shows, open house eventsshowcasing local decorators’ skills,

‘Andalusia would be nothing more than a crossroadsif not for John G. Sherf.’

about springdaleCommissioned by John G. Scherf Sr. in

the early 1930s, Springdale Estate is a5,630 sq. ft. home, featuring six bedrooms,and five-and-a-half baths. There also is a700 sq. ft. guesthouse on the 3.8-acreestate in the heart of Andalusia.

The home features an unusual collage oftile styles, and each bedroom’s fireplace fea-tures its own unique theme. A tile-encasedstairway leads down into the 425 sq. ft.basement with a wine cellar, boiler room,Scherf’s former darkroom, the modern-uselaundry room and a bedroom with its ownbath and fireplace.

Outside, there is a meat cellar, completewith walk-in refrigeration and freezer units,built into the side of a more than 6-foot-talllandscape berm.

Another marker of a bygone era is theestate’s laundry house located behind thefour-car garage. This brick room with con-crete floors houses a three-foot metal sinkbasin constructed over a wood stove forheating water followed by three separatesink rinse stations and a linen press in theadjoining storage room.

The back side of the garage is an areaknown as the “dollhouse” which Scherf builtas a playroom for his daughter, Aurelia.

During a tour of the home, current MayorEarl Johnson pointed out some of the his-torical and progressive original features ofthe home, namely the two hall closets, thathave a mechanical switch that turns thecloset light on when the door is openedand off when it is closed. Most homes 75years after this home’s construction don’thave such luxury, and this home was builtwhen few homes in the area had electricityand many didn’t even have running water.

The property proudly showcases the stateflower, the camellia, along with azaleas,exemplary short leaf pines, prestigious oaksand pecan, wild honeysuckle and musca-dine vines that adorn a concrete arbor… allcharacteristic, exemplary and gracious nativeflora that welcome any Southerner home.

The elegant home’s fine Old World crafts-manship, blended seamlessly with still mod-ern accents, make it a fantastic representa-tive of the City’s motto – a proud heritageand a progressive future. ■

DREAM, Continued from Page 21

See DREAM page 25

The dining room is reflected in a mirror inthe entrance hall (top). Each bedroom fea-tures a unique fireplace, like the detailedwood and marble one shown here.


so, what’s it like to live here?

When the City of Andalusia pur-chased the historic SpringdaleEstate, it was in mint condition.

But it wasn’t always so.Dr, Charles Tomberlin said that when he

bought the property (circa 1981), it had aterrible bat infestation.

“There were over 10,000 bats we had toget rid of when we bought it. The manuresmelled so bad, I think that’s why none ofthe (Scherf) kids wanted the house,” hesaid.

Tomberlin also modernized the kitchen,where bright yellow and cobalt blue tilesadd a playfulness to balance the weight ofthe rich cherry cabinets.

The old coal stove also replaced withdual down draft ranges, and the originalkitchen windows were replaced andexpanded.

“They were tiny windows because theydidn’t care anything about the servantsbeing able to look outside,” Tomberlinexplained.

“I rearranged the tiles in the kitchen andadded one new light fixture in the breakfastarea so there would be enough light to seeby. The other light fixtures are original,though some have been moved to differentlocations,” Tomberlin said.

Another improvement he made to theestate during his stewardship was diggingout the ponds on the grounds and putting a

concrete floor in one. He said he then hadto haul dirt in “because the catfish werescratching their bellies when they tried tobed up in concrete when what they neededwas mud.”

“It also has an artesian well – severalactually. There are artesian wells under thedrain ditch. If you look closely you can seeat least one of each side where the waterbubbles up,” Tomberlin explained.

One of the most interesting features ofthe estate is its meat cellar that is built intothe side of an over six-foot-tall landscapeberm. A silver door with small screenedwindow opens to steps that lead down intoa prep room, followed by a walk-in refrig-erated area with meat hooks and then into alarge walk-in freezer – all currently in per-fect working condition. The original butch-er block was reclaimed from the home’smeat cellar and is now a focal point in thekitchen.

