• Johnny Lynn Johnson• Margaret Elizabeth Comer• James Dale Gorham Sr.

SUNDAY RECORDYOUR GUIDE TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND VITAL STATISTICS IN CALHOUN COUNTY

The Anniston Star ● Sunday, March 31, 2013 ● Page 6E

MARRIAGE LICENSESBANKRUPTCIESDEATHS CATTLE SALE

WILLS PROBATED

ARRESTS

EDITOR’S NOTE

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DIVORCES

FORECLOSURES

Fannie Irene Akers, Jack-sonvilleBeatrice H. Ammons, Cen-treParalle “Louise” Butts Ammons, TennesseeSandy V. Amos, FremontJerrie Pauline Belcher, WedoweeBibb Norris Bennett, HeflinLillian Bodner, GeorgiaMargaret Ann Nolen Brew-er, GeorgiaBetty Hough Broome, Cen-treDorothy Virginia Cook Buford, OxfordRessie Jo Burt, OhatcheeRalph Clark, AnnistonPatsy Cofield, PiedmontMaria Daigneau, LinevilleJames A. Dunn, WellingtonEdward Ray Foltz, HeflinModell Forman, Pell CityMarjorie Franklin, Wedow-eeBetty “Boots” Freeman, AlexandriaChris Grizzard, PiedmontVan Hamilton, AnnistonMargaret W. Haynes, Annis-tonAnnie Hicks Heard, Annis-tonBilly Joe Hicks, AlexandriaMaybelle Doss Higgins, AnnistonMary Elizabeth Eaves Hobbs, JacksonvilleGeneva Sue Hollis, HeflinGeorge E. Howard, GeorgiaCharles Flavey Ivey Jr., Pied-montWillie L. Joiner, Hollis Cross RoadsCarter Jakaden Jordan, AnnistonNobie Lockridge, Rock Run

William Nathan Luke, Lin-colnJames M. Mann, AnnistonJanette Maarah “Buffy” Marks, AlexandriaRuth R. McClendon, Annis-tonDarren Deshawn McDaniel, HeflinJack Dempsey Milam, East-abogaFreddie P. Miller, EastabogaCharles S. Mount, AnnistonBobby Gene Nelson Sr., AnnistonLaTanja Nobles, Pell CityDeloris “Ann” Pendergrass, WeaverKenneth Lamar Pettus, OxfordChristopher Michael Proc-tor, OxfordMary Frances Lee Roberson, AnnistonBetty J. Scales, AnnistonJudith Ann Sexton, Pied-montDarrell Smith, WellingtonIdella Story, AnnistonPlumer Swain, Alpine Roxanna Guyer Sweener, Pell CityJessie Maxine Taft, Tennes-seeLee Roy Talkington, Gayles-villeScott Truett, AnnistonJackie Catherine Tucker, RoanokeLamar Turner, AnnistonLester D. Wade, MunfordLillie Mae Walker, BynumJames Lewis Ware, Ash-landBruce Arthur Whatley, AnnistonGregory Williams, AnnistonChoe Kum Yong, Anniston

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows the debtor to retain certain exempt property, but the debtor’s remaining property is gathered and sold by a trustee from which creditors will receive payment. It may also be used by businesses which wish to terminate their business.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy enables debtors, through court supervision and protection, to propose and carry out a repayment plan under which creditors are paid, in full or in part, in installments over a three-year period. During that time, debtors are prohibited from starting or continuing collection efforts.

The following bankruptcies declared by Cal-houn County residents were recorded by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Alabama last week:

Chapter 7• Clyde R. Skinner and Jennie L. Skinner, Juanita Lane, Jacksonville• Sequoyah Zellars, Canterbury Square, Anniston• Khadijah Hameed, Sterling Point Lane, Oxford• Thomas E. Moates and Kathleen Moates, Hale Street, Oxford• Jerry D. Lane Sr., Weaver• Maxine J. Lane, Maple Drive, Weaver• David Michael Brown, MCullars Lane, Oxford• Melissa Mincy, Ashbury Avenue, Annis-ton• James E. Forsythe and Beverly A. Baus-man, Church Lane, Eastaboga• Sylvia W. Curry, McDaniel Avenue, Anniston

