Chumucla Goat Farm

I expect there are a number of goat raising opertions in Chumuckla. This farm is a photo feature at the Chumuckla website. Country living is one of the things the hamlet of Chumuckla offers and with the open space available, goats and other livestock are suitable to the lifestyle. I hope to hear more about these small operations in future posts here on the blog. If you know of one, send the story and photos by email.

MELBA RUTH MCCASKILL 1920-2006

Melba Ruth McCaskill 1920-2006
Melba Ruth McCaskill, age 86, of Chumuckla, passed away Friday, September 01, 2006. Mrs. McCaskill was a native of Geneva, AL. She was born June 18, 1920 to the Hugh Shealy and Alberta Owen. She was a graduate of Troy University. She later moved to Chumuckla to teach school, where she met and married her husband, J.D. McCaskill. She went on to teach for the Santa Rosa County School System for 35 years. Mrs. McCaskill was a longtime, faithful member of the Elizabeth Chapel Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband J.D. McCaskill.Mrs. McCaskill is survived by her three daughters, Marian (Rick) Hunsucker, of Pace, Jill (Thomas) LeDew, of Pace and Jane Wilson of Pace; six grandchildren, Chad (Kristin) Hunsucker, Amy (Andy) Bell, Jeannie Leigh LeDew, Suzanne Michelle LeDew, J.D. Wu, and Jacob Wu; two great-grandchildren, Bree and Drew Bell; and her sister Madie Cortese, of Tampa, FL.Funeral services for Mrs. McCaskill will be 3:00PM, Sunday, September 3, 2006, at Elizabeth Chapel Methodist Church, with Rev. Gary Jones and Rev. J.W. "Woody" Hunsucker officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00-3:00PM, Sunday, prior to service, at Elizabeth Chapel Church. Burial will follow in Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery with Lewis Funeral Home directing.Pallbearers will be Chad Hunsucker, J.D. Wu, Jacob Wu, Andy Bell, Steve Bozeman, and Tommy Bozeman.Honorary Pallbearers will be Colbert Campbell, Robert Conway, George Henry Bray, Marion Tidwell, Tubby Jernigan, Chuck Thames, Jack Caraway, Claude DeVane, Ted Waters, Terry Neustaedter, and Rev. LaDon Hall.LEWIS FUNERAL HOME in Milton is in charge of arrangements.

Myrtle May Kilpatrick Visit

I visited a lot of folks when I was down home. Thomas, Jr, Skeeter, Marion, Wayne, Doc, and even Lucille who is 100 years old and had no clue who I was as she rested in bed in the Sandy Ridge Nursing Home. I saw a lot of my friends. For most folks, I was able to leave some vegetables. I usually get a large supply from Salter's Farm Market and then divvy them out as I visit the "old folks". Vegetables are far better than flowers. You can eat vegetables. Myrtle Mae wants me to come back by sometime with Karen and Alex so she can fix us a meal. It is always nice to put people in their 90's to work. They like it and it benefits the pallet. Myrtle Mae's grandson-in-law, Ricky, is retired from the Highway Patrol and helps manage the Griswold Farms facilities (peanuts and cotton). My brother-in-law, James, used to work a lot with Ricky and they became known as SM1 and SM2. The M stands for magnate - and they seemed to attract problems when they teamed up in law enforcement.
See the okra? It was put to good use. This is especially nice looking okra - myself being an expert, having had a 5 acre okra plantation with my brother when we were in our "slave phase" down on the farm which is to the lower left of the Chumuckla Crossroads aerial below. That is TD, Jr. in the chair (founder and CEO emritus of Salter's Farm Market). Milton Salter (Thomas, Jr.s Mom) is well over 90. I captured this "Milton Salter Sighting" at the Farm market. Pat Kilpatrick is walking toward the camera from his home - soon to become a parking lot for maybe a shopping center at the corner of Woodbine Road and Hwy 90. The former mass of Live Oaks were undone by Ivan a few years back. Uncle Sammy's Crossroads Market is in a photo above and is located near the crossroads in the photo below. I got lucky on this shot, returning from a brief trip to Houston. The landing pattern for Pensacola was 'just right' that day. MORE PICTURES.

Burnt Corn, Alabama

If you have never been to Burnt Corn, maybe you should go. It is about 60 miles north of Pensacola, Florida. It has not changed much in a hundred years. There are some historicial connections between this area and many small towns in South Alabama and NW Florida because of the skirmish with Creek Indians here in 1812 and the aftermath - a bloody massacre at Ft. Mims. Rosie, a very good friend of our family, lives there. We found her house with the help of Roosevelt Betts and David Rankins (pictured). The town of Monroeville, home of Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird).

Jim "Bruce" Grant, Sr. 1927-2006

Bruce Grant, of Chumuckla, FL went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 10, 2006. Bruce was born in Coffee County, AL on August 17, 1927 to Claude & Maggie Grant and grew up in Chumuckla, FL. He served in the U. S. Army and was a long time resident and mail carrier in the Gulf Breeze & Holley-Navarre area before retiring and returning to Chumuckla. He was a member of the Chumuckla United Methodist Church.

Bruce was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Ruby Jane Grant, his parents and two brothers, Ray & Dick Grant.

He is survived by a son & daughter in law, Jim & Jennifer Grant of Autaugaville, AL, two daughters & sons in law, Janie & Melvin Gaylard of Cantonment and Diane & Joe Dodge of Ackworth, GA, six grandchildren, who were the light of his life Amanda(Scott) Brooks, Alicen Grant, Melanie, Jason and Justin Gaylard and Jeffrey Dodge, one great grandson, George Brooks, three sisters, Odene Segrest, Winnie (Donald) Campbell and Doris (Billy Ray) Foster, a host of nieces, nephews, in laws and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 10 am Monday August 14, 2006 at Faith Chapel North-Cantonment with Rev. Clive Knights and Rev. Fred Funches officiating. Active pallbearers will be his grandsons and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters and nieces. Interment will follow at Elizabeth Chapel Chumuckla.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday August 13, 2006 from 5pm to 7pm.

Bruce was a kind and loving man and will be greatly missed, the family request in lieu of flowers donations be made in memory of Bruce to Farm Hill United Methodist Church Youth Fund or Chumuckla United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund.

WALLACE SCHOOL

WALLACE SCHOOL 8-10-2006
Looking for any info on Wallace School. How long was it a school, when it was bult, how meny studunts went there and when it stoped being a school? Thank you Doug Davis.

Scarlet's Rhymes

Scarlet's Rhymes
Here is a poem about Chumuckla. Enjoy!

Cynthia's Wedding Picture

Cynthia Campbell and Tommy Mitchell were married April 3, 1999. This is for all of you that have never seen Tommy and want to know what he looks like. Frankie Enfinger was the person that introduced us.

Tina Robin Kimbrough Dixon

Tina Robin Dixon

1964-2006

Tina Robin Dixon, 42, of Pensacola, died Tuesday, July 4, 2006.

Mrs. Dixon was born May 3, 1964 in Santa Rosa County and graduated from Pace High School.

Survivors include her husband Maurice "Mo" Ervin Dixon, III; daughter Kayla Husted; her parents Billy and Paula Kimbrough; as well as sisters Sonja (Paul) Young, Charlene Kimbrough and Kim (Rodney) Free; brother Morgan (Missy) Kimbrough; and three nephews, Paul, Conner, and John Morgan.

Visitation will be 10:00 am until the Funeral Service time at 11:00 am Saturday, July 8, 2006, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Sam Fitts officiating. Burial will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.

HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.

Class of 1971 Reunion

Pictured from left to right: Betty Simmons Horton, Doyle White, Patty Joiner Hawthorne, David Crane, Sandra Davis Neal, Frankie Enfinger, Gerald Ard, Cynthia Campbell Mitchell, Joyce Rutherford Kolb, and Dana Robinett.

Help Support and Grow the Town

I'd really like to see Chumuckla folk come together more often. It seems that we need more people that will stand up for our little town, we have a local volenteer fire department but no volenteers. We have a community center that is used for senior fellowship during the week but only a handful (of locals) attend. the Opry is great, but not enough interest in building businesses that will allow more young families to stay. If some of the land along the road in downtown Chumuckla was built up, in my opinion, more young families would prosper, and settle down closer to their elderly parents and grandparents. Your Comments are welcome, thank you
With brotherly love, Chester Hawthorne c/o GodsCancerCure.com

Obituary - Saundra Lee Hunter

Saundra Lee Hunter "aunt Sandie"
Saundra Lee Hunter, age 56, of Chumuckla died on Monday, June 19, 2006. She was a longtime resident of Chumuckla and a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents; John Miller, Jr., and Ivy Whewell Miller.
She is survived by her husband, Harold Denny Hunter; a son, Harold Denny Hunter, III; a daughter, Natasha (Dwayne) McCurley; brothers, Jack, Scotty and Robby; sisters, Elaine, Connie, Linda and Jean; brother-in-law, Steve Hunter; sister-in-law, Carol Williams; and two grandchildren, Kayla Hunter and Curtis Watson.
Funeral services will be held 6 p.m. Saturday, June 24, 2006, at Chumuckla United Methodist with the Rev. Clive Knights and the Rev. Larry Westman officiating. Burial will follow at Elizabeth Chapel. Cemetery.
A visitation wll be at the church 1 hour prior.