Sharing their legacy

Five women and their 25 children celebrate years of friendship with lots of good food.

Meet Shirley Schmidt, Julia Ann Caruso, Pat Dickinson, Myrt Haas, and Bobbye Ruth Maggio, who have raised 25 children and nurtured each other through 42 years of joy and sorrow. Inspired by the movie, they call themselves "The Steel Magnolias."

"We wear pins that are a cluster of three pewter magnolias made by a local artist," says Shirley. "We've dubbed our daughters and daughtersin-law `The Buds' and pinned them with a single pewter magnolia."

Last Christmas they celebrated at Shirley's Pass Christian, Mississippi, home. Here are two of their favorite dishes. ANDRIA SCOTT HURST

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Nov 2002
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