April 20 , 1960  ,  5:00 pm , Lavonia First Methodist Church , Diane Roberts Haley became the wife of Charles Byron Toney .

And so it began…………….

My daddy had taken a job with Dundee Mills in Griffin, Georgia , during my college years, so my send-off to the church was from my grandfather’s house, known throughout the community as the Haley House .  The Haley House  stood on the corner of Brookwood and Highway 17 just a half block from the church.   It has been gone for years now with a laundromat in its place.

My nanny during all my growing-up years was Sarah Lou Rucker , a dear  part of our family. On this special day  she helped me dress, told me how much she had always loved me, and carried my train as we WALKED up Highway 17 to the church.  Such a sweet, sweet memory.

The reception was at the Haley House and after greeting our guests, Byron and I dressed to leave for our newly rented apartment in Atlanta.

As we stepped onto the porch to run to our car, Byron’s older twin brothers , Dwight and Dwain ,  ——KIDNAPPEd——- me !!!!!   Only Daddy knew that they were planning that, so what a shock ,  not only to the bride and groom , but to all the guests gathered in the yard , holding rice in their hands ,  waiting to send us off in the traditional way.

The brothers SWOOPED me up  ( no other way to say it ! ) from the front porch , carried me to Dwight’s car and away we went.

Byron reacted , jumped in Daddy’s Buick and chased us through the county.  What a ride !  After more than an hour , they brought me back with Byron bringing up the rear.  Not exactly the beginning I anticipated…………….

As if that weren’t enough drama for the day, we were awakened at 3:00 am  ( OUR WEDDING NIGHT ! ) by Dwight , Doris  ( his wife ), and their three young sons, saying they thought we might enjoy a visit from them !  Needless to say, they were not invited in ………………

I began to have some serious misgivings about this family of his.

We had reservations for the next several days at a beach-side motel in Panama City, so things were looking up , for sure.

When we arrived , we did indeed have the room as promised . BUT the University of Georgia was on spring break , and  we had the ONLY room that was not occupied by the guys in SAE fraternity !

Just what every newlywed needs !!!!!   Not a real moment to ourselves did we have except time spent in that one room.

Do I have regrets ?  Absolutely not !

Sixty-five years with the only man I ever loved.  Two children who have exceeded expectations in all ways.  Six grandchildren ( some coming two-by-two ) who have made us proud and brought us joy , and now , 3 great grandchildren , who are blessings.

It is a bittersweet anniversary, this April 20th , 2026 .

I miss him……………………

 

 

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