Mark Millican: A Valentine’s Day salute to seniors

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 12, 2025

A recent story in this newspaper with my byline spotlighted the marriage of Paul and Mary Helen Forshee, who celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. In the interest of full disclosure, Teresa and I have known this couple for several years and they are dear friends.

Paul called me last week to report “about a hundred” people have contacted them about the article to offer congratulations. It shows the breadth of friendships, near and far, this Rocky Face couple have made. Now they’re looking forward to their 71st anniversary.

Because of the success of their marriage, I’ve been reflecting on the role of older couples in my life. After Jimmy Carter’s passing, James and Betty Jo Holt invited me into their home to share about their relationship with the former president. It was fun learning more about those days when the Carters made Ellijay their second home, and also took many local folks on their Habitat for Humanity building trips around the country.

But more so it was enjoyable just spending some time with the Holts, whom I’ve known around 35 years. I don’t recall inquiring about how long they’d been married during the interview, so when I later asked Betty Jo, she replied, “Only 65 — but we did date for five years!”

Their tips for a long marriage?

James: “You have to be in love, deeply in love, with the right woman.”

Betty Jo: “Fall in love when you’re 16 and never fall out.”

So there you have it, another 70-year relationship.

Another “long-running” couple who have influenced both Teresa and me are Steven and Mary Jo Cockburn. Steven is a successful realtor in the Blue Ridge/Ellijay area, and served on the Whitfield County school board back when four high schools became Northwest and Southeast. Mary Jo worked with the Girl Scouts for a number of years, and we see them often at Gideon functions. These dear friends, who both had my mother for a teacher, will celebrate their 61st anniversary in March.

Advice?

Steven: “Give and take, marriage is not a 50/50 situation. To be successful takes 100/100%.”

Mary Jo: “I agree. Communication and prayer are most important.”

Another couple who come to mind are Larry and Doris Tankersley, who’ve been married 62 years. When I first moved to Ellijay in 1986, Larry was the only person who visited me in my North Avenue “shotgun apartment” to check on my spiritual condition and invite me to church. Years later when I served on the pregnancy center board of directors, Larry faithfully attended our men’s Friday morning prayer meetings even though he wasn’t on the board.

Their daughter, Lisa Lacey, noted her parents were “a very godly example of what marriage should be.”

“They showed us (including her sister, Sandi) the importance and faith and of being involved … modeling what it meant to be a follower of Christ and how that should shape your marriage and family. My father was a people person, welcoming them to the church and community, and Mom was quiet and nurturing, working behind the scenes. She made many meals for people who were sick or bereaved.”

Of course, there are many others who have influenced us through the years that this column does not have space to include. However, there is a couple I learned of recently who is looking forward to celebrating anniversary No. 71 this June. Hopefully, they’ll be willing to tell us all their story.

Until then, Happy Valentine’s Day!

Mark Millican is a retired newspaper editor and former staff writer for the Dalton Daily Citizen.