Boyden Reunion
The Boyden High School class of 1936 met for its 73rd reunion at the Country Club of Salisbury on Sept. 9.
Dorothy B. Gantt, former class president presided.
Billy Burke played songs of the ’30s and ’40s during the social hour, which was followed by the class picture and buffet dinner. Burke accompanied the group, which sang familiar songs as well as the class song.
Gantt gave the memorial for members who died since the last reunion in 2008.
Mary Lang G. Olsen gave the invocation prior to dinner, After dinner classmates shared impromptu memories of school experiences as well as experiences during the past year.
Classmates who attended from out-of-town were John C. Busby of Pennsylvania and Mary Lang G. Olsen of South Carolina.
North Carolina attendees were John B. Fisher, Dorothy B. Gantt, Billy H. Johnson, Edith Weant Peeler and Louise R. Walser.The group made plans for the 74th Reunion in 2010.
Locke reunion
The 60th annual family reunion for the descendants of Aaron and Esther Locke Pinkston was held Sept. 6 at the Salem Lutheran Church fellowship hall. President Larry Pinkston welcomed 145 registered family members and friends.
Fred Pinkston Jr. offered the blessing before the 1:30 p.m. covered-dish luncheon.
Eva Pinkston Shipton, age 92, was the oldest in attendance. She is the daughter of James Robert and Ossie Elverson Pinkston.
Jayden Leigh Athey, birthday June 25, 2009, was the youngest in attendance. She is the daughter of Curtis Dwayne Athey and Elissa Roach, the paternal granddaughter of Carl D. and Theresa (Bogle) Athey, the maternal granddaughter of Jay Mabry and the late Linda Mabry, and the great-granddaughter of Homer Ray and Martha Pinkston Bogle.
Jim and Debbie Shipton, of West Melbourne, Fla, traveled the greatest distance, 580 miles. Jim is the son of Fred and Eva Pinkston and the great-grandson of James Robert and Ossie Elverson Pinkston.Larry Pinkston spoke on “60 Years Ago, The Year in Review,” after which, several family members reminisced on favorite memories of previous reunions.
The next reunion will be held on Sept 5, 2010. The tentative location will be Salem Lutheran Church picnic shelter or fellowship hall.
Rockwell Reunion
The Rockwell High School Class of 1947 gathered Sept. 11 for their 62nd reunion at the Blue Bay restaurant in Salisbury.
After visiting and catching up on family news, Ruth Sifford welcomed the group and lit candles in remembrance of their departed friends during the past year: Alvin Agner and Gene Funderburk, both classmates, William Graves Jr., son of Margaret Graves and Virginia Sides, wife of Gilbert Sides. Remarks by the Rev. Donald Lyerly on love, life, and living ended with the invocation.
After the meal they were entertained with a sing along led by by Carr Morgan and several readings by members.
Ruth Sifford conducted the business and shared regrets from Ernest Bowman, Montgomery Ala., R. J. Basinger, Easley, S.C., William and Barbara Matthews, Vistavia Hills, Ala., Dorothy Agner, China Grove.
Those in attendance were Betty and Gilbert Morgan of Mint Hill, Carr Morgan of Granite Quarry, Gilbert Sides and daughter Sabrina Parker of Thomasville, Helen Brady of Gold Hill, Verlene Funderburk of Kannapolis, Margaret Graves of Mocksville, Donald and Betty Lyerly of Salisbury.
From Rockwell: Roselyn Misenheimer, Juanita Walters, Hobart and Edna Yost,Millie Barringer and son Paul and Ruth Sifford. Also in attendance was their teacher and friend Jean McCombs of Faith.
J. C. Price Post 107
On Sept. 7, a picnic was given for the children and youth of Rowan County by the Children and Youth Department of J. C. Price Post 107, Salisbury.
Wade Murphy provided music for the event. The children were given hotdogs, chips barbecue chicken, watermelon. The event was also open for new members to sign up with the American Legion.
The Jr. ROTC from Salisbury High along with their commander, Major Queen Williams, helped serve the children and youth at this event. ROTC members were Desmond Holmes, McKenzie Overcash, Quinn Scarvey, Jack Fedile and Stephany Swing.
Post Commander Mae Carroll was at the event. Helping to make this event a success were Marshall Knox, Gary Hall, John Woods, Roy Leazer, Charles Weldon, Earl Graham, John Frank White and Charlie Rankin.Hotdog rolls and bread were given to Rowan Helping Ministries.
Raffle tickets were distributed. Proceeds will support the Memorial Day gospel singing program.
Steimel gets award
On Sept. 5, the Mooresville Artist Guild hosted their Fall “Plein Air Paint Out.” In the morning, Phyllis Steimel elected to paint a downtown scene and titled it “Main Street.”
After grabbing a quick lunch, she headed to Carrigan Farm on Route 152 and painted a rural scene. Following a home-cooked dinner for the artists, awards were presented and Steimel received third place for her Main Street painting and first place for her painting of Carrigan Farm.
Red Hats
The Silver Queen Strollers of the Red Hat Society of Miller Center visited the Rowan Museum on July 28 to see the hats from the play “Crowns” at the Meroney Theater. Many of the hats belong to Alease Taylor, the main character of the play. The group was invited as guests of Ronnie Evans. They had a light lunch at Wendy’s.
On Aug. 20, the group travelled to Mooresville to ride on the Catawba Queen with lunch at Fat Boy. The following members went on the trips: Annie Rivers, Marian Logan, Katherine Smith, Phyllis Thurnside, Elnora Woods, Madgalene Fox, Fannie Butler, Carrie Boles, Jessie Childers, Addie Hargrave, Betty Hutchins, Keri Brie and daughter, Terry Shaw and daughter, and Gloria Ballard.
Evelyn Clayborne is queen mother.
The Chapeaux Rouge Divas had a picnic with homemade ice cream and birthday lunch with an exchange of gifts on Aug. 11 at the Moose Lodge River Park. Gisele Marquis and Geri Terry are queen mothers.
The Classy Red Hats and Queen Mother Sara Owens met Aug. 21 in the private dining room at Hendrick’s Barbecue for lunch in Spencer.
Hostess, Charlotte Gardiner presented each Red Hatter with a Red Hat bag and a gift.
Rockwell class ’55
Rockwell High School class of 1955 held its 54th reunion on Saturday, Aug. 29, at Lower Stone Church shelter in Rockwell. Forty people attended the event, catered by Richard’s BBQ.
Everyone gathered to vote on classmates who had changed the least. Gernal Lowman and Catherine Freeman Cannon were the winners. Nancy Holshouser Welch received a gift for traveling the farthest, from Georgetown, S.C. Door prizes were won by many classmates.
A program of jokes was given by Rebecca Bost Eidson. There were many laughs and a special gift went to Andrew Brown.Planning committee members for the reunion were Colleen Haynes Hoffner, Shirley Fesperman Cline, and Rebecca Bost Eidson.
A business meeting was held and it was asked that a reunion be held again in 2011 at Lower Stone shelter.
A committee was elected. Gernal Lowman, Roy Pethel, Calvin Ewart and Betty Pickler Surratt were designated to plan the next reunion. They voted to give money to Nazareth Children’s Home in memory of deceased classmates: Dottie Brown Puckett, Betty Jean West, Sarah Kluttz O’Brien, Peggy Ritchie Frick, Sarah Shue Catlett and Rebecca Lentz Trexler. The gift will also be in honor of teachers Jack Walters, Ann Rink-Stiller, Gillie Bost and Dr. William Snider.
Classmates in attendance were: Norma Beaver Surratt, Rebecca Bost Eidson, Oscar Bost, Andrew Brown, Calvin Ewart, Shirley Fesperman Cline, Catherine Freeman Cannon, Alan Galloway, Colleen Haynes Hoffner, Nancy Holshouser Welch, Frances Lookabill Eller, Gernal Lowman, George Lyerly, Edna Owens Stoner, Roy Pethel, Betty Pickler Surratt, Guy Puckett, Fred Setzer, Kay Shuping Lamb, Frank Surratt, Janice Vanhoy Hoffman, Ken Vanhoy, and Miron Wilhelm.Spouses attending were Lloyd Eidson, Daisy Bost, Sara Brown, Jackie Ewart, O’Neil Welch, Floyd Eller, Linda Lowman, Gene Stoner, Lynda Pethel, Bob Surratt, Betty Puckett, Paul Lamb, Frankie Vanhoy and Gayle Wilhelm. Yawn Patrol
Yawn Patrol Zone Toastmasters met Sept. 15 at United Cabarrus Insurance to hold their annual chapter Humorous Speech and Speech Evaluation contest. Jeff Fearn was voted the Humorous Speech contest winner and Belinda Dublin won the Speech Evaluation contest. Both speakers now advance to compete in the Area 35 contest, to be held at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 3 at Troutman’s Restaurant, located at 1388 Warren Coleman Blvd, Concord.
Junior lamb winner
Beverly Hampton of Rowan County was Sunday’s Grand Champion at the Junior Market Lamb Show.
Reserve Grand Champion was Adam Lawing of Rutherford County. Show winners were awarded trophies, ribbons, and cash prizes.
All animals must have weighed between 60 and 140 pounds and exhibitors must have been the primary caretaker of the animal for at least 30 days prior to the show date. All lambs must have been either wethers or ewes.
China Grove reunion
The China Grove High School class of 1945 held its reunion on Aug. 22, 2009, at Gary’s BBQ with 17 members and 10 guests attending.
Jim Stirewalt was emcee for the occasion and gave the invocation before the meal.
Pictures of 30 deceased class members were prepared by class member Mabel Brown and a copy of these was given to each class member.
Stirewalt remembered class member Maisie Bailey Peeler who passed away since the last reunion, and also James Linder, husband of class member Elvira Overcash Linder. Mildred Moose Williams reported that the maple tree at China grove Middle School planted in honor of the class is thriving.
Communications that were received from class members who were unable to attend the reunion were acknowledged from the following: Donald Bernhardt, Carl Evans, Bill Kluttz, Don Porter, Mabel Brown and Louise Waddell.The group was informed that class member Howard Haynes is in the hospital.
Attending the reunion were: Cora Mae Rogers Peeler and husband Leo from Harrisburg; Bill Lefler and wife Frances from Winston-Salem; Goldia Cranford Cruse and guest Frances Morgan from Concord; Corrine Stiller DeMarcus from Winston-Salem; Harvey Trexler from Kannapolis.
Attending from China Grove were: Grey Corriher and wife, Thelma; Louise Wall Shive; Mildred Moose Williams; Melva Walters Funderburk and guest, Betty Reid.From Salisbury, attending were: Donald McKnight and wife Priscilla; Martha Brotherton Travis and guest Sarah Eagle; Jim Stirewalt and wife, Martha; Hazel Freeze Menius and guest Bobbie Earnhardt; Elvira Overcash Linder; Joe Cline Harris and wife Sandy; Kinard Park Sheeks and Janie Seymour.The next reunion will be held in 2010.