Southernisms: A Storm to Remember

Those of our readers who know the "The Plan" that we have been cooking up will soon realize that this week's Southernism brings to the forefront the talents of my dear friend and cohort, Brother Doc Shelton. I will take this opportunity to announce the upcoming completion and publication of our joint efforts to produce a book of humorous stories that we tentatively intend to call --- "Doc and Doc: Tales from the Tippah Hills."

Recently I had been working on a Southernism about our recent cataclysmic icy weather event that for some unknown reason was called Fern. Fern was a certifiable nightmare that no one in our area was able to escape. Then one day last week Doc came by the office with this composition and his reflection on shared memories of present and past ice storms.

For any reader who may not know Brother Doc, I will enlighten you that he has been a Methodist circuit minister in Tippah County for 45 years come this June. He has been a pastor for up to 5 different congregations at a time! Back then every Sunday was a race to preach and then get to the next church on schedule.

He has slowed down a bit since reaching the 'three score and ten' mark, and now pastors only three churches... Dumas, Payne's Chapel, and New Harmony. These responsibilities are in addition to his full time employment as an undertaker with Ripley Funeral Home. He gets called upon to preach at an amazing number of funerals these days. He told me that in 2025 he preached at 63 funerals!

Early Michael "Doc" Shelton is an amazing storyteller and his appearance and his talents never fail to put me in mind of Mark Twain! So here is just a small sample of Doc's work... however, this offering is somewhat more serious minded than what you will read in "Doc and Doc" when it is published.

A Storm To Remember By Doc Shelton

I was only four months old in 1951 when one of the biggest Ice Storms in history hit our area. Of course I can't really remember that storm, but I feel as if I had lived through it because my parents and our neighbors spoke of that catastrophe so often that it is imprinted on my brain. It was very much like the recent Ice Storm named Fern that we are still dealing with now...but in several ways much different.

My folks had just gotten electricity to their home three months earlier, but wouldn't you know it???...They lost it just as quickly as it had come!

Trees were snapping into loud "pows" like gunshots all around us. Ponds and streams froze over everywhere. Daddy said that they had to draw water from the well and carry it to the livestock, because the ice was so thick and so slick the animals could not walk on it.

To overcome this, Daddy said they cut small pieces of lumber and drove nails through them and then tied them to the bottom of their shoes so they could get water and food to the livestock.

Dad said it was two weeks before the ice began to melt and six weeks before the power came back on. It was by the grace of God that families helped each other during and after the Ice Storm.

Today there is mechanical equipment available to help during the time of the Ice Storm, but neighbors are still doing all they can to help one another. I thank God not only for my neighbors but also for out-of-state communities who have come to the aid of us in Tippah County.

If you get a chance, please tell not only our local power companies, but those from out of state how their help was appreciated in this time of emergency.

Just the other day I saw two men on a light pole, up in mid-air, with freezing rain falling on them, but they never stopped working continually! They should be thanked every time you see them, for their devotion to restore our power.

In our Spout Springs community food has been provided daily, also generators, water and willing manpower to serve. I have always said, "I believe God put us here to serve Him by serving others." If you compare these two storms you will discover just how far we have come with the knowledge that God has given us. I make a plea to the younger generation of today to please learn something from the Ice Storm Fern. You can survive with your good old common sense that God has given us. Broken trees can provide heat, ice can be melted, and neighbors can be depended on. And you can be a neighbor as well!

The blessings I have just seen and been a part of are priceless, for God has always provided and always will. Give God the praise and glory and be thankful for everything you have.

People have asked me how I thought this storm compared to the Ice Storm we had in 1994. Since I am from Hatchie Bottom my answer was this... "If the 1994 Ice Storm was a glass of water, the 2026 Storm was a glass of 90 proof white whiskey!" Not much comparison there...

You might disagree with me, but I have spoken to several folks who have survived all three of these storms. Their take home message was always this... "Be thankful that God is in control of all creation...and that includes the weather!"