Mountain Eagle, Whitesburg, Letcher Co., Kentucky, 3 Jan., 1952 Letcher In Detroit, by Byrd Adams

James Donald Douglas and Arzella Hale

Miss Arzella Hale had announced her wedding plans at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Byrd Adams of 5421 Third Avenue, Detroit, last Sunday night) after church services.

She showed us her beautiful ring and let us in on a much suspicioned secret that she and the young man we had seen in her company quite regular for some time, Mr. Donald Douglas, a young man from a farm in Alabama where his parents live were engaged to be married.

They had met at the Hebron Baptist Church of Detroit where Miss Hale and Mr. Douglas are members.

Present at the time of the announcement in our home was a certain young couple who have been causing quite a stir among some circles here since they first began to keep company and were seen together everywhere some weeks ago. The young couple mentioned, both native Letcher countians are Miss Arzella Hale's older sister, Matilda, and the handsome red blooded John Banks, Jr.

The date for the wedding, Miss Arzella Hale said, was set for December 22nd (1951). She and Mr. Douglas had already asked her father. Rev. Thomas B. Hale, after getting his consent, to be the preacher and marry them. He again consented.

After learning that they intended to have a quiet wedding in the home of one of their relatives or in the home which Mr. Douglas had already rented for them, Mrs. Adams offered to let them have the use of our home. They accepted and arrangements were made for the wedding to take place in our living room. So, Saturday, December 22, (1951) at 2:00 p. m., Miss Arzella Hale and Mr. Donald Douglas became husband and wife in the presence of eleven other friends and relatives.

Others had been invited but were either gone to Kentuckv or could not get out in the icy weather.

The Maid of Honor was the bride's sister, Miss Matilda Hale.

The best man was Mr. John Banks, Jr.

The bride's father, Rev. Tom Hale, who is a member of the same church where she and the groom attend, asked their pastor, Rev. Edw. Walkers, to stand with him as he performed the ceremony.

Rev. Walkers led in the closing prayer by offering his benedicions on their behalf.

The bride's mother, brother, George, and youngest sister, Mary, all of who had just arrived from Kentucky for the Christmas celebrations and the wedding ceremony, were also present.

The young couple, now Mr. and Mrs. Donald Douglas, are making their home at 7196 Nagle St., Detroit, Michigan. May God's blessings be with them as they face the new life together.

Letcher in Detroit,
by Rev. Byrd Adams
Mt Eagle, Whitesburg, Ky.,
Thursday, Feb. 7, 1952

Detroit -- We were invited to a bridal shower last Saturday by Mrs. Alpha Fuller and Mrs. Clyde Banks and I broke a previous engagement to meet some people there from Letcher County.

The shower was for Miss Matilda Hale from Whitesburg who is engaged to Mr. John Banks. Jr., of Sandlick Road.

The gifts were mostly practical items needed to start housekeeping. Some were sentimental in keeping with the little frills that add an extra touch of happiness for any bride-to-be. There were at least 23 present (including the escorts, such as husbands, etc!).

I arrived later than most of the others and found every one occupied in games or conversation. Tom Hale was beating all the men who took turns playing checkers with him in the end of the living room where the men were gathered, leaving the women to carry on in the main living room. Others were playing rook, etc.

I enjoyed a chat with Edgar Whitaker from Big Cowan who came with his wife. I had not known Ed before coming to Detroit. He is employed with a railway company at Del Ray.

Bobby Fuller told me that he is presently employed with the U. S. Rubber and his particular job is making certain parts for waterproofing the underpan of the army jeeps.

Others present besides the hostesses were: Clyde Banks, whose wife was one of the hostesses,

(Mrs. Fuller's husband, Elige, was still at work driving a cab for the Checker Cab Company;

Mrs. Samuel Caudill and her daughter Mrs. Cornelius Huff;

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Halcomb and little daughter, now residents of Melvindale, Michigan;

Paul Frazier, formerly of Premium;

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Douglas, (Mrs. Douglas is the former Arzella Hale of Whitesburg. Mr. Douglas is from Alabama.);

Mr. and Mrs. Van Warax, and daughter;

Mrs. Monroe Blair, formerly of Knott County (her son, Dale, who is also a Checker Cab Driver part time, was to pick her up when the evening was over); and of course, the bride-to-be.

The big day for the two happy people and who can say they are not both lucky is set for Saturday, February 2nd (1952). The bride's father, Rev. Thomas B. Hale is to marry them.

Having been raised together gone to school and set in the same classes, they had to meet again in Detroit to fall in love. Well love will find a way and cupid shoots his darts in the remotest of places and often uner the strangest circumstances.

Good luck, John and Matilda! But, I wish you more than just good luck -- may God's richest blessings be on you and may your home be always and forever a Christian home where Christ reigns supreme. Thus, happiness shall be yours where failure would be the lot of others.

Elijha Fuller had plans to return to Alaska somtime in February. This writer would be more interested in heading in the other direction for the duration of winter.

A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Astor Adams, formerly of Premium, January 15, 1952. The blue eyed girl with black hair weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounces at birth. Mr. and Mrs. Adams plan to take their newly born baby with them on a visit to Kentucky within a few days. They are going down to see Astor's father who is in failing health at the moment.

I was informed that Rev. Doyl Brooks of Bell County may return to Bell to stay for the duration of the layoff from his job.

The Revival at the Samaritan Baptist Church (Southern Missionary) which is located at 819 West Warren in Detroit, starts Friday evening, February 8th, 1952 with Rev. Roy Black preaching.

Rev. Byrd Adams, author of this column will be preaching from about the 14th each evening. Rev. Sims, Baptist pastor and radio preacher in Detroit may bring the closing messages. All are welcome.

Names of 30 people in Detroit from Letcher County: Mr. John Banks, Jr.; Mr. Don K. Hall; Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Halcomb; Mr. Gary Kiser; Mr. and Mrs. Herald Bentley and family; Rev. and Mrs. Tom Hale, Mrs. Arzella (Hale) Douglas; Miss Matilda Hale; Mr. Curtis Kiser; Mr. Bradley Kiser; Mr. Carl Kiser; Mr. and Mrs. Arlie King and family; Mrs. Leander Sexton and family; Claude Halcomb; Estill Halcomb; Oscar Halcomb; Rev. James Whitaker; Rev. Albert York; Rev. Herman Caudill; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Isom; Mr. and Mrs. Luther Burkhart; Mr. Bradley Gibson; Mr. and Mrs. Sammie Banks; Mr. and Mrs. Elzie Campbell; Mr. and Mrs. Jonah Stamper and family; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Abster and family; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lemaster. Mr. and Mrs Charles Evans; Mr. and Mrs. Elzie Sexton and son.

Obituary: Arzella Hale Douglas Littrell
February 17, 1933 - December 16, 2010
New Port Richey, Florida