Tomberlin said he also updated the meatlocker with modern refrigeration. “It canhold 200 pounds of shrimp and two orthree cows. I used to use it when all thekids were home.”

As Dr. Tomberlin prepares for retirement,he and Mary Margaret are downsizing andhave moved to the home he built for hismother on the family farm near Opp.

Mary Margaret Tomberlin said what shewill miss the most about living in the estate

was first, the fine appointments and interiordetail of the home, and second, the softlyswaying 8-foot lily pads in the pond on thegrounds.

Her husband said he, too, will miss thegrounds. But he’ll also miss the shower.

“At the farm, I don’t have four showerheads, nor do I have the water pressure Ihad in Andalusia,”

“You have to get used to it (the fourshower heads). At first you feel like you’regoing to drown,” he laughed.

Tomberlin said his purchasing the estatewas provential. “The Lord really looked tome in purchasing that house. It was aprayer come true for me to own it. I wouldalways tell my mom on the drive throughAndalusia to the orthordontist in Pensacolathat someday I’d be a doctor, and I’d buythat house.”

One might think that being burdenedwith the upkeep of a mansion, between theremoval of 10,000 bats and their manure,replacing the roof on the main house, guesthouse, pump house and garage, the con-stant upkeep and repair of the iron fence,and having painted the home several timesduring his 29 years of ownership, wouldhave diminished the romance of thisAmerican dream.

And yet, when asked what he would missthe least, Tomberlin replied, “Well, nothing.I love it.” ■

Springdale’s entrance hall features solid bronze front doors (left) and opens (right) into a private courtyard.

about john g. scherf, sr.John G. Scherf, Sr., was born on May 8,

1884, in Siegmar, Germany. He immigratedto the U.S. at the age of 19, disembarking inNew York City. He brought to America hisbackground and education in civil engineer-ing and law, his knowledge of seven lan-guages and a pursuit of the AmericanDream. He landed a job in Atlanta workingfor the Georgia Board of Trade and latermoved to Concordia, Kansas, where heworked with the U.S. Chamber ofCommerce. Circa 1920, he moved toAndalusia to serve as the executive secretaryof the local Chamber of Commerce.

Alatex & Arrow ShirtsScherf studied the textile industry when

he lived in South and North Carolina. In1923, he and several investors organizedthe Alabama Textile Products Corporation,commonly known as Alatex. This plant,located on River Falls Street, was the heartof John G. Scherf Industries. The businessgrew to employ more than 3,500 people.

As demand increased, plant locationswere added to include Andalusia, Brantley,Troy and Enterprise, Ala., and Crestview andPanama City, Fla. In 1968 the company wasbought by Cluett, Peabody & Co, which waslater purchased by West Point andPepperrell.

BeautificationAmong his many projects during his 16

years as mayor of Andalusia, Scherf spear-headed beautification and city cleanliness.During his tenure, many city streets werepaved, and money was invested in educa-tion and in the public library.

Other Business & FinancePrior to Scherf’s 16-year service as mayor

(from 1932 – 1948), the city was broke.With his panache for finance and bold lead-ership, he got the city out of debt andraised its surplus to $748,652 (and this wasduring the Great Depression).

He instituted an official tax collection sys-tem and modern bookkeeping; and he bal-anced the budget. He formed city-ownedutility services, established the City PlanningCommission and Recreation Board, the firstmunicipal cemetery, and a new city hall.

Scherf served as president of and helpedcreate the First Federal Savings & Loanwhich was set up to encourage citizens tosave money which in turn allowed the bankto make loans to local citizens for buildingth eir own homes.

and for use as a conference centerfor small businesses and strategicplanning retreats.

To facilitate those events, the 903sq. ft., four-car garage will be con-verted to a working prep kitchen,leaving the kitchen in the mainhouse for service only.

The city plans to raise capital fora trust-supported foundation for theeventual purchase of the estate fromthe city, thereby relieving taxpayersof any burden. The city will beresponsible for property mainte-nance, and city officials will man-age the affairs of the estate and beanswerable to the citizens ofAndalusia.

