On October 6, 2009, Bill and I had the privilege of attending Roswell High School for our granddaughter, Sarah Lyle's, induction into the National Honor Society. It was very exciting to see so many young people lighting a candle, knowing how much hard work and dedication to study had gone into this achievement. We're proud of you Sarah!
--Geri McDaris Dreger

THE MCDARIS FAMILY REUNION...
...was held on Saturday, September 19th, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the Ridgedale Baptist Church gymnasium (because of the bad weather we were able to move from Camp Jordan, our original site, to the church by the help of Debbie and Doug Goode.) This turned out to be a great location for all.

Fifty-seven people attended (ages 90 years to 6 months.) There were eleven toddlers and infants present. I must say they kept us old folks on our toes. Rob and Sudi McDaris and their children traveled the farthest distance from Simpsonville, South Carolina. Others came from Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Many thanks to all of those that brought food. It was wonderful. What a great opportunity to reminisce with old and new members of the McDaris Clan. Thanks to Glenda and her family for sponsoring our gathering this year. Next year it will be sponsored by Geri and her family. Hope to see everyone in September 2010.
--Geri Dreger

Mary Beth Nix - Pool Tournament in Las Vegas

"Johnny Capps and Mary Beth Nix of Birmingham, Alabama, play on the 9-Ball team, "That's How We Roll". While this was Johnny's fourth time out to the National Team Championships it was Mary Beth's first. They have been concentrating on pool for now, not going out and seeing too much else of Vegas. Mary Beth says it has been fun getting out here. She got nervous on Friday, but feels that it was just first match jitters. Their team consists of common friends who got together to play pool." Pictures and text taken from interview and actual competition at the National Championships.

The team from Bumper's in Hoover, Alabama, won the Birmingham City Tournament earlier in the summer giving them the opportunity to compete in Las Vegas, Nevada, in August. The team did not win in Vegas, but had a great time.

McDaris Family Reunion
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Noon until.....
Camp Jordan Park
East Ridge (Chattanooga), Tennessee
Just off I-75, Highway 41 S (Ringgold Road)

On Saturday, February 28, 2009, Brett Thompson Burgett and Katie Jaeger were united in marriage at the First Church of the Nazarene, Nashville, Tennessee. Brett and Katie met in high school, she attended the University of Tennessee and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University. Brett attended Trevecca Nazarene University and MTSU. They will make their home in Nashville. We welcome Katie to the family.

Brett is the son of Kim (Thompson) and Randy Burgett, grandson of Glenda McDaris Thompson and the late Ed Thompson of Birmingham, Alabama, and great-grandson of the late Glen and Opal McDaris of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Last weekend, August 7-10 Betty Hinkle McDaris and Geri McDaris Dreger and their spouses attended the 60th Class Reunion of Central High School - Class of 1949 - in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There were 63 people who went on the Southern Belle on Friday night down the Tennessee River. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and good entertainment and visited with many old classmates. On Saturday, we attended a luncheon at the East Ridge Convention Center. One hundred and six classmates attended this affair. Bettye McDaris Goode and Glenda McDaris Thompson crashed the party and renewed old friendships including Charles and Helen Perry and Ed Thompson's cousin, Nancy Cope James.

On Saturday afternoon we motored to the home of Betty and Bob McDaris in Seymour (Knoxville), TN. That night we had a surprise visit from a cousin (several times removed), Oran Creasman. Sunday morning we went to the Seymour First Baptist Church and then we were treated to a delicious lunch by Bob and Betty McDaris. Their daughters, Patti Holman and Cathy Atchley and Cathy's husband, Jerry, were with us. The afternoon was spent visiting Patti and Cathy's homes.

The weekend ws terminated on Monday morning as Glenda, Bettye, Geri and Bill drove back to Chattanooga. Bill and Geri went back to Cumming, GA and Glenda spent Monday night with Bettye and then drove to Birmingham on Tuesday morning.

It was a great weekend and fun was had by all.
--Geri Dreger