From Ken and Anita Maynard…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL……..A LITTLE LATE

BOY HOW COULD I MISS OUT ON WISHING YOU A GREAT BIRTHDAY?  SHERRIE AND I STARTED A NEW BUSINESS AND I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY WITH IT I DID NOT READ THE MAIL UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO SENDYOU A BIRTHDAY GREETING.            

WHEN I FIRST SAW THE NOTE FROM YOUR GIRLS I THOUGHT O BOY WE ARE GOING TO GET TO GO TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY.  THEN I REALIZED THEY JUST WANTED MY NOTE AND I HAD TO GO OUT AND GET MY OWN ICE CREAM.        

ANYWAY, I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS BEAUTIFUL AND THAT YOU AND SHARON WAS HEALTHY ENOUGH TO ENJOY IT.          

BILL YOU AND HAROLD ARE TWO OF THE BEST GUYS THAT I KNOW AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO KNOW YOU BOTH AND CALL YOU FRIEND. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN WE CAN BE WITH YOU AGAIN.        

HAROLD TELLS ME THAT SHARON HAS BEEN SICK.  I HOPE THAT SHE IS GETTING BETTER.  GETTING OLD BRINGS A LOT OF TIMES WE NEED HEALING FROM GOD DOESN’T IT.  JUST THINK,  EVERYDAY BRINGS US CLOSER TO BEING WITH OUR LORD.  SOMETIMES IT MAKES ALL THE PAINS NOT SO BAD.         

ANYWAY HOPE YOU CAN CELEBRATE YOU BIRTHDAY FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH.        

KEN AND ANITA

From David and Marsha Myers…

BILL, BILL, BILL !!!    70!!!!!!!  Unbelieveable.  Maybe on the outside but certainly not on the inside.  First of all—I am so sorry this is late.   Can’t believe I slipped up.  You know that is not a reflection of our love for you both….just “woops” let it slip up on us.  I do apologize.  One of the first things I remember is a S/S party (cook out/bon fire) at somebody’s house and you came in a clown’s costume—even makeup!!!   Of course your “instant” laughter…it is a great as the teaching you did way back when!!!  The “Britt’s Brigade” was born at a party at our house.  You remember the one where Sharon creamed Sid with a water balloon and he sat down the rest of the night.  Ann’s “poem” she wrote for you both at the “Weezer Party!”  aka–your going away party.  The birdhouse David made you ended up with it…from a Christmas Party I think.   We love you both dearly…always will.
  HAPPY BIRTHDAY….Love, Marsha and David

From Emily Kacyvenski Goode…

Happy Birthday, Mr. Britts…..a day late.  I am thankful for you b/c of the excellent example of a father you are.  You have loved me thru Caroline, and you have loved me when I have had the opportunity to spend time with you.

Thank you.

Emily

Chicken Fooooot…

Editor’s note:

After reading Daniel’s message (below), John Van Horn added the following:

How could I forget “chicken foot”!!!! You haven’t experienced chicken foot until you play by Bill’s rules and you have to get the sound just right, including the pitch and hand motions. I haven’t thought of that in a long time. Bill, you are incredible and I love it!

John VH

From John & Patty Van Horn…

Hi to all,

Wanted to get in on the fun with my ol’ pal Bill. We have such fond memories of times spent with the Britts’ and it would take a book to list them all. We go back a long way. I think of all the time at College Park and how our lives were so involved with kids and church. My favorite memory, we were on an adult church retreat in the mountains of NC, sitting on a front porch, in a rocking chair (we didn’t need them then like we do now, right Bill?) eating Bit-O-Honey candy and having the best time telling stories and wondering what our kids were doing! I just have one question for you Bill, why did I gain all the weight and you just stayed the same? My other favorite memory is playing tennis with Bill (yes, he can play tennis even if he says he can’t.) It’s all part of his game, he messes with your head before you even get on the court!! Remember Bill? We took on anyone who would come and play us and we won!! You always said you were older than me, but I didn’t believe it because you moved so much better than most out there. I’ll always remember the “dynamic duo” with fondest memories.

My other favorite memory ( I told you it would take a book to list them all) is your sense of humor, so contagious and infectious and usually got me in trouble somehow. My son will still let go with a call of “YOU KOSHER DILL PICKLE!” I’ll let you explain that one to all your friends, that one is on you!

Now for the most favorite, PYRAMIDS!!! I dare you to explain that one!

As you can tell, I love my brother Bill and his lovely wife and family. We miss you all and pray God will Bless your socks off (that’s another Bill’ism) and hope your birthday is really special.

Thanks for letting us be a part of your life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR FRIEND!