Chapter 13• James S. Penton and Sandra F. Penton, Rochester Road Southeast, Jacksonville• Julia E. Tennant, Wellington Drive, Wel-lington• John D. Downs II, Pomotaw Trace, Annis-ton• Sue C. Kilpatrick, Choccolocco Road, Anniston• Takeisha Carter, Lincoln Street, Annis-ton

• Todd Dewayne Rus-sell of Anniston to Anita Paige Soto of Anniston• Ryfeal Durrell Davis of Anniston to Dia-tra Flossie Ingram of Anniston• Charles Boykin Ken-nedy of Anniston to Brady Nicole Hudson of Annniston• Jamie Lee Kendall of Anniston to Jessica Shay Amos Eason of Anniston• Michael Scott Gib-son of Gadsden to Heather Elgin Butler of Gadsden• Jason James Chap-lin of Anniston to Jen-nifer Lynn Thompson of Anniston• Benjamin Harrison Dixon of Anniston to Anna Lee Williams of Anniston• Rogelio Ortega of Alexandria to Megan Marie Sullivan of Alexandria• Timothy Shane San-

ford of Jacksonville to Naomi McGregor Ter-rell of Anniston• Justin Lee Cren-shaw of Jacksonville to Linda Christine Laymon of Jackson-ville• Timmy Lee Rudolph of Anniston to Tani-sha Lashae Hubbard of Oxford• Eduardo Javier Villeda-Montenegro of Anniston to Amy Cole Pittman of Jack-sonville• Jesse Cole Weldon of Anniston to Britta-ny Jeannine Forsythe of Anniston• Joseph Brian Delk of Oxford to Heather Denise Parker of Oxford• Bryan Patton White-head of Jacksonville to Betty Jane Dyer of Jacksonville• Brandon Scott Har-vey of Jacksonville to Valene Marie Single-ton of Piedmont

Here is the livestock market report for the Tuesday sale. Receipts for this week 914 compared to 657 last week. Receipts a year ago 618.FEEDER CLASSES:Bulls and steers (Medium and Large No. 1 and No. 2): 200-300 lbs. 170.00 to 210.00; 300-400 lbs. 158.00 to 207.50; 400-500 lbs. 145.00 to 177.50; 500-600 lbs. 126.00 to 167.50; 600-700 lbs. 110.00 to 146.00.Heifers (Medium and Large No. 1 and No. 2): 200-300 lbs. Too Few; 300-400 lbs. 140.00 to 180.00; 400-500 lbs. 130.00 to 147.50; 500-600 lbs. 120.00 to 135.00; 600-700 lbs. 100.00 to 126.00.SLAUGHTER CLASSES:Cows: Breakers 78.00 to 80.00; Boners 81.00 to 86.50; Lean 74.00 to 81.50.Bulls: Normal Dressing 54-58% 95.00 to 97.00; Low Dressing

• Chandler Gray and Tracy Gray• Jessica Williams and Brandon Wil-liams• Jessica Dawn Pitt-man and Allen Barry Miller II• Leslie Henderson and William Hender-son• Candace Newman and Casey Lee New-man• Amanda Naomi Dev-

lin and Robert Andrew Devlin• Davita A. Smith and Justin E. Smith• Jessie Elizabeth Cosby and Cory Dan-iel Cosby• Jessica Sudsberry and Greg Sudsberry• Traci Jill Fendley and David Anthony Fendley• Michael Paul Hea-ton and Bethany Ann Heaton

The material inside the Sunday Record is recorded by The Anniston Star from various institutions and government offices.

The public records are published as they appeared on the documents obtained by the newspaper. Direct questions and comments about Sunday Record to Isaac Godwin at igodwin@annistonstar.com.

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14 • Electa Dorsey, Anniston Land Co., block 541-A, lot 19.• Roger M. Keenum and Betty F. Gra-ham Keenum, Carriage Hills subdivi-sion, block 4, lot 6.• Marla A. Nofsinger, Hidden Valley subdivision, lot 44.

• Ralph Gray and Armor Jean Gray, West Anniston, C.F. Williams and Alston Clark addition, block 88, lot 2.• Mary E. Turner and Jefferson C. Turner, Buckhorn subdivision, phase 4, lot 18.