Johnson said the city’s purpose inpurchasing the property was to savean important piece of its heritage.With the property zoned commercialand with offers on the table fromdevelopers, Johnson made a boldmove in acquiring the estate.

He explained that with the com-mercial zoning and the number ofproperties in the downtown that arein ruins, it would have “been a sin”to let the estate fall into the hands of

developers who may have convertedthe house into office buildings andpaved the front yard for a parkinglot… or even worse, “done nothingand let the estate fall into sham-bles.”

Johnson, a bold leader and vision-ary much like Scherf, focuses agreat deal of effort in business andindustrial recruitment and is respon-sible for bringing hundreds of newjobs to the area. He said he is excit-ed for local business owners to beable to borrow on the community’sdowry when courting clients andbusinesses from out of the areawhen using the estate for businessrecruitment.

The Tomberlins left as a donationnumerous furniture pieces includinga grandfather clock, baby grandpiano, master bedroom suite, severalarmoires, a dining room table andchairs, and a grand gold framed mir-ror that stands over a matching goldaccented white marble bench in theentry foyer (a gift from MaryMargaret Tomberlin’s mother), sev-eral upholstered chairs and a grandOriental-style rug. ■

DREAM, Continued from Page 23

The chandelier in the entrance hall (left) has been valued at $35,000. It’s unusual amberglass adds to its value. The coat of arms if found in details throughout the house, like inthe chandelier gracing the second-floor mezzanine, right.

fearlessflowers


Former AndalusianDeJuan Stroud is the

go-to guy for event-planning

in New York.Recently, he shared

his tips.

He’s staged countless after-parties for movie pre-mieres, elaborate wed-

dings, numerous bah mitzvahs, andeven an intimate dinner party forthe president.

But DeJuan Stroud recently tookthe fear out of florals as a guestspeaker for the BirminghamBotanical Gardens’ annualfundraiser, Antiques in theGardens.

Introduced as society’s “go-toevent designer” in New York City,Stroud explained that his journeybegan in Greenville, brought himto Andalusia as a child, and tookhim to Wall Street, where he dealtwith regulators, oversaw internalaudits and negotiated lawsuits. Athome in his New Jersey suburb, hearranged flowers for fun.

“Anything to relax and unwind,”

Designer usessimple

elementsfor gala events

See STROUD page 28

story by michele gerlach

PHOTO BYROGER DONG

he said of those years. “Through aseries of things that happened on WallStreet and with the help and support ofmy wife Debra (nee Merrill), whom Imet in the sixth grade in Mrs.Radford’s language arts class, here weare.”

Stroud said he’s learned that thehobby that helped him relax andunwind is the most stressful part ofentertaining for some. He demonstrat-ed five “simple” arrangements, thenshowed photographs of events inwhich the same concepts were used tocreate floral arrangements. Shown incontext, “simple,” is not a word thatwould be used to describe them!

Stroud said he loves some of the new“foolproof” connected vases on themarket these days. For one arrange-ment, he chose a vase of five tubesconnected in a square and chose twoflowers from the same color palette –yellow calla lilies and Oncidiumorchids.

“The arrangement is simple andclean and the vases start dissolving,”

he said. With a similar vase, he combined

white lysianthas, white roses, andspearmint. The scents of the roses andspearmint complement each other.

A frequent challenge in designingtable appointments for events is keep-ing the flowers low enough for gueststo talk over them, he said.

Choosing a low bowl five to sixinches high, Stroud demonstrated amethod in which he builds an arrange-ment with several small bouquets.

“I prefer not to use oasis,” he said,adding that flowers last longer whencut with a sharp knife and placeddirectly in water.

As he tied the small bouquets withraffia, he placed them on the outeredges of the bowl.

“As you make the posies, the stemsbegin to interlock and hold together,”he explained. The center posies canthen stand in the base created by thestems. A clever hostess can wrap thesmall posies with tissue and send themhome with guests.

