The descendants of the late W. Adolphus and Minnie Morgan Lyerly met on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Faith American Legion building. Forty-seven family members and one guest enjoyed a barbecued chicken meal hosted by C.C. and Dot Caskey and Lynn and Janet Caskey.
President Lynn Caskey welcomed the group and reported the following changes in the Lyerly history: Births -Carter Lee Morgan, born May 8, 2012, son of Clark Morgan and Sandie Chippewa; Chloey Paige Morris, born May 24, 2012, daughter of James and Brandi Julian Morris. Marriage – Brandon Lynn Caskey and Brandi Schlagel on June 23, 2012. Death – Mildred Lippard Kuykendall.
Attending from out of state were Bill and Sandra Jarrett of Orange Lake, Fla., and Ron and Betty Hicks of Newport News, Va. Attending from out of town were Dennis and Becky Anthony of Hickory and Max and Deanie Webb, Melanie Williams and Jamison Best of Madison.
A “thinking of you card” was signed by all for Betty Lippard, a resident at Trinity Oaks Lutheran Home.
Officers are Lynn Caskey, president, Ron Burris, vice-president and Gaynelle Morgan, secretary/treasurer.
The 2013 reunion will be held Sept. 28 with the Bobby and Helen Rogers families serving as hosts.The Faith American Legion Auxiliary recently held its September meeting. Prior to the meeting the group hosted 15 patients from the VA Medical Center for a ‘cook out.’ Eva Millsaps led the group in patriotic songs for the entertainment.
During the meeting an informative report was given by Amy Shank and Steffi Sides who represented the unit at Tar Heel Girl State which was held at Catawba College. Both girls are currently East Rowan High School seniors.Miss Caroline Miller Dula was presented by the Terpsichorean Club of Raleigh at the 2012 North Carolina Debutante Ball, which was held Sept. 7 at Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh. Caroline is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Mast Dula Jr. of Salisbury, and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dalton Miller III of Burlington, and of the late Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Mast Dula of Lenoir. Caroline is a sophomore at Clemson University in the Professional Golf Management program. She graduated from Heritage Academy and the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head, SC, in 2011.The 52nd annual Milas Franklin Cauble Family reunion was held Sunday, Sept.16 at Union Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Approximately 216 people attended. Reunion officers for 2013 are president, Phil Cauble; vice-president, Jake Cauble Jr.; secretary, Debra Cauble McPherson and treasurer, Sharon Livengood. Giovanni JosiahWilliams was the youngest descendant present. Edith C. Holshouser and Irvin Morgan were the oldest descendants present, both 91 years of age. James Cauble of Houston, Texas traveled the farthest to attend the reunion. Following the business meeting, the family and guests were entertained by The Dunn’s Mountain Boys.The Granite Quarry High School Class of 1955 held its 57th anniversary reunion Saturday, Sept. 22 at DJ’s Restaurant in Salisbury. President Perry Julian presided and led activities of interest for the group assisted by secretary Elaine Fisher Williams. There was a memorial presentation in recognition of those classmates who have passed away since our last reunion: Essie Holshouser Brown, Troy Weaver, Tovie McCubbins Barringer and Eddie Gray Holshouser.
Members present included: Carolyn Barringer Corl, Troy Brooks, Phyllis Brown Robinson, Riley V. Robinson Jr., Nancy Eagle Parrish, Phillip Eller, Richard Holshouser, James J.D. Ludwig, James Nance, Jay Ritchie Sr., Ann Russell Brown, Carrie Mae Scott, Nancy Sides Shrout and Gladys Overcash Lickteig.
Individuals updated the group on significant events in their lives and their families since the last reunion. Special guests attending were Ruth Basinger Holt and Peggy Holshouser. Doris Ritchie was recognized as a former faculty member.
Classmates and spouses were invited to meet again at noon on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 at Ryan’s Restaurant for a casual buffet meal. The next regular reunion will be held at noon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 at a location to be announced later.The Rockwell High School Class of 1958 held its 54th reunion Sept. 22 at Gary’s Barbecue in China Grove. Forty-four classmates and guests were in attendance.
A social hour was enjoyed by reminiscing about school days and catching up with one another. Following a class picture, they enjoyed a buffet meal. Invocation was given by Bob Petrea.
Musical entertainment was provided by Jack Shaw, who sang songs from the ’50s.
Master of ceremonies was Loretta Holshouser Warner, who also gave the financial report and provided class booklets.
Door prizes were given out; updates were given on class members who were unable to attend; and get well cards were signed to be mailed to the sick.
A memorial table was set up in memory of deceased class members, displaying each picture with a large white lighted candle.
Deceased classmates are Henry Irvin Eagle, Homer Lee Safrit, Betty Jane Miller Dwiggins, Ronald Ray Morgan, John Wise, Gary Wayne Smith, Raymond Wayne Shue, Steve Morefield, Gary “Gus” Beaver, Peggy Drew Wagoner, Floyd Eugene Morgan, Jerry LeRoy Sides, C.J. Solomon, Thomas Clay Dellinger and Carolyn Jeanette Arey Galloway.
