Family - Alabama Power

Jump On In
This issue’s cover families share their stories
For the Dupree and Masters families, living on Lake Logan Martin is
fun year-round, especially in the summer. Their children and friends are
pictured on this issue’s cover enjoying a summer afternoon on the water.
For Leah Dudley, life on the lake has always been a part of her life.
“I grew up coming to the lake and now when we have family come and
visit us, it is really sweet to make those memories all over again with
our kids.” For their family, including children Blaize and Celine, living on
the lake provides many opportunities to spend time together, whether
out on the boat, entertaining or enjoying dinner at their favorite willow
tree by the water.
Janna Masters has lived on the lake all of her life and it was a natural
decision for Janna and her husband to raise their daughter, Logan,
pictured on the cover here at the lake. “We are always out and about
on the water, spending time with friends and enjoying the lake,” said
Masters, “We really have so much to be thankful for.”
Ralph anderson
Featured GUest
Contributor
Contributing Photographers:
Billy Brown
Wynter Byrd
Robin Cooper Sarah Cusimano-Miles
Stephen DeVries William Dickey
Chris Fisher
Bryan Johnson
Nik Laymon
Meg McKinney
Leslee Mitchell William Parks
Contributing Writers:
Mike Bolton
Julie Bosche
Niki Sepsas
Ralph Anderson
Cover photographer
Ralph Lee Anderson was born and raised
in Montgomery and has lived in Birmingham
since 1976. He has worked as an advertising
photographer, as well as in retail fashion and
merchandise, food and garden photography.
His work has appeared in Vogue,
Seventeen, Southern Living, Cooking Light,
Coastal Living, Southern Accents, retail
catalogs, cookbooks and garden books.
He and his wife Sally have two sons, and
they enjoy traveling, gardening, camping
and hiking.
Shorelines - Published by Alabama Power for the pleasure of our great
lake lovers.
Water Whys
A few of our favorite things
Family and friends. Faith and forever. Foliage
and fireworks. Fishing, food and fellowship.
These are a few of our favorite things, and they
fall wonderfully into place along the shorelines
of Alabama’s lakes. They are the “whys” the lake is not just
a place we visit, but is a part of who we are – our heritage,
our memories, a sturdy strand of our DNA. It’s the “whys” we
gather here – along the common thread that binds our diverse
tastes and interests into the eclectic tapestry of our lives.
So, it’s no wonder that we promise our forevers here. We
worship and plant roots in a backdrop of beauty and inspiration
here. We protect our feathered and flattened friends here. We
fend for our friends and family here. And we feed our Southern
souls here.
In this issue of Shorelines, the people and pictures of Alabama
lakes tell their stories. Each is unique and special, but there
are generations of tales that can be told as beautifully. We
have brought you a few, and we hope they find you recounting
fond memories of family and friends of your own.
Enjoy!
- Gina Byars, Alabama Power
This page: Katherine Graham Haworth and Mary Sanford Robinson hunt for
eggs at a Lake Martin egg hunt.
2 3
William Dickey

GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS
Supper clubs and celebrations on our lakes
Bud Hardin was hoping his wife, Mary, was
sharing the same excitement he was
experiencing as they were driving part
of the Smith Lake shoreline in 1990. He
was captivated by the spectacular scenic beauty of
the rolling woodlands and the pristine lake was the
centerpiece of the landscape. “Do you like it here”
he asked, hoping she would answer in the affirmative.
“No, I don’t like it,” Mary answered. “I love it.”
That initial visit by Bud and Mary Hardin has
evolved into a 22-year love affair of the lake
that was created in 1961 when Alabama Power
completed 300-foot-high Smith Dam, impounding
the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River. About
20 miles northwest of Birmingham, the 21,200-
acre lake features 500 miles of shoreline in a
picture-postcard setting of rolling hills, craggy
bluffs and tinkling waterfalls on Alabama’s only
federally designated “Wild and Scenic” river. The
watershed includes the 186,000-acre Bankhead
National Forest and the stunning natural beauty
of the Sipsey Wilderness Area. Smith Lake has
been likened to a diamond: clear, blue and deep
(more than 260 feet deep.) It also has been
recognized nationally for the quality of its water.
