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Linden pastor retiring to his native Frankville
Harris, at 54, entered "semi-retirement," returning to his family home in Frankville, where he will be pastor of a smaller nearby Baptist church between Silas and Waynesboro, Miss. in a place called Isney. Linden Baptist will now have to find a replacements not only in the pulpit but at the organ, a $60,000 instrument was purchased last November and played every Sunday by the accomplished Patty Harris. (She actually had tears in her eyes as she surrendered the organ keys to Music Director, Johnny Arnett, Sunday.)
"...I never got close to a preacher before but I feel he is my friend," said member Bradley Gaddy. "We hate it," said Margie Cross speaking for herself and husband Frank. "It's crying day!" "We love him to death..." said Jean Boozer with husband F.M. "Snooty" Boozer adding "...we'll also miss playing dominoes together in my shop." Louise Lyles, a Harris neighbor, said "I feel more secure when they are home. I'll miss them." Mike Henderson talked about how well Harris related to all ages in the congregation. Henderson sang in the church choir as a young man when Harris was music director in Linden back in the 70s. Before the sermon Sunday a gussied up group of ladies who call themselves "The Sisters" sprang down the aisle for a surprise spoof. Harris joined them behind the pulpit as the four years. In the end they gave him an overall grade of "10" in all categories. The good-natured Harris joined in the fun.
Today it is the unchallenged show place in South Marengo for not only church affairs but civic events like the Cattlemen's Association banquet and the city's bamboo meeting for landowners that attracted about 300. Emcee Harris presided over the annual wild game suppers there with gusto as he is an avid hunter and outdoor enthusiast. In their new rural setting in Washington County, Harris should be able to pursue hunting to his heart's content. "I suppose you will be cooking a lot of wild game down there," someone said to Patty, to which she replied, "What do you think I have been doing all these years?" Sportsman, impassioned preacher, singer, guitarist, emcee and dynamic leader-everyone agrees those will be some awfully big boots to fill at Linden Baptist.
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