“We did this style of arrangementwith Mayor Bloomberg’s daughter’swedding, which had a Morrocantheme,” he said. “The arrangementswere from Thai posies, and we hadstaff on hand to pass them out as theguests left.”

Stroud often repurposes flowers andother elements of his events. There areseveral non-profit groups thatrearrange flowers and deliver them tonursing home residents, he said. Healso has begun to donate items to atheater group.

“We might use two to three thousandyards of fabric for an event,” he said.“We store everything we can use orrepurpose, and are grateful to workwith organizations that can use whatwe don’t.”

Stroud also put together what hecalled a “wild and wooly” arrangementof greenery cut from yards and gardensin Birmingham.

Stroud is currently at work on a bookon transforming spaces, a guide toentertaining. ■

STROUD, Continued from


Debra Merrill Stroud (second from left) had lots of supportfrom family when her husband spoke at the BirminghamBotanical Gardens in October. Shown with her are (fromleft) her sisters, Helen Merrill McIntrye and Salle MerrillRedfield, her mother-in-law, Jerri Stroud, and her mother,Lulu Richardson.

DeJuan Stroud (above) with hismother, Jerri Stroud ofAndalusia. (1) Stroud loves theSatellite vases by Roost becausethey make arrangements“dummy-proof’“ and they disap-pear. (2) The “disappearing vac-ses” were used in table settings,here.

1

2

PHOTO BY ROGER DONG

When DeJuan Stroud staged the after-party for thepremiere of “It’s Complicated,” he rented all ofthe steel commercial kitchen tables he could

find.As guests walked from New York City’s Ziegfield Theatre

and entered the Museum of Modern Art, chefs worked at thetables, frosting cakes and making pies, in a scene reminis-cent of Meryl Streep’s catering kitchen in the movie that alsostarred Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.

This season, his company created a whimsical setting forthe second-season premiere of HBO’s Bored to Death.

Earlier this month, he put together a private dinner in aNew York home billed as a “conversation with the presi-dent.” Now, he’s designing the premiere for “The Little

Fockers,” Universal’s sequelto “Meet the Fockers,” dueout in December.

It’s a long way fromAndalusia, Ala., where Stroudgrew up watching his mother,Jerri Stroud, arrange flowers,and where his first job “in thebiz” was delivering flowerson Valentine’s Day for AlanCotton.

We asked DeJuan and hiswife, Debra, about the busi-ness that began as a hobbywhen they worked out of thebasement of their New Jerseyhome.

SAL: Describe when youfirst knew that you couldmake a living at your hobby.

DeJuan: This sounds reallynaïve, but once Debra and I

decided to do the business full time, I never doubted that wecould make a living at it. I had full confidence in my workethic and in my design skills. Still, the first couple of yearswere pretty hard.

SAL: Could you describe an event you created when youfirst thought, "OK, we've made it."

DeJuan: New York City is such a tough market, and thecompetition is so stiff that I don’t know if there will ever bean “OK, we’ve made it” moment. But, there have beensome great highlights, times when I felt really good about

the business: 1. Pinning on Robert DeNiro’s boutonnierewhen he married Grace Hightower. 2. Going to Morocco tobuy (and have made) furnishings for Mayor Bloom-berg’sdaughter’s wedding. 3. The time that Aretha Franklin wasrehearsing while we set up for an event, and she started tosing about how beautiful the flowers were.

SAL: Debra, How would you describe your role in thebusiness?

Debra: I run the business, price out DeJuan’s designs,oversee the proposals, oversee the staff in our Tribeca studio,in our Brooklyn warehouse and in our New Jersey businessoffice. That’s my official role. My unofficial role is being aperfectionist - checking and double checking that all jobsare perfect and exceed the clients’ expectations.

