McClure, Josie: DOB: 1978. Self-proclaimed wallflower; friend of Jayne Reynolds. Finished last in Miss Bigelow County Pageant. Interested in Chinese and Western astrology, talented napkin folder and Martha Stewart impressionist. Lives on the other side of Bailey Mill. Decorated Naked Bean. Crazy in love with Professor Harold (Bigfoot) Rutherford. (Liberated from the wall and about to bust with bloom!)
Royden, Amos: DOB: 1964. Chief of Police; son of former Chief Battle Royden, friend of Mac Campbell and Ida Walker, judge of Miss Bigelow County Pageant, former Atlanta detective. Returned to Mossy Creek after father’s death in 2000. Wears himself out defending justice (by the book) and trying to protect his own privacy. Likes the Naked Bean; likes women; doesn’t like alcohol. Town’s most eligible bachelor and man most sought-after by matchmakers. Rumored to have a crush on a certain older woman. Tough ethics and tender heart. (Won’t be MC’ing Miss America Pageant)
Truman, Dwight: President of Mossy Creek Chamber of Commerce, insurance salesman, former teacher, father of Sissy, and friend of Ham (says it all). Spends time haranguing neighbors and sucking up to governor. Shirked guard duty night mascot was stolen and high school burned. Ran for state senate and lost. (Prissy possum-hearted jackass of a weasel)
Walker, Ida Hamilton: DOB: 1944. Has held office of Mayor for twenty-seven years, widow of Jeb Walker, mother of Robert (Rob), mother-in-law of Teresa, grandmother of Little Ida, sister of Ardaleen, aunt of governor, heir of founding Hamilton family, love interest of retired Lieutenant-Colonel Del Jackson, and owner of Hamilton Farm (site of famous grain silo), Hamilton Inn, and most of uptown and downtown Mossy Creek. Loves guns, gardening, politics, racy cars and men (not necessarily in that order). Attended University of Georgia. Founder of Women Are Not Girls feminist organization and Foo Club. Famous for dumping new welcome sign on grounds of Governor’s mansion. Determined to remain self-possessed, wealthy, politically active and sexy (not necessarily in that order).
Could have made Who’s Who list
(and might in the future)
Allen, Winfield Jefferson: aka Bubba Rice. Wealthy entrepreneur with a cooking show. Famous for his Bubba Rice. In 2001, opened lunch and catering two days a week in Mossy Creek.
Belmount, Beau: DOB: 1963. Hell raiser from wrong side of track. Major movie star. Eloped with Anna Rose in 1981, but they were forced apart. Left Mossy Creek but kept in touch with Maggie Hart. Reunited with Anna Rose in 2001 and learned he has 19 year old daughter. (Major hunk)
Bigelow, Ardaleen: Mother of Ham, sister (siseroo) of Ida Walker. Disinherited by Hamiltons for marrying a Bigelow. Hasn’t spoken to Ida since 1980. (The woman behind the Ham)
Bottoms, Mutt and Boo: Brothers of Sandy Crane. Boo is firefighter/paramedic. Mutt is police officer who arrested Ida for vandalizing Governor’s new sign. (Good ol’ boys, both of ’em)
Brady, Ed Jr.: DOB: 1955. Son of Ed and Ellie. Owns computer company. Feared Ham as child. Loathes Ham now, with good reason. Returned to Mossy Creek in 2001. (Nice guy, and eligible)
Brown, Tammy Jo Bigelow: DOB: 1967. Wife of Bunkin, mother of Toby and Chip, countrified former beauty queen. Mauled by dog at nineteen. Moved to Spruce Street after Bunkin was injured and unable to work. Hated Mossy Creek until town pitched in when her boys went missing.
Caldwell, Peggy: DOB: 1936. Widowed English professor. Enjoys mysteries more than Shakespeare. Purchased Ogilvie property prior to husband’s death. When pressured to garden, responded with walled garden of poisonous plants. Mother of Marilee.
Campbell, Mac and Patty: Mac is a lawyer and the bagpiper for pet funerals, owner of labs Butler and Maddie. Lives on Elm Street. Best bud of Amos Royden. Patty is small woman unable to bear children.
Champion, Dr. Chance: Father of Casey Blackshear, general practitioner. Played minor league baseball in his youth. Named Casey for famous poem character.
Garner, Tag: Moved to Mossy Creek in 2001. Amour of Maggie Hart, former Atlanta Falcon player, sculptor/owner of Figuratively Speaking. Plays banjo and owns Briard named Giselle.
