Kilgore Woman's club learn how Paula Deene cooked her way to the top

The Kilgore Woman's club held the March 13 meeting at the First Christian Church. Hostesses were Carroll Bolton and Marion Richardson. The table was beautifully decorated with an Easter theme and delicious refreshments served. President Peggy Bowne opened the meeting with the Club Collect. Caroline Kennedy gave the Treasurer's report. Billie Oliphant read the Legislative report. Billie chose to speak about the heritage travel industry, and the large amount of money generated by the tourist trade. Kilgore has a very rich heritage. The Oil Museum, the Rangerette Museum are very fine attractions, and of course, Kilgore is the home of pianist, Van Cliburn. Social Chairman Sharon Cox, reminded about the exciting tea to be held at the First Christian Family Life Center on April 10, with speaker, Bobbie Hardy.

Virginia Wallace reported on Civic affairs. The Kilgore boys and Girls Club held their ribbon cutting Tuesday March 25. Tyler Azalea Trail is now open until April 6. The annual Fist Presbyterian Church held their Holy Week Breakfasts, through Wednesday 19. The Girl Scouts Troupe 1398 is selling cookies, cookies may be purchased to send to the Troops in Iraq. Cookies were available at Blake Furniture, 4 Star Cinema, March 21 and Atwoods on March 22. Bodacious Barbecue has a new restaurant on Hwy 42. This one is large enough to accommodate tour busses and large parties.

The program was given by Marion Dovel. Marion chose Paula Deene for her subject. Paula is the star of two cooking shows on the food channel, has written four cookbooks and publisher of her own magazine, spokesperson for Smithfield Hams and owner of a popular Savannah restaurant. She was born in rural Georgia. The family was poor. She married right out of high school, had two children, but the marriage was a disaster. And after a lengthy affair with a married man, she finally met and married her present husband, a riverboat pilot. Paula started her cooking career taking snacks into various office buildings, she called herself "The Beg Lady." She leased a restaurant at the Best Western and it became a great success. Then came the Savannah restaurant, called The Lady and Sons. She basically stayed with what she knew the best, Southern cooking, and the customers loved it. She and her sons have worked very hard for their success, catch her on her show on the Food channel.

Attending this meeting were Nadine Adamson, Carroll Bolton, Peggy Bowne, Dimples Burns, Sharon Cox, Pattie Cunyus, Lauren Cunyus, Ray Cunyus, Marion Dovel, Marada Early, Dianna Jones, Carolyn Kennedy, Martha Lee, Billie Oliphant, Virginia Wallace, Ellen Watson, Marion Richardson, and Guest Micah Mitchell.

Peggy Bowne closed the meeting with a quote. The next meeting will be held at the home of Billie Oliphant, on March 27.