Dixie Carter played Julia Sugarbaker on the series “Designing Women” She declared in one scene, I’m saying this is the south. And we’re proud of our crazy people. We don’t hide them in the attic. We bring ‘em right down to the living room and show ‘em off!

I recall many characters from country churches who personified Ms. Carter’s statement. I am recalling some memorable church members from decades of ministry in a blog series titled Church Characters.

“Miss” Frances belonged to Emory Chapel United Methodist Church near Newnan, Georgia. She played the piano in her youth at the local theater for silent movies. The elderly matriarch still played at the church on occasion, but the notes oozed like cold molasses in wintertime. A single hymn could last an eternity.

I often visited Frances at home with her husband, John. The vain man never wore his hearing aids, so I shouted over the TV. My hostess served sweet tea in dirty glasses while an oscillating fan stirred the musty air.

The couple owned an ornery Chihuahua named Peanut. The mutt took an instant disliking to me. The canine terrorist hiked his leg and baptized my ankle during my initial visit.

Both Frances and John died during my five years at Emory Chapel. Peanut sadly survived.

I sat beside Frances’ hospital bed before her death. She squeezed my hand tightly and said, When I die, you tell them at the funeral that I’ve gone on to my glory!

She did, and I did.

I will leave Peanut’s eternal fate to the reader’s imagination.

Glory hallelujah. Amen.