A Wedding to Remember

Two of Mississippi's best running backs would have been very proud of their granddaughter Mary Melinda Tews marriage to Jeffrey Rushing Litttle the evening before Mother's Day in Jackson.
Long ago Harol Lofton and Lowell Tew passed away. Tew was one of the best running backs in the University of Alabama's rich football history. Lofton had the longest touchdown run from the line of scrimmage for Ole Miss --a thrilling 87-yard payoff sprint. Raymond Brown set a new mark with a 92-yard touchdown sprint on a broken play that started as a punt from his own end zone. Fearing a blocked punt for a safety or enemy touchdown Brown tucked the ball under his arm and set sail for the other end zone.
Lofton was an All American high school hero from Brookhaven. Tew was the pride of Waynesboro. Both were pals of mine. What a backfield they would have had they played together.
At the Paul Bryant Alabama Sports Hall of Fame one day I visited with legendary Crimon Tide center Vaughn Mancha. An old timer spotted us and said to Mancha how good it was to see him again. Then he looked at me and said "Lowell, it is good to see you too." I could understand his thinking I was Lowell Tew. Both of us strapping six-footers, handsome, bright eyed. Lowell had sandy hair. I was Mississippi Red.
After their children became engaged the Tews came to Brookhaven to meet the Loftons. The families hit it off in fine fashion. The next day after returning to Laurel, Lowell, an attorney,went over to the school track to jog as he had done many times after Lunch. He suffered a fatal heart attack. The engagement party was cancelled. The Loftons attended the funeral instead.
Harol died a few months later. These were two fine men who had died in the prime of life were gone, never getting a chance to see what a fine family their children had raised. They missed a lot--four girls and a son--Mary Melinda, Clara, Salena and Sarah and the son, Lofton, who spent the last few months painted the white picket fence on the 28 acre estate so that the Reception would be spectacular.
Jeff Little's grandfather my friend of many years Will Hickman was there with his wife. So were Jeff's parents, the Lawrence Little. Melinda's grandmothers, Mary Tew and Salena Lofton Edwards. Melinda and Jeff met at Ole Miss.
The Loftons were lifetime friends of mine in Brookhaven, next door neighbors in Wildwood, my grandparents one-time estate which had extended from Chippewa Street to the Natchez Road.
Granny Byrd, the former Elvira Byrd, wife of Colonel Cornelius Byrd, was one of America's first women editors and publishers. She sold the Brookhaven News after her three sons chose to eventually leave the Homeseeker"s Paradise.
Granny Byrd also sold most of Wildwood in the biggest land auction ever between New Orleans and Memphis in the late 1920's.
The Tews-Little Marriage and Reception brought back many memories and seeing old friends at this wonderful evening in mid-May.
I can still see Harol Lofton and Lowell Tew carrying a football during their days of college football gridiron glory. How proud would they have been of their granddaughter and her husband.
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