Obituaries, 4/30/08

Edith Mae Adams
Edith Mae Cavin Adams, 81, Kannapolis, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008.
Born Aug. 31, 1926, in Rowan County, she was a daughter of the late Banks Eugene and Bessie Mae Cagle Cavin. She retired from Cannon Mills Co. Plant 1 Sheet Department. She was a  member of Midway Baptist Church, where she had played piano for many years.
Survivors include her husband, Hubert Adams; son Troy Harwell of Kannapolis; daughter Mildren Hunter of Kannapolis; brothers Charles Cavin of Texas, Jim, Gene and Wade Cavin, all of Kannapolis; sisters Eleanor Smith of Maryland and Annie Wilhite of Kannapolis; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.
A service was held Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Whitley’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. James Pauley.

Richard Brashear
Richard Allen Brashear, 62, 823 Woodmoore Lane, Kannapolis, died Monday, April 21, 2008, at his home.
Born July 5, 1945, in Uniontown, Penn., he was a son of the late William Quay Brashear and Marjorie T. Brashear of Uniontown, Penn. He had been employed as a sales engineer for Tetra Pak Inc. and with Universal Forest as a driver. He was a 1963 graduate of Uniontown High.
In addition to his mother, survivors include his wife of 42 years, Louise Matthews Brashear; sons Allen Brashear of Charlotte and Michael Brashear of Hickory; brothers Milton Brashear of Uniontown, Penn., Robert Brashear of Charlestown, W.Va., and the Rev. James Brashear of Allentown, Penn.; sister Susan B. Ledonne of Hilton Head, S.C.; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials: Hospice & Palliative Care of Lake Norman, 705 Griffith St., Suite 203, Davidson, NC 28036 or Multiple Sclerosis Association, 706 Hadden Field Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 or American Cancer Society South Atlantic Division, 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28210.
Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Sidney Britton
CONCORD — Sidney M. Britton, 87, of Concord, died Monday April 21, 2008, at CMC-NorthEast, Concord.
Born May 26, 1920, in Roanoke Rapids, he was a son of the late James W. and Annie Barnes Britton. He was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church and the Senior Center and the Board of Kiwanis. He served in the U.S. Army in Europe and was a member of the VFW and a charter member of the Arkansas Country Doctor Museum.
He was preceded in death by his son, James R. Britton.
Survivors include wife Katherine K. Britton; daughters Mary E. Britton and Denise MacDonald; son Sidney M. Britton Jr.; and three grandchildren.
A service was held Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at Epworth United Methodist Church, Concord, conducted by Dr. Glenn Myers. Burial, National Cemetery, Salisbury.
Memorials: Epworth UMC Building Fund, 1030 Burrage Road N.E., Concord, NC 28025 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis NC 28081.
Wilkinson Funeral Home was in charge.

Constance Buckwell
CONCORD — Constance Janet Buckwell, 73, 1 Buffalo Ave., died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at CMC-NorthEast, Concord.
Born July 30, 1934, in Kannapolis, she was a daughter of the late Dan and Irene Sloop Buckwell. She worked as a nursing assistant for many years.
Survivors include brother Jimmy Buckwell, North Myrtle Beach, S.C..
Services were not announced.
Lady’s Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.

David E. Byrum
CONCORD — David Edwin Byrum, 89, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at his home after a brief illness.
He was a retired attorney born in Winston-Salem.
Survivors include wife Sara “Inez” Mauney Byrum; son Charles “Steven” Mauney; brother Porter Brown Byrum; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at Union Baptist Church Cemetery, Polkville.
Memorials: Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10005 or donor’s choice.
Hankins and Whittington Funeral Home, Charlotte, is in charge.

Lula Helms Cline
CONCORD — Lula Helms Cline, 89, of Concord, died at home on Friday, April 25, 2008.
Born on Jan. 4, 1919, in Cabarrus County, she was a daughter of the late Sam and Mary Elizabeth Byrd Helms.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee D. Cline.
Survivors include daughters Betsy Hogue and Debbie Biggerstaff, both of Concord; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A service was held Sunday, April 27, 2008, at Wilkinson Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Merrill Perkins. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Memorials: Ann Street United Methodist Church, 335 Ann St. N.W., Concord, NC 28025 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Shirley Daisy Corl
Shirley Daisy Safrit Corl, 98, 2409 Summit Ave., Kannapolis, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at her residence following a period of declining health.
Born Oct. 8, 1909, in the Rimer Community, she was the daughter of the late William Alexander and Cordia Alice Rimer Safrit.
Mrs. Corl retired from Cannon Mills Plant No. 1 sewing room after 50 years of service. She was a member of New Hope Lutheran Church and the Women of the Church. She was educated in the Rimer Community School.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Luther Corl, in 1963.
Survivors include son Charles Corl of Kannapolis; three grandchildren; half-sister Jeanette Haverty of Virginia Beach, Va.; and half-brother Bob Safrit of High Point.
A service was held Monday, April 28, 2008, at Whitley’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Kim Trabold. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Memorials: Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis NC 28081 or New Hope Lutheran Church, Building Fund, 1615 Brantley Road, Kannapolis, NC 28083.

Minnie ‘Jo’ Drye
CONCORD — Minnie Josephine “Jo” Crayton Drye, 87, died April 21, 2008, at Morningside Assisted Living of Concord.
Born June 5, 1920, in Cabarrus County, she was the daughter of the late Shuford and Essie Osmond Crayton. She worked at various hosiery mills in Cabarrus County and was a longtime member of Coldwater Baptist Church in Concord.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Luke H. Drye, to whom she was married for 65 years, and their infant son.
Survivors include son Jerry Maxe Drye of Concord; two granddaughters; and five great-grandchildren.
A service was held Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Hartsell Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Jim Posey. Burial, Mission Baptist Church, Locust.
Memorials: Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.
Hartsell Funeral Home was in charge.

James Elwood
DAVIDSON — James Aubrey Elwood, 78, 4240 Shiloh Church Road, died Monday, April 21, 2008, at his home.
Born Sept. 11, 1929, in Cabarrus County, he was a son of the late Ebb Harmon and Ethel Petrea Elwood. He retired after 40 years of service from Cannon Mills, where he was a loom fixer. He later owned and operated a small-engine repair service. He was a member of Shiloh United Methodist Church.
His wife, Mildred Starnes Elwood, died June 5, 1989.
Survivors include son Gary D. Elwood; three granddaughters; and a great-granddaughter.
A memorial service was held Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Lady’s Funeral Home. The Rev. Leon Hawks officiated.

Martha Ferguson
CONCORD — Martha Query Ferguson, 84, died Friday, April 25, 2008, at the Gardens of Taylor Glen.
Born May 9, 1923, in Cabarrus County, she was the daughter of the late Jacob Leon Query Sr. and Winnie Yerton Query of Harrisburg. She graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1941, where she lettered in basketball. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Concord. She volunteered at NorthEast Medical Center, where she worked in the Pink Pinafore for many years.
Her husband, Edwin H. Ferguson Sr., died in 1976.
Survivors include children Edwin H. Ferguson Jr. of Concord and Chylene F. Robinson of Charlotte; sisters Sadie Query Hefner of Harrisburg, and Betty Query Sides of Charlotte; brothers Zeb and Victor Query, both of Concord; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A service was held Monday, April 28, 2008, at Wilkinson Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Tom Anderson and the Rev. Bill Milholland. Burial, private, Carolina Memorial Park.
Memorials: Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Boy Scout Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081 or First Baptist Church, 200 Branchview Drive S.E., Concord, NC 28025.

Charles Fortune
CONCORD — Charles Edward Fortune, formerly of Scenic Drive, died Friday, April 25, 2008, at Morningside of Concord.
He was born March 25, 1929, in Cabarrus County to the late W.K. and Mary Belle Suther Fortune.
He retired from the city of Concord Light & Water Department after 30 years and was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Survivors include wife Lorene Ritchie Fortune; daughters Sharon F. McRorie of Concord and Pam F. Cavalline of Charlotte; son Ken Fortune of Charlotte; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Hazel Penninger of Raleigh.
A funeral was held Sunday, April 27, 2008, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Mark Ericson. Burial, church cemetery.
Memorials: St. John’s Lutheran Church, 100 St. John’s Road, Concord, NC 28025 or Hospice & Palliative Care, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Adam B. Griffin
CONCORD — Adam Boyce Griffin, 71, 42 Ridge Court S.E., died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at CMC-NorthEast.
Born Oct. 26, 1936, in Union County, he was a son of the late Chatham Griffin and Virginia Helms Faggart. He had been employed by ADM Milling Co. He was a member of Cold Water Baptist Church.
Survivors include wife Louise Mitchell Griffin; daughters Melissa G. Britt and Melinda Lynette Daniels, both of Concord; son Lanney Griffin of Concord; brother Bill Faggart of Midland; sister Ella Von Garmon of Concord; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
A service was held Monday, April 28, 2008, at Hartsell Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Jim Posey officiating. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Memorials: Cold Water Baptist Church, 1045 Union St. S., Concord, NC 28025.

Roy M. Hardin
CHINA GROVE — Roy Michael Hardin, 42, of Highway 153, died Thursday, April 24, 2008.
Born July 9, 1965, in Yokosuka, Japan, he was a son of Sueko Kawasaki Hardin and the late Charles Perry Hardin.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by a daughter, Britanny Hardin, of Salisbury; and brother Steven Hardin of Salisbury.
A service was held Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at Lady’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Earl Hardin.

Willie H. Hartis
Willie Hunsucker Hartis, 78, 2207 Woodlawn St., Kannapolis, died April 20, 2008, at Transitional Health Services.
Born March 27, 1930, in Rowan County, she was the daughter of the late Vinnerd D. and Lelia Beaty Hunsucker. A retired waitress, she worked for many years at Zayre’s, Rose’s and Eckerd Drugs. She was a member of Genesis Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Carol Hartis, and a grandson.
Survivors include husband Daniel S. “Dee” Hartis; daughter Sharon Hartis Clarke of Cameron; brother Dwight D. Hunsucker of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and four grandchildren.
A service was held Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Lady’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Gene Edwards. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Memorials: Genesis Baptist Church, 9710 Old Concord-Salisbury Road, China Grove, NC 28023 or N.C. Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 12745, Winston-Salem, NC 27117.