SAL: Tell us about your children. Debra: Rob, 26, earned his degree in English at the

University of Iowa. He lives in New York City and helps merun the business. Molly, 25, is a talented floral designer. Shelives in London now, and is getting her master’s degree incontemporary art at Sothebys. Emily, 23, got her degree incommunications at Virginia Tech. She lives in NYC andworks on the operations side of the vibrant restaurant groupowned by Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield. George, 19,went to high school in New York City and is taking a gapyear before going to college. He is the drummer forStarscream, an 8-bit band, and is having a great year. ■

in the basementHusband-wife team started star-studded business


Stroud said the challenge for designers in New York City is tomake the same venues look different. He likes to use lightingto change the colors of walls and the style of flooring.

PHOTO BY TERRY GRUBER

To accommodate clients’requests to keep tablearrangements low enough totalk over, Stroud often bringsflorals into the setting fromthe ceiling.

PHOTO BY PETER PECK

Hunter Albritton’s plans for this past summerbegan 11 years ago, when she was a little girlwhose family hosted a German exchange student

for a semester.Through the years, Tom, Amanda, Hunter and James

Albritton have remained close to Sandra Kather, talkingregularly and visiting in the states and at Sandra’s par-ents’ home.

This past summer, the story came full circle whenHunter spent her summer studying in Germany, livingwith Sandra and her parents, Barbara and Heinz, outsideof Aachen, Germany’s westernmost city, located on theBelgium border. For several weeks, she was enrolled in thesame Catholic high school her longtime friend had attend-ed.

In many ways, Hunter said, the summer was no differ-ent than most – she was away from home, making newfriends, and learning new things. Only this time, there wasa language barrier, and the academics were much morerigorous.

Hunter had just finished her sophomore year atAndalusia High School, where she’d completed German Iand II through the state’s distance learning program. Shestudied German via computer.

“It takes a lot of motivation,” she said. “There’s not ateacher behind you. You’ve got to focus yourself, whichcan be pretty difficult.”

getting her wings

story by michele gerlach • courtesy photos

See WINGS page 32

Instead, the teacher is at a schoolsomewhere else in the state. For ver-bal assignments, students speak into amicrophone and the teacher deter-mines if their pronunciation is correct.The focus, understandably, is ongrammar.

“We hadn’t done a whole lot of con-versationalwork, whichmade speak-ing it diffi-cult,”Hunter said.

InGermany,she wasplaced in ajunior-yearclass andenrolled inEnglish,German,

French, chemistry, biology, art, musicand calculus. French wasn’t new toher, as she’d completed French I andII in her freshman year.

In Germany, her music class wasmusic composition.

“The lady spoke great English,”Hunter recalled. “I explained to herthat I’d never done composition.When she found out I played trom-bone, she got one and told me ‘Youcan play everyone else’s composi-tions.’ ”

While German culture is very simi-

lar to American, Hunter said food wasa challenge. The Germans eat twolarge meals a day.

“I had to get used to always feelingstuffed or hungry,” she laughed.

“The food was great,” she said,adding that her favorites werebratwurst, a sausage usually com-posed of veal, pork or beef, and wein-er schnitzel, boneless pieces of vealthinned with a mallet, coated in bread-crumbs and fried.

She made friends easily, andenjoyed attending events and joining arunning club with her classmates.Public transportation gives teens lotsof freedom, and it was typical to gointo Aachen, population 300,000, formovies and eating out.

She also traveled with her host fam-ily, visiting Zurich, Switzerland,where she went paragliding over theAlps; a castle in the Netherlands; andmuseums in Berlin, Cologne andBann.

She also learned a lot about WorldCup Soccer.

“Germany finished like No. 3,” shesaid. “Everybody was very excited.One of the repercussions of WorldWar II is there is not a lot of pride, sothey take a lot of pride in sports.”

There were public viewings inAachen at which thousands gatheredto watch World Cup Soccer on the bigscreen.

“Afterward, if they won, there

would be a big party in the middle ofthe city,” she said.

Having long been interested in allthings green, Hunter said it was greatto be in a country of people who areso “environmentally aware.”

“It’s great,” she said. “They recycleeverything – paper, bottles, plastics.”

Hunter said she’d advise anyoneconsidering an exchange studentexperience to know the language andcustoms.

