Six friends

Members of the Les Belles Lettres Book Club have read over 450 books since 1966. Pictured here are Carol Ann Paddock, Carol Kors, Doris Bernard, Anne Pinion, Tamara Ham, Mary Espinosa, Kathleen O’Connor, Sheryl Roper, Janet Atsinger, Mary Jane Pizzitola, Linda Duessel, Paula Faillace, Mary Jane Holm, Martha Ann Satterwhite, Meredith Griffis, Comly Lewis, Dorothy McLemore, Anne Turner, Catherine Frazier, Sue Bennett, Carole Gilbreath, Ann Moss, Sandra Stephens, Melinda Rose, Kate Hawk, Mary Lou Thomas and Dona Badgett.

In 1966, Linda House, Joan Belk, Mildred Shuford, Joan McGee, Sue Nicholas and Lilly Faison started a book club that quickly grew to 16 members. Recently, Carol Ann Paddock, Linda Duessel and Doris Bernard hosted the 50th anniversary of the Les Belles Lettres Book Club at Carol Ann’s home. Melinda Rose and Mary Jane Pizzitola presented each member with a commemorative book. The members reminisced about places they traveled together. Since its founding, the group has read over 450 books. There are still 26 Les Belles in the club. Janet Atsinger, a 49-year member, summed it up by saying, “The book club is about journeying through life with friendship, reading and having fun.”

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