‘Red’ Lapish
Cloyd Ovid “Red” Lapish, 94, formerly of Kannapolis, died Sunday, April 20, 2008, at Lake Park Nursing Center, Indian Trail, after a period of declining health.
Born Feb. 2, 1914, in Iredell County, he was a son of the late Elonzo Lewis and Bertha Smith Lapish. He had been employed by Cannon Mills. He was a charter member of Memorial Baptist Church, Kannapolis, where he taught the Adult Men’s Sunday School Class for many years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche Godfrey Lapish.
Survivors include sons Clyde Lapish of Flint, Mich., and Bobby Lapish of Monroe; and sister Cleo Lambert of Kannapolis; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A service was held Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Memorial Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Don Davis and the Rev. Dallas Pressley. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Memorials: Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215 or Hillcrest Baptist Church Rest Home, 4123 Hillcrest Church Road, Monroe, NC 28110.
Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Norman Lee
Norman Lee, 83, 219 West G St., Kannapolis, died Friday, April 24, 2008, at CMC-NorthEast.
Born in Cabarrus County on April 5, 1925, he was a son of the late Willis James and Nannie Hammons Lee. A member of Calvary Baptist Church, he retired from Cannon Mills Plant No. 4 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
His wife of 64 years, Ruth Souther Lee, died March 20, 2008. He was also preceded in dath by daughter Joyce Ann Lee and stepmother Julia Donaldson Lee.
Survivors include son Leonard James Lee of China Grove; half-sister Libby Oswalt; half-brothers William H. Lee and David Lee; two grandsons; and two great-grandsons.
A service was held Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at Calvary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Joel Ervin officiating. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Lottie G. Parker
CONCORD — Lottie Goodman Parker, 93, formerly of 2806 S. Ridge Ave., Concord, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at Hospice House, Kannapolis.
Born March 15, 1915, in Rowan County, she was a daughter of the late James Frank and Hannah Jane Victoria Goodman. She retired from Cannon Mills Plant No. 1 sewing room after 25 years. She was a member of Brookdale Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Parker, on Dec. 26, 1983; and a son, Jimmie L. Parker.
Survivors include daughter Linda P. Gunnell; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A service was held Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Whitley’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Mike Hubbard. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Memorials: Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Emma G. Peeler
SALISBURY — Emma Gabrielle Peeler, 2 days old,  daughter of William Grant Peeler III and Cheryl Helms Peeler of Dunn’s Mountain Road, died April 21, 2008, at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.
Born April 19, 2008, in Cabarrus County, she is survived by brother Justin Peeler; grandparents William Grant Peeler Jr. and Jean Peeler of Salisbury, Rick and Tess Helms of Kannapolis and Diane Linn of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and great-grandparents Fred and Helen Helms of Kannapolis.
A service was held Saturday, April 26, 2008, at High Rock Community Church, Salisbury, with the Rev. Ronnie Pinyan officiating.
Memorials: Children’s Miracle Network, c/o Levine Children’s Hospital, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203.
Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Benjamin Poteat
Benjamin Tyler Poteat, 28, 1104 Rogers Lake Road, Kannapolis, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at CMC-Charlotte, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Born April 17, 1980, in Cabarrus County, he was a son of Kenneth A. Poteat of Kannapolis and Tina Smith Poteat of Mooresville. He was a graduate of A.L. Brown High School. He was a graphic design artist at Absolutely Signs for 10 years.
Survivors include wife April Hursey Poteat; daughter Brooke Elizabeth Poteat; sons Brayden Tyler Poteat and Kenneth Brodie Poteat; stepson Brennen Andrew Manus; sisters Kathrine Jeanne Poteat, Kannapolis, and Sara Marie Poteat, Oakboro; paternal grandparents Nancy J. Fisher, Concord, and Ken and Evelyn Poteat, Midland; and maternal grandparents Frank and Jeanne Smith, Lake Norman.
A service was held Friday, April 25, 2008, at Whitley’s Funeral Home, conducted by Dr. Glenn L. Myers. Burial, Oakwood Cemetery, Concord.
Memorials: American Diabetes Association-Charlotte Office, 222 S. Church St., Suite 336M, Charlotte, NC 28202.

Linda L. Propst
CONCORD — Linda Louise Sumlin Propst, 58, of Malvern Drive S.W., died Friday, April 25, 2008, at CMC-NorthEast.
Born Dec. 19, 1949, in Cabarrus County, she was the daughter of Robert Lee Sumlin and the late Betsy Brown Sumlin.
Survivors, in addition to her father, include daughters Angela S. Thomas and Linda K. Sumlin, both of Concord;  sister Yvonne Sumlin of Kannapolis; brother Alfred Sumlin of Concord; five grandchildren; and  two great-grandchildren.
Services: 2 p.m. today (Wednesday, April 30, 2008) at Shiloh Baptist Church, with the Rev. Wesley Harding officiating. Interment will be at Rutherford Memorial Cemetery, Concord.
Visitation: 1:30-2 p.m. today at the church.
Clark Funeral Home is in charge.