Bud retired after 46 ½ years of service at Hayes
Aircraft and the couple was living in Graysville when
they began dreaming of a place on the lake. From
their first venture into country living on Smith Lake in
1990, the Hardins moved into their present lakeside
home in Walker County in 2001. “Now we’re about 13
miles from Jasper and about five miles from Curry,”
Bud notes, “and we
couldn’t be happier.”
Much of the Hardin’s
happiness comes from
the friendships they
have forged with many
of their neighbors in
the area who also found
their dream home on the
shores of Smith Lake.
Helping to cement those
friendships for the past
14 years is the annual fish
fry they hold each spring.
“Growing up as a kid, we
used to get the family together for a fish fry,” Bud
explains. “I thought it would be fun to do the same
thing here with our friends and neighbors on the
lake. We launched the idea and it became a huge
success. The event has grown to the point where
we’ll have anywhere from 90 to 100 people coming
together to eat and enjoy the good company.
“I enjoy fishing, and I’ll clean and freeze enough
fish to feed the whole crowd. My two sons, Mark,
who lives in Garden City, and Greg, from Good Hope,
help me with the cooking. We’ll bake and blacken as
well as fry the fish to suit everyone’s
taste. My wife and the ladies in our
group prepare enough side dishes and
desserts to make the tables groan
under the weight of all the food.”
While good food has become as
inextricably woven into Alabama
culture as the ubiquitous kudzu that
drapes our hillsides, we are also
known for our fondness for music at
our indoor and outdoor gatherings. To
continue that tradition, the Hardin’s
annual fish fry, which this year took
place on May 19, also features various
forms of entertainment. Sometimes
a DJ provides music for the event and
members of the group can always be counted on for
some “picking and singing” of their own.
“A particular highlight I remember was when we
had an Elvis impersonator at one of the dinners.
Good food, good fellowship, and a beautiful setting
in which to enjoy it all. Life doesn’t get much better
than that,” Bud says with a smile.
William Parks
Facing: Bud and Mary Hardin have hosted a fish fry annually for the past 14 years at their home on Smith Lake. Above: Bud documents every fish he catches and records each fish’s weight in a photo
journal for the fish fry each year.
4 5

Fried Catfish
From the kitchen of Mary Hardin
Ingredients
· 10 catfish fillets, skin removed
· 2 cups flour
· 2 cups white cornmeal
· 2 tablespoons creole seasoning
· Frying oil
Directions
Heat oil in deep fry to 350 degrees F. Wash
fish thoroughly in cold water, drain off
excess moisture
Mix flour, cornmeal and seasoning
together. Pour mixture into plastic bag and
shake fish in mixture a few pieces at a time
until evenly coated.
Fry fish a few pieces at a time
until golden brown in hot oil . Drain
on absorbent paper.
The amount of mixture depends
on the amount of fish, the four cups
should batter about 10 catfish fillets.
Ralph anderson
Laid Back on Lay Lake
That love of good food and good friends with
whom to share it is not confined to residents on
just one of the 12 Alabama Power lakes on the
Warrior, Tallapoosa, and Coosa Rivers. Families with
homes along Waxahatchee Creek on Lay Lake come
together on the second Friday night of each month
for a potluck supper sponsored by Nell Lewis, the
owner of Layport Marina.
A school teacher in the Jefferson County system
for 10 years, Lewis had dreamed of eventually
running her own business around the water. When
she saw a newspaper ad in 1980 listing a marina for
sale on Lay Lake, she decided to investigate.
“This business has been great fun for me,” Lewis
says. “I took over operation of the marina in 1980
and realized that this is what I was meant to do. The
marina is open Friday through Sunday during the
season and offers boat slips, service, fuel and a café
that serves family-style meals.
“About six years ago, some of my friends who live
along Waxahatchee Creek suggested we begin having
a regular gathering as a break from the cabin fever
that many suffer from during the winter months. I
volunteered to have it at the café at the marina so
we wouldn’t have to worry about taking turns hosting
the event at peoples’ homes,” she says.
“I close the café at six in the evening and everyone
brings a dish. We never know what we’re going to have.
