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All is bright
Published November 28, 2009
Christmas will be a little brighter for some children at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital this Christmas because of Ann Fowler’s efforts to keep the memory of her late husband Early “Earle” Fowler Jr. alive.
Her late husband was a Walnut Grove police chief and an Etowah County sheriff’s deputy during a 28-year career in law enforcement.
A three-mile rural drive down Bristow Cove Road in Etowah County off Alabama 179 will take you to house No. 2689, a white farmhouse, on the right, with front step railings charmingly arrayed with forest-green pine boughs wrapped in sparkling white lights.
Entry through either the front door or the handicap accessible rear-door ramp ushers the visitor into a place resplendent with visual delights and aromas of Christmases past and present.
In 2007, Fowler renewed a past tradition of donating to St. Jude’s by the senior citizens of Walnut Grove.
“Because my husband was chief there, and because the seniors have been unable to continue the tradition the past several years, I thought I would do it myself in memory of my husband.”
In 2007, with the help of some elves, she decorated her house and opened her home for two days to anyone who came by.
When all the refreshments and the last of an estimated 500 visitors were gone, she discovered a total of $2,600 had been donated for St. Jude’s.
Following a one Christmas hiatus in 2008, Ann notified the elves she was ready to undertake another two-day open house to benefit the Memphis based children’s research hospital.
Elves answering the call this year were: Judy Rowan, Gail Smith, Brenda Lowery, Marilyn Clemens, Shalina Garab, and Augusta Skilman.
Since the first of October, they have been working industrially as any of Santa’s pointy-eared employees.
The open house, since the death of her husband four years ago, also provides the opportunity, once again, to fill her home with the sounds of conversation and merriment associated with the holidays.
A number of the visitors will come by the busload from local nursing homes.
“Those that come enjoy the atmosphere, the food and seeing the Christmas decorations they don’t normally get to see. It tickles me for them to see it,” Fowler said.
At Fowler’s request, St. Jude’s is sending 24 teddy bears to be given away to the first 24 children, 10 and under that tour the home this year.
A donation of any amount, that will go to St. Jude’s, while deeply appreciated, is not mandatory to experience the many delightfully decorated Christmas themed rooms throughout the home.
Fowler’s home will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 5 and from 2 to 10 p.m. Dec. 6.
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