Hide Article Text (OCR)
Tiriy Folk Celebrate'Just Another Wedding in June9All eyes, including envious ones is she morches down the oisle.are on Maid of Honor Tiffany RowlandBy DONNA BRIGGS The bridegroom was understandably nervous, but the bride looked demure beneath her lace and pearl-covered cap and tulle veil as the preacher intoned:“...If anyone knows a reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony...The door at the rear of the sanctuary burst open.“I do, shouted Jimmy Wiley of Chicago Heights. “She’s my girl and I love her.”Before the startled guests, the bride, Vernice Mitchell of Chicago Heights, declared that she was NOT Jimmy’s girl any more.And the rejected suitor burst into tears.Jimmy’s anguish lasted no longer than it took the prospect of a piece of wedding cake to wipe it away, for this was a “Tom Thumb” wedding. The bride and bridegroom, Theodore Rogers of East Chicago Heights, both just six years old, promised to love, honor and cherish until the end of the reception.THE ‘WEDDING’ was staged by children of Christ Temple No. 2 church of East ChicagoHeights as benefit for their Sunday schpol.The program was under direction of Mrs. Ollie Mae Houston of Harvey, who wrote the prayer service from excerpts of the church’s manual, made the bride's gown and supervised two months of weekly rehearsals.“Oh, we put a lot of work into it, I’m telling you,” she said.The young couple repeated their vows before Preacher Juan Griffin, who had worked as long as three hours at a stretch to master his lines. The church’s regular pianist, Mrs. Mary Slate, provided the music.The bride entered the sanctuary on the arm of Tommy Russell of Fhoenix, her dad for the day. Her long white gown had been fashioned from double-knit fabric and was dotted with lace flowers. The same lace covered her headpiece. Her little hand clutched a genuine bridal bouquet from the florist's shop.THEODORE was waiting at the altar. Randall Van Horn of Harvey, his best man, at his side. The bride approached, her train borne by Elizabeth Jones, Angela Johnson and Melva Jean Johnson, all of Chicago Heights. Tiffany Rowland of Chicago Heights, dressed in yellow knit, was her maid ofJust like grown-ups, the smiling bride and bridegroom, Vernice Mitchell and Theodore Rogers, pose before they put a knife to the wedding cake.honor and Janie Johnson was flower girl.Young Gerald Wiley of Chicago Heights had custody of the rings, a silvery circlet with a large, sparkling stone for the bride and a band with smaller rhinestones for the bridegroom. The “newlyweds got to keep them.William Dean of Indianapolis, Ind., like other male membersof the wedding party resplendent in a rented formal wear, welcomed guests Dean is the son of the church’s new pastor, the Rev. William Dean.He and his sister, Joycelyn, were among the ushers and usherettes for the ceremony, a group that also included Edmond Shegog, Diane Smith, Monique Cruz, Pat Paden. Deatric Griffin, Aletha Griffin,Molly Jones, Lisa Johnson, Ciesta Keys, Denise I*wis, Debbie Iewis, Angela Russell, Cherrie Johnson and Katrina Cruz.The efforts of the young cast were rewarded with refreshments — a cake inscribed with “Best Wishes” and beverages — at the reception The newly married pair then left for home, separately, with their parents“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here...*' to witness a Tom Thumb wedding, nuptials in miniaturi staged by children of Christ Temple No. 2 as a benefit for their Sunday School. Preacher Juan Griffin, left, reads the ceremony In the presence of not only the bride and bridegroom and their attendants, but also in that of the bride’s ex-boyfriend, near right, and a large cast of ushers and usherettes.
Newspaper Details
Chicago Heights Star
Chicago Heights, Illinois, US
Sun, Jun 29, 1975
Page 53
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 13 Jan 2024
Other Publications Near Chicago Heights, Illinois
Chicago Heights Star Herald Ad Visor
Chicago Heights Star Super Saver
Chicago Heights Star Tribune Ad Visor
Chicago Heights Star Herald
Chicago Heights Star
