Page 8 - Winter 2022

Sarah Beth Andrews surprised her father, Oconee Sheriff James James also shared the last dance with Makenzie Hale Worsham to Hale, with a recording of her singing, “You are my Sunshine” from the tune of “In my daughters eyes.”
when she was a little girl.
Father of brides reminisces on those special days
By Michael Prochaska
Oconee County Sheriff James Hale, father of two brides within two years, was brainstorming with his daughter Makenzie on how they would make their entrance when James humorously suggested they parachute in.
Although intended to be a joke, James even had a company in mind, Skydive Monroe, to fly them in.
“My only valid argument against this was that my hair would get messed up,” said Makenzie. “He also pushed me toward the idea of driving in on our family’s hay wagon, which I decided was a better idea.”
Years ago, Makenzie had declared that the perfect piece of family pastureland would be perfect for her wedding. And on May 8, 2021, that vision came true.
Her sister, Sarah Beth Andrews, also had a picturesque, outdoor wedding.
Both weddings were pretty emotional. James nearly shed a tear during the first-look moments of each ceremony.
During her father-daughter dance, Sarah Beth surprised her father with their special song, “Feel My Life.” James had recorded
the song in 1999 for his wedding with Sarah Beth’s step mother, Michelle.
“It was really special to be able to dance to my dad singing,” said Sarah Beth, who was 3 years old when she first heard the performance. “It has always been one of my favorite things to listen to him sing.”
Sarah Beth played a recording of her singing “You are my Sunshine” from when she was a little girl.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the place,” she said. “It was really special and is a moment I will cherish forever.”
James also shared the last dance with Makenzie to the tune of “In my Daughters Eyes. ”
“The words are so meaningful and represent our relationship so well,” she said. “I remember about halfway through the dance, I started crying.”
James has three daughters and one son. Speaking about his two new sons-in-law, James exclaimed that it’s pretty neat to now have three daughters and three sons.
sMichael Prochaska is editor of OCONEE THE MAGAZINE and The Oconee Enterprise newspaper in Watkinsville, Ga. PAGE 6 | OCONEE THE MAGAZINE | WINTER 2022
Courtesy Maura Davidson
Courtesy Mark Parsons