A Life Dedicated to Spreadin’ The Word…

by Joe Potter

It was Monday nearin’ 6 o’clock in the early mornin’ when I maneuvered through the old double-front doors of The Flat Rock General Store. The Store carried a near dusky darkness and total silence. Bro. stood b’hind the counter openin’ a brown corrigation box. He offered a good mornin’ howdy. I returned the howdy and questioned him as to the holdins’ inside the box plus the whereabouts of Slim.

He pledged "Truth," Estelle, Farlow and Willerdean had carried Slim on one of ‘em private preserve quail huntin’ adventures. For a set chargin’ fee, the preserve handled the dogs, placed the quail and even would haul Slim around in a mule-pulled wagon, from quail bunch to bunch for shootin’ purposes. I offered back to Bro. that Slim had been anticipatin’ a hunt of this sort for some time back.

Then he offered on the holdins’ inside the box. Seems Stevie Ray Neusome, a Flat Rock native better knowd as "Steve the Baptist," had dropped off a box full of Gideon Bibles and brochures for Bro.’s use Sunday down to the Baptist Church with new member converts and Wednesday night bible study and prayer meetin’.

"Steve the Baptist" is the grandson of a wealthy North Alabama landowner and merchant. He growed up with a lifetime trust, so after bein’ educated at Samford University, "Steve the Baptist" put his life to work spreadin’ the Word both near and far. He was a travelin’ mobile evangical Christian, offerin’ his lifetime to the spreadin’ of the Word.

"Steve the Baptist" was fully educated and doin’ mobile travelin’ dedicatin’ his time through the years with Word spreadin’ in places like New Orleans, Panama City, Gulf Shores, Houston, Mobile, Los Angeles, even D.C. and more.

Mornin’ comminst to movin’ t’ward noon and several of The Store regulars plus some other area Flat Rock folk moved in and out for business tradin’ purposes. Orland Britnell and John Thorn stopped in. They was confused on it bein’ eatin’ day down at The Store. O.B. was still a sportin’ his Auburn BCS National Championship cap and truck window flyin’ flags. Ms. Ida, Dustin and S.R. were questionin’ Bro. as to the whereabouts of Slim.

Here, Essex entered and spoke a near noontime howdy. She offered the huntin’ party had horseshoe-findin’ type good luck and was headed back to Flat Rock with 24 cleaned quail. She planned on havin’ fried quail, gravy, white creamed ‘taters, biscuits and Southern sweet tea with warm nanner puddin’. She was requestin’ a key to The Cabin at Potters’ Mud Creek Farm and was set on cookin’ and servin’ the quail with trimmins’ over there near 5 in the evenin’ for most near all The Store regulars, up to and includin’ the music man himself, Mr. Harley Hood.

Whether you’re set as "Steve the Baptist" on word spreadin’ or Slim and party on preserve quail huntin’—I wish each of you horseshoe-findin’ type good luck/success!!!

REMEMBER YOUR HERITAGE!!!
ALWAYS, THINK GOOD MEMORIES!!!

March fifteenth, "The Ides Of March," my (Just Joe’s) __st birthday, my special friend L.O. Bishop says I will be older than I have ever been.

Joe Potter, Potter’s Mud Creek Farm is located at 5840 County Road 339 (County Line Road), Russellville, near "Our" Flat Rock, in Lawrence County; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .