January 30, 1988 - Patti's Dad's 75th birthday

Clarence Talley, Patti's Dad, lived his whole life in New Kent County, Virginia. He served as Sheriff in the 1940s, and Justice of the Peace and then Magistrate until he was 80. He was a farmer and raised beef cattle. It always seemed to me that he was a very equal respecter of persons - anyone who came by the farm needing his assistance, he would give it to them. I think that there were some folks that he thought may not always make the wisest decisions, for example, putting money into fancy lights on a truck rather than having it run as well as it could, but he would still help them out when they needed help with getting the truck to continue running!

For his 75th birthday, as I recall, someone in the county contacted my brother and let him know that they wanted to have a surprise celebration for him. Jimmy contacted family members so I came into town, and, unbeknownst to Dad, his 3 brothers came too. I think Jimmy had concocted a story that we were going to go to Williamsburg to go out to eat, but as they reached Providence Forge, confessed that he had not been totally honest with Dad and that they were actually going to stop there in the Forge at the Rescue Squad building to eat. Dad still did not suspect but soon found out that people from all over the county who knew and appreciated him, as well as his 3 brothers, were there to let him know how much they appreciated him!

Sheriff Wakie Howard recognizing Dad's service as Magistrate

The 4 brothers: Eugene, Clarence, Jim, Walter - they had come from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Fredericksburg, VA to honor their brother.

It is so neat to see these pictures and remember these times.

I remember Wakie telling a story from Dad's Magistrate work: it seems that a law enforcement officer came by to get a warrant from Dad to arrest a person. They weren't sure that they would not need additional warrants and Dad suggested he ride along to the person's house in case he needed to swear out any additional warrants. The story Wakie told was that the person who was to be arrested ran out of the back of the house as the law enforcement officer was at the front door. The officer gave chase as the person ran through fields and woods and was about to give up in exhaustion when he noticed the person seemed to be getting exhausted too. He was able to catch the person and had him on the ground and had brought one hand back to cuff, but was so winded that he was not quick about getting the other hand brought back, when another hand reached down to help him draw the person's hand back - that Clarence Talley, of 70+ years, had arrived at the scene after running across the same fields, and was barely winded.... Dad commented after the story that Wakie had not be sworn to tell the truth before telling the story!

There were others on hand to give Dad recognition as well - for his service with the Rescue Squad and Fire Department, as well as his long Masonic service. I remember that the yard at our house must have looked to onlookers like it was the county government motor yard as there were often emergency vehicles there for some kind of service, as well as sheriff's department and police officer cars in the driveway for Dad's Magistrate services.

It was so nice that folks recognized him when he could appreciate it - so many times family members hear at a funeral or memorial service about how much their loved one was appreciated - it was nice he could hear it himself. He lived for 11 more years, until February, 1999.