Lamar and Barbara Paul recently celebrated their 57th anniverary. They were married on June 19, 1955 by Reverend Tommie Jones at Plains Baptist Church in Plains.

Mrs. Paul is the former Barbara Ann Sewell. The couple met at Plains High School as teenagers. They relocated to Rome in 1970.

Mr. Paul was employed by The Georgia Power Company for 11 years prior to his retirement. Before working for Georgia Power, he helped in the construction of power plants in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. He was a member of the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 766 of Rome (local 72 of Atlanta). He served in the Army National Guard for 13 years, and the Army Reserves for 21 years.

Mrs. Paul was an avid homemaker, seamstress, and WMU member at West Rome Baptist Church. She worked at Belk’s in Riverbend Mall during the late 70s and early 80s. They moved to Waynesboro in 1982, spending 11 years there before moving back to their family and friends in Rome upon retirement.

They have five children: Lynn Paul Owen of Chipley, Fla., Raymond Paul of Rome, David Paul of Rome, Wayne Paul of Angleton, Texas and Karen Paul Salmond of Roswell. They have 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Their grown grandson, Michael Paul, has Prader-Willi Syndrome and has lived with them since his infancy. The couple are active members of Shorter Avenue Baptist Church. Lamar has been a Trustee for the past 3 years. Barbara has a passion for quilting and has been a member of the Lavender Mountain Quilt Guild for 15 years. Both Lamar and Barbara are volunteers in “Shorter Avenue Prayers & Squares,”

 They believe that the secret to a long and loving marriage is loving the Lord and putting each other first.