He answers to several names to include Owen, Mr.
Stapleton and Uncle Sonny, and several other terms of endearment
to include granddaddy and ….. But no matter what name you call
him, you always recognize when he is in the area because his
distinct voice and gentlemanly ways never fails to attract
attention.
During the years we resided in Richland, Sonny
and Paula Stapleton and Baker and Ellen Alston were among some
our closest friends of Otto and mine and Sam and Brenda
Moore. Not only did we dine out nearly every Saturday night,
we traveled and vacationed together. I do not think any couples
group had any more fun together than we did in those days. And
at times we included twenty or more couples in some grand
parties and special occasions; Ms. Nellie Alston and Mr. Charlie
Will Stapleton (Uncle Cooter) joined us when we dined in Webster
County.
Sonny Stapleton made the best Brunswick stew in
the South Georgia area; there was never a formal contest to
declare him the winner, but I promise you, his recipe is the
best. His method is unbelievably labor intensive but the
finished product was amazing. Otto and I assisted in the
process several times and it was without a doubt, more work than
I care to explain. His recipe was so popular with those of us
who supported Greenfield Academy that we always sold out during
a fund raising event.
Otto and I were at a fish fry the night that
Sonny drove to the local pond to tell us that his and Paula's
baby was about to be born, in fact, she was in the vehicle with
him so we all congratulated them and sent them down the highway
to the hospital. Some joyous memories never fade away.
There were several trips made from Florence
Marina to the Gulf of Mexico and Sonny Stapleton enjoyed them
all; spending three or more days in a boat, traveling countless
water miles was not my idea of fun so I usually volunteered to
drive a vehicle and pull our boat trailer and meet the travelers
at Treasure Bay Marina.
The trip included an over night stay at the old
inn at xxxx where the rooms were 5.00 per night, 5.50 if you
wished to rent a window fan. Nowadays the Inn has been
renovated and the rooms are outrageously priced and the old
memories only exist in our private collections.