[From the Morrison Papers as copied from an article in the
scrapbook of Mrs. Arthur D. (Ethel Old) Caton, Waynesboro, Tenn.
No date or name of newspaper. (1942)]

On Sunday, Feb. 8th [1942], J. R. McClanahan was greatly surprised on his arrival from church services to find almost the entire congregation gathered at his home for dinner. Mr. McClanahan has quietly passed his seventy-fifth birthday on Saturday and had not so much as guessed the celebration in store for him. Eighteen families were represented, totalling around 50 people of the community. A basket lunch was spread on the table in the center of which was a cake with seventy-five burning candles. Mr. McClanahan was greatly overcome by the occasion, but beautifully expressed his gratitude to God for his extended life and his appreciation of friends and neighbors. Mr. McClanahan is perhaps the most widely known person in Wayne County, having taught in the public schools of this county for 48 years and five schools in Alabama. He was also a noted singer, in his younger days, and was president of the Wayne County singing convention for a number of years. He has taught more than one hundred singing schools in this and adjoining counties. Mr. McClanahan is regular in his attendance at Sunday School and church in spite of his age and impaired hearing. The Green River Baptist Church values his presence at the Sunday School and church services and join in the wishing for him continued happiness and health throughout the remainder of his declining years.

Among those present at the birthday dinner were: Rev. and Mrs. M. H. Willingham, Marcile and Margaret; Mr. and Mrs. Buford Moore and Estalla; Mr. and Mrs. Almon Copeland, Amelia, Betty Anne and Helen; Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Duren, Mabel, Nelle, Gary and Tommie; Mrs. Lydia Hardin and Iva Jean; Mr. and Mrs. Cranston Moore and children; Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Moore and children; Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Old; Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Caton, Noah Ayers, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Harlowe; Mr. and Mrs. Sam Duren; Beghle [word overtyped] and Bannie Johnston; and Mr. and Mrs. McClanahan and Ruth and …

“To the seventeen families that came from the church Sunday with baskets, boxes and hampers filled to the brim with the choicest of foods to treat me to a birthday dinner. The most beautiful birthday cards calore. The fascinating and valuable presents, and some money in evidence.

“Will frankly confess from the deepest recesses of my heart, soul and whole mechanism, that this was the supreme surprise of my life. I would say to Mrs. Mont McDonald that I have never developed a talent in the culinary department, but that big superfine cake with seventy-five candles, all trimmed and burning, would have easily stood the test by the most fastidious acute critic — something far beyond the ordinary to say the least of it, and besides that, someone has said “the proof of the pudding is the eating of it,” anyway.

“Friends, it would be an enjoyment, a pleasure, a satisfaction, could I express to you in words by heartfelt thanks and appreciation for this token of kindness, friendship, good will and brotherly love; but after having rummaged around in my limited vocabulary of words, I find to my sorrow that my vocabulary is too little, too short, too limited, too insufficient, to express to you just what I’d like to and what I am really due you. Therefore, suffice it for me to say in all sincerity, truth, reverence, I thank you, once, twice and thrice.

J. Reuben McClanahan
27,393-3/4 days young.