How do we say goodbye to yesterday? Jesus said in his holy words in John 16:20, Jeremiah 31:13, Psalm 126: 5-6 and Isaiah 35:10 that, “you will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. I will turn their mourning into gladness, I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seeds to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

Fredia Adams Buckhaulter was born April 18, 1953 in Brookhaven to the late Bro. Robert O. T. Adams, Sr. and the late Ernestine White Adams.

Fredia attended Progress School from first through sixth grade in the Lincoln County School District. She was transferred to Eva Hall Harris School during her seventh grade year because Eva Harris housed the seventh through 12th graders at that time. During the first semester of her junior year integration began and all students were sent to the school located in their neighborhood. Therefore, Fredia was sent to Loyd Star School along with other classmates of the class of 1971. The class of 1971 was the first class to march and graduate from Loyd Star as an integrated class. Our class has seen many integrated classes graduate from Loyd Star through the years, some of them have been our family members and our neighbors. After graduation, Fredia worked various jobs until Oct. 3, 1977, the day she began to work at Delphi Automotive in Brookhaven. Fredia worked there for some 29 years as a loyal and a dedicated worker.

On Dec. 28, 2000 Fredia united in matrimony to her co-worker, friend and husband, David Buckhaulter. David and she continued to work at Delphi together until their retirement in 2006.  After retirement, David and Fredia started traveling more. Her favorite vacation spot was Gulf Shores, Alabama. She loved the beauty of the beach and the sound of the ocean. Fredia was a loving and devoted mother, wife, sister, daughter, grandmother, aunt, classmate and a special friend. She touched many lives with her beautiful smile and her kind heart. She would do so much for others to make sure that they had what they needed. She had a heart of gold and wanted to please and help everyone around her. She loved her classmates and was proud to let anyone know that she was a part of this loving group of 1971. A link has been broken among her family members, her classmates and among her friends. She was a precious gem that cannot be replaced.

Fredia was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John Q. Adams and Willie Dell “Deacon” Adams; and sisters, Augustine A. Johnson, Mary A. Davis and one great-grandchild, Areon Miller.

She leaves to remember and to cherish her loving and wonderful memories her husband David; her daughters, Regina Miller Nunnery (Larry) of Liberty and Sylvia Miller Balentine (Robert) of Brookhaven; son, Brian Miller of Brookhaven; brothers, Robert O.T. Adams (Annie Ruth) of Brookhaven and Tommie Adams (Wilda) of Omaha, Nebraska; sisters, Beatrice Tyner (Brother Curtis) of Brookhaven, Leatrice Banks (Robert) of Winsor, California, Bertha Mae Williams of Omaha and Margaret Brown (James) of Brookhaven; grandchildren, Sharhonda Pendleton, Jalisha May, Jakarius Williams  and A’ Brandon Miller, all of Brookhaven; one great-grandchild, Ty’Mir Ford; her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Bennie Adams, Jacqueline Davis, Gladys Pope, Murdock Buckhaulter, Nenner S. Buckhaulter, Melvin Pope, Jr., Frank Backhauled (Norma), Dean Backhauled (Barbara) and Selena Carle (Ira); two goddaughters, Ariyean Dixon and J’Kariya Williams. There was also a group of threesome on campus at Progress, Eva Harris and at Loyd Star, and they were Fredia Adams, Carolyn Elaine Beard and Sharon Annette Humphrey. Their friendship was special, and later it included Diane Townsend and Rose Lyons. These friendships grew and have lasted throughout adulthood. Rose Lyons preceded Fredia in death. Fredia is gone from our presence, but her loving memories will forever be in our hearts and our minds.

The family of Fredia Adams Buckhaulter would like to extend sincere appreciation and gratitude to all for your many acts of love, kindness and support shown. Thanks for your prayers, calls, visits, cards, flowers, food and your words of encouragement. Special thanks to Dr. James Hall, Dr. David Carner, Dr. Steven Mills and to King’s Daughters Medical Center’s Wound Care Facility and staff. May God continue to bless and keep each of you in his loving care.

There will be a Sweetheart Masquerade Dance Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Lincoln County Civic Center in Brookhaven. This special event is sponsored by The Alexander High School Reunion Committee. The admission fee is $10 per person. The dress attire is semi-formal and a mask. All alumni and friends are invited to come out and support this fund-raiser for the up-coming reunion that will be held during the week of July 22-24. For tickets or more information you can text or call 601-695-9493 or 601-754-9975.

Eva Harris Alumni will meet for their first meeting in 2016 on Jan. 26 at the public library at 6 p.m. The president Curtis Tyner is encouraging all alumni to come out so that we can start preparing for the next school reunion.

Damascus Church Senior Choir will have their annual choir anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 6. All choirs, soloists and the general public are invited to attend.

If you have any Loyd Star Area News to Report, please call Carolyn Beard Humphries at 601-833-5753.