James Rice
CONCORD — James Clifford Rice, 89, of The Gardens of Taylor Glen, died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at his residence.
Born Dec. 1, 1918, in Salisbury, he was the son of the late James Henry and Blanche Lillian Rice. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and was later employed by Vision Hosiery Mills. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Belmont.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Margaret Howe Rice; and his wife of 23 years, Jane Arens Rice.
Survivors include daughter Mary Margaret Rice Morrison, Concord; brother Harry W. Rice, Charlotte; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
There was a private family graveside service on Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Greenwood Cemetery, Belmont.
Memorials: First Presbyterian Church of Concord, Endowment Fund, at P.O. Box 789, Concord, NC 28026.
Wilkinson Funeral Home is in charge.

Mary Reese Sherrill
MOORESVILLE — Mary Helen Reese Sherrill, 86, of the Camp Wesley Community, died Monday, April 21, 2008, at Brian Center, Concord, after a short illness.
Born Jan. 7, 1922, in Catawba County, she was a daughter of the late Fred L. and Anna Smyre Reese. She was educated in the Catawba County schools. She worked at Cannon Mills Co. Plant 1, Wash Cloth Department for 35 years until her retirement.
She was an active member of North Kannapolis Wesleyan Church, where she taught Sunday school in the Ruth Class.
Her husband of 65 years, James E. “Shorty” Sherrill Sr., died March 16, 2007.
Survivors include sons Henry Allen Sherrill of China Grove and James “Jim” Everette Sherrill Jr. of Kannapolis; daughters Mary Frances Sherrill Carlson of St. Charles, Ill., and Mildred Faye Sherrill Mills of Rockwell; brothers Lee Reese of Conover, Harold, Hugh and Fred Reese, all of Hickory and Paul Reese of Minnesota; and sister Lois Hambright of Shelby.
A service was held Thursday, April 24, 2008, at North Kannapolis Wesleyan Church, conducted by the Rev. Steve Beam. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Memorials: North Kannapolis Wesleyan Church, c/o Building Fund, 314 12th St., Kannapolis, NC 28081.
Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Mary B. Tucker
Mary Basinger Tucker, 77, 807 Alma Ave., Kannapolis, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at CMC-NorthEast.
Born in Rowan County on March 19, 1931, she was a daughter of the late Marvin Pony and Myrtle Castor Basinger. She retired from the weave room of Cannon Mills.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jason Clinton Tucker in November 1968; and her companion of 31 years, Harold Allman, on March 21, 2008; four children, Marvinia Gulledge, J.C. Tucker, Jerry Tucker and Randy Tucker.
Survivors include daughter Virginia Plummer, with whom she lived; sons Rex and Carl Tucker, both of Rockwell; sisters Judy Stirewalt of Kannapolis, Ann Davis of Concord, Betty Kluttz of Rockwell, Tona Faye Culp and Linda Davis, both of Faith; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A service was held Friday, April 25, 2008, at Organ Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Terrell Long. Burial, church cemetery.
Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Leonard Wright Sr.
Leonard C. Wright Sr., 80,  569 Hunter Ave., Kannapolis, died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Five Oaks Manor.
Born Nov. 8, 1927, in Anson County, he was the son of the late Owen and Dezzi Parnell Wright. He was a World War II veteran, serving with the U.S. Army. He had worked for Cannon Mills for 48 years and retired in 1992. He attended Bethel Wesleyan Church.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Diane Phelps.
Survivors include wife Mary Smith Wright; son Leonard C. Wright Jr. of Concord; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister Susie Fink of Newell; and half-brother Frank Parnell of Florida.
The funeral service was held Monday, April 28, 2008, at Bethel Wesleyan Church, Concord, with the Rev. Joe Harding officiating. Burial, Memorial Park, Kannapolis.
Whitley’s Funeral Home was in charge.