Jackson, Lieutenant-Colonel Delaware: Ida’s Rhett (boyfriend), father and grandfather, retired military, part-time martial arts instructor. Arrested for protecting abused child. Member of Foo Club.
Koomer, Derbert: Proprietor of the I Probably Got It store on town square. Enjoys soap operas, salami and red onion sandwiches, and watching the Feisty Felines run by his store in sports bras.
Lavender, Anna Rose: DOB: 1965. Actress/Director of Mossy Creek Theater, mother of Hermia, lost love of Beau Belmount, friend of Maggie Hart. Now reunited with Beau.
Longstreet, Hanna: DOB: 1969. Librarian. Brilliant, entered high school at twelve. Family moved to Mossy Creek in 1981. Has great love for books.
Looney, Buck: DOB: 1972. Aka Jawbone, coaches football at county high school, coaches women’s softball in Mossy Creek, played for Green Bay Packers.
Lyman, Bert: Husband of “Honey, my Board Operator.” Runs TV station from barn, runs radio station from kitchen, produces Cooking with Bubba Rice.
Martin, Violet: Very old. Shoots at crows and grows her own marijuana for glaucoma pain.
McNeil, Dan: Owner of Fix-It Shope, wired Mimsy’s garden to keep pigs out.
Montgomery, Rosie: Cook at Mama’s All You Can Eat Café. Makes best chocolate meringue pie. Sends food to townspeople when there is illness or death.
Oscar, Eustene: DOB: 1916. Grandmother of Oscar Oscar, member of Mossy Creek Social Society and the garden club. Plays bingo and makes divinity.
Purla, Swee: Interior Designer/Decorator (and bit of a bully). Owns Purla Interiors.
Quinian, Pearl: Aunt of Francine Quinlan. Owner/Proprietor of Mossy Creek Books & What-Nots. Has a pet ferret, which could be considered an indication of something.
Regina, Regina: Waitress at O’Day’s pub.
Royden, Battle: Father of Police Chief Amos Royden and former police chief. Died in 2000.
Rutherford, Harry: Aka Bigfoot. Professor of environmental botany. 6’8” tall, face disfigured by house fire. A recluse who loves Josie McClure.
Salter, Aunt Livy: Great-aunt of Sue Ora Salter. Respects and enjoys a good funeral.
Sawyer, Louise: Helped Sandy Crane and Katie Bell solve Mossy Creek High School fire.
Simple, Orville Gene: DOB: 1960. Wears John Deere cap, decorates front yard with commode. Experienced a profound religious epiphany after lightning struck his enemies (beavers).
Walker, Ida, IV: Aka Ida the Fourth, Little Ida and Rabbit. Daughter of Rob and Teresa. Granddaughter and apple of mayor’s eye. Shows early promise of being a chip of the Ida block.
Walker, Robert: DOB: 1968. Only child of Mayor Ida. Serious businessman who lacks his mother’s sense of adventure. Best bud of Rainey and Hank.
Walker, Teresa: Wife of Robert. Tax attorney. Represented Ida in Judge Blakely’s court.
Whit, Eula Mae: DOB: 1901. Oldest woman in Mossy Creek (and without doubt the wisest). Helped solve Mossy Creek High School fire mystery.
The Mossy Creek Menagerie
Bob, Chihuahua; owns: Ingrid Beechum
Samson, Ram, deceased (school mascot)
Giselle, Briard; owner: Tag Garner
Maddie & Butler, Labs; owner: Mac Campbell
Henry, Banty rooster; deceased hero
Possum, Hound; owner: Ed Brady
Dog, Australian Cattledog; temporary owner: Amos Royden; new owner: Clay Atwood
Rose, Elephant, deceased
Tweedle Dee, Parakeet; spokesbird for Mossy Creek Humane Society
Points of Interest and Much Known Facts
Bailey Mill: Community located just southwest of Mossy Creek. Panoramic views, nature trails, the famous apple orchards and some of the oldest remaining outhouses in the state. (Home of Hope Bailey Stanton and Del Jackson, among others.)
Bigelow: County Seat.
Chinaberry: Located northwest of Mossy Creek. Panoramic views and nature trails. More satellite dishes per capita than any area in the state. (Site of Neil Delgado’s infamous cattle-prod escapade)
Colchick Mountain: One of the highest points in the state and a real natural wonder. Panoramic views and nature trails. Site of ecological study (and stomping grounds of Professor Harry Bigfoot Rutherford).
