Major's great-grandfather started the
tradition early in the last century. Today, the Coxes host this event to
celebrate Major's birthday. For the fall weekend of outdoor fun, guests
were invited to show up on Friday evening as the roasting commenced, to be
among the brave souls who spent the night camped around the hickory and
oak bonfire that produces coals for the pit. Others, not so brave, arrived
at noon on Saturday to enjoy the great food and fun-filled autumn
activities.
Special guests this year included Ron
Sutherland, Major's company commander during their time together with
the 23rd MP Company in Vietnam, who arrived from his home in North
Carolina for the birthday weekend. It was a reunion of sorts for the
company, as B.J. Crowley also arrived from his home in Ft.
Lauderdale. Crowley's son, Benjamin, also made the trip to attend
the feast, as did Lionel Mason, Major's cousin from Virginia.
Greer Geiger and her friend, Jay
Davis, arrived early from Birmingham and assisted Wayne Jones,
captain of the pig-roasting team, and his friend, Suzette Taylor,
with the roasting. For his third visit, Dalton Kuder returned from
Corpus Christi, Texas with his wife, Robin Moore, with all the gear
necessary to barbecue a second, smaller Puerto Rican-style pig, in
addition to the traditional Alabama-style pig. Neighbors who pitched in to
cook and make the feast possible included Catherine and Alfreado
Cox, Edith and Napoleon Rodgers, and John Cox.
Others joining in the festivities around
Margaret's steaming cauldron of spicy chili included Linsie Pride,
Sharon and Sherron Nixon, Ira Cox, W.L. Robbins and Union
Springs Mayor Earl Hinson and his wife, Patsy, and their
daughter, Ashley.
New Orleans arrivals Anne Caughman and
Consuela Smith joined several Montgomery-area guests, including
Johnnie and Arlam Carr, Sadie Penn, Ursula and Don Nolte,
and Chris and Paul Woolley. Tess and Lew Ware,
Thad McClammy, Jim Hodgson, Henrietta McGuire, Doris Oliviera, Cathy
and Jim Connley, Barbara and Chuck Pate, Gerry and Leon
Ligon, Dot Moore and Dedee Harbin joined Ann and Bob
Little, Faye Outsey, Richardo Hall, Sharron Dunn and her daughter,
Brittany, Jim Hodgson, Debra and Greg Griffin, Tom Chalfant, Cheryl
and Don Bogie, Deborah and Glynn Clark and Joan
and Alan Hackel for the birthday festivities. Ann Oldham
came with her sons, Jason and Jalen Thompson, and her father
and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. G.P. Oldham of Tuskegee.
Deborah Hayes Moore writes about social and community events for
the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached by fax at (334) 288-6404.
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser on
Thursday, November 12, 2003 and originally posted at
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWS/StoryLifestylecopydebcol13.htm
