Bo’s Beaus

Bo’s first boyfriend was Ed Anderson from her first grade class at Hickory, North Carolina. Ed sent Bo a lovely pink powder puff one year for Christmas (after they had moved again) and she always wondered what happened to the powder! He wrote in her autograph book, “I’ll be loving you always, even when you are down in Georgia.” From the start, she had a winning way with people, and especially with the males, with her pretty smile, curly blonde hair and friendly personality.

There were others after that, but the one Bo next remembered was her neighbor and boyfriend, Edmond Hayes, who wrote in her autograph book in 1929:

Another time, Ed wrote: “You sure can say the sweetest things and not to mean a darn word of it—you know how alright.”

And another: “I love Bo. I think that she is the sweetest girl I’ve ever known. Ed” And another: “I think you are the sweetest little creature I’ve ever known. I think you are an angel, beautiful, wonderful and Now that’s nice isn’t it? Ed”

When she and Ed were in their senior year, Ed along with another classmate, William Hutchins, were riding in the back of a truck when it was struck in the rear by another vehicle, and to everyone’s horror, Ed and William were instantly killed. William’s father was the Whitener’s doctor, and Dr. Hutchins and Rev. Whitener, made house calls together, minister for the soul and doctor for the body. The night of the accident, the doctor and the minister needed to be ministered to themselves. Edmond had given Bo a ring for Christmas, which her parents had allowed her to wear on her right hand. Bo and Edmond’s “young love” ended abruptly and tragically.

On August 14, 1930, Bo saved a napkin from Sue Veach’s party with Frank Adams’ name written thereon

Another interesting and amusing entry in her autograph book was by a boy named Glenn, who wrote:

On March 19, 1934, Bo received this note:

And then there were telegrams from “John,” several of them, wishing “I were your colleague” and “Best of Luck on her basketball team.” Another one he wrote her had this comment, “We are so different. You are miserable when you are in my presence and I am in an awful shape without you. Maybe I love you too much.” Yes, John, this is called “smothering love.”

There were pictures with Gradon Smith, Gordon Mein, W.R. Cannon and others.

The next young man to come into Bo’s life her junior and senior years in college, was her boyfriend, Walter Wise, a wonderful young man, from Fayetteville, Georgia. James Walter Wise of Fayetteville, was born in Washington, D.C., May 3, 1916, the son of James Walter Wise and Cora (Betts) Wise. His father represented Fayette County for several terms in the General Assembly of Georgia and served as Mayor of Fayetteville, as Solicitor-General of the Flint Judicial Circuit, and as Representative in Congress from the Sixth District of Georgia for five terms. He died in 1925.

Walter, the son, and Bo’s beau, was a graduate of Fayette County High School and graduated from the University of Georgia, completing the four-year course in three years. He was cited among the top three percent in scholastic standing in the entire university system. As an outstanding student, Walter made the Sphinx (highest honors), International Debate Team, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and was President of the State Baptist Student Union, and the southeast President of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Walter gave Bo his fraternity pin to wear, signifying they were sweethearts. (See photo of Walter Wise) According to Bo’s written story of this that I found among her papers, they became engaged.

When Bo graduated from the University of Georgia in 1937, she was unable to attend the ceremony due to having an appendectomy and an ovary removed. When she recovered, her father, Rev. Whitener, rented a cabin at Lake Burton in the summer, and her parents allowed Bo to invite Walter Wise to go with them for a week’s vacation. He was then in Law School at the UGA having graduated a year earlier. On Saturday of that week at Lake Burton, Bo’s dad had to return to Buford due to being in the middle of building a new sanctuary, and the many responsibilities associated therewith.

Bo, Walt and her mother (another very unusual thing in today’s world) rented a boat and motored out on the lake, with Walt as navigator. Suddenly, in the midst of a beautiful day on the lake, Walt fell back on the motor. They thought he had passed out from the sun. Bo stood and screamed until someone came to help them. Walter died in the middle of Lake Burton with a heart attack at age 21! In Bo’s own words, “My world toppled!”