By Staff
TaTonja Rashetta Johnson of Meridian and Stanley Jones of Mendenhall were married Saturday, Aug. 18, 2001, at New Jerusalem Baptist Church.
The double-ring ceremony was performed by the Rev. Edward Griffin.
The bride is the daughter of Osborne and Carolyn Johnson of Meridian. Her grandparents are the late Sam and Hilda McGowen of Laurel and the late Henry and Legertha Johnson of Carroll County.
The bridegroom is the son of Plummer and Willie Jean Jones of Mendenhall and Henrine Smith of Carthage. His grandparents are Ruby Gray and the late Lionell Gray and Archie Fletcher and the late Gussie Mae Fletcher, all of Mendenhall.
Music for the ceremony was provided by Elaine Griffin, pianist; Emilia Massengale, harpist; and Yolanda Emerson, soloist.
The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents. She wore a gown with a Schiffli lace halter bodice, embellished with pearls and clear sequins, enhanced by satin covered buttons on the back. The Basque waistline held a tulle skirt that extended into a chapel-length train.
Her three-tiered veil of illusion was edged with satin and fell from a headband adorned with pearls and clear sequins into a blusher and then to waist-length.
She carried a cascade bouquet of white roses accented with baby's breath and streaming ivy.
Maid of honor was Cheryle Nicole McClinton of Atlanta. Other attendants were Twyla Williams of New Orleans, Taren Filer of Pensacola, Fla., Jamesia Payne of Jacksonville, Fla., Candace Andrews of Meridian and Kimberly Adams of Oxford.
Curtis Murphy of Virginia Beach, Va., served as best man. Groomsmen were Christopher Bridges of Jackson, Thoris Johnson Sr. of Meridian, Dennis Rhodes, Carl Gray and John Ross, all of Mendenhall.
Alexis Jones, daughter of the bridegroom, served as flower girl. Thoris Johnson Jr., nephew of the bride, served as ring bearer. Ray Williams Jr., nephew of the bridegroom, served as bell ringer.
Ushers were Roderick Lewis of Meridian and Yamani Adams of Baton Rouge, La.
Hostesses were Trina Bridges of Jackson and Michele Johnson of Meridian. A reception was held at Holiday Inn Express following the ceremony. Assisting in the reception were Tianna Hill, Ida Johnson, Audrey Walton, Marcheta Clark, Gwendolyn White, Sheila McGowen, Deliso Portis, June Harper, Ann Gordon, Deloris Riddle and Rita Willis.
After a honeymoon cruise to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Cancun, Mexico and the Cayman Islands, the couple resides in Chesapeake, Va.