By Staff
Laura Gail Bratley of Jackson and Wilson Andrew Shirley of Meridian were married Saturday, June 22, 2002, at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson with the Revs. Bradford McAllester Stewart and Jon Christopher Anderson, both of Starkville, officiating.
Parents of the couple are Dr. and Mrs. Forrest Groves Bratley Jr. of Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Joe Shirley of Meridian and the late Jennifer Wilson Ford of Meridian.
Grandparents of the bride are the late Mr. and Mrs. John Norfleet Upchurch, and the late Dr. and Mrs. Forrest Groves Bratley.
Grandparents of the bridegroom are Mr. and Mrs. Norvin M. Wilson, Martin V. Shirley and the late Janelle Martin Shirley.
Music for the ceremony was provided by "The Bells of Faith" handbell choir from the Mustard Seed; Connie Wadsworth, organist; and Margaret Edwards, soloist.
The bride was given in marriage by her father and wore an elegant gown of white matte satin. The strapless gown featured an A-line skirt that fell into a chapel-length train. Satin covered buttons adorned the back of the gown, which was accented with an elegant bouquet of satin roses. Her cathedral-length veil of silk illusion was edged in a wide band of Venise lace.
Her veil, worn by the bride's mother, was redesigned by the bride. Her only jewelry was pearl earrings, a gift from the bridegroom.
Elizabeth Bratley Hennington of Conway, S.C., attended her sister as matron of honor. Serving her sister as maid of honor was Martha Rebecca Bratley of Jackson. Bridesmaids were Kathryn Ann Bowling, Charlotte Margaret Edwards, Claire Myrick Smith, Kristi Merideth White and Lynn Hunnington Witt, all of Jackson, Sarah Semmes Ford, sister of the bridegroom, and Elizabeth Ayres O'Brien, both of Meridian, Shea Sistrunk Fox of Memphis, Kathryn Bowen McCaskill of Richton and Amy Ruth McCullough of Clinton.
The bride's house party was Mary Katherine Butler of Corinth, Catherine Ann Carr of Columbus, Elinor Grann Crigler of St. Joseph, La., Emily Anne Kent of Hattiesburg and Mary Austin Tribble of Greenwood.
Emily Martin Morgan and Ryan Paul Morgan, of Oxford served as flower girl and ring bearer.
The father of the bridegroom served as best man. Groomsmen were David Owen Shirley, Gregory Scott Shirley, Jonathan Eric Shirley, Michael Joseph Shirley, brothers of the bridegroom and all of Meridian, William Brent Bowling, Edward Jerome Everitt, Zeb King Henson and Parker Waring Reece, all of Jackson, Frederick Adams Pennebaker of Portland, Ore., and Malcolm Joseph Vincent Saxon III of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Ushers were John David Hardy, Brian David Lemons and Nathan Alexander Moore, all of Starkville, John Herrington Kosko of Jackson and Benjamin Webb Sabin of Richmond, Va.
Program attendants were Sydney Elizabeth Dehmer of Jackson and Sara Elizabeth Hart of Baton Rouge, cousin of the bridegroom.
Following the ceremony, the bride's parents hosted a reception at Lowe Fellowship Halland the adjourning courtyard.
On the morning of the wedding, the bridegroom's aunts, along with family friends from Meridian, hosted a wedding day brunch at the Fairview Inn. Co-hosting the brunch were Mr. and Mrs. Dee Bradley, Mr. and Mrs. Dathan Hart, Cassie Kaurez, Dr. and Mrs. Kent Darsey, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Feltenstein, Mr. and Mrs. Kinnie Ford, Rosanne Knight and Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Reece.
After a honeymoon in the mountains of North Carolina, the couple resides in Cantonment, Fla., where the bridegroom is the director of student ministries at Pinewoods Presbyterian Church, PCA.