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Tuesday, May 02, 2023

R.I.P. Miriam Taylor

Miriam Taylor’s memorial service. There had been a service in Birmingham earlier, so just Don, JaDon, Tracy, and Dean were at SPdL. Dock shared memories of Miriam, how Don and Miriam did so many things together. The longtime chaplain from Lovett spoke as well. Tracy sang a hymn. Later thanked me for being a smiling face she could concentrate on.

Miriam grew up in Lyons GA where she did everything: student government, choir, basketball. Later when her girls were young, she pressed David Downing to start a girls church league team. Finally David said yes – if Miriam would coach. The first squad featured Tracy and JaDon, Kathryn Hayes, Mary Elizabeth Teem, Elizabeth Flack, and others. Jimmy Light was her assistant coach.

Back in the early 80’s when Hurt, Don Head, Sharon Langley, Wayne Price, Steve Givens, Jerome, me, and others coached Mighty Mites we would all vie for the top pick to get Tracy, a great all-around player. No one could dribble like JaDon, who could weave her way through the defense for layup after layup. Hayes was a dominant force in the paint. They ruled the league after Mary Elizabeth, Kelly Curran, and Robin Ramsey moved up. Later Lang, Chad, and John Flack were the top players. Later JaDon played at Rhodes College.

Don grew up in Washington Ga and went to his first Masters Tournament in 1951. He looked and spoke well. He just turned 89, and has been living with Miriam in her assisted living facility in Birmingham, and said he guessed he would continue staying there. We talked about the Masters and UGA.

JaDon lives in Chattanooga. Didn’t realize she occasionally went on girl’s weekend trips with high school buds Andrea Irwin, Elizabeth Flack, and Lauren Petty.

Tracy has two kids finishing college, but hasn’t changed. She plays golf with Dean as well as with Stephanie Dukes. I told her that David Hurt hated missing the service, and we talked about the mighty mite days. Jimmy Light said at Lovett Tracy sang the national anthem before playing in her basketball game – then got crowned homecoming queen at halftime. 

Dock told me about their trip to NYC, where they stayed at a friend’s condo. Sister Hillary had never been before. Dock told me the story he told at Jerry Head’s funeral, of having a teenage fender bender with Debra Head. Since they were kids neither knew what to do, so they both drove home to their respective parents. Neil was incredulous Dock had left the scene of an accident. They drove over to the Heads and offered to pay for the damage. Jerry found a bumper at the junkyard, and charged Dock $75.00.

Saw Katherine Flack and talked to her. We talked about John taking her daughter to see Taylor Swift. John attends JFBC now, and Katherine and Elizabeth were there this past Sunday. Katherine took me over to see Elizabeth, so we got to visit a bit.

Andrea was asking Elizabeth for interior design advice. I told them we hadn’t painted our house white, though both Elizabeth and Andrea had. I told the small gathering that last year Andrea had run the second half of the Peachtree Road Race faster than the first. Andrea couldn’t believe I’d known that (actually her second half time was a minute slower, but the closest to the first half than anyone else I’d known). Andrea admitted that she’d recently quit running because she’d had too many falls, though she’s still running in this year’s Peachtree.

I sat with Tripp Mullen and his mother Pam. Tripp is at Johnson Ferry as well. Stood in line with Jimmy Light. We spoke with Christy Choyce and Deborah Light Painter. Later Deborah said that if she were to get married again, it would be in Vegas with a fake Elvis officiating.

Spoke briefly with Edie, who was with Angeline Tuggle Turner. Also Mary Ann Hall, Ron Watts, Marcine Head, Sara Reed, Joy Callaway, and John and Margaret Condra.

Left SPdL around 3:45 and headed north on Peachtree then Roswell Road. Stopped by High Country to visit with Anna. Her bosses said hello, complimenting me on my wedding speech. Anna said my speech had been a hit with her and all her friends as well. Took Roswell Road to West Weiuca to Lake Forest to Sandy Springs, then Johnson Ferry to Lower Roswell and home.

Went for a haircut, then took Johnson Ferry back south. It was 5:30, and lots of cars headed north in rush hour. Was going to take a left on Oak. The light had gone yellow and was turning red. I was looking at the VW SUV in the right lane with its blinger on, turning right but letting me make the turn in front of it. What I didn’t see was the little Honda Civic to the left of the VW speeding through the red light – coming right at me as I turned in front of it. We both braked, but I could see no way we weren’t going to run into each other. The last thing I thought was how exactly would we crash into each other.

But miraculously the Civic, while braking, swerved from the left lane into the right lane, in front of the VW – and around in front of me – avoiding the crash. My heart almost exploded. My window was down, as was the Civic, so I hollered “Good job!” He probably thought I was yelling at him.

Home for a PB&J, then to small group. Up early to run at the gym this morning.

VIC POWER [SABR Bio] was the first native of Puerto Rico to receive a Hall of Fame vote, with two votes in 1971. No Kansas City A ever had a longer consecutive-game hitting streak. Hie 22-game streak was between 28-May- and 15-Jun-1958(2)Just the year before , Panamanian teammate Hector Lopez also had a 22-gamer for KCA. Power was given a $250 fine and ten day suspension for spitting on umpire John Honochick after a close play on 11-Jul-1964(1).

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