Attending from Concord were Harold and Hope Yost, Sonja and Amber Cline; from Statesville were Carl and Rebecca Varnadore Craig; from Lexington were Arnold and Frances Agner Heilig; from Clemmons was Lena Ketchie Beaver; from Gold Hill were Dorothy Borders Page, Sam and Susan Lowmen; from China Grove were Bennie and Loretta Holshouser Warner; from Harrisburg was Cindy Barbee; from Lincolnton were Herby and Phyllis Vanhoy.
From Salisbury were Jerry Lee and Carolyn Sides, Larry and Betty Fortune, Bob and Joyce Petrea, John and Mildred Hill, Bill and Sue Sides, Mary Ann Doby, James and Barbara Barringer, Judy Ward Gainey, Lipe and Renda Treece Barrier, John Lemly.
From Rockwell were Lloyd Morgan, Helen Featherstone Eddleman, Robert and Carolyn Hill, Glenn and Peggy Haynes Deal, Betty Frances File, Rose Wagoner Safrit and Betty Jo Miller Keever.
Serving on the reunion committee were Helen Featherstone Eddleman, Loretta Holshouser Warner, Frances Agner Heilig
Adding to the fun were many jokes told by those in aqttandance. It was the favor of those attending to have the next reunion in September 2014.The Cauble Golf Tournament was held on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012 at McCanless Golf Cub. There were 34 players making up eight teams. The winning team was lead by Mike Cauble at 11 under par. The longest drive was held by Thad Mulkey and the closest to the pin was Gene Cauble.The descendants of the Brown and Fisher Families met on Sunday, Sept.16 at the Old Stone House, the home of Michael Braun, for their annual meeting. Members began to assemble at 11:30 a.m. for registration and were given name tags. At 12:30 p.m., president Sarah Z. Brown welcomed the 100 plus members and guests to the reunion and luncheon. Clarence Bostian gave the invocation. The luncheon was prepared by members of the Nathan Brown House Association. Desserts were furnished by the members of the board of directors.
At the business meeting, members were asked to vote on a change in the by-laws pertaining to the office of treasurer, recommended by the board of directors; the motion passed. Treasurer Larry Brown gave a talk on the purposes of the Brown-Fisher Association.
An election of officers and the board of directors was held. Officers for 2012-2013 are: president: Norman Ribelin, vice-president: Stephen W. Brown, secretary: Patricia Bonds Beck; and treasurer: Larry Brown. The board members are Ann Bostian, Juanita Fisher Lagg, Teresa Fox, Paul Brown, Todd Berg, Lane Brown, Rod Kesler (new), Deane Brown (new) and past-president Sarah Z. Brown. A moment of silent prayer was held for the Brown-Fisher descendents who died since the 2011 reunion. President Brown recognized 20 first time attendees.
Norman Ribelin recognized members of the military attending for the first time: George William (Bill) Brown of Spartanburg, SC, U.S. Navy; Timothy Hugh Bollinger of Rockwell, U.S. Army; Robert Bruce (Bob) Cameron of Davidson, U.S. Navy (Career); James Gibson Brown, Salisbury, U.S. Army; James Stephen Brown III of Greensboro, U.S. Air Force and Ray Roberts of Biloxi, Muss., U.S. Air Force. Gifts were given to the children attending: Olivia Van Pelt, Kaylee Hahn, Madison Lovingood, Mason Yost, Brandy Fox and Kayla Swicegood, Connor Stout, Dillon Stout, Ainslee Lowery and Michael Lowery.
Gold coins were given to the youngest person present: five-week old Berkley Alexandra Brown, daughter of Ben and Candace Brown, an 11th generation Brown; oldest person present: 92-year-old John B. Fisher of Salisbury, a Brown and a Fisher descendent; those traveling the furthest distance: Ray and Margaret Kennerly Roberts of Biloxi, Miss.; family with the most generations present: Robert B. Brown of Conyers, Ga., with four generations. Family with the most persons present was Ann Brown Kesler of Salisbury with eight.
The Nathan Brown House Association displayed material on the Nathan Brown House. It was built in the 1850s, located on Hwy 52, and was moved across the road in May 2005 and is being restored by the Nathan Brown Association. Nathan Brown was one of the founders of Christiana Lutheran Church, Hwy 52.
Members toured the house and the grounds of the Old Stone House. They enjoyed sampling apple butter, sauerkraut and red cabbage furnished by the staff: Robbie Cochran, Joe Williams, Kaye Hirst and Kayla Stubbs. The Lowery family: Scott, Boni Brown, Carlee, Ainslee and Michael brought their animals which was an added attraction to the grounds.
The 2013 reunion will be held at Grace Lower Stone Church, Old Beattie Ford Road, Sunday, Sept. 22, at the home church of the Fishers. For information about the Brown Fisher Association, contact Patricia B. Beck at pbbeck34@carolina.rr.com