Gary, Marianne Chapman Celebrated 60 Years of Marriage on February 13

 Gary and Marianne Chapman celebrated 60 years of marriage Saturday evening February 13, with a family gathering at the home of their oldest son, Gary Chapman Jr. in Baker. 

Family was present including grandchildren Jason and Misty (Chapman) Regan, Kevin and Heather (Chapman) Accord, and great-grandchildren Nannette and Annabelle Regan and Jackson Accord. 

The event was also attended virtually by the couple’s two younger sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Cindi Chapman of Amissville, VA, and Jeff and Susan Chapman of Pikeville, TN; plus numerous grandchildren from Tennessee, Florida, and Virginia via Zoom.

Gary and Marianne’s daughter-in-law, Tara James Chapman, and granddaughter Misty Chapman Regan, decorated the home with fresh flowers and fine china. 

A delicious meal of fried and boiled seafood from Tony’s Seafood was enjoyed and after dinner a beautiful cake, made by Tara and Misty, was cut by the couple and served to all the guests. It was a memorable evening that was enjoyed by all!

Gary and Marianne Chapman are the owners of Plant World Hardware and Nursery on Greenwell Springs Road in Baton Rouge. Gary is originally from North Little Rock, and Marianne is originally from Baton Rouge. 

The couple met in 1960 while both were working at the newly-opened Woolworth’s store in Bon-Marche shopping center. 

Shortly after meeting, Gary was transferred to a Memphis Woolworth’s location, and it seemed that the couple’s blossoming romance was not to be. Then Gary phoned Marianne and proposed over the phone! 

Marianne boarded a north-bound train to Memphis and the coupled married on her arrival. 

The rest, as they say, is history!

Today, the couple resides in Centreville, Mississippi. They continue to run their business in Baton Rouge every day and enjoy their three dogs, two cats, three sons, three daughters-in-law, 18 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren (with more on the way)!