Fur Ball at Country Club draws purrs and paws handing over cash
The Jackson Sun
Apr 3 2005

Scores recently converged on the Jackson Country Club for the Seventh Annual Fur Ball sponsored by the Jackson-Madison County Humane Society.

Lynn Caldwell, the Society's fund-raising chairman and also chair for the ball, was hoping to realize more than $40,000 from the benefit.

"Our main goal is public awareness and the need to donate to the Society," she said. "So hopefully one day we will eliminate or reduce the number of homeless animals."

The event featured a silent auction, live auction, a three-course gourmet dinner, a pet parade and entertainment by Magi, a local and popular R 'n' B band.

Among the many doing their part to make Caldwell's dream a reality were Melinda and Richard Moore, who are pet foster parents and also have a grand dog and two grand cats. "Our kids can bring'em and we'll watch them, and then they can take them home," said the couple who travels a lot.

Others browsing the tables loaded with all kinds of merchandise and making bids while enjoying food and drink were Vicki and Jeff Lake; Connie and Billy Sanderson of Lexington; Brenda and Ed Whalley; Glynda Smith; Sally and John Higdon, bidding on a stained glass accented with kitty cats; Laura and Paul Cearley, who last year adopted a big gray cat. "He's adorable and husky like a bulldog so we named him Prince," they said.

Also, business partners Charlotte Gatley, a home loan originator, and Randi Rich, a real estate attorney; Alliene Varner with daughter Susan Varner, who has a calico cat called Coke. "He's possessive," she laughed.

Mary Lynn Sparks was with husband Col. Don Sparks. Some more folks spotted in the crowd were Diane and Mike Crane; Leeanne and Dan Gates; Betty and Keith Brown; Veronica Ashlock; Amy Silver; Sarah Belcher; Carolyn and Charles Reese; Cindy Terry; and Janis and Bob Keast of Camden (Bob, who puts on an annual boat show, is doing freshwater pearl tours from now until November to help the Humane Society).

Ginger Cozart and best friend Taina Edwards were all excited about the opening this weekend of "The Painted Lady of Lafayette Street," Lambuth University's Tenth West Tennessee Designer Showhouse featuring the talents of the school's interior design students.

The showhouse will later become home for downtown boutiques, including one Ginger and Taina are going to call Addictions. It will carry lotions, oils and bath products and an addiction a month, such as chocolates, they said. Yum, yum.

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Gwenda Anthony is a senior writer at The Jackson Sun. She can be reached at 425-9631 or outside Madison County at (800) 372-3922, ext. 631. Her e-mail is ganthony@jacksonsun.com.