Sometimes everybody brings vegetables and other
times we’ve had a table full of desserts. That’s been
part of the fun – not knowing what will be on the menu.
The potluck dinner now is held on the second Friday
of every month and is open to anyone on the lake. We
normally have anywhere from 20 to 40 people attend.”
Jerry and Jeanne Dozier have been regularly
attending Lewis’s potluck dinners since the couple
began enjoying lakeside living nine years ago. The
natives of Tallassee had work-related transfers that
took them to Georgia, New Jersey, and Colorado, but
realized that their hearts were always in Alabama.
They returned in 2003 and settled into their present
home on Waxahatchee Creek in what Jeanne feels is
one of the prettiest spots on Earth.
“This had been my sister Peggy’s favorite fishing
spot for years,” Jeanne explains. “She and her
husband, Bobby, had a place here, and we were
delighted to join them and the extended family
of friends we have made on the lake. And the
opportunity to get together with them regularly at
Nell’s restaurant is such a treat for us.
“What began as a get together for people on
Waxahatchee Creek has now become a magnet for
people all over Lay Lake,” she says. “We enjoy the food
and the camaraderie and are so appreciative that
Nell makes the restaurant available to bring us all
together. It is one of the real joys of living here.”
— Niki Sepsas
Use your smart device to find:
the year of Alabama food
yearofalabamafood.com
Facing Page: Lay Lake neighbors enjoy gathering at their supper club each month at Nell Lewis’s marina.
6 7
Meg McKinney

Dam Anatomy
Sunrise reflecting off the lake’s unstirred
morning surface. Water lapping along the
dimly lit shoreline at dusk. The fragrant
smell of summer renewal carried by a cool
breeze from far banks.
For lake residents, these are just a few of the sights
and sounds that draw them to life on the banks of
the state’s beautiful waters. These environmental
treasures are invaluable resources Alabama Power
strives to protect and preserve through the ongoing
studies and efforts of field research and shoreline
management teams.
Shoreline Protection
Some of the most sensitive of these
environmental riches can be found close to home
for lake residents. As a bridge between water and
land, lake shorelines are vital ecosystems for
countless plants and animals.
In some cases, the natural characteristics of an
area make shoreline crucial habitat for federally
protected species. Other times, the separation
between land and water blurs in the presence of
biologically diverse and protected wetland habitats.
Perhaps less known, steps must be taken to document
and protect artifacts and historically important
resources that may be uncovered by washing waves,
seasonal lake levels and shoreline development.
To protect all of these considerations, various
teams are employed to study, document and carefully
manage activity in these crucial ecosystems.
Wildlife Enhancement
Both in water and on land, Alabama Power has a
responsibility to protect and study species that rely
on the lakes’ unique ecosystems.
On land, this responsibility includes wildlife
population and nesting surveys, habitat protection
and habitat creation for species including bald eagles,
osprey, red-cockaded woodpeckers and waterfowl.
It also means studying habitats – like those of the
flattened musk turtle – and partnering with federal
agencies to serve as an informational resource for
homeowners on how best to protect these habitats.
In the water, Alabama Power is focused on
improving conditions for aquatic species by
establishing and maintaining fish habitat.
Vegetation Control
Most lake residents realize controlling vegetation
in the reservoir is crucial for recreational activities
like fishing, swimming and boating.
But even more important, vegetation control
is crucial for maintaining well-balanced aquatic
ecosystems and fighting invasive species – like
hydrilla or lyngbya algae. Left unchecked, these
species can disrupt natural habitats and harm native
species populations.
Winter drawdowns – along with helping control
flooding from heavy spring rains – help control
vegetation by exposing plants that grow quickly in
sunlit, shallow water to freezing temperatures.
Opposite: Construction began on Martin Dam, Alabama Power’s first dam on the Tallapoosa River, in July of 1923. Top: Ospreys are one
of several species that benefit from habitat creation and protection on Alabama Power reservoirs. Middle: Long-leaf pine habitat
protected on Lake Mitchell is crucial to the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Bottom: Alabama Power’s researchers track the
threatened flattened musk turtle on Smith Lake to learn more about their habitat range.