MAKE THIS! !e crafter’s corner in Sunday’s Life section

For the latest in local news, visit www.AnnistonStar.com

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The people listed in this arrest report, whose names and charges are obtained from pub-lic records, are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

AnnistonThe following felony arrests were reported by the Anniston Police Department (addresses not provided) during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.• Thomas Henry Martin, 27: second-degree receiving stolen property.• Christopher McCabe Rice, 27: second-

degree theft.• Chevar Ramon Jones, 31: distributing a controlled substance.• Karl James Malbrough, 28: two counts of possession of a controlled substance.• Gerald Kirksey, 52: possession of a con-trolled substance, first-degree possession of marijuana.• Jeremy Lynn Smith, 27: second-degree theft. • Sherricka Shawnte Griffin, 26: obstructing justice by using a false I.D.• David Mallory Shelton Jr., 25: second-degree theft, fraudulent use of a credit

card.Calhoun County

The following felony arrests were reported by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office dur-ing the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday. • Bridgett Lashanda Holcomb, 30, of Birming-ham: two counts of chemical endangerment, use/possession of drug paraphernalia.• Raissa Nichelle Miller, 20, of Tuscaloosa: failure to appear in court for speeding.• Christopher McCabe Rice, 27, of Anniston:

probation violation.• Michael Antynne Tuft, 46, of Anniston: theft by fraudulent leasing.• Emmett Keith Johnson, 41, of Anniston: order of arrest.

Pardon and Parole BoardThe following felony arrests were report-ed by the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday. • Bridgette Deanna Griffith, 31, of Anniston: probation violation.

BLOTTER

Crimes are listed by location. Anonymous tips may be called in to Crime Stoppers at 256-238-1414. A reward of up to $1,000 may be given.

AnnistonThe following property crimes were report-ed to the Anniston Police Department dur-ing the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.Burglaries• Church, 400 block of West 23rd Street: copper wire. • Residence, 900 block of Maxanna Drive: television, jewelry.• Residence, 1400 block of East 10th Street: televisions.• Commercial location, 1200 block of Front Street: copper.• Public building, 400 block of South Chris-tine Avenue: television.• Residence, 300 block of Golden Springs Road: television.

• Residence, 2000 block of Winchester Road: household items.• Residence, 1300 block of Pine Avenue: coins, television, stereo system.• Residence, 1000 block of West 42nd Street: televisions, game consoles, laptop com-puter, games.• Residence, 1600 block of Parkwin Avenue: television, laptop computer.• Residence, 2100 block of Thomas Avenue: television.• Residence, 400 block of South Christine Avenue: television.Thefts• Storage facility, 1200 block of Front Street: wire. • Unknown location, 1800 block of Hillyer Robinson Park: utility trailer. • Commercial location, 400 block of West 23rd Street: metal roll-up door, steel. Robberies• Residence, unspecified block of McArthur Drive/Gurnee Avenue: tablet computer.

Auto-related thefts• Residence, 300 block of front Street: 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer. • Residence, 600 block of East 19th Street: audio system, cell phone, cigarettes, cash.• Residence, 5100 block of McClellan Boule-vard: speaker box.• Street, 400 block of Mulberry Avenue: subwoofer.• Residence, 6300 block of Gallatin Drive: 1976 Chevrolet Nova.• Convenience store, 1700 block of Quintard Avenue: 2000 Mercury Marquis.• Parking lot, 1000 block of Atlanta Avenue: purse, wallet, cash.• Parking lot, unknown location: books, cell phone, personal I.D., vehicle title, medica-tions.• Residence, 900 block of Montgomery Ave-nue: golf clubs, checks, 2002 Honda Accord. (Recovered 03-27-2013)

Calhoun County The following property crimes were report-

ed to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.

Burglaries• Residence, Sulphur Springs Road, Lincoln: television.• Residence, Avalon Lane, Anniston: crystal, clothing, furniture, jewelry.

Thefts• Residence, U.S. 278 West, Piedmont: trac-tor and attachments, tools, grills, wash pot, posts.

Auto-related thefts• Convenience store, U.S. 431 North, Alexan-dria: 2004 Chevrolet Silverado.• Residence, Kines Road, Piedmont: 1999 Ford Expedition.• Residence, Gilbert’s Ferry Road, Ohatchee: off-road vehicle.

4F4F6E6E

WE BUY GOLDSilver and Diamonds

DIAMOND DEPOT • Snow St., Oxford - Across from Cheaha Bank • (256) 365-2087284436

CALENDAR: AnnistonStar.com/calendar

• Billy M. Bonds Jr. and Tammy Bonds to Treda B. Ortiz, a parcel of land in section 28, township 13, range 8, $100.• Housing & Urban Development to Jay Sil-verberg, Whites Gap Estates, 5th addition, block G, lot 13, $65,000.• EverBank to Housing & Urban Develop-ment, Lyncoya subdivision, Grady Vaughn’s addition, block 1, lot 4, $1.• LHM LLC to J. Britt Middlebrook, a parcel of land in section 30, township 16, range 8, $10.• Eugene McGhee Jr. to William Edward Elston Sr., a parcel of land in section 2, town-ship 16, range 7, $10.• Glen Sears to Frederick M. Berry and Mary B. Berry, Anniston Land Co., block 273, lots 1 and 2, $10.• Susan Denise Thorson and Laurie Ann Richardson to Benjamin Dixon, a parcel of land in section 7, township 15, range 8, $10.• Chad Christopher Carr and Elizabeth G. Carr to Jon Barefiled, a parcel of land in section 13, township 14, range 8, $10.• The Bernadine A. Herron 2009 Revocable Trust to Pordlaw Properties LLC, Lenlock subdivision, block 1, lot 15, $10.• Lawton J. Smith to David Trantham and Wanda Trantham, a parcel of land in sec-tions 1/12, township 13, range 7, $10.• Herbert Austin Harper and Carolton Dale Harper to Daniel Kyle Johns, a parcel of land in section 6, township 14, range 8, $10.• John Manuel-Estate to Joseph B. Williams and Donna B. Williams, a parcel of land in section 4, township 15, range 8, $10.• Charles Meek to 707P LLC, a parcel of land in section 5, township 15, range 8, $10.• Charles Meek to 707P LLC, a parcel of land in section 4, township 15, range 8, $10.• George A. Monk and Cynthia F. Monk to Lester Eugene Clanton and Karen L. Clan-ton, Sunset Heights, Cynthia Crescent addi-tion, block 3, lot 2, $10.• Alan H. Griffin to Randy Thielsen, Profile Mill Village, block 3, lot 10, $10.• Bank of America to Paul Canter Homes Inc., Windwood Estates, lot 15, $22,000.• Arleen M. Krizka to Donald J. Krizka and Anna L. Krizka, a parcel of land in section 30, township 13, range 7, $10.• Douglas F. Rosser and Janice A. Rosser to Derrick Neil Yale Compton and Kimberley R. Compton, a parcel of land in section 12,

township 13, range 9, $10.• Jimmie D. Weathington and Alice Weath-ington to Tracy Patty and Mandy Jean Pat-rick, a parcel of land in section 19, township 15, range 8, $10.• John Adam McMichael to Frances Emily Rowland, a parcel of land in section 15, township 16, range 6, $10.• Jonathan D. Lehr to Christopher G. Bour-land and Cristie B. Robinson, Timberridge subdivision, block B, lot 11, $10.• Earnest Pitts and Jeannette McDonald Pitts to Earnest Pitts and Jeannette McDon-ald Pitts, Haynes Division, lot 6, $1.• James Eli Henderson and Carolyn Hender-son to Andrea Melisa Macfadden, Eulaton subdivision, block 8, lot 3, $2,000.• Charles E. Chatham III to Janie R. Chatham, Betta-View Hills subdivision, block A, lot 10, $10.• Clarence E. Haynes to Darlene Haynes McDonald, Corning plan, block 19, lots 15 and 16, $10.• Cheaha Bank to Cecil E. Hinds and Rich-ard M. Hinds, a parcel of land in section 20, township 15, range 8, $10.• Bank of America to Housing & Urban Development, Amos Luallen subdivision, lot 10, $1.• Pennymac Mortgage Invetment Trust Holdings I LLC to Jessica Jane Joiner and Jared Michael Joiner, Pine Hill subdivision, 4th addition, lot 42, $164,900.• Marcella K. Verrier, Henry E. Kick and Shelly A. Kick to Latonya S. Chames, Soney-brook subdivision, 4th addition, block 3, lot 14, $10.• James Lamar Poland to Coley Payne and Sharon Payne, a parcel of land in section 14, township 14, range 7, $10.• Nesta Ruth Horton-Estate to Dahl Thrash, Whispering Pines subdivision, lot 26, $10.• Fred A. Barnes and Marie L. Barnes to Wil-liam R. McAuliffe and M. Cathy McAuliffe, Berkshire Woods, 1st section, re-subdivi-sion of block 2, lot 8A, $100.• Rodney L. Minton, Hugh L. Minton and Alice Faye Minton to City of Oxford, a parcel of land in section 32, township 16, range 7, $1.• Billy F. Cheatwood to Curtis P. Cheatwood, a parcel of land in section 3, township 15, range 9, $10.• Suzanne Lynn Knox to Curtis P. Cheatwood,

