Happy 40th Anniversary to both sets of parents!
March 14, 2009
Yes, both of our parents got married on the same day, March 15, 1969! Mitsy and Dennis Ballentine (left) and Harry and Susan Nanney (right)
Dennis and Mitsy Ballentine will celebrate 40 years of marriage on March 15, 2009.
Having met in at A.C. Flora High School (Columbia, SC), Dennis and Mitsy were later married in Columbia and moved to Taylors in 1972 with their son, Nathan. They currently reside in the same house in Brook Glenn Gardens where their love has deepened over the past several decades.
Mitsy retired from Greenville Technical College in 2006 after more than 30 years of service. She continues to be actively involved with her church Taylors First Baptist and devotes her spare time to her beloved grandchildren, Sarah, J.C. and Emma.
After years in the public accounting field with large businesses, Dennis went out on his own several years ago and presently continues his practice (Clark, Ballentine & Co.) on South Pleasantburg Drive. When time permits, Dennis loves to follow his Gamecocks and enjoys being “Big D” to Nathan and Karen’s children.
Their marriage is a testament to the Christian values they have instilled in their family over the decades.
Harry and Susan Nanney of Black Mountain will celebrate 40 years of wedded bliss on March 15, 2009. They met and dated while attending what was then Montreat Anderson College. They later married in Indianapolis at Northminster Presbyterian Church.
Harry served in the United States Marine Corps and retired in 2002 from Caterpillar Equipment after 30 plus years of employment. He enjoys keeping honeybees and serves on the Black Mountain Parks and Recreation Commission.
Susan is a homemaker and enjoys volunteering at the Black Mountain Chamber and Museum. She also serves as a Deacon at First Baptist Church of Black Mountain, where she and Harry are members.
They have 2 daughters, Karen Ballentine (and her husband Nathan); and Lisa Holcombe (and her husband Chris). They also have 5 grandchildren that they enjoy. All live in Irmo, South Carolina.
We, their children, wish them many more years of marriage and blessings, and to continue to live by the engravings in their wedding rings – Semper Fi.
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7 Responses to “Happy 40th Anniversary to both sets of parents!”
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Thank you for sharing that information Nathan. It is amazing that your parents and Karen’s were married at the same time. Forty years is great too, although we have them beat with sixty years. We were both in the Navy when we were married in 1948. Just sooo good to be happily married after so many years with children and grand children we love so dearly.
Dear Mitsy and Dennis,
What a milestone in your lives! I have so many memories of the two of you. Remember the double date at USC the fall of 1965? I’m so happy for you and your family. I hope the next 40 will be just as wonderful!
Love, Terri
Congratulations!!! Nathan & Karen, what a blessing from the Father to provide both of your parents with 40 years of marriage. I know Dennis and Mitsy and the life they have lived before you Nathan. From what I read above about Karen’s parents I believe it is the same with them. They have given you both a great legacy of faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the living Son of God- the creator of the world.
Nathan, I know you are and will continue to be a godly husband and father and will a good legacy for your children. You may want to talk to Rob about how he is mentoring his children now. He said he wished he had started when he was more your age. But he has some great things to share how the Father is working through his life and allowing him to share with others.
Thank you Nathan for your service at the State House. I pray the Father will give you wisdom from His Word as you seek to serve this great state according to His ways of doing things.
Love you both, Jean Rabon
Wow!!! Mitsy and Dennis-you have not aged one little bit. Happy Anniversary. What a wonderful example you have made to your family through the years. Enjoy those grandchildren. They are what made having children worthwhile.
Love,
Carol & Burt
Dennis and Mitzi,
How young we all were ! (ya’ll are still looking good)
Congratulations on your anniversary. I hope you enjoy many more years together. Come see us sometime.
