Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
2:57 am Saturday, August 9, 2003

Thames, Smith

By Staff
Maria Lara Smith of Meridian and Matthew Ryan Thames of Hattiesburg were married Saturday, April 26, 2003, at First Baptist Church in Hattiesburg with the Revs. Dr. James Keith Smith and Dr. Jeffrey Clark officiating.
Parents of the couple are Dr. and Mrs. James Keith Smith of Meridian, and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Thames of Hattiesburg.
Grandparents of the bride are Bertie Alice Smith of Union and the late Gipson Smith, and Mr. and Mrs. Doxie Adkins of Union.
Grandparents of the bridegroom are Katherine Thames of Hattiesburg and the late William Thames, and Margaret Hill of Hattiesburg and the late Leonard Hill.
Music for the ceremony was provided by Kathy Vail, organist; Valerie Saundry, trumpeter; Jessie Temple, Barbara Martin and Charla Milligan, vocalists.
The bride was given in marriage by her father. She wore a satin gown with a detachable train. The cathedral-length train of satin and lace was encrusted with seed pearls and silver bugle beads. Seed pearls and silver bugle beads accented the dropped waistline and hemline.
Debra Hare of Lucedale served as maid of honor. Other attendants were Christina Gates of Birmingham, Ala., Casey Clarke of Meridian, Charla Milligan of Hewitt, Texas, Melanie Reeves of Pensacola, Fla., Donna Rowse, Kristin Gregory and Melissa Thames, all of Hattiesburg.
Grace Smith of Jackson, niece of the bride, served as flower girl.
The father of the bridegroom served as best man. Groomsmen and ushers were Philip Smith, Stephen Smith, David Horner, Todd Davis, Will Rives, Aaron Earles and Brian Lum, all of Jackson, Dr. Michael Smith of New York, N.Y., and Kevin Rogers of Brandon.
Program attendant was Alison Smith.
A reception was held at First Baptist Church fellowship hall following the ceremony.
Assisting at the reception were Margaret Smith, Loryn Davis and Jennifer Glover.
After a honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains, the couple resides in Clinton.

Also on Franklin County Times
Rural hospitals face challenges: New state tax credit could help
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County’s two hospitals face the same financial pressures confronting rural health care across Alabama even as they remain esse...
Phil Campbell gets ‘clean opinion’ on audit
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Certified public accountant Don Wallace told town council members on Jan. 20 there were no problems with this year’s audit. “This is w...
MLK’s legacy: Blueprint we must follow
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Rev. Bennie “B.J.” Bonner stood before an audience gathered Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration March and described ho...
Elementary students begin Super Citizen program
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
Second and third graders from West Elementary and Russellville Elementary began Liberty Learning Foundation’s Super Citizen program during an event ki...
Book Lovers Study Club explores tea’s role in history
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 28, 2026
Our Book Lovers Study Club’s January meeting highlighted both the Boston Tea Party boycott of English tea and the traditions of afternoon tea. One of ...
Moving from excuses to action in 1 year
Columnists, Opinion
January 28, 2026
In just 12 months, the Trump administration has delivered real results that Americans can see in their daily lives by restoring law and order at our b...
Higgins hired as RHS football coach
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Darrell Higgins has been hired as the new head football coach at Russellville High School. His hiring was announced Saturday following ...
Seal retires from CB&S after 31 years
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Following a 31-year career at CB&S Bank, Beverly Seal is now retired and looking forward to what comes next. While she’s still explorin...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *