Page ThreeThe Messenger, Union City, Tennessee, Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Kenneth and Martha NorthamNovember 29, 19634

Lanny and Patricia CallicottJanuary 9, 19635

Jerry and June ThomasOctober 2, 19556

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Friendship is an important component of the 51-year union of the former Martha Sue Bramlett, daughter of the late Ed and Margaret Bramlett of Hickman, Ky., and Kenneth Ray Northam, son of the late Fred and Ellen Northam of Troy.

“A marriage only works if two people want it to,” they say, pointing out that it should be a Christian home, first of all. “Sharing and working together in all areas is important.”

Mrs. Northam adds, “Wives should do unto their husbands as they would want him to do unto them, and that works both ways. Love and forgive with all your heart and laugh, work and play together. Remember, he’s your best friend.”

The couple, who live in Troy, met when they were both employed at Salant & Salant and dated for about a

year and a half before they were wed, Nov. 29, 1963, at the home of the groom on Campground Road near Troy.

The groom actually pro-posed on the bride’s front porch and gave her the ring to make if official on one of their dates.

The Rev. Melvin Orr offi-ciated and Sara (Pascall) Tanner of Union City and the late Bobby Wright were their attendants.

They honeymooned in St. Louis.

The bride also kept her job at Salant & Salant until 1965 and then went to work for Michigan Bell in Plymouth for a year when the Northams moved north. When they returned to this area, she became an edu-cational assistant at the former Troy Elementary School and then at Hillcrest School in Troy for 21 years

(See Page 6, Col. 1)

They feel their match was made in heaven.

Patricia Ann Denton and Lanny Callicott were wed Jan. 9, 1963, at Samburg Baptist Church. They want-ed a small, intimate wed-ding and chose a midweek (Wednesday) date, so they could take full advantage of the four days the groom could be off work.

They honeymooned in Florence, Ala., after being united in marriage by the late Rev. J.D. Nelson. The bride’s parents, Zelma Denton of Union City and the late Harvell Denton, who made their home in Samburg at the time, gave their daughter in marriage to the son of the late H.P. and Zuline Callicott of Union City.

The bride’s best friend, Helen Jean (Cochran) Pierce of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., was her maid of honor and the groom’s father was his best man.

Another friend of the bride, Linda (Murphy) Hogan of Lakeland, played the piano, and the bride’s brother, Joe Denton of Samburg, and the groom’s friend, the late Frankie Arnett of Paducah, Ky., were ushers.

The groom’s voice is a familiar one to area sports-men who have listened to his weekly fishing report and “Outdoors With Lanny” program on WENK radio for more than 40 years.

They are the parents of Brent Callicott of Union City and Kim (Callicott) Ponkka of Huntingtown, Md. They also have three granddaughters.

The groom has been employed at the former Reelfoot Packing Co. and for Averitt Express and Reynolds Brothers Oil Co. in Union City. Retired now, he is an avid fisher-man of long standing and also enjoys feeding and watching the wildlife that visit their yard daily, as well as feeding the ducks at Reelfoot Pond in Union City.

He is a gardener, as well, and treasures the time he can spend with family.

Mrs. Callicott is also retired, having worked at the former K&D Co. as secretary/bookkeeper. She also worked part-time at

The Furniture Barn. She likes baking and cooking, reading, fishing with her husband and sharing fam-ily time.

They are members of Union City First Baptist Church.

The couple met when Callicott was playing third base for an independent baseball team that was fea-tured at the former Turner Field in Union City.

The future bride’s cous-in, Don Reed, put them together for a blind date in July 1960. The future bride was a business school student who finished her education and found a job in Memphis. The future groom was a student at UT Martin. They carried on a long-distance courtship for a while, with frequent trips to Memphis by the male part of the pair and every-other-weekend visits home by his girlfriend. In June 1962 on one of the Memphis visits, Callicott picked up his sweetheart at her office, took her to the banks of the Mighty Mississippi and proposed.

“We had wonderful Christian parents who inspired us to live by faith and integrity. For that we are grateful,” they say.

“Our belief is that God (See Page 6, Col. 3)

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The groom almost missed his own wedding, arriving at the rehearsal with min-utes to spare. But his bride was forgiving, considering he made the journey to be there across the Atlantic Ocean.

First Lt. Jerry Thomas, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, was stationed in England and had just completed a mission to the North Pole, piloting an old B-29, when he received a letter from his mother, Mrs. Chester Thomas of Union City, on a Wednesday night.

“I hope you don’t receive this letter,” she wrote, “as your wedding is on Sunday.”

The young pilot was able to arrange for leave and was assigned as escort officer for cargo on a flight back to the states. The flight was not exactly a direct one; he had to go to the Azores and return to the U.S.A. through South Carolina before land-ing in Memphis late on a Saturday. He barely made it to the former New Chapel United Methodist Church near Elbridge in rural Obion County, where he had a major role to play.

But make it, he did and he claimed the hand of Miss Norma June Burden, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Emery Burden of

Elbridge the following day, Oct. 2, 1955. Family mem-bers filled out the wed-ding party, with the bride’s uncle, the late Rev. A.E. Holt officiating. He was retired and had been the minister at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church.

The bride’s sisters, Joyce Albright and Pat (Burden) Kirby, and her future sis-ter-in-law, Gay (Hailey) Thomas, were her atten-dants. Mrs. Albright was the matron of honor.

The groom’s brother, Frank, was his best man. Groomsmen were the brother of the bride, Gene Burden, and her brother-in-law, the late Veryl Albright.

The couple honeymooned aboard the USS United States, after a few days in New York, as they jour-neyed back to Burtonwood Royal Air Force Station in Warrington, England, where they made their home for another 18 months. They also indulged in some sightseeing in London.

Thomas retired from his Air Force career as a pilot after 22 years and he and his wife, who had been work-ing at the Mallory Army Depot in Memphis prior to their wedding, moved back home to the Thomas

(See Page 6, Col. 3)

A couple’s first dance as man and wife is a cherished wedding tradition. While the first dance can help set a positive tone for the reception, it also can negatively impact the festivities if a poor song is chosen.

Couples may feel pressure to choose the perfect song. Yes, this is a song that the couple has selected to represent their love for each other, but it also should be one that will speak to the masses and can be enjoyed by all.

Couples want to avoid a song that does not seem to fit with the festivities. For those couples who need a little musical inspiration, turn to many of the modern hits you’re bound to hear on the radio which may help you to shine in that first dance.

• “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri: “Twi-hard” fans enjoyed this romantic song during the pivotal wed-ding scene between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen in the popular “Twilight” movie “Breaking Dawn.” Couples looking to recreate the magic of these star-crossed lovers can embrace Perri’s delicate tone and tender lyrics.

• “All of Me” by John Legend: It’s been hard to escape this popular love song by the R&B artist. An ode Legend wrote to his wife, this song has quickly become a popular choice for a couple’s first dance.

• “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles: This peppy song by singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles is a good choice for couples who prefer being nontraditional. It’s faster paced and less sentimental than many other wedding songs.

• “Better Together” by Jack Johnson: Johnson is known primarily for his soft rock and acoustic guitar work blended with catchy lyrics. Also an accomplished surfer, Johnson’s work is enjoyed by many but may be especially prized by couples who want to their reception to be a laid back affair full of fun and whimsy.

• “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz: Another acoustic ditty, this song has a country influence and talks about not giving up and staying in a relationship for the long haul.

• “I Don’t Dance” by Lee Brice: Speaking of country influences, couples who want a little twang in their first dances can choose Brice’s breakthrough hit. Romantic lyrics about spinning his partner around in circles despite not liking to dance illustrates what one partner will do for the other when in love.

Choosing first dance songs