8 9
Nik Laymon Nik Laymon Meg McKinney

Water Quality
No matter what draws residents to the water –
beauty, nature, tranquility or fun – water quality
is crucial to their enjoyment. And just as diverse as
these enticements of lake residency, the influencers
of water quality are similarly varied and interlaced.
Flood control and vegetation management help
limit debris that causes navigation dangers on the
water’s surface and displaces storage capacity by
settling to the bottom. Shoreline protection – by
maintaining its natural aspect – limits erosion and
harmful runoff. And properly managed aquatic
species and habitat help maintain the organisms
that naturally benefit water quality.
Because lakes are large bodies of slow-moving
water, small changes in conditions can have
broad-ranging impact. Alabama Power relies on
relationships with water protection groups to help
monitor and maintain the quality of the water that
provides habitat for plants and animals and draws
people to the state’s alluring lakes.
— Brandon Glover, Alabama power
Billy Brown
Above: Vegetation management is important to the Tallapoosa
river system. Right: Hydrilla can disrupt natural habitats when
not managed.
Billy Brown
April Showers
Determine the fate of summer lake levels
This year’s extreme weather conditions
continue to negatively impact Alabama
Power lakes. The rains normally seen in
March and April never arrived, leaving
many of the reservoirs unable to fill.
State climatologist John Christy points to one
possible cause of lagging rainfall. “La Niña winters,
which have hit the Southeast region back to back,
produce weather that is generally warmer and drier.
This becomes especially problematic when it comes
to conserving water resources.”
With below-normal rainfall, all of Alabama
Power’s lakes on the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers
have experienced lower than normal pool levels.
But the company has been proactive in the face of
these dry conditions.
Alabama Power began the spring by conserving
water in its reservoirs by significantly reducing
hydro generation to only those releases required by
our federal licenses. The company requested – and
received in mid-May – Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) approval for a reduction in
minimum-flow requirements from Jordan Dam –
allowing a 20 percent reduction in the navigation
releases to the Alabama River.
“These drought conditions have hit us hard this
year, and at the worst time, when we normally fill
Use your smart device to find:
Weekly Drought updates
for the state of Alabama
www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_
the reservoirs to summer levels,” said Reservoir
Management Supervisor Alan Peeples. “Our priority is
to ensure, by working with federal and state agencies,
we conserve water now for the coming months that will
help preserve and protect, to the extent possible, the
many and various needs placed on the reservoirs.”
In anticipation of La Niña conditions, the company
already received variances from the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers to fill Lake Harris, Weiss and Logan
Martin earlier than normal this spring. FERC similarly
approved a variance last fall to temporarily raise the
Lake Martin winter pool level by 3 feet to boost the
spring fill efforts.
“We understand this is unpleasant news to the
folks making plans to head out on our lakes with
family and friends, but we do want them to be aware
of what we all are dealing with,” said Peeples.
The U.S. Drought Monitor updates state conditions
weekly at www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
For the latest on lake levels and Alabama Power’s
efforts to manage these dry conditions, visit
alabamapower.com and click the “Lake Conditions”
link on the left side of the page. Information can also
be obtained by calling Alabama Power’s automated
Reservoir Information System at 1-800-LAKES11
(1-800-525-3711).
— keisa sharpe, alabama power
Top: Lake Martin during winter pool. Bottom: Lake Martin flood
gates open during flood conditions.
10 state.htmAL,SE
11
William Dickey Marvin Gilmore

Sarah Cusimano-Miles
Fourth of July fireworks over Lake Neely Henry and the city of Gadsden.
12 13

New Permitting guidelines
Balancing improvements and the environment
William Dickey
is the time when
you start thinking about
what you would like to do
“Summer
differently along the water,”
said Patti Harper, looking out at her family pier on
Logan Martin. “Every improvement we have made
along the water began with someone saying, ‘It
would really be nice to have so-and-so.’”
In a season of barbecues, fishing and other fun
activities synonymous with summer on the lake,
what-if ideas are as common as the droning of
grasshoppers along dusk-lit shores. This year –
as droning insects prelude potential projects –
homeowners along the lake are being asked to share
their budding ideas with local shoreline management
offices to help speed up new low-water construction.
“This February, some changes were made to our
permitting agreement with federal agencies,” said
Charles Stover, a supervisor of Environmental Affairs
at Alabama Power. “The changes allow us to assist
those agencies in assessing the environmental
concerns along the shoreline of our reservoirs.”
Stover said the change helps property owners
identify any concerns prior to construction – both
protecting environmental resources and possibly
saving homeowners time and money. While this
review helps pre-empt issues, it may extend the
length of the review process during the early
planning stages for improvements.
“We want folks to know if they are considering
shoreline improvements, contacting us before
Approved permitted structures both completed and still under
construction. Local Shorelines management offices can give you
information on what is acceptable to build along the shorelines
and permit all new construction.
14 15
William Dickey William Dickey William Dickey
planning construction helps us provide them with
the best options available,” said Billy Edge, an
Alabama Power shoreline management supervisor.
“While contacting us so early may be a bit different
than the process in the past, at the end of the
day it helps us work together to make shoreline
improvements while maintaining the natural aspects
that make these reservoirs so wonderful.”
—Brandon Glover, Alabama Power
Lake Name New Lake Number
Bouldin..................................... 205-755-4420
205-280-4476
Harris....................................... 256-396-5093
Jordan....................................... 205-755-4420
205-280-4476
Lay........................................... 205-755-4420
205-280-4476
Logan Martin............................. 205-472-0481
Martin..................................... 256-825-0053
256-825-1102
Mitchell..................................... 205-755-4420
205-280-4476
Neely Henry............................... 205-472-0481
Smith........................................ 205-384-7385
205-384-7347
Thurlow..................................... 256-825-0053
256-825-1102
Weiss........................................ 256-927-2597
Yates........................................ 256-825-0053
256-825-1102

For Love
Of the lake
Stephen DeVries Chris Fisher Bryan Johnson (A Bryan Photo)
“The beauty and sense of reverence
we felt at Lake Martin and Children’s
Harbor mirrored our faith and
feelings about starting our lives
together,” says Alyson Fuqua Tucker,
who married husband, Michael,
earlier this year on Easter weekend.
Why do we do “I do” where we do With every bride, the
answer is personal, but many do “I do” lakeside. Year
after year, many brides choose the beautiful lakes of
Alabama as the location for their special day. Their
reason is simple: The lake holds a special meaning or memory for the
couple, and that’s where they choose to pledge their forevers together
and embark on a lifetime of new memories.
That sentimental attachment is what brought Rachel Nguyen Mitchell
and her husband,
“It made perfect sense for
us to be married in such a
beautiful place...”
Michael, to Lake
Martin for their
dream wedding.
“We both grew
up spending lots
of time at Lake Martin,” Rachel said. “My family had a house on Lake
Martin, and we would go there almost every weekend during the summer.
It made perfect sense for us to be married in such a beautiful place full
of all those family memories.”
Tabitha Barker and Randal Lewis chose The Alabama 4-H Center at
Lay Lake as the site of their wedding for much the same reason: The
two were both raised enjoying fishing, skiing and tubing on Lay Lake,
feeding their mutual passion for water sports. After buying a boat last
year, they spend most of their weekends there.
The couple hope their love of the lake will continue to grow. “Randal
and I hope to be so lucky as to raise our own children on Lay and that
they have as many special memories as he and I have,” Tabitha said.
The natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere of the lake inspired
Lauren Johnston Duncan and her husband, Benjamin, to choose Lake
Martin for their rustic, but elegant wedding. In addition to serving as a
convenient middle ground for both sides of the family (hers in Auburn
and his in Birmingham), the calming atmosphere kept the couple
Leslee Mitchell
Previous page: Alyson and Michael Tucker at Children’s Harbor on their wedding day.
Previous page, Top: Lauren Johnston Duncan, Lake Martin. Second from top: Tabitha
Barker Lewis, Lay Lake. Third from top: Hannon Kirk Doody, Lake Martin. Bottom: Rachel
Nguyen Mitchell, Lake Martin.
16 17

from “getting too caught up in all the details of the
wedding planning,” Lauren said.
Wedding planners understand the lure of the lake,
and are well-equipped to make the special occasion
all that the natural setting promises.
“The wish for every couple is that their guests will
be able to share their special moment with them to the
fullest,” said Tammy Jackson, director of community
relations at Children’s Harbor and Church in the Pines
at Lake Martin. “With the lake as the backdrop for a
wedding, there is such a calm and serene feeling that you
can get caught up in the moment that the couple start to
share the rest of their lives together.”
For Hannon and Cameron Doody, getting married at the
lake was one more way to make their day more meaningful
“Lake Martin is a special place for Cameron and me. My
family has a lake home there and I grew up going there
on weekends. Cameron is an avid outdoors man so the
natural setting was a perfect fit for him,” said Hannon.
Neillie Butler, co-owner of Mariée Ami Wedding
Planning Studio in Birmingham, has helped create
dream weddings at Lake Martin and Smith Lake. She
agrees most couples who want a lake wedding have a
connection to the locale, the lake being a central part of
their childhood or the location of a special family home.
But, what’s more, she said, “A lake wedding provides
a relaxed feeling while also being sophisticated and
elegant. It is a perfect combination!”
— by Julie H. Bosche and Gina M. Byars
Bryan Johnson (A Bryan Photo)
Bryan Johnson (A Bryan Photo)
Leslee Mitchell
This Page: Alyson Fuqua Tucker accepts a flower bouquet
from young ring bearer, Jack Fuqua. Opposite: Cakes and
floral arrangements highlight the beauty of a lake wedding.
18 19
Leslee Mitchell

Worship on the water
Shoreline services along the lakeside
It’s a gorgeous daybreak on Lake Logan
Martin and dozens of lakeside residents walk
down the well-manicured gravel path from
the road to the clearing at the water’s edge.
In the pines where long benches have been built
from treated lumber, people seemingly come from
all directions. Some in shorts and covered bathing
suits tie their boats to the pier and come ashore.
Still others come from a second path that meanders
through the woods.
It’s a Sunday morning and several hundred people
have taken the old hymn “Shall We Gather at the
River” quite seriously.
“Never in more than
47 years has a church service
here been rained out.”
It is a scene that is common on a number of
Alabama Power lakes. In addition to Chapel in the
Pines on Lake Logan Martin, there’s Rock Creek
Mission on Smith Lake, River Church on Lake Mitchell,
Church in the Pines on Lake Martin and Worship on
the Water on R.L. Harris Lake (Lake Wedowee). All
are non-denominational churches on the shores of
Alabama Power reservoirs.
Almost all offer services during the traditional
“boating season” from May to Labor Day, with
several offering Easter sunrise services.
“Chapel in the Pines offers the opportunity for
those who live on Lake Logan Martin and those who
spend the weekends there to have a place to worship,”
said Sam Huffstutler Sr., the senior pastor at First
United Church of Pell City, which operates the church.
“People can come as they are. Some come in shorts
and T-shirts and some even come by boats in bathing
suits. Each Sunday we have pastors from varying
denominations come from the surrounding area.”
Lakeside churches on Alabama Power reservoirs
aren’t some new fad. Chapel in the Pines has been
operating for more than 50 years.
It’s no different on Lake Mitchell. From Memorial
Day through Labor Day, worshippers gather at River
Church at the Trobaugh Pavilion within Higgins Ferry
Park. For more than 45 years, worshippers have
come by boat and automobile to this church.
“People can come by boat and stay in their boats
and listen to the message,” said Park Ranger Frank
Atkinson. “They come wearing everything from shorts
to bathing suits. Then we have some that come by
automobile from as far away as Coosa County.”
Atkinson says he’s convinced divine intervention
is involved.
“Never in more than 47 years has a church service
here been rained out,” he said. “That’s pretty
amazing.”
Like other lakeside churches, River Church is rich
in history. It was started by the Rev. Johnny Doyle
Trobaugh, senior pastor of First Methodist Church in
Clanton. Trobaugh fell in love with Lake Mitchell and
purchased a weekend home there. He began
William Parks
Facing: Rock Creek Mission on Smith Lake welcomes worshippers by boat and land. Opposite: Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin hosts
many retreats throughout the year.
