Earnhardt descendants gather for 13th reunion

Descendants of the Henry Milas and Josephine Hopkins Earnhardt family met Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, for their 13thEarnhardt reunion at Union Lutheran Church on Bringle Ferry Road. More than 100 family members attended.

The Earnhardts lived in the Dunns Mountain and Crystal Lake areas. Their eight children were Hettie Bell Earnhardt Allman, Della Earnhardt Wyatt, James David Earnhardt, Charlie Edwar4d Earnhardt, Samuel Council Earnhardt, Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman, John Henry Earnhardt and Dock Earnhardt. The oldest living descendant is J.W. (Dietz) Earnhardt of the Samuel Council Earnhardts.

Reunion coordinators Amy Earnhardt Blackman, descendant of Charlie Edward Earnhardt and Jan Weaver Pruette (Hettie Bell Earnhardt) welcomed everyone. Kenneth Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt) gave the blessing before the covered-dish lunch.

Framed pictures of Milas and Josephine Earnhardt, as well as past reunion pictures, were on display. A collage was made of the 2014 reunion descendants, and copies were given to everyone. Fall arrangements decorated the dining area.

There were no deaths in the family since the last reunion. The family remembered family members who are sick: Edna Earnhardt Bentley, Howard Wayne Bentley and Mickie Bentley (Charlie Edward Earnhardt); J.W. (Dietz) Earnhardt, Sam Earnhardt, Earl Davis Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt); and Sue Rufty (Hettie Bell Earnhardt).

Births since our last reunion were Aaron Honeycutt, Ryder O’Bryan Connor Ferrell, Sophia Ryane McBryde (Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt); Ian Dean Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt); and Larson Stuart Rufty (Hettie Bell Earnhardt).

A gift was presented to the oldest person present, Billy Rufty, 82, of Salisbury, in the Hettie Bell Earnhardt family.

Also honored were family members now serving in our military forces: PFC Cody Barnhardt, U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Drum in New York, and Sgt. David Earnhardt, U.S. Marines, stationed in Jacksonville, N.C., both in the Samuel Council Earnhardt family.

The youngest descendants present were: Ian Dean Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt); Ryder O’Bryan Connor Ferrell, Sophia Ryane McBryde, Annubellum Bentley, Chesney Bentley (Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt); and Cody Ray Blackman (Charlie Edward Earnhardt).

Children 10 and under registered for a prize. Ian Dean Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt) received the gift which was a Nancy Tillman Collection Book and a stuffed elephant.

Halloween treat bags were given to all the children present. Families placed flowers on gravesites in memory of their deceased descendants.

Sunday was Spina Bifida Awareness Day, and the family remembered one of their own, Aaron Honeycutt (Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt).

The Littlie Myrtle Earnhardt family had the most descendants present.

Sandy Beck of Providence Forge, Va., (Hettie Bell Earnhardt) and Adam Gobble and family of Ladson, S.C., (Charlie Edward Earnhardt) traveled the farthest.

Family members and guests attended from Salisbury and surrounding counties, Charlotte, Morven, S.C., and Virginia.

 

The Rowan Redbuds Garden Club

The Rowan Redbuds Garden Club meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 1:00 in the Stanback Room of Rowan Public Library Headquarters, 201 West Fisher Street, Salisbury. The Club meets the thirdThursday of November due to Thanksgiving holiday and there is no meeting in December. Guests are welcome. Call Kim Fahs, President, 704-754-8905 if interested. This program is not sponsored by Rowan Public Library.

 

Livengood-Peeler-Wood Auxiliary

Livengood-Peeler-Wood Auxiliary met for its monthly meeting on Oct. 27 at the Granite Quarry Legion Building. A fundraiser dinner was served, followed by the business meeting. Special thanks were sent to Thrivent Financial for their donation to suplement the purchase of VA patient care items. A program on events and facts of the Revolutionary War was shared with the 15 members present.

 

The Young family project fundraiser 

The Young Family Project fundraiser is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6: Sammy Young passed away in a wreck in June, leaving behind a wife and three children, one with spina bifida. Two Gastonia locations • First Freewill Baptist Church, 2316 Union Road • Ranlo Church of God, 1825 Spencer Mountain Road. $8/plate for bbq, slaw, beans, dessert. Email orders to theyoungfamillyproject.org