This past weekend was an interesting couple of days.
The people of Chunky Baptist Church celebrated the church’s 125th anniversary with a worship service that included a message from Dr. Jim Futral – a favorite speaker for many years across the state – and a large lunch. It’s the way we Baptists do – we commemorate, console, celebrate and conversate with food and fellowship among family and friends.
My wife and I spent Saturday and Sunday on the road, both for business and pleasure.
We traveled a portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway, stopping at nearly every historical location along the part we traversed, except for all the scenic picnic stops. We only stopped at a couple of those.
We saw hot air balloons half-hidden in the early-morning clouds – a beautiful sight – and not-yet-launched balloons in the middle of the roadway.
We say bicyclists and motorcyclists galore, walked through the site of the last remaining 1700s inn along the Trace and ate some of the best chicken ever fried, over at The Country Store in Lorman. We were serenaded – well, my wife was – by Arthur Davis, the man who made the chicken there famous, and ate our lunch near travelers who spoke French, Korean and English-not-from-Mississippian.
I met a couple who investigate paranormal activity while dressed in period costume. And we discovered that certain other name brand snack cakes don’t live up to Little Debbie. Sorry.
Saturday evening we attended a tribute concert for Lynyrd Skynyrd and got to meet some of the survivors of the plane crash in October 1977. There were band family members, rescuers and caregivers present, and the tribute band did a fine job.
My wife and I love classic music, and though neither of us would describe ourselves as big Skynyrd fans, we had a blast. We figured if we enjoyed it that much, the die-hard Skynyrd fans there (which were most in attendance) must have been absolutely loving it.
Sunday just after morning worship, we grabbed a sandwich at home and headed out again – this time to Gillsburg, near the Louisiana line, where the Skynyrd band and crew of 26 crashed into the trees. Twenty survived the crash.
We gathered with friends and dignitaries, survivors and widows – including Judy Van Zant, widow of lead singer Ronnie – to unveil on the 42nd anniversary of the tragedy a new monument erected in the band members’ memory and in honor of those who worked hard to rescue them, keep them alive and nurse them back to health.
I’d be lying if I said the whole thing wasn’t emotional.
Again, if I were a “true” fan …
I met several professional musicians and people who have played a least a portion of their role in history, and it was special.
Two things really put the weekend in a special place for me: (1) My wife and I had a great time just being together; and (2) every survivor present, every family member, every caregiver, every rescuer agreed that the reason people made it out of those woods was because God was watching over them. The crew members who spoke all gave God credit for their rescue, and for the fact that they were living still. Everyone gave God glory.
What a weekend.
Brett Campbell covers Chunky’s community news. You can email him at brettcampbell@bellsouth.net