“Other than that, just do it,” shesaid.

Back in her junior year in theStates, she’s in the midst of a reallybusy school year, but keeps up withher German friends as much as possi-ble.

“We talk on Facebook. It’s fun.Facebook is a great tool,” she said.

She’s immersed in German III,which she describes as “difficult, butmuch easier with the knowledge I’vegained.”

She’s a member of the band, “thesunshine of my life,” Literary Club,Usher Club, Key Club and AnchorClub. Next semester, she’ll be on thetennis team. Next year, she plans totake Spanish I and II, and to graduatewith seven foreign language credits.

“I plan to travel a lot, and expect touse Spanish in my career,” she said. “Iplan to be a lawyer, so Spanish is mymain goal for languages.” ■

WINGS, Continued from

Having longbeen interested

in all thingsgreen, Hunter

said it was greatto be in a coun-

try of peoplewho are so “envi-

ronmentallyaware.”

Hunter Albritton (from left) enjoying World Cup Soccer in Germany, with friends, and in class.


story and photos by stephanie nelson

searchingfor the elusive

The fall breeze is just strongenough to stir the leaves alongthe roadside into the Conecuh

National Forest, and there is a glimpseof the neon whites of hikers.

Without warning, a heavy black massstreaks across the road.

Could it be?Dennis Bauer believes it’s possible.

****Bauer is quiet as he sits amidst the

greenery, pausing before he begins histale of fascination and curiosity, as if togauge the willingness of his audience.

“There are stories, of course, ofsightings, throughout CovingtonCounty,” Bauer said. “In 1954, awoman saw one on Covington 77behind a hog-wire fence, arms down toits knees; dirty, dishwater blond hair. Itstepped over a fence toward the road,cleared a gully in one step and crossedbehind the car.

“Beginning in 1981, a local familyreported a long history of sightings,” he

said. “The 17-year-old who wasbabysitting for a 3-year-old boy in thetrailer across the street. The boy said heonce came out of the bedroom saying,‘The hairy man was looking in his win-dow again.’ When the babysitter wentout, there was nothing there. Later theboy’s father said the child often men-tioned it but he himself never saw any-thing.

“The boy’s mother once called otherfamily members all frantic saying,‘Those damn things are pounding onthe walls again,’ and that she had seenone run through the yard fast.

“So, do I believe in Bigfoots?

Absolutely. There’s too many stories todiscount,” he said.

Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch,has been referenced in countless cul-tures for more than 12,000 years.Known to North American Indians as“Chiye-tanka” or “Big Man,” the crea-ture is described as a large, hairy, ape-like creature with facial similarities to ahuman, bipedal, unusually strong, skit-tish and nocturnal by nature.

Throughout history, stories ofBigfoot’s existence have evolved fromNative American lore to blog entries oncountless Web sites, including Bauer’s,www.lawnflowersjerkandbigfoots.com.From there, he welcomes e-mails ofeyewitness reports.

Whatever one’s opinion – hoax, folk-lore or just plain craziness – there arethose who believe in the creature’sexistence, and Bauer is one of them.

A graduate of Penn State and aPennsylvania native, Bauer holds a

In the quiet of the Conecuh, it’s easy to believe“The thing about

bigfoots is that sightingsare chance encounters

between inattentive big-foots and the people whoare in their native habitat.”

See BAUER page 35

bachelor’s degree in agriculture. At 26, he moved to Hawaiiand later to northern Idaho. When he grew tired of the “mini-Ice Ages,” he and his wife, Patricia Spanedda, decided tomove south. After much research and because of its proximi-ty to the Conecuh National Forest, the couple choseAndalusia. For the last seven years, Bauer has worked atSitel, the out-bound customer call center in Sanford.

“I get a lot of strange looks when I tell people where Iwork,” he said. “I expect every day to be an education. Whenwe moved here, I needed a job. Sitel was hiring. I didn’tknow a lot about computers and wanted to learn more. Therewas an opportunity to do that and get paid for it at the sametime.”

