A Nostalgic Look at BUMC UMW![]() SUBMITTED BY GAIL R. SHEFFER Looking through my file cabinet recently I discovered a membership roster for the "New Life Circle" January 2003. There were two other UMW circles at that time, "Circle of Love" and "Wesleyanns." Our minister's wife, Rochelle Davis, felt the need for a younger group of United Methodist Women, thus the formation of the "New Life Circle" made up of Brenda Beck, Louise Cooper, Rochelle Davis, Martha Doerner, Grace Fowler, Martha Harber, Dena Kitchens, Dottie Langford, Mary Langford, Carolyn Matthews, Becky Mitchell, Frances Patterson, Gail Powell, Helen Roberts, Joy (Roebuck) Maney, Janice Ross, Joyce Ross, Ann Smith, Judy Stewart, Esther Stroud, Mary Loyce Wheeler, and Ann Wright. Dena Kitchens was the youngest member and I (Gail Bales Powell) was the oldest. I remember Dena saying it felt weird being in the same circle with her mother. We met monthly in members' homes or the Fellowship Hall and loved to "eat out" and go on retreats. A member of one of the other circles asked, "But what do you all do?" Our reply was "we eat, we laugh, we eat, we sing, we eat, we pray, and we study." I remember doing a program on Prayer and another on The Holy Spirit. Mary Loyce Wheeler was our authority of Bible study and kept us on the straight and narrow. One of our favorite things was to go on retreats. We went to Camp Glisson, to Gene and Rochelle's Cabin, Cades Cove in Dillard, a couple of places at Lake Lanier, Calloway Gardens, a Cabin on the river in Blue Ridge, and a family outing to Martha and Steve Doerner's log cabin in Jackson, Ga. I remember in the car on our way to Calloway Gardens Dena announcing, "Guess what, I am pregnant again." (That was Taylor.) A few months later we were having dinner at "Steak and Ale: and we all (including the waiters) were worried that the baby would make its appearance while we were there. FOND MEMORIES: Ann Wright bringing her new Bread Maker to a retreat and making bread for us; Esther Stroud always heading outside and gathering materials for a centerpiece for our table and always telling us about the tricks she played on John (short sheeting the bed, putting a picture on the pillow so he wouldn't be lonely); Laying on the deck at Lake Lanier watching the Monarch Butterflies going over; Sisters Martha Harber and Carolyn Matthews sharing tales of growing up in North Georgia; The pot luck when nearly everyone brought dishes of potato salad; Frances Peterson leading us in songs and how much fun we had just singing; Everyone sharing news of their husbands and kids. I also remember at Gene and Rochelle's cabin they had bunk beds. Becky Mitchell was on the bottom and I had the top and whenever Becky turned over I got sea sick. Oh yes, we discussed the church and the going-ons and planning our input into the activities there. And we ate, and we sang, and we ate, and we laughed, and we just enjoyed being together.
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