WEDNESDAY'S LIST ... of beans 'n' greens 'n' other things: SATURDAY WAS birthday number 92 for the Rev. Louis Bowen, but Regional Medical Center is not exactly where he had planned to celebrate.

But the good news is Rev. Bowen is on the mend, according to wife Edith, and don't bet he's through with Sunday preaching.

Fact is, on Easter Sunday, the Rev. Bowen preached to the Darren Post Sunday school class at Hill Crest Baptist. That same month, he conducted ordination services for Jim User. The service took place at Munford Baptist Church. Rev. Bowen got a standing ovation.


There is a wonderful story here, too, between Bowen and his wife, Edith.

Some 60 years ago, he baptized a much younger Edith Berryhill. Some 11 years ago, after both had lost first mates, the two met again at Miller Funeral Home in Oxford.

"He didn't know me, but I knew who he was," says Edith. "I re-introduced myself."

The two have now been married 10 years ... and that's a very lovely love story.

Rev. Bowen is in Room 711 at Regional Medical if you'd like to drop him a note. I suspect he'd love that.

*** FOR THOSE of you who keep calling and asking for the Peach Man's schedule, here 'tis again: Ken Easterling hits Regions Bank in Oxford around 6 a.m. on Tuesday and Friday mornings. He moves to the Anniston Post Office along about 8.

One other thing ... the peaches off Ken's truck are now "clear-seed."

Also — and I didn't know this — the peach tree is a member of the rose family. Honest ...

*** BIRTHDAYS: June 21 — Hunter Kimberly and Allen Knight; June 22 — Briana Reaves; June 23— Dalton Freeman and Evelyn Rogers; June 25 — Rhonda Brown and Michael Woodard.

*** ON SUNDAY, May 31, I told you the story of 20-year-old Chris Turner who had a death date with a rare cancer, of how he had just married his long-time sweetheart, Melissa Varae, while in ICU at Regional Medical.

Two days after the story appeared, Chris died ... at RMC with his young bride and family at his side.

I tell you that to let you know that a few days after Chris passed away, I got a "Thank You" card from his family and his friends.

A whopping 29 people had signed the card, a great aunt had inserted a letter in the card.

To say I got a bit emotional holding that card, reading all those names, and thinking of the effort it took to get it done, well, that's an understatement.

In talking with people who knew and loved Chris, the one enduring theme was of what a fine person he was, what a caring person he was, what a family person he was.

Late yesterday, reading the card again, that old deal about "The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree" came to mind.

Chris Turner was "fruit of the tree" in all the best ways ... and I'll be a long time forgetting him and his family.

George Smith can be reached at 239-5286 or e-mail: gsmith731@aol.com