Peggy P. McMillian honored on 60th birthday with surprise party

Peggy McMillian enjoys 60th birthday surprise.

Peggy Pennington McMillian, Lincoln County native, was honored Wednesday, April 25, with a surprise 60th birthday party given by her husband Daniel, her brother and sister-in-law Weems and Carol Pennington at the Pennington home in Augusta.

Assisting in planning the fun event were Laura Pennington, daughterin law and her mother Ginny Browning, both of Watkinsville.

The surprise went off without a hitch but not without a few snags beforehand. Daniel had made telephone calls the week prior to the party and concocted a plan to have his wife at the appointed place at the appointed time.

What Daniel didn't count on, however, was that he would be rushed to the University Hospital the day before the party for an emergency heart catherization, performed by none other than his brother-in-law and fellow party host, Dr. Weems Pennington, Jr.

Daniel's heart blockage cleared, he was anxious to go ahead with Peggy's party plans so he insisted on coming home Tuesday night prior to the party on Wednesday.

The two arrived on the stroke of seven and Peggy was indeed surprised, as were the guests when they learned of Daniel's day-old heart surgery.

As Peggy entered, guests held up "Peggy masks" they had been given to hold over their faces and each, as instructed, was dressed in "Peggy attire," bluejeans, old workshirt covered in paint, glue guns and various craft paraphernalia hanging from each pocket, and, for the women, curlers in their hair. A woman of many talents, Peggy is employed by Penn-Teck Diagnostics, Inc., Augusta.

The party room entrance featured a portrait sized photo of Peggy as a Lincolnton High School cheerleader. The photo was surrounded by a profusion of spring flowers in mason jars and votive candles atop a red and white checkered tablecloth. Red and white pom-poms and baskets of confetti poppers flanked the table. Other childhood photos were displayed on a bulletin board and around the room.

The cake table held an assortment of goodies such as individual boxes of popcorn, cheese straws, chocolate trail mix, chips & dips, sweet tea, and diet cocacolas.

The birthday cake was designed to look like a soda cup from Sonic, Peggy's favorite fast-food restaurant, and letters spelling "Peggy: Your Ultimate Birthday Shop" were surrounded by pencil candles. Music from the '50s provided a nostalgic touch to the festivities.

Small square tables overlayed with checkered cloths were scattered around the room and each one held an array of spring flowers artfully arranged in a Sonic cup. Table appointments included redcheckered glass plates, red confetti and curling ribbon, votive candles, and mason jars filled with iced tea.

After a time of greeting, laughing, and reminiscing, everyone was seated and served "Barbecue Parfaits." The Parfaits consisted of beribboned mason jars filled with chipped barbecue at the bottom, baked beans in the middle, and cole slaw on the top with a kosher pickle spear inserted to the side.

Dessert was a delicious fruit wrap filled with fresh strawberries, peaches, pineapple, bananas, and blueberries.