Fang and Claw Secret Society: Society established during World War II at Bigelow High School. Known for making dangerous mischief. Responsible for physical injuries, damage to private and public property (Mossy Creek High School), and many wounded psyches.
Foo Club: (Mossy Creek Five) Geena Quill, Wolfman Washington, Del Jackson, Nail Deluged, and Ida Hamilton Walker. Refugees from Oscar Seymore’s anger-management class. Club founded for the sole purpose of aiding and abetting Ida in the removal of new welcome sign.
Grain Silo: Local landmark located on the Hamilton Farm on South Bigelow Road. Panoramic views. Bears Mossy Creek Motto: Welcome To Mossy Creek, The Town You Can Count On. Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere, And Don’t Want To. Picture post cards available at Mossy Creek Books And What-Nots on the square. (Bone of great contention between Mayor Ida Walker and Governor Ham Bigelow)
Hamilton Farm: Dairy farm located on South Bigelow Road. Owned and operated by Mayor Ida Hamilton Walker. (A real showplace, well worth trying to wangle a tour)
Hamilton House Inn: Established 1850. Located in beautiful uptown Mossy Creek. Site of famous Stanhope collar-pin heist in 1859. Features many amenities, including priceless antique furnishings, one-hundred-fifty-year-old oak tree, rose garden, color TV, library, hot-biscuit breakfast, and swimming hole on Hamilton Street. Reasonable rates.
Magnolia Manor Nursing Home: Located on North Bigelow Street across from the library. Administrator Snow Halfacre. Home to many of Mossy Creek’s most notable citizens.
Mossy Creek High School: Gutted ruins of former architectural wonder. Destroyed by fire perpetrated by Fang and Claw Society during elephant rampage with burning sheep mascot in 1981. In the truest Southern tradition, this landmark may yet rise from the ashes. (At least Ham Bigelow promised it would; but then, you know Ham)
Look Over: Northeast of Mossy Creek. Panoramic views, nature trails, and plenty of wildlife. A geological and botanical delight. (Best place to get an overview of Yonder, or Mossy Creek, for that matter)
Yonder: Picturesque. Southeast of Mossy Creek. Panoramic views and nature trails. Famous for the RC Cola sign advertisement and trout fishing. Home to such notables as: Wolfman Washington, Hattie Almond, Principal Doolittle, Rhonda Clifton, and Ulysses, the sheep mascot.
WMOS Radio, TV, Cable: Local network programming and production. Tours not available at this time. For additional information contact Bert or Honey Lyman.
Best Bets for Libation, Recreation, Good Eats, and Souvenirs
Mama’s All You Can Eat Café: On the square. Local color and good home cooking with all the fixin’s. Feed the whole family three times a day at unbeatable prices. Rosie Montgomery, cook.
Beechum’s Bakery: Fresh breads, pastries, and confections for all occasions. Drop by for a little something sweet and take a peak at Bob, the Chihuahua who survived a hawk-napping.
The Naked Bean: Gourmet coffees and teas. If you’re into biscotti and cappuccino, or just want a to rub elbows with the local theater actors, this is the place.
O’Day’s Pub: True testament to Irish pubbery. Wining, Dining, and Darts.
Mossy Creek Theater: Evening and matinee performances. For current production or ticket information phone Anna Rose Lavender or check the playbill outside the theater on the corner of Main Street.
The I Probably Got It Store: For unique souvenirs, check with Derbert Koomer, purveyor of those hard to find items. He’s on the square.
Mossy Creek Books And What-Nots: For stationery, bestsellers, cookbooks, greeting and post cards, and nice selection of local crafts. Or just stop in to say hey to Pearl and her pet ferret.
Moonheart’s Natural Living: Personalized souvenirs meant to pamper. Handmade herbal and floral soaps, toiletries, candles, and potpourri. Browse the shop or visit Maggie’s garden.
The Mossy Creek Storytelling Club
(In order of appearance)
Amos and Dog—Debra Dixon
Opal and the Suggs Sisters—Martha Shields
Mamie and Grace—Sandra Chastain
Sadie and Etta—Judy Keim
Lucy Belle and Inez—Susan Goggins
Therese and the Stroud Women—Kim Brock
Louise and Jack—Carolyn McSparren
Sara-Beth and Carolee—Patti Callahan Henry
Emma and Aurrie—Shelly Gail Morris
Lila and Fryzeen—Bo Sebastian
Laurie and Tweedle Dee—Anne Bishop
Hope and Marle—Deborah Smith
Bubba Rice—Wayne Dixon
Summer in Mossy Creek Page 29
