Holidays can be a bittersweet time for those who have deceased loved ones. We keep their memory alive through amusing anecdotes, cooking their favorite holiday dish or making charitable donations to honor them.

The Calera Chamber of Commerce accepted in-memory sponsorships for their golf tournament at Timberline Golf Club. A memorial banner was placed at the 17th hole to honor those who played at Buxahatchee Golf Course.

Gail Blankenship, Calera Chamber executive director, describes John Kent as always having a cigar in his mouth.

“John was golf pro,” Blankenship said. “He was the first to get there and last to leave. He’d watch after the kids who stayed at the pool while their parents worked.”

Blankenship laughed as she reminisced Kent’s pacemaker and how the microwave interfered with it. “We’d call Mike Kent, his nephew, to come get him to have it reprogrammed.”

Bob Loftin, known as the Liberty National agent, was active in church, served on the city council and as lieutenant governor of Civitans of Central Alabama.

Norma, Loftin’s wife, remembers the used golf cart he and his brother bought.

“They gave it a ‘Roll Tide’ paint job,” Norma said. “They were so proud of it, but it never made one round. It always broke down and they’d have to push it back.”

It was not unusual for grandsons Cameron and Connor Bush to play a round with him. Once, Loftin played 54 holes and ended up in the emergency room with a heat stroke.

“Thanks to John Kent, the caregiver to all golfers, Bob never did that again,” Norma said. “After he played 18 holes, John would say ‘Go home! You scared me to death when you passed out.’ ”

Loftin coached Little League and football. He and Cameron were killed in a car accident May 30, 2000, on the way to ball practice.

Former Shelby County Sheriff Buddy Glasgow truly enjoyed golfing.

“Buddy golfed all over the southeast, but he loved the nine-hole Buxahatchee best,” wife Lemoyne said. “When he wasn’t riding his golf cart to the clubhouse it was under the carport with the batteries charged, ready for the next trip.”

Glasgow spoke of the camaraderie among the golfers.

“Whether they talked politics, weather or football, there was a sweet brotherhood.”

“There are wonderful memories of people who touched our lives through Buxahatchee Golf Course,” Blankenship said. “Though it’s gone, those who made the memories live on in our hearts.”

Mollie Brown can be reached at dmjhb1@bellsouth.net.