By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
With Thursday evening’s Rowan County United Way car giveaway drawing down to the final two ó Larry Johnson and Renee McDaniel ó Johnson left his spot at the front and appeared to be headed back to his seat.
As it turned out, he went to rub the hair of his redheaded granddaughter, 6-year-old Braylee Childers of China Grove. It worked beautifully.
A minute later, McDaniel’s name was drawn as the first runner-up, leaving Johnson as the winner of the new car. Braylee ran up to her grandfather, who picked her up and hugged her.
“Everybody rub that head,” said Todd Rakes, general manager of Ben Mynatt Nissan.
Johnson, who contributed to the United Way through his job at Norandal USA, then drew Ben Mynatt as the dealership to provide the car. Rakes said afterward that Johnson will be at the dealership Tuesday morning to choose his car from about 12 to 14 Nissan Versas and Sentras.
Johnson will be able able to pick the car that best meets his family’s needs. “I want it to be a pleasant experience,” Rakes said.
Braylee said she knew all along that her grandfather was going to win and even told two of her friends at school her prediction. She said she’ll tell everybody at school the good news today.
Why was she so sure? “Because he’s lucky,” she responded.
Is he lucky because he rubs her head? “Yeah,” Braylee said with a big smile on her face.
It seems several people at the United Way drawing ó held at the Hurley Family YMCA ó wanted to rub her bright red hair, which she wore tied up in a side ponytail. She didn’t seem to mind.
Braylee appeared to like Post photographer Wayne Hinshaw’s suggestion that she start charging a quarter a rub.
Larry Johnson said he might just buy a couple of lottery tickets before his luck runs out.
When interviewed for a story about the drawing, Johnson said he hoped his granddaughter and her father, Jeff Childers, could accompany him because they’re both redheads. Jeff had to work at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast, but Braylee’s mother, Brandi, brought along her grandfather’s good luck charm.
“She and her Poppy are tight,” said Brandi.
Actually, both of Larry Johnson’s sons-in-law have red hair. His daughter, Bretta, who lives in Georgia, is married to redhead Joel Dodson, who is serving in Afghanistan.
When people ask Braylee where she got her red hair, her mother said “she used to say ‘My daddy.’
“Now she says ‘My daddy and my uncle,’ ” Brandi said. ” People look at her like, ‘Oh my …’ ”
Larry’s wife, Vickie, said Bretta and Joel don’t even know Larry was a finalist. “I guess I’ll be calling Georgia tonight,” she said.
Vickie said Larry wasn’t feeling too lucky about the drawing. “He said, ‘I’m not going to win,’ ” she said. ” ‘I don’t know why I’m going over there.’ ”
As the other finalists’ names were drawn by young Spencer Gettys and eliminated one by one, Brandi Childers said her heart started beating faster and faster.
When asked who would get the new car, Vickie pointed out that Larry bought a new truck about a year ago, whereas her car is several years old.
On the other hand, Larry said it all depends. If the car gets good gas mileage, he said he might just drive it to work instead of his truck.
Larry Johnson had to leave his job as an oil room attendant at Norandal USA to go to the 5:30 p.m. drawing. Some of his co-workers were also there to cheer him on.
The other 11 finalists received $100 in gift cards, gas cards or “Downtown Dollars” good in participating Salisbury stores.
“Everybody’s a winner,” said Ronnie Smith, chief cheerleader for the United Way. “If anybody needs a loan, see one of the finalists.”
They were: Lt. Michael Terry Agner of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office; Stacy Bias of the city of Salisbury; Donna Byrd of Freightliner; Les-Lee Efird of Carson High School; Tammy Eudy of Bostian Elementary School; Leslie Heidrick of Rowan County; Charlie James of the Salisbury Post; Renee McDaniel of Residential Garbage Service; Pam Morris of Salisbury High School; Jeff Pope of Chandler Concrete; and Michael Strickland of Dillard’s Distribution Center.
On a sad note, Agner could not be at the drawing due to the death of his father, Willie Alexander Agner Jr., on Wednesday. Though finalists have traditionally had to be present to win, Campaign Chairman Chuck Elliott said the others met beforehand and agreed to leave Agner’s name in for the drawing.
“I know he’ll appreciate that,” Elliott said.
The consolation prizes were donated by Citizens South Bank, Community Bank of Rowan, Community One Bank, F&M Bank, First Bank, Rowan Regional Medical Center, SunTrust Bank and three anonymous donors.
This is the fourth year in a row Salisbury’s five automotive dealerships ó Ben Mynatt Nissan, Cloninger Ford/Toyota/Scion, Gerry Wood Automotive, Salisbury Motor Co. and Team Chevrolet/Cadillac ó have teamed up to give away a new car to encourage people to contribute to the campaign.