20 21
Leslee Mitchell

✁
William Dickey
offering annual youth retreats at his home and the kids loved the atmosphere so
much they suggested a lakeside service.
The youths did their part. They printed fliers and went up and down the river in
boats handing them out to lake residents. They nailed fliers up at bait and tackle
stores. The first service was in 1967 with 80 people in attendance.
The services were at Trobaugh’s weekend home until they outgrew the property
and it moved to the current location. In 2000, the Lake Mitchell Home Owners and
Boat Owners Association named the facility the John Trobaugh Pavilion.
For more than 20 years, Rock Creek Mission has thrived at Rock Creek Marina on Smith
Lake. Visitors arrive by boat and vehicles to hear the message from a visiting pastor.
“It’s very laid-back,” said church regular Rob Markham. “Most come in boats
wearing shorts or bathing suits and flip-flops.”
Rock Creek Mission offers an additional perk dear to the heart of long-time
Southerners: potluck breakfast. Those attending the service bring their favorite
dishes including homemade biscuits, country sausage, blueberry muffins, pigs-ina-blanket
and many other requested favorites that are weekly staples.
At Lake Martin, Church in the Pines is near Kowaliga Marina on Highway 63 and
it, too, is rich in history. This 58-year-old lakeside church boasts the largest
attendance of all in Alabama with 500 or more attending each Sunday. Turnout
there is so great that
regulars know to
bring chairs or else
they find themselves
standing throughout
the service.
On R.L. Harris Reservoir, worship on the water is relatively new but its format is a
proven winner. Non-denominational services from Memorial Day weekend through
Labor Day weekend are at Lakeside Marina next to the U.S. 431 bridge near the
Little Tallapoosa River.
—Mike bolton
“Most come in boats wearing shorts
or bathing suits and flip-flops.”
This Page: Chapel in the Pines draws a crowd each week to its multiple services. Top Right: Traveling pastor,
Melanie Booth talks with Dean and Bobby Browning, some of the founders of Rock Creek Mission. Bottom
Right: Members of Rock Creek Mission Church share a potluck breakfast after the morning’s service.
On the move
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Lake of Interest
COOSA:
❑ Jordan ❑ Mitchell
❑ Lay ❑ Neely Henry
❑ Logan Martin ❑ Weiss
22 alabamapower.com/lakes/home.asp
23
William Parks William Parks
Contact us:
phone: 205-257-2599
email: G2Shorelines@southernco.com
web: lakes.alabamapower.com
mail: Shorelines
MN-0668
P.O. Box 2641
Birmingham, AL 35291
TALLAPOOSA:
❑ Harris
❑ Martin
❑ Thurlow
❑ Yates
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on shorelines
WARRIOR:
❑ Smith

Casting Off
Your Moments, Your Memories
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Camp ASCCA Fun Fish Weekend, Lake Martin: 1. C.J. McGuire shows off his latest catch. 2. Jarrett Clark and Dennis Murphy catch a crappie. Neely Henry: 3. John Stone, Dick Anderson, John Blue, Sam Phillips
and Larry Stowe pose at a party on Lake Neely Henry. Lake Harris Kids Fishing Derby: 4. Landon Richardson is ready to fish with his new fishing pole 5. Tommy Hayes shows his
catch to officials at the derby. 6. Ashley Henriott catches her first catfish with Josy Lowe. Lay Lake Cleanup Day: 7. Hundreds of volunteers came out with BASS and Renew our
Rivers to clean up Lay Lake. 8. Samantha Sharna holds a bunny at the Russell Crossroads Easter event on Lake Martin. Art on the Lake, Lake Martin: 9. Bill and Shannon Blount
check out local artists. 10. Percy and Patti Badham smile with Ralph Yeilding. Birmingham Botanical Gardens Tour of Jim Scott’s Gardens, Lake Martin: 11. Peg McGowan, Nina
Crombaugh, Ann Harvey, Fletcher Harvey in the gardens. 12. Jackson Fulks and Will Morris share a boat ride on Lake Martin.