Santa's in Goree?

Got a request from Jerry (Brooks) Massey (Goree Class of 1955) for someone that lives in the Goree Area who could take a picture of her parents' grave. She is now living in Houston so hopefully someone can send her a picture.

Her Mother and Dad are Leroy and Lucy Brooks.

If some of you can help, email Jerry for the general location of the grave sites...Keith

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Can you believe it-Goree has a Santa Claus?
I think his name is really Santa Jimmy Claus.

At 12/24/2008 2:47:42 AM Central Standard Time, I sent an email to my Goree Group Email List.

Jimmy Claus, while having his morning cup of coffee, checked his emails. He got up, poured himself another cup of coffee, put on his coat, picked up his camera, and started for the door. His family questioned where he was going so early on Christmas Eve morning in the cold. As he crawled into the old pickup truck, he told them that he had one more gift to get in order to help someone else far away have a brighter, more memorable, Christmas.

With a cold wind blowing, Jimmy Claus walked around in the Goree Cemetery looking for the particular place noted in my email. When he found it, he circled it several times taking pictures, trying to get the best angles.

My vision of Jimmy Claus when he got back in the warm pickup is, while taking a drink of the now cooling coffee, he said a short prayer for all those buried there and their still living families.

Before noon, Jimmy Claus was back in his warm home, had processed the pictures and had emailed them to Jerry in Houston. At 12/24/2008 1:07:46 PM Central Standard Time, Jimmy Claus forwarded me a copy of the pictures.

We can all be sure that Goree still has good people that go out of their way to help with happiness of others. It is still as it was when we lived there.

Thanks Santa Jimmy Claus, you did good!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.
Keith and Nancy

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Golly, there are a lot of Santas in the Goree area offering to help Jerry.

Let's all run down to Jerry's for New Years. She said we could stay with her (see forwarded email). We could have a big New Years party of Goree alumni. Unnn, on second thought, her husband Jimmy, and their daughter might throw us out, maybe better if we go one at a time.

Anyway, a big thank you, to all that offered to take pictures for Jerry.

Betcha there was surprise, excitement, and a few tears when Jerry opened the email from Santa Jimmy on Christmas Eve. Next, bet she called husband Jimmy and their daughter to see the pictures, maybe even called in the dog and cat too.

As my grandkids say, in the olden days, about sixty-five years ago, 1943, Jerry and I were in the first grade and believed in Santa Claus big time. Now we believe again because of Santa Jimmy. Jerry there is a Santa Claus, just this year his name is Santa Jimmy Claus.

Just passing on Jerry's email so you all know that all Goree people are being thought of this Holliday season. Keith

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HI SANTA'S HELPER,

YOU ARE SO RIGHT. I COULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED A BETTER PRESENT THAT WARMED MY HEART THAN THE PICTURES OF MY MOM AND DAD'S TOMBSTONE WITH THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS ON TOP, I DID NOT HAVE A PICTURE OF MY MOM'S DATE OF DEATH ON IT EITHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SANTA JIMMY, YOU HAVE KEPT THE BELIEF OF SANTA AND ALL HIS GOOD DEEDS ALIVE AND THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE FOR HAVING YOU.

THANKS TO ALL THE GOREE PEOPLE WHO EMAILED ME AND OFFERED TO GO AND TAKE PICTURES. IF ANY OF YOU EVERY NEED A PLACE TO STAY WHILE IN HOUSTON, PLEASE CALL ME.

YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE A PLACE OR THE PEOPLE UNTIL YOU LEAVE IT. THERE IS TRULY NO PLACE LIKE GOREE OR THE PEOPLE. GOD MADE A SPECIAL PLACE THERE.

GOD BLESS ALL AND LOVE TO YOU,

JERRY BROOKS MASSEY