J

ohn Russell Hewitt and Holly Carol Ethridge are both 
from Headland, Alabama. They are graduates of Troy 
University. John Russell received his Bachelor’s 

Degree in International Business, while Holly 
received her degree in Accounting. John 
Russell works with the Red Star Yeast 
Company. Holly is employed with the 
State of Alabama.

Growing up in a small town, John 

Russell and Holly have known each 
other most of their lives. Over 
the years they went in opposite 
directions as John Russell 
attended Abbeville Christian 
Academy while Holly attended 
Headland High. Fate brought 
them back together after several 
years, and for first time their lives 
were going in the same direction. 
They have been inseparable ever 
since. 

Four years later, John Russell and 

Holly were traveling to Portland, 
Oregon, on Fourth of July weekend 
for a Hewitt family reunion. During the 
reunion, John Russell’s uncle gathered 
everyone for a family trivia game and 
unbeknownst to Holly, another surprise. When 
it came time for John Russell’s turn, he seemed overly 
anxious. He drew a card with a trivia question for Holly. She was 
so worried about getting the answer to the question right that 
she didn’t even clue into the fact that this might be more than 

just a family trivia game. John Russell opened the envelope and 
the card read, “As of July 3, 2016, who agreed to be the newest 

Hewitt?” John Russell got down on one knee and asked 

Holly to marry him. Of course, she said “Yes!” 

After much planning, the wedding date was 

set for April 29, 2017. The weekend began 

with the rehearsal dinner at the Grand on 

Foster. On the day of the wedding, the 

ceremony was held at the Headland 

United Methodist Church where they 

both grew up and were baptized 

on the same day by Pastor Charles 

Price, who officiated the wedding. 

The reception followed at the 
Dothan Area Botanical Gardens. 
The inside provided an elegant 
atmosphere for the reception 

catered by Angela Thomas, while 

the outside was the perfect spot for 

a dance floor where guests could 

party the night away to the music of 

Bobby Moore and the Rhythm Aces 

all while enjoying endless cocktails at 

a custom bar built by the groom. The 

Sparrow’s Nest helped bring the bride’s 

vision of natural elegance to life with greenery 

and beautiful spring flowers with hues of pink 

and ivory. At the end of the night, the newlyweds 

were whisked away in a classic Rolls-Royce. The couple 

enjoyed a honeymoon at a Sandals resort in Negril, Jamaica. 

Holly Carol 

Ethridge 

John Russell 

Hewitt 

photography by 

Kennedy International Studios

J

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