Neighbors

From the business arena to the church community and just about every place in between, Martha Donovan touched the lives and hearts of so many in Shelby County before passing away Saturday at the age of 88.

“Most people knew her from the drugstore, and she was such a kind, giving person,” said her nephew, Jerry Donovan.

Martha Elizabeth Donovan, born Feb. 27, 1923 in Shelby County to Jerry Wise and Mary Jetta Pulliam,  was a former co-owner of Smith-McKenney Drug Co., along with Bill Borders and  William “Shug” Hickman.

On Monday, many in the community will gather to say goodbye to a man much loved in Shelby County for more than a century.

Edward Burton Cook, 102, died Thursday, leaving behind a loving family and his extended church family at Burks Branch Baptist.

“He was our oldest member, and up until just a few years ago, you would never imagine he was that old,” said his minister, Billy Betts, who will preach Cook’s eulogy at Shannon Funeral Home.

The Sentinel-News for three years now has at year’s end honored five Shelby Countians we think made significant impact on the community during the year. Each person named to what we now call Shelby County’s Fabulous 5 has in his or her own way left an indelible legacy that will define our community going forward and inspire those who follow. Their impacts cross the spectrum of society and, we believe, represent some of our most significant and important accomplishments.

Matt Bullock/Highway Engineer

Anyone who knows Austin Blocker and Patrick Hargadon recognizes that they are best friends.

They are also third cousins, a relationship that to some people might seem somewhat distant, but it doesn’t to them.

“We feel more like brothers than cousins, and that’s how we look at each other,” Blocker said.