Degree teams and blackballs

By Norris Dearmon
For the Kannapolis Citizen
From the early years until even now, Kannapolis has had fraternal organizations. In pictures of the first parades in Kannapolis, organizations were Woodmen of the World (WOW), the Redmen and Patriotic Order Sons of America (POS of A). All are still active, mostly in the insurance industry of the organization. Regular monthly meetings are not usually held today.
The organizations first gathered in a meeting hall over Hoffman’s Cafe, on the northeast corner of Main and First streets. The fire of 1927 destroyed the hall, and it was moved to the second floor of the building on the southwest corner of Main and First streets, first called Church Street. The furniture for the officers to sit on was ornate, with a podium for the presiding officer. In the center of the hall was an altar-type of furniture for the chaplain. Most organizations had a strict form for conducting meetings.
Many of the organizations had what were called degree teams. The teams would shoulder some kind of instrument. The WOW shouldered axes, the Redmen shouldered some kind of Indian paraphernalia, such as a tomahawk or pole with multicolored feathers, and the POS of A had flags and two guns.
Generally, the teams did special maneuvers while marching or standing. In a photograph of the Woodmen of the World (shown above), the men are holding their axes in different forms. This picture is a new addition to the History Room of the Kannapolis Library, to our pictures of the organizations. Some of the others have already been published, but did not show the axes held in the manner shown here in 1926. This group was in attendance at one of their yearly state meetings.
In the early years, those who wanted to join the organizations had to be voted on by the members prior to their first attendance. To vote, each member had to select a black or white marble from a cache of marbles, held in a box with a handle and two hinged lids. In the center of the box was a partition with a hole in it for the members to insert their marble, referred to as a ball.
They would lift the first lid and select a marble. The member would then raise the second lid and insert the ball. Supposedly, no one could see which marble the member selected.
If someone did not want the person to join, they would insert the black ball. Thus the term “blackball” became known. If a prospect received just one blackball, they could not join. He was blackballed. The members often had a lot of fun with someone being blackballed and would then discuss the new prospect at length and have another vote. On the second vote, most of the time there would not be a blackball unless there was a real problem with the prospect.
Often when a new member joined, there was an initiation at their first meeting. Part of the initiation was a lot of fun and harmless, asking only a few very personal questions. Sometimes things were physical, such as dancing the jig. One of the funniest parts was, the member was shown a box with a whirligig on one side and a few holes on the other. The person was asked to see if he could make the whirligig turn by blowing in the holes with a straw.
The further up the holes they went, the faster the gig would spin, until they reached the top. At that time, a powder would come out the very top hole into his  face. I do not think I should go into some of the other things they did.
About twice a year, the meetings were “eating meetings.” At times, they would have a covered dish. At other times, someone would make a big pot of chicken and noodles, another soup of some kind or oyster stew. A lot of items we think of today for meetings of that type were not known then. Often there would be 100 or more people at these meetings, including the entire family.
The Patriotic Order Sons of America is one of America’s oldest patriotic and fraternal organizations still in existence. It began on Dec. 10, 1802. The group’s motto is, “God, our Country and our Order.” When I turned 16, I joined the local lodge. When I was drafted into the service in 1942, I dropped out and never rejoined.
My dad, W.O. Dearmon, was a lifelong member. He was recognized for his leadership and devotion to the organization, both state and national. The local camp no longer exists.
The Woodmen of the World was founded on June 6, 1890. It is the largest fraternal benefit society with open membership in the United States. The insurance benefit can be very large, depending on the applicant. The parent organization provides matching funds to local lodges for relief, health, recreation and entertainment of members.
Norris Dearmon is a local historian. He is a member of the Kannapolis History Associates and volunteers in the History Room at the Kannapolis Library.

Letters

Great leadership on school board
The accomplishments of the Kannapolis City School system over the past decade are too much for me to list in this article.
The accomplishments are a direct result of the leadership provided by the elected board members, chaired by Lee Efird, Superintendent Dr. Jo Anne Byerly, the principals, teachers and employees. They all work together as a team to ensure the children receive the best opportunities possible in education.
Personally, I have never heard one word over the years from any of this group referring to their efforts as being about “I, me, etc.,” but only about teamwork.
As a lifelong resident of Kannapolis and having served this community for many years in some capacity (23 consecutive years as a member of school PTAs and PTOs, I believe is the Kannapolis school record), I personally feel compelled to say thank you and commend our Kannapolis City School leadership from Mr. Lee Efird down to the employees in the system. Your devotion, dedication and loyalty to our children is appreciated!
On May 6, Election Day, please join me and my wife in voting for Lee Efird, Doris Buchanan and Charles Mitchell for the Kannapolis City School Board of Education.
— Richard Anderson
Kannapolis

Efird is capable
I have known Kannapolis School Board’s chairman, Lee Efird, since he was a very young man. He is a personal friend of my sons, an Eagle Scout, one of my former students and a dedicated church and community leader. I have never heard a derogatory word spoken about this man, who has spent his entire life in service to Kannapolis. What can be gained by changing a knowledgeable and successful board’s chairman?
Efird’s challenger only seems to question two issues:
(1) Election of a “parent” to the board. Has he not read Mr. Efird’s family background? Check the facts!
(2) Space planning for future growth of schools in the Kannapolis district — especially at the high school level. Is Mr. Adams not aware that plans are already on the board’s agenda and are only awaiting monies from the Board of County Commissioners?
Dr. Debra Morris is principal of our local high school. She was hired by the present board to lead this school. It should be noted that she has recently been named the top principal in the entire state of North Carolina! Morris has to work closely with the Board of Education and to communicate what she sees as needs there. This issue certainly involves future incoming space and program needs at the high school level.
I encourage everyone to go the polls on May 6, and re-elect Lee Efird to lead our Kannapolis City School Board. There is no other Rowan County resident more capable or willing to spend the time and working knowledge this service takes.
— Rachel K. Edmiston
Kannapolis

Vets like Stanley
As I was the first president of our homeowners’ association here at Settlers Ridge, I worked closely with my first vice-chair to get our community off to a good start regardless of the opposition we faced by the developers.
As a fellow veteran, he invited me to his weekly coffee group of veterans on Thursday mornings at Pat’s Kitchen in Mooresville, “The Little Patriot.”
There we met vets from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and through the current conflicts — a place of living history. Most are seniors, and many have war-inflicted disabilities.
I came to appreciate his concern for vets and seniors and to know him for a friend and involved individual in  his neighborhood, homeowners’ association, the Democratic Party as executive secretary and on the steering committee of the NCVets.org.
That’s why I and our neighbors support John H. Stanley for the NC 83rd Assembly District, a Vietnam era veteran himself, here in Cabarrus County. He’s involved and he cares about us.
— Richard W Seibert Sr.
Kannapolis

