By Fabvienen Taylor
JACKSON — “My husband was the best Valentine gift I ever received,” said Rosemary Merriman at the reception following the World Marriage Day Mass on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.
She and husband, Ed, and three of their six children attended the annual celebration sponsored by Catholic Charities Office of Family Ministry and the Diocese of Jackson.
Over 100 couples registered to attend this year’s special anniversary Mass to celebrate significant wedding anniversaries — 25, 50, 60, 70.
Many of the couples were joined by family members in the cathedral.
Rosemary said the couple doesn’t really exchange gifts for Valentine’s Day, which coincided this year with World Marriage Day.
“He did give me a ring in November for our anniversary, but I forgot to wear it. He designed it with the man at the jewelry store.
“The ring has five diamonds in the middle and three diamonds on each side, which are not really large ones. It was for our 65th anniversary. Also, we have three girls and three boys,” she said.
“She’s my girl,” said Ed. “Diamonds are her birthstone so I give her diamonds every five or 10 years for our anniversary.”
The Merrimans married during World War II after they met at a USO (United Services Organization) event in Clarksdale.
“Ed always says I was a USO pick-up,” said Rosemary.
In defining their success in marriage, Ed said, “We take everything a day at a time and we do what needs to be done.”
Rosemary said she never advised her children about marriage. “Our children saw how we (as a couple) did things at home. It was more about setting an example. They saw us at home and they still do.
“Also we agreed with the same things and disagreed with the same things,” she said.
Their pastor, Father Martin Ruane of Grenada St. Peter, described the Merrimans as a team.
“They are very supportive to one another. Ed is easygoing and lets Rosemary run the show. God, Mass and church are important to them.”
For another couple, Joan and Paul Guillory of Gluckstadt St. Joseph, communication has been very important in their 25 years of married life.
“Being able to laugh and always having fun and joking with each other is a constant in our lives,” Joan said.
Paul said unfortunatley, they have seen more than a few marriages succumb to jealousy.
“A lot of times it was envy, and jealousy, and just not having fun with each other,” he said.
For Valentine’s Day Joan gave Paul, an avid reader, some books and a card. He gave her traditional gifts: roses, candy and a card.
Speaking of tradition, Marvin Edwards started 40 years ago giving yellow roses to Cathy, his wife. The couple are Winona Sacred Heart parishioners.
“I gave her yellow roses when I first met her, being that I’m from Texas,” he said. “And for this Valentine’s Day I gave her a dozen yellow roses and a card.”
He received breakfast-in-bed (bacon, eggs, bread) and a card, Cathy said.
But their best Valentine’s Day, she said, was when Marvin “cooked up” a dish for her.
At the time, the Edwards lived in another city and attended a different church.
“The men in the church were challenged to bake something for their spouses. Marvin baked a big Cupid cake with a heart on it. He won first place for it,” Cathy said.
Back in Grenada, Father Ruane routinely sees both Merrimans at Mass, but he spends time golfing with Rosemary and another parishioner, Joan Westin.
“Rosemary and Joan are tough,” he said. “They don’t put up with a lot of things like moving your ball, which, when I play with my priest-friends, we can do.”
Rosemary, who has played golf 20 years, said Father Ruane is a “good, good golfer. We try to teach the good father, but it’s kind of hard because he likes to do things his way. But we make him do it the right way.”
In the long run, Father Ruane admitted it might have paid off.
“My priest-friends said my game has improved since I started playing with the two of them,” he said.
