2009
"Ladies Alone" Banquet

This way of honoring the widows and other ladies of the church was brought to us by members of First Baptist Church of Pearland, our mother church. The deacons and their wives have sponsored this banquet for several years. These photos are from the 2009 banquet and Bro. D. O. Foster, pastor of First Baptist Church when Shadycrest Baptist Church was a mission, was our speaker again. He presented a nostalgic look back to the times long ago when we were young and lived on farms for the most part. He told his stories about the little boy who grew up to be the mission pastor and then first pastor of Shadycrest Baptist. He reminded the members, many of whom were members of First Baptist back then, about the building program they started when he was pastor and praised us for continuing with our building program plans at Shadycrest even though we are currently without a pastor.

This is the room arrangement followed by a table arrangement and then the plate arrangement. Our wives wanted us to make the plates look nice as we dished up the food. Alissa Raney planned the overall Hawaiian theme and bought the fruit and decorations. Several of the men set up the tables after noon that day and then the ladies decorated them. We returned at 3:00 to get the food started and to organize for the evening. I was a member of the committee organizing the event. When the menu of ham was suggested and the theme was selected, I suggested pineapple slices on the ham and said I be responsible for getting that done. Gene Weaver helped with the ham since he is familiar with purchasing and our kitchen equipment. Alissa made the scalloped potatoes, Carol Montgomery brought a wonderful sweet potato cassarole. Ann warmed the green beans with some of the pieces left from the ham slicing.

The dessert was key lime pie (Edwards brand) and we had an assembly line going. I sliced the pies, Gerald transferred the slices to the little plastic plates, Rob took them to Rita, and she added the fruit. Then the other deacons placed them on the tables. Rob is deacon chairman this year.

This photo was made while the deacons were serving the meals to the ladies at the tables.

This is a view of the tables in the other end of the fellowship hall.

One group of deacons filled the plates and the others served them. They also served the tea or water and the bread, and helped with the ladies' requests. Gene Weaver put ham on the plates, Gerald added the potatoes (we alternated scalloped and sweet potatoes), Rob added the green beans, and Everett added the fruit kabob. Rick is waiting for plates to take to the tables.

I mentioned earlier that Bro. Foster was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Pearland when they started the mission that became Shadycrest Baptist Church. He was there from 1965 to 1972 (he reminded us) and then went on to other churches. He is now retired, but serving as interim pastor at a church in West Columbia in the south end of the county. Many of our members were members of FBC when he was there, but have come to Shadycrest for various reasons. It's like a little 'homecoming' when he visits and he's an entertaining speaker.

This view shows more of the group gathered around. By the time all the meals were served and deacons took their places at the tables, most of the 56 chairs were filled and several deacons stayed in the serving area.

This photo shows another part of the group, but it wasn't possible to get everyone into one photo. Our interim pastor, Dr. Denny Autrey and his wife are seated in front of the bulletin board. Our Music Ministry, Jerry McCurdy, is a little further to the left near the blue border. Clint Grey, our Minister to Students, and his wife, Emily, our Children's Director, are seated in front of the magazine display. Jerry Jones is standing by the big brown door, Steve Shuttlesworth and Kirby Montgomery are standing back in the corner. I'm there behind the camera, of course.