February is the month we celebrate LOVE. Let’s consider some interesting statistics for love.
- Approximately 60% of adults believe in love at first sight.
- 48% of men fall in love at first sight.
- Most people decide if there is a physical attraction within the first 3 seconds of meeting them.
- The average age for first marriages has been increasing, with many men marrying around 30 and women around 28.
- Couples who date for three years or more before getting engaged tend to have stronger and more stable marriages.
- Around 30% of US adults have used online dating sites or apps, with 12% reporting that they have met a spouse or long-term partner through these platforms.
- Couples that express affection through physical touch often have higher satisfaction levels in their relationships and less stress.
- Around 80% of individuals believe in the importance of small romantic gestures for maintaining a relationship.
Determining whether "the one" is the person one is currently with is a complex and deeply personal journey. Having a partner may or may not be for you, but these three couples found young, ever-lasting love while attending school locally. They went on to marry and raise families in Anna.
SHANNON OWENS AND COURTNEY (ASHLEY) OWENS
Shannon Owens and Courtney (Ashley) Owens began dating in August 1995, when Courtney was 17 and Shannon was 20. They met in high school, where a mutual friend thought they would make a perfect match. Shannon, who had moved to Anna before 8th grade, was new to the area, while Courtney was a 3rd-generation local. After five years of dating, they married on October 14, 2000. In 2002, they built their home in Anna, and in November 2006, welcomed their son. Their son will be the 4th generation to graduate from AHS in 2025. They celebrated 24 years of marriage in 2024!
PAUL LAWRENCE AND VICKIE (TURNER) LAWRENCE
Paul Lawrence, a 1989 AHS graduate, and Vickie (Turner) Lawrence, a 1991 graduate, had their first date in 1989 at the Blue Ridge Rodeo. They met in high school when her friend asked her to deliver a note to Paul and it backfired. After 3 years of dating, the two married on September 5, 1992, in the Lawrence family home. They have two sons, Preston, a 2015 AHS graduate, and Bryson, a 2020 Van Alstyne graduate. They also have a grandson, Kase, who is 2 years old, and a daughter in love, Alyssa. These local high school sweethearts never dreamed that 32 years later they would still be living in Anna and doing what they love…family farming together!
TIMOTHY “DOOLEY” WORTHAM AND TAMMY JO (YORK) WORTHAM
Timothy "Dooley" Wortham and Tammy Jo (York) Wortham’s roots run deep in Anna. They were friends long before dating at sixteen, with their families sharing a history of friendship and Anna High School ties. Their early romance resembled a Hallmark movie—Tammy was Homecoming Queen, and Dooley was Football Captain. In December 1975, Dooley gave Tammy a promise ring, and they began saving for their future. After graduation and college, they married on January 14, 1978. Together, they built a home, raised two children, and later welcomed five grandsons. Now retired at 66, Dooley and Tammy are still deeply in love and celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary last month!