The Hickory Reading Club began its 2025-2026 year with a September 11th meeting hosted by Faye Anderson, Mary Ann Bond, and Stacey Cook in the fellowship hall of Hickory Baptist Church. A summer picnic supper, autumn decor, and catching up on members' life news provided a welcome start for new officers: President Marcia Everett, Vice President Faye Anderson, Treasurer Jackie Stamm, Secretary Jane Brand, Hospitality Chairperson Phyllis Cain, Reporter Pam Waters, and Reminder Chairperson Bertie Lindley.
Sherry Riggle's devotion focused on Psalm 139, relating each individual's life to being only a chapter of God's total story, one He writes with no edits, typos, or disconnects.
As program, Lynn Scott reviewed Mississippi author Ramona Bridges's historical novel Sweet By and By: A Story about Love (2010). One of her six published works, this first book of a trilogy is followed by Standing on the Promises (2012) and An Unclouded Day (2013). Focusing on strong Southern characters such as Addie Coulter's losses and abusive relationships, the author uses varied narration styles and depicts a that-time-and-place atmosphere to show that triumph through adversities and the power of various types of love are not limited to times and places.a