Vote for Barry
I would like to ask the people of Kannapolis, Concord, Mount Pleasant, Midland, Harrisburg and Cabarrus County to vote for my friend, Barry Richards, in the upcoming Democratic primary for the 83rd House seat in the N.C. House of Representatives.
He has helped me for more than 10 years in delivering my meals to thousands of people on Christmas Day. In fact, I could not deliver the meals without his help. He plans all the deliveries for me and supports me on Christmas Day. Without him, the meals would not get delivered.
If Barry is elected, I am sure that he would support the people and help them in Cabarrus County the same way he has supported me and my Christmas dinners in the past. Barry will understand the ordinary person because he has worked with them in the past and understands their needs. He will prove his loyalty to the people if you vote for him. He will make an excellent representative.
So please, go out and vote for Barry on May 6.
— Jimmy Murphy
Concord
Editor’s note: Murphy is founder and organizer of Jimmy Murphy’s Christmas Dinner.

Clinton visits Concord

By Joanne Gonnerman
Kannapolis Citizen
More than 500 people converged on Troutman’s Bar-B-Que in Concord Monday afternoon to see Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., as she campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Some brought books for her to sign while others requested her autograph on copies of newspapers featuring stories about her. All were there for a specific reason — an opportunity to meet a potential future president of the United States.

Read more

City council notes and quotes

By Hugh Fisher
Kannapolis Citizen
The Kannapolis City Council held its second regular meeting April 28 at the Kannapolis Train Station.
All council members were present. Councilman Richard Anderson gave the invocation.
Among items of business before the council were:
• Members voted unanimously, without further discussion, to approve an amended version of the burglar alarm ordinance introduced at the April 14 meeting.
The new ordinance requires owners of all homes and businesses with burglar alarms to get a permit from the city at a cost of $20 per alarm.
The law also requires owners to keep up-to-date contact information on file with the Kannapolis Police Department, and sets a schedule of warnings and fines for false alarms sent by automatic alarms and monitoring services.
Police Chief Woody Chavis told the council last month that false alarms account for hundreds of hours of wasted time for officers each month.
The ordinance was changed to remove a clause requiring a $20 annual fee for alarm permits after concern from commissioners that the yearly charge would create an unfair burden.
• The council voted unanimously to create new commissions to provide recommendations on environmental, economic and diversity concerns in Kannapolis.
The newly-created Environmental Stewardship Commission, Kannapolis Diversity and Newcomers Commission and Citizens’ Advisory Commission for Community Development are the result of ideas first brought to the council in November.
“These commissions are being created so that the city could be proactive in the changes and the growth that we will experience,” Community Outreach Coordinator Renee Goodnight said.
According to Goodnight’s report to the council, the Diversity and Newcomers Commission “is to ensure that Kannapolis is a community that welcomes newcomers … promotes understanding among residents from different cultures and backgrounds … while also valuing longtime citizens.”
Fifteen people will serve on the commission. Council members accepted the slate of names chosen from applicants and stakeholders selected by Goodnight and city staff.
Nine of these represent Kannapolis and Cabarrus County educational and community organizations, including the Cabarrus Health Alliance, the Kannapolis Police Department, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Kannapolis City Schools.
The remaining seven seats are filled by persons recommended by Goodnight and staff members; two further seats await the recommendation of representatives from Castle & Cooke and CMC-NorthEast.
Seven others who applied were not recommended.
“This in no way implies that these citizens would not make good commission members,” Goodnight said in her report.
The new Environmental Stewardship Commission, which will replace the city beautification committee, is comprised of 15 Kannapolis residents chosen from a pool of 20 applicants.
The Community Development commission is composed of nine city residents who will monitor federal housing dollars and redevelopment efforts.
Among other things, they will make recommendations on the use of the federal Community Development Block Grant funds used to improve low-income areas of Kannapolis.
All three committees will make recommendations on pertinent issues and potential legislation to the city council.
Their members will serve an initial term of one year each, after which the city council will revisit the commissions and determine an appropriate term of service.
“The first meetings will be the last week of May or the first week of June,” Goodnight said. “We are ready to start as soon as they (the members) are ready to start.”
• Council members approved an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to create a new zoning class, Campus Development-Residential, to allow a new development in the vicinity of the Afton Ridge shopping center.
Assistant Planning Director Ben Warren, presenting the amendment to council members, said that the classification had been narrowly designed to support only one current project, a multi-family housing development planned for a site behind the Target store in the Afton Ridge Shopping Center off Kannapolis Parkway.
Warren said the project will be designed to integrate with the shopping center and to be unobtrusive.
“By setting the complex in that area, it is something that can’t be seen from Kannapolis Parkway or (Interstate) 85,” he said.
The narrow requirements for the district require a CD-R development to be adjacent to an existing area of 60 acres or more currently zoned Campus Development. It also requires such developments to be located within a half-mile of Interstate 85.
This allows the city to give this development without any spot-zoning issues and without “opening up a can of worms,” as Warren said, for housing developments in the midst of office or industrial areas.
City Manager Mike Legg said that the growth of business and residential projects in the area called for measured growth along with new multifamily residential units.
“We’re finding that high-quality multifamily (development) is a good way to strengthen the retail environment along Kannapolis Parkway,” Legg said.
“But are we setting ourselves up for something in the future, that would be outside of the current city limits?” council member Richard Anderson asked.
Legg said that was not the case, unless the council voted to rezone another area along I-85.
He also told the council that the new zoning would help improve the quality of the area.
“There’ve been a lot of mistakes made in a lot of places where you have isolated employment … everybody has to drive to those places, either for work or for shopping.”
Legg said the new zoning will open up the opportunity for residential growth adjacent to growing retail and commercial areas without sacrificing any prime industrial plots.
• The council approved the plan for using the 2008-09 Community Development Block Grant funds, and chose to devote $26,439 of unallocated money to build new sidewalks near Woodrow Wilson Elementary School.
The project will cover installing about 270 feet of sidewalk, curbing and gutter along parts of Walnut Street and Ninth Street.
Contact Hugh Fisher at 704-933-3450 or hfisher@kannapoliscitizen.com.

