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Looking back at the history of our town, it is interesting to see just how much has changed and how far we have come since our beginning in a corn field. As Atlanta grew, clubs and organizations formed to lead us on the “highway of progress.” Last month marked the 94th anniversary of our Chamber of Com

When was the last time you were kind to yourself? Every day might just be the same ole rat-race; up at dawn, kids to school, do your chores, take care of the animals, kids, home, fix dinner, TV and bed, and maybe in the meantime, you try to earn a paycheck and work! Your muscles ache, your back hurts, you’re in a crummy mood and you simply can’t unwind enough to get a restful night’s sleep. Does that sound familiar? Honestly, when do you take time to relax and do something special for YOU? It’s time!

J. M. “Jim” Sheffield (born 17 February 1866), son of Lewis Pinkney and Elizabeth PENNY Sheffield, was a wealthy bachelor at 43 when he married Lula Belle WALKER (born 14 July 1889 in Hillsboro, TX), daughter of William Holland and Mary Elizabeth SNELLSON Walker on 15 December 1909. Lula’s father was a traveling photographer who lived in a covered wagon because of his traveling. She had never lived in a house until her marriage to Jim. They lived in a large white frame house trimmed in blue on FM 130 between Almira and Carterville near Linden. It had three fireplaces with a porch all around the house. Jim liked to hunt and fish. He built a five-acre pond across the road from his home. The first time that my daddy, Sleepy Turner, went bird hunting with him, Papa Jim pulled a good one over on Daddy. Every time Daddy would shoot, Papa Jim would say, “I got that one.” Daddy was getting upset because he just KNEW that he had hit those birds. Come to find out, Papa Jim and never even fired his gun! Another time Papa Jim went to sleep at church during the prayer. At that time, everyone kneeled to pray with the men on one side of the church and the women on the other side of the church. Well, when Papa Jim failed to rise after the prayer, there was much whispering about. When he woke up, he realized what he had done, so he stood up and really loud said, “Amen!” He was a retired farmer and cotton gin operator. He sent all of his five surviving children to college for as long as they would go. Jim died at the age of 85 on 05 October 1951. Lula died 21 July 1970. They are buried at Floyd Hill Cemetery in Cass County. They had eight children: