Marriage of Miss Bell to Mr. McLaughlin
printed in the Meriwether Vindicator, Greenville, Ga. on Friday, November 12, 1909
Submitted by Elaine McLaughlin Bonds

            The Baptist Church in this city was the scene of a happy event Wednesday afternoon, when the plighted troth of Miss Virginia Ola Bell and Mr. Jonathan Irby McLaughlin was celebrated by the ceremony which united the lives of this popular couple in the bonds of holy wedlock.

            The interior of the church was tastily decorated for the occasion with choice flowers.  The chancel was a perfect bower of beauty.  Embellished with stately ferns as a background.  White chrysanthemums lent their grace and beauty to the scene, while autumn leaves of crimson and gold gave an entrancing halo of color to the picture.  Just over the altar was suspended a large wedding bell wrought of the white peals of chrysanthemums.

            Before the appearance of the bridal party.  Miss Sallie Sue Longshore, with the rich, mellow notes of a human nightingale, charmingly rendered "Garden of Roses".  The deft fingers of Miss Precious Carter touched the organ keys and the strains of Mendelssohn filled the sacred edifice.  The wedding cortege proceeded to the chancel.  First came the ushers, Messrs. W. C. Culpepper and H. W. Hill, Jr., down the side aisle, followed by the attendants.  Miss Robbie Carter, Mr. Obed Hill, Miss Fay Twitty and Mr. James White.  These formed a semi-circle inside the chancel.  Then bride, with her sister, Miss Wenonah Day Bell, came down the main aisle and were met at the altar by the groom and his best man, Mr. Hart Odum.  The bride and groom took place before the altar and the ceremony which made the twain as one was impressively performed by Dr. J. A. Bell, father of the bride.  The organ again pealed forth the strains of the wedding march and the bride and groom followed by the attendants, marched out of the church.

            The marriage over, a delightful luncheon was tendered the bridal party at the home of Dr. and Mrs. J. A. Bell, after which Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin took the train for a short bridal tour. 

            The wedding event was one of the prettiest ever witnessed in this city.   The bride and lady attendants were greatly admired for their beauty of face and other womanly charms.  The bridal presents of costly cut glass, silver and other useful and ornamental articles, was one of the most expensive exhibitions of wedding gifts ever seen in Greenville.

            Mrs. McLaughlin is the eldest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. A. Bell.  She is pretty and accomplished.  Possessing a brilliant mind, a lovely disposition, a charm of manner and all the other attributes of attractive womanhood, she is pecularly fitted to rule as queen of the home of the man of her choice.

            Mr. McLaughlin is the son of Hon. and Mrs. B. F. McLaughlin.  He is a prominent young business man of this city and his popularity is limited, only by his acquaintances.  He is worthy of the fair lady he has won.

            May their pathway through life be fraught with all the joys that a loving Father has prepared for His children and no cloud of adversity darken their horizon.