If YMCA walls could talk, what would they say?

The Kannapolis YMCA celebrates its 100th birthday this year on Nov. 5. Over these 100 years, its buildings have been home to many memories, childhood traditions, historical figures and significant events.
Many longtime Kannapolis residents spent their childhood afternoons swimming in the YMCA pool and playing sports. Some spent weeks in the summer at YMCA’s Camp Elliott.
If the walls of the Kannapolis YMCA could talk, they would tell story after story of how the YMCA helped shaped the lives of young people throughout the decades. Are you one of those people? Did you grow up at the YMCA? Was your life touched through programs at the YMCA? If these walls could talk, would they speak your name?
Are there pieces of YMCA history or memorabilia that you might loan to the YMCA for display? The staff is working on a walking timeline of the last 100 years. Any items of historical reference would be gladly appreciated. This includes anything that you might think of — pictures, letters, newspaper articles, artifacts and whatever you think might help piece the memories together.
The YMCA staff is also seeking to interview anyone who might have a YMCA story to share. Please call Traci West or Brett Crosby if you have any artifacts or stories that you would be willing to share. The phone number is 704-939-9622.
For more information about programs and other ways to become involved with the Cannon Memorial YMCA check out our Web site www.cannonymca.org.

May blood drives

The following American Red Cross blood drives are scheduled for the month of May:
• 1-5:30 p.m., Friday, May 2, Southern Select Community Credit Union, 169 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis.
• 12-4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 4, Saint Stephens Wesleyan Church, 7601 Brushharbor Road, Concord.
• 3-7:30 p.m., Monday, May 5, New Hope Lutheran Church, 1615 Brantley Road, Kannapolis.
• 3-7:30 p.m., May 5, Broadus Memorial Baptist Church, 59 Green St., Concord.
• 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Friday, May 9, Cardinal Logistics, 5333 Davidson Highway, Concord.
• 2:30-7 p.m., Tuesday, May 13, Rocky River Presbyterian Church, 7940 Rocky River Road, Concord.
• 2:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, Midway United Methodist Church, 708 S. Main St., Kannapolis.
• 1-5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 15, Heritage at Town Center, 6300 Roberta Road, Harrisburg.
• 3-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, Jackson Park United Methodist Church, 715 Mable Ave., Kannapolis.
• 2-6 p.m., Friday, May 16, Kannapolis YMCA, 101 YMCA Drive, Kannapolis
• 2:30-7 p.m., Monday, May 19, First Presbyterian Church, 39 Church St. N., Concord.
• 3-7 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, Southside Baptist, 561 Union Cemetery Road, Concord.
• 2:30-7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, Lantern Green Development, Lantern Way, Kannapolis.
• 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 31, Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, Concord.

LIFE Center host golf tourney

Coltrane LIFE Center, the only adult day services program in Cabarrus County, is holding its eighth annual golf tournament on Monday, May 12, at The Club at Irish Creek, 1196 Fairview Drive, Kannapolis.
The event begins with registration, a putting contest and silent auction at 11 a.m. with tee-off at 1:30 p.m.
While a full field of golfers is already registered, the center is seeking tax-deductible sponsorships from $300 and up and donations of silent auction items. Sponsors and donors will be recognized in the tournament program, on signage at the golf course on tournament day, and in the center’s monthly newsletter distributed to more than 1,500 businesses and individuals.
All proceeds from this, the center’s major fundraiser for the year, will go to the center, which helps older and disabled adults continue to live at home.
To learn more about sponsorships and/or making a donation to the silent auction or to the center, please call 704-788-1215.

K-Town Calendar

Saturday
• The Piedmont Prime Time Community Band will present a dinner and concert titled “The Music Within Us” on Saturday at McGill Baptist Church located at the intersection of Poplar Tent Road and George Liles Parkway in Concord.
A dinner buffet will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a concert featuring “First Suite for Band in E-Flat” by Gustav Holst, an Andrew Lloyd Weber medley, “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Big Band music and more.
The dinner and concert tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Persons wanting to attend just the concert without the meal can pay a $5 admission at the door.
The band is supported, in part, by a grant from the Grass Roots Arts Program of the N.C. Arts Council, a state agency, and the Cabarrus Arts Council.