a parcel of land in section 3, township 15, range 9, $1.• Wallace A. Pankow to Curtis P. Cheat-wood, a parcel of land in section 3, township 15, range 9, $10.• Earl S. Johnson Jr. and Virginia Lee John-son to Tommy Lapier Jr. and Nikazalia Won-ders, Piedmont Land & Improvement Co., block 52, lot 50, $10.• Wallace Hall, Donald Edwin Hall, James Van Hall and Brian Scott Hall to James Daniel Holder and Jennifer A. Holder, a parcel of land in section 26, township 14, range 9, $10.• Housing & Urban Development to Ronald G. Campbell and Katherine G. Campbell, Brownwood Forest subdivision, block C, lot 18, $131,700.• James H. Fike and Irene M. Fike to Gads-den Hearing Aid Inc., a parcel of land in sction 21, township 16, range 8, $125,000.• U.S. Bank to Christopher E. Lamberth and Sharon E. Lamberth, Sunset Heights, Diana Hills 3rd addition, block 5, lot 6, $147,000.• Judy P. Fite to Chad McMichaels and Erica McMichaels, Brittany Downs, lot 8, $195,000.• Society Shell LLC to WH Capital LLC, Anniston City Land Co., block 11, lots 1-3, $10.• Society Shell LLC to WH Capital LLC, Anniston City Land Co., block 11, lots 1-3, $10.• Melinda Dear Martin and Rita Dear Moore to Brett A. Scott and Definie M. Scott, Golden Springs subdivision, block C, lot 13, $87,500.• Bank of New York Mellon to Vikki Sears, Camp’s map of Oxford, block 4, lot 1, $22,000.• Cider Ridge Alabama LLC to TBC Homes LLC, Cider Ridge subdivision, phase I reas-sessment, block WV, lot 6WV, $36,000.• Ann Burt to Sandra Jean Lee, Northside Defense Homes subdivision, block 8, lot 5.• James Phillip Whisenhunt to Phillip L. Whisenhunt, Berkshire Woods, 1st section, block 3, lot 5, $10.• Ann Fischer Trust to Tommy E. Heard and Jeremy S. Mosley, a parcel of land in section 14, township 14, range 8, $100.• TBC Homes LLC to Chad Steven Moore and Sara Campbell Moore, Cider Ridge subdivi-sion, phase 1 reassessment, block CS, lots 17CS and 18CS, $289,900.