JOHN & PATTY VAN HORN

From Linda Dees…

Happy Birthday Bill!  Our lives have intersected with the marriage of Caroline and Todd.  With their marriage has come an even stronger tie with the births of Parker and William.  We have celebrated weddings, births, birthdays, and going away and coming back events.  Of all those celebrations, of course, the most significant and blessed has been being there for the births of Parker and William.   A more recent celebration was Caroline’s birthday in July, 2005.  I remember it fondly because you, Sharon, Caroline (pregnant with William), Parker, and I spent the day at Dollywood.  This was my first visit to Dollywood, and since you and Sharon have taken friends there many times, you were the perfect pair to give me a tour of the park.  From taking turns riding the rides with Parker, watching the shows, and eating funnel cakes, the day was great!  My personal favorite was the funnel cake.  How about you?  Over the years I have been witness to a man’s living out his Christian testimony through his relationships with his family and friends.  The words respect, integrity, unselfishness, and sense of humor come to mind when I hear your name.  Respect – from family, church friends, and others who know you; integrity – your sense of honor ; unselfishness – my personal witness the year you and Sharon encouraged Caroline and Todd to spend Christmas with me because you knew I needed them; sense of humor – your jokes with Parker and with your girls.  As you turn 70, look fondly at a past of which you can be proud, but don’t stay there too long.  I’m sure God doesn’t intend to waste the gifts and talents he has given you.  You know the saying:  “Today is the first day of the rest of my life”.  I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing about the great things you’ll be doing in this new chapter of your life (Have you considered a visit to Japan?  You know how much you enjoyed Paris!).  Happy 70th Birthday!  Linda 

From Pat Kuehn…

Happy Birthday, Bill!  You are such a precious friend to me, and I thank God for you!  One thing that comes to mind when I think of you is something that occurred when the Ford plant shut down for some reason for a time years ago.  You delivered the morning newspaper and became a blessing to so many of your elderly customers.  You didn’t just throw their paper when the weather was bad, you hand carried it to their door.  I never once heard a complaint from your lips about the work or the inconvenience.  I have always admired and respected your marvelous attitude during that time.  And I love it that we are sports buddies.  There are so many more things I could say, but I’ll leave some cyberspace for others to express their delight in knowing you!  You and Sharon and your dear daughters are all special gifts to me, and to Harold.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  LOVE AND JOY!  Pat Kuehn 

From Harold Kuehn…

Bill, the years have gone by so quickly!  God has really blessed me by meeting you almost 40 years ago, and you becoming my best friend.We have shared a lot of laughs together, but also you and I have been able to share our hearts with each other.  I don’t think that there has been a thing that we have not been able to go to each other with.  You could ask me a question and say what would you do, or what do you think about this, and I might say I don’t know for sure, but I’ll be praying with you for an answer.  It was good to just talk about any problem we had.    I remember us attending a men’s breakfast at New Hope one Saturday and afterwards you and I walked the “blue line” and talked.  This is one of the many special times that you and I have shared together. 

Let me quit rambling and say “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND” wishes for many more!

I have always admired your Christian walk!  I love you like a Brother.

Harold Kuehn

From Amy Adams…

I hope you will accept my sincere wish that you will have a very happy birthday. You certainly have a family to be proud of. Caroline has been and continues to be a blessing in my life (and in the lives of many others), and I thank you for your part in making her the sweet, talented, crazy person she is and for instilling such an inspiring faith in her. May God bless you and your family today and for years to come.

Amy Adams

From Leslie Gary…

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  You and Sharon have been extremely special to me over the years. Thank you for always welcoming me into your home and for sharing your family with me!  I pray this is the best Birthday ever and know that you are loved and prayed for!

Blessings!
Leslie Gary

From Ron Simpson…

Congratulations Bill: April 30, 2007

What a treat it is to be able to wish you Happy Birthday in this fashion! You have very creative daughters. I hope this entire weekend of celebration will be a memory for all time– for you, Sharon and all your wonderful family.

Except for your siblings, I probably go back with you as far as anyone sending you a message on this special occasion. Our friendship in high school was, for me, a personal highlight. To have had the opportunity to “run around with you” and be the close friend of THE MOST POPULAR PERSON in our class was the best part of my high school years. [I know you will never tell others what I just said, but I want everyone to know that it is the absolute truth.] And, of course, our enjoyable years at UT as roommates and best friends represent, without question, some of our happiest times.

On a sofa in my living room is a pillow that belonged to Charlotte. It says “Live, Love and Laugh.” I think that sums up your life. You have been a great friend, a loving husband and father, and the laughter from all our good times still rings clearly in my memory bank. Thank you for being such a fabulous friend and may this birthday occasion truly be enjoyable for you and serve as a tribute to the magnificent life you have lived and shared with the rest of us.

With grateful appreciation, respect and good wishes,

Ron Simpson
Athens, Georgia

Back to the 50s! (<–click for some nastalgia)

From Don and Nancy Jones…

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday, Bill.   We love you and wish you many more birthdays.  We have laughed and cried together for too many years to mention, but through it all, we have loved you and Sharon so much and have deeply appreciated the friendship that we have been so blessed to share.  You are our hero!

Loving God and Loving Each Other……………

Don and Nancy