May 10
• The Astronomical Society of Rowan County will meet Saturday, May 10, at Carolina Mall in Concord, from 4-9 p.m.
The group will host a solar viewing during the day and a lunar and planetary viewing at night as part of National Astronomy Day 2008. Look through telescopes for free.
Rain date is Saturday, May 17.
For more information, contact Ralph Deal at 704-855-1591 or Alice Deal at 704-857-2788.

• The Historical Society of South Rowan will hold a yard sale at the China Grove Roller Mill lot on Saturday, May 10.  The mill is at 308 N Main St., China Grove.
The group needs donations of furniture, appliances, household goods, lamps, pictures, toys, children’s items, etc., but no clothing.
Proceeds will be used for improvements at the Roller Mill site.  Items can be picked up. Please call Kay Kluttz, 704-857-9202, to make arrangements for pickup.

Piedmont Farmers’ Market hours
• Saturdays, May through Oct. 25, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 518 Winecoff School Road, Concord, 28027
• Tuesdays, June 3-Aug. 26, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 518 Winecoff School Road, Concord, 28027
• Mondays, May 19-Sept. 29, 4-7 p.m., Robinson Church Road, Harrisburg, next to restored post office
• Wednesdays, beginning June 5, 11 a.m-1 p.m. Market Street, (next to Concord police station) Concord
• Thursdays, beginning May 22, 4-7 p.m. at the Campus Market on West Avenue, (parking lot between The Perfect Choice and Transit Damage Furniture), Kannapolis.
For more information, contact the N.C. Cooperative Extention-Cabarrus County Center at 704-920-3310.

May 16
• Cooperative Christian Ministry and A.L. Brown High School will present “Festival of the Arts” beginning at 6 p.m. at the VIllage Park Amphitheatre.
Admission is free and donations will be accepted.

Celebrity roast celebrates Bob and Carolyn Tucker, owners of Shoe Show

By Joanne Gonnerman
Kannapolis Citizen
Raising money for Kannapolis City Schools has never been so much fun.
Even Bob and Carolyn Tucker, owners of Shoe Show Inc., and the target of jokes and anecdotes last Thursday evening, laughed and smiled as stories were told about them during the seventh annual Kannapolis Education Foundation Celebrity Roast, where they received the 2008 KEF Distinguished Community Service Award.
“This is our main fundraiser of the year,” said Ellen Boyd, director of community relations for Kannapolis City Schools. “We will probably make $20,000, give or take. It’s the largest crowd we ever had.”
Since its inception in 1993, the Kannapolis Education Foundation has donated nearly $300,000 to Kannapolis City Schools. Funds have purchased books and technology including computers, software and laptops. Investment in biotechnology was also made before the announcement of the North Carolina Research Campus.
“The Kannapolis Education Foundation has been extremely supportive of Kannapolis City Schools and has responded to whatever our students have needed,” said Dr. Jo Anne Byerly, Kannapolis City Schools superintendent.
“That’s what makes me most proud. Several years ago, we had a need for technology, so the Education Foundation supplied computers and software for our classrooms. Now, our community is shifting toward biotechnology, and the foundation is providing advanced science equipment. It’s a wonderful partnership that makes our schools and children more successful, and I’m grateful for the foundation’s support.”
Family, friends, employees, KCS personnel and board members, as well as civic leaders and shoe vendors attended the event that honored the Tuckers for their generosity to the community.
“This is a great American family,” said Ernie Macon, former Kannapolis City Schools assistant superintendent and member of the team who roasted the Tuckers. “They are strong in their religious faith and truly care about their community.”
John Atkinson, a Nike shoe representative and roaster, echoed that message.
“Bob Tucker is a man of very strong faith, as is Carolyn Tucker,” said Atkinson. “They are not afraid, in fact, are proud to say that the Lord Jesus Christ is their savior. I have the utmost respect for them.”
Atkinson told about the time he and Bob went on a hunting trip to Texas. Bob had offered to take the company plane. What should have been a quick flight turned into a day-long schedule as Tucker had his pilot stop at 14 different places along the way so he could check on his businesses.
“I was exhausted by the time we got to Texas,” Atkinson said.
He also told of a time Tucker took him to lunch … at Subway.
“I ordered a six-inch sub and was just about ready to tell the clerk what toppings I wanted when Bob stepped up to the counter and said, ‘Make that a foot-long and cut it in half.’ He then gave the clerk a coupon. I think she ended up paying him to take the sandwich.”
Atkinson concluded his roast by telling about a meeting they attended with management from other shoe companies. Each manager discussed the company’s mission statement.
“When asked about the mission statement for Shoe Show,” said Atkinson, “Bob said the company didn’t have a mission statement. He then explained it in pretty basic terms … ‘Customers have our money and we have their shoes and we want to swap.’ ”
Carolyn laughed during the stories about her husband but soon found herself in the roasters’ spotlight.
“Carolyn was known for driving a fast, orange Corvette,” said Macon. “People would tell her to blow her horn several blocks before getting to her destination so the car and the sound of the horn would get there at the same time. She was also teased for having more shoes than Imelda Marcos.
“