The leaves are starting to turn and that means it is time for the Autumn Gold Festival. The two-day event features arts and craft vendors from throughout the region, children's activities, the crowning of a festival queen, gold panning, live music and lots of good food.

Unfortunately it has been a sad week for the Coker Creek community. On Oct. 1, Frank Murphy, who helped start the Autumn Gold Festival 40 years ago died while helping get the festival grounds ready.
Frank and his cousin, Ralph, were the ones we always called to get all the details about the festival for our annual special section about the event. Here at the paper we don't think about the festival without thinking of Frank and Ralph.

Frank was also one of the founding members of the Coker Creek Fire Department and the Ruritan Club.
On Oct. 6, Bridgett Gray Jackson, daughter of Esther and the late Sanford Gray, died. The Gray family owns Coker Creek Village where the Autumn Gold Festival is held.

I had the opportunity to work with Bridgett last year during the Women of Achievement month sponsored by the Sweetwater Public Library. Bridgett was a bright, energetic woman who brought a lot of ideas to the committee. She was very knowledgeable about her community and dedicated to preserving its history.
She wrote three children's books and two novels, one based on gold panning stories from Coker Creek.

There are lots of events going on this weekend, but try to make time to head to Coker Creek. It would be a great honor to Frank and Bridgett for lots of people to turn out for the festival. Admission to the festival is $3 for adults and $1 for children 6-11. Proceeds are used for various community projects.

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