Love,
Pat
Dear Nathan,
How proud of you we are, your entire family, the extended ones, too. As for your precious parents, they are and continue to be a blessing to me. Your Uncle Doug and your Dad, Dennis were such a large part of my memory and development as a child. I can remember the first time I heard Gene Chandler sing, “Duke of Earl.” Uncle Doss was hollerin’ at Dennis to “cut that radio down. I’ve heard that song three times tonight!” But my earliest memories take me back to even an earlier time. The Conner’s would always mount up right after Christmas with our Santa Loot and head for Columbia. We would celebrate Big Mama’s birthday two days after Christmas. It just happened to be Uncle Ed and Bruce Rabon’s birthday too. We delighted in seeing everyone else’s stuff and feverishly demonstrated how our new treasures worked. By the time we left we had usually destroyed or lost most of the working parts. Monopoly and other board games led my Jeanie and Lynn usually distracted us when it was too dark to play outside any longer. But one evening’s activities is burned into my brain. It was probably around Christmas. I was 5 years old. I remember because I was jealous that Doug had to use two hands to demonstrate how old he was. I was still a ‘one hander.’ Fireworks were always plentiful and rounded out our stocking that had an over abundance of oranges and tangerines. Dennis was probably 9 or so. A big guy! We had been lighting firecrackers or at least watching the bigger guys light them. The older ones decided it would be fun to chase and throw firecrackers at us. This seemed harmless and we enjoyed the attention and squealed with feigned terror as they graduated from throwing single firecrackers to whole packs (probably 20). I remember running with all the speed my fat little 5 year old legs would do. Doug being 13 months my senior had secured a safe distance as he left me behind. I heard, or better felt Dennis fast gaining on me as I padded down the dirt driveway headed for the street. Being warning on innumerable occasions to stay away from the road, I veered eastward toward the Leaphart’s yard. I tripped on the grassy shelf that bordered the driveway, bounced once, and landed on my back in a border shrub. Dennis had just released a lighted pack of explosives. The Chinese paper bombs landed squarely and deep between my jean covered thighs. I can still feel the fright and the blisters that ensued. Needless to say, Aunt Ena had much to say to Dennis, most of which I missed because I couldn’t hear over all the wailing I was doing. Bath time was also a painful event in the Ballentine house. I was modest. The Ballentine boys did not understand the concept. I also remember in grammar school the day that I realized that flatulence was a common condition of the human race and not that of only the Trussell Family. The only people I had ever heard pass gas were my immediate family and the Ballentine boys. It was never a big deal in my family. No one ever laughed or made mention of it. I just figured that it was a condition that we suffered and since no one acknowledged it, it was best just to be quiet and not disclose the family secret. Well, not Dennis and Doug. They had no secrets. If you ever let one go, you were ridiculed, humiliated, and taunted. We saw “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” three times. One of Dennis’ buddies boasted he had seen it 15 times. In Florence, we only had a CBS affiliate and we never got to see any National League Baseball unless we were watching the Yankees play them in the World Series. To come to Columbia and spend the weekend at the Ballentine’s meant we could watch Bonanza, Cactus Quave, the Three Stooges, Andy Clyde, Outer Limits, Amos and Andy, Dr. Kildare, and Bob Barker on ‘Truth or Consequences.’ Why we could later see the Flintstones in color. We learned to ski at Lake Murray behind that red, white, and black aluminum ski boat powered by what, a 45 HP Mercury? I remember buying a handful of baseball cards at the filling station across from the Richland Mall. To my great delight, the first one I opened was a Mickey Mantle. One of the great recollections is watching Dennis peal off week old scabs from his legs, arms, and side after laying a friend’s Vespar down on the asphalt. As junior high kids, Doug and I made our plans to imitate Dennis and his friends who had headed out across country on a road trip all the way out west. How cool was that! I remember that somber occasion when we all cried, Dennis was headed for Viet Nam. I remember so well his return. I remember meeting Mitsy. Dennis was cool, but Mitsy, wow, she was beautiful! Well, that brings us up to that day, March 15, 1969. How the days have flown! So much has happened. Many have gone on. How precious the memories. Thanks for sending the picture of your dear parents and allowing me the opportunity to reflect on the days we have enjoyed as family. One day, because of Jesus, and not really so far in the future, we (that’s ALL of us) will again be reunited and we will enjoy the fellowship we once took so for granted (and without the firecrackers).
Congratulations!
Love you guys!
Dal (for the Conners)
Happy Anniversary Dennis & Mitsy! Boy has time flown. Fred & I will also celebrate our anniversary this Friday, 45 for us. I can’t believe we are old enough for that. Hasn’t it been a fast ride!! We are all truly blessed with our children and grandchildren. (God has been good to us all in that department.)
Doesn’t Dal have a good memory?!! I enjoyed reading his remarks and taking us back to the ‘good ol days’. You really were a rascal but I loved going to your house and playing cowboys with ya’ll and the Leapharts. Some of my fondist memories were at your house…I just wish I could remember specifics like Dal does.
Fred and I wish you many, many more happy anniversaries.
Love,
Lynn