Those hours sitting behind a desk and in front of a comput-er screen allow Bauer an opportunity to devote his off-timeto doing the things he loves the most – walking in nature,taking in the wildflowers and scanning the horizon forBigfoot.

“When I was a kid, adults would warn us to not be outafter dark because the ‘boogeyman’ would catch us and haulus off,” he said. “Their description of the boogeyman wasvery similar to the description of bigfoots that I read in myschool’s library books. Then, I saw the famous Patterson-Gimlin film clip of a female bigfoot, and I was hooked.”

Through the years, Bauer has collected stories of encoun-ters, an assortment of video clippings and all things Bigfoot –all of which are compiled for easy viewing on his Web site.Even the licenses plates on his SUV, tells of his passion –“Bigfoot Research” it reads on the front.

“Most of the time when people start talking about Bigfootand sightings, they get made fun of and are laughed at,” hesaid. “I feel for their plight.

“I have never seen a Bigfoot – and there’s not just oneBigfoot, there are whole populations of them – but I havespoken to quite a few people who have seen one or more big-foots, some in north Idaho, but most here in south Alabama,”he said. “The first local report was given to me secondhandand told of two men driving home from work around 2:30 inthe morning on a dirt road somewhere outside of Red Level.The Bigfoot walked out in front of them. They stoppedquickly. It looked at them, then returned into the woods.”

And contrary to what people may think, Bauer doesn’t donhis camouflage – even though it’s specially designed forBigfoot research – to specifically hunt for the elusive crea-ture. Instead, his afternoons are spent watching wildlife ingeneral, hiking or driving.

“The thing about bigfoots is that sightings are chanceencounters between inattentive bigfoots and the people whoare in their native habitat,” he said. “And I’m convinced, pri-marily by the many firsthand and secondhand sightingreports given to me by people living in Covington County,that this whole area is home to many different Bigfoot fami-lies.” ■

south alabama living 35BAUER, Continued from

the lasting tributeWHEN MAKING FINAL

ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR

LOVED ONES GIVE THEM

THEY DESERVE

ANDALUSIA, ALABAMACOVINGTONCASKET.COM

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Who, upon lighting a lantern,would hide it under a basket? No,you would put it on a hill for all tosee.

Puddin’ Powell was a light. Thereflection of his smile still bringsout the child in me 40 years later .

Born Charles Powell, Puddin’worked as a janitor at AndalusiaHigh School ‘til he got fired forhelping some white boys hide theirwhiskey for the prom. When theyspiked that punch, it sure made

J.A.W. mad. They had to letPuddin’ go.

Most of the time, he wore Tuf-Nut coveralls he bought from Mr.Graham Dunn at the CovingtonStores (now the Murphy lawoffice). Sometimes Puddin’ woulddress up and help Mr. Toddy with afuneral at Marshall FuneralChapel. Georgia Marshall, theowner, was Puddin’s sister.

Puddin’ loved to work Mondaythrough Friday. But Lord, he loved

to play on Saturday. With a pint ofRed Dagger wine, he could playthe spoons all afternoon, a skill helearned on a trip to Miami.

Puddin’ was a true Southern gen-tleman who just seemed to dancethrough life – a light on a hill. Andthis was his poem:

‘Bama born‘Bama breadWhen I die,

I’ll be ‘Bama dead.

scrapbook


story and photo by Bob Brooks

puddin’powell

remembering

109 E. Hart Avenue, Opp, AL New: 334.493.3527 • Pre-owned: 334.493.3098

The possibilitiesare endless.

Open Mon-Fri8 a.m. -5 p.m.

318 Montgomery St. Andalusia AL

COVINGTON METALS CO.

“A Family Tradition Since 1925”Serving Andalusia, Covington County, and the Surrounding Area For 5 Generations

Industrial Scrap & Demolition

Roll off Container Service

Buyers of Scrap MetalIron • Tin • Aluminum • Copper

Brass • Aluminum Cans • Junk Cars

James Jones, Jim Jones, and the late Brown Jones

south alabama living

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