• O.J. Newman to Oxford Homebuilding Construction Inc., Greyston Manor, phase 2, lot 115, $1.• Belinda Key to TMS Land Co. LLC, a parcel of land in section 6, township 16, range 6, $1.• Jonathan Screws and Stephanie Screws to Jonathan Screws and Stephanie Screws, a parcel of land in section 10, township 16, range 7, $10.• Cider Ridge Alabama LLC to TBC Homes LLC, Cider Ridge subdivision, phase 1 reas-sessment, block WH, lot 10WH, $36,000.• Mooneyham Properties LLC to Carol Cov-ington and Stanley Moore, Betta-View Hills, Strickland’s addition, block 1, lots 4 and 5, $10.• Zahia Zettili to Nouredine Zettili, Brittany Downs, lot 14, $10.• Cider Ridge Alabama LLC to TBC Homes LLC, Cider Ridge subdivision, phase 1 reas-sessment, block WV, lot 8WV, $40,000.• Cider Ridge Alabama LLC to TBC Homes LLC, Cider Ridge subdivision, phase 1 reas-sessment, block CS, lot 26CS, $37,000.• Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co. to Steve Adler and Elaine Adler, Indian Oaks Estates, section 4, lot 165, $51,111.• Charles L. Dinsmore to East Colonial Land LLC, South Anniston Land Co., 2nd division, block 25, lots 7 and 8, $260,000.• Dennis Snyder to Dean Edward Jakiel, Anniston Homestead & Fruitgrowers Assoc., block 1, lot 15.• Sandra Jean Lee to Do It All Investments LLC, Anniston City Land Co., block 193, lot 1, $100.• Howard Slater Bush and Deborah Lee Schroeder to David E. Delaney, Woodland Heights, 2nd addition, block 5, lot 7, $10.• Steven C. Callhan to Tanya L. Bonner, Peaceful Valley Farms, lot 9, $10.• Norma Madelia Buchanan, Alta Rebecca Purkey, Ella Rosalind Thacker, Chalmar Eugene Buchanan and Timothy James Buchanan to Michael Horne, H. John Street subdivision, block A, lot 8, $10.• JPMorgan Chase Bank to Housing & Urban Development, Jacksonville Mining & Manu-facturing Co., block 365, lots 3-5.• Jason W. Pitts and Dana L. Pitts to Angie Noah and Jody Noah, a parcel of land in sec-tion 14, township 14, range 6, $100.

PROPERTY TRANSFERRED

RESTAURANT INSPECTIONSHere are food service establishments recently inspected by the Calhoun County Health Department, along with scores. A score of 100 indicates the inspector found no deficiencies. Potentially hazardous deficiencies (four- or five-point demerit items) are noted. These must be cor-rected immediately and inspectors say they are often corrected while the inspection is underway. Restaurants earning below 70 must raise their scores within seven days or face closure.4-OR 5-POINT DEMERITS• Burger King, 410 Pelham Road, N., Jacksonville — 93, personnel should eat/drink in designated areas only.• Rally’s, 400 S. Quintard Ave., Anniston — 89, potentially

hazardous food did not meet temperature requirements during cold holding.• Subway, 5560 McClellan Blvd., Anniston — 95, potential-ly hazardous food did not meet temperature requirements during cold holding.• Winn-Dixie (Bakery), 2495 U.S. 431, Anniston — 94, toxic item not properly stored.NO MAJOR DEMERITS• Arby’s, 1003 Quintard Drive, Oxford — 99.• Big Daddy Café, 8438 Alabama 9, Anniston — 99.• Burger King, 1001 Alabama 21, S., Oxford — 99.• Camp Cottaquilla — 99.• Elks Lodge 189, 1019 S. Noble St., Anniston — 97.

• Elks Lodge 189 (Mobile Unit), 1019 S. Noble St., Anniston — 98.• First Baptist Church Wee Care Preschool, Jacksonville — 100.• House of Chen, 4 E. 43rd St., Anniston — 98.• OutTakes, 400 E. 10th St., Anniston — 99.• Pizzeria, 1021 U.S. 431, Anniston — 99.• The Rocket, 1508 Pelham Road, Jacksonville — 98.• Waffle House, 119 Big Valley Drive, Alexandria — 99.• Wal-Mart (Bakery), 5560 McClellan Blvd., Anniston — 100.• Wal-Mart (Deli), 5560 McClellan Blvd., Anniston — 99.• Winn-Dixie (Market), 2495 U.S. 431, Anniston — 96.• Winn-Dixie (Seafood), 2495 U.S. 431, Anniston — 99.

BY MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGEAkron Beacon Journal

AKRON, Ohio — Elizabeth Vernon’s canvas is calcium.

Vernon is an egg artist who decoupages Victorian designs onto delicate eggshells. Her gleaming varnished creations bear floral motifs, women’s portraits, nursery-rhyme characters, insect images — any vintage design that strikes her fancy.

This time of year, much of her free time is spent snipping paper images, adhering them carefully to eggshells and engaging in the painstaking process of repeatedly coat-ing the eggs with decoupage medium.

It’s all in preparation for her one annual showcase: The Elegant Egg, an annual egg show and sale that will be open at First United Methodist Church near the Univer-sity of Akron.

The show has been an Easter-season tradition in Akron for about 40 years.

It was started in the early 1970s at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens by some members of its Women’s Auxiliary Board who just wanted an opportunity to display the Eas-ter eggs they’d decorated, said Stan Hywet volunteer Jim Urban, who managed the show for about 10 years.

Those women brought in some of their egg-decorator friends, and soon the board recognized the value in selling eggs as well as displaying them. The show was held for about a quarter-century at Stan Hywet until the historical estate dropped it in 1998. That’s when a group of egg artists, or “eggers,” banded together to save the show, said Denise DiGeronimo, the group’s treasurer. Under the leadership of the late Gwen Howe, they formed the Ohio Egg Artists Guild and have organized the show ever since.

Vernon is one of a dozen or more eggers who displayed and sold their artwork at the two-day event. Show director Suzanne Gibson said the artists’ work includes hand-painted eggs; eggs carved in filigree designs, zentangle patterns and other motifs; and eggs decorated with the Ukrai-nian pysanky wax-and-dye process, some in traditional designs and others uncon-ventionally.

Vernon’s connection to the show goes back to childhood, when visiting the show was an annual tradition. “It was a huge, fun thing to do in Akron,” she said.

The inveterate crafter wanted to be part of the show, so she came up with her own

decorating niche in the form of Victorian-theme decoupage. It was a logical choice, given that she sells antiques, collects old paper ephemera and has a passion for Victoriana. A longtime volunteer at the University of Akron’s Victorian house museum, Hower House, she runs its gift shop and was even married there.

The Akron resident taught herself the Japanese paper-cutting technique of washi, which she uses to prepare her designs to be adhered to the eggs. The technique

involves snipping slits around the perim-eter of the design and manipulating the paper so it can be molded to the egg.

Getting the flat image to look right when it’s laid on the egg’s curved surface can be tricky, she said. She has to make adjust-ments such as overlapping bits of paper without distorting the image.

Once the design is glued in place, the egg is coated with about 10 layers of decoupage medium — a time-consum-ing process that requires sanding between

each coat. Finally the egg is varnished to give it gloss.

Early on she used an oil-based var-nish, not realizing the varnish would soak through the layers all the way to the paper. She was disappointed when the varnish created darkened stains and thought the eggs were ruined, but that accident had a happy ending: Eventually the spots evened out, and the eggs developed a yellowish patina that gave them an antique look.

Now, however, she sticks with polyure-thane, which doesn’t yellow.

Vernon looks all year for vintage papers to decorate her eggs. She’ll scour shows and shops for picture postcards, children’s book illustrations, Victorian calling cards, old advertisements and other paper items that catch her eye. A number of eggs she decorated for this year’s show are covered in paper designs that are reproductions of 19th century French fabrics.

She photocopies the papers, which allows her to preserve them as well as reduce or enlarge them to fit her eggs. “I wouldn’t destroy the original,” she said.

The eggs she decorates range in size from palm-size goose eggs to tiny pigeon eggs only an inch or so long, which she bought at an estate sale. The pigeon eggs’ shells were so thin that they would collapse when they were wetted with glue, so she discovered she needed to give them two or three coats of shellac before she could start decorating them.

She also decorates quail eggs, chicken eggs, smaller pullet eggs, sometimes jumbo ostrich eggs and maybe peacock eggs — “any eggs I can find,” she said.

Vernon buys her eggs from farmers and prefers eggs from free-range poultry, because their diet results in eggs with thicker shells. She needs eggs that can stand up to the pressure she puts on them when she’s trying to get a paper design to lie flat, she explained.

She blows the centers out of some eggs; others she buys already emptied. Tinier eggs are left intact, so eventually their cen-ters dry out.

Typically she starts work on the eggs around Christmas and keeps working until the egg show, producing 100 to 200 eggs that she’ll offer for sale for about $10 to $40 each. Then she sets the craft aside and moves on to something else.

“By the time you’re done with 100 or 200, it’s pretty much out of your system till next year,” she said with a smile.

Victorian egg artist prepares for annual Easter show

Karen Schiely/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT

Elizabeth Vernon is displaying and selling her decoupage eggs, created with Victorian-era images, at The Elegant Egg annual egg art show this weekend in Akron, Ohio.

The Anniston Star Sunday, March 31, 2013 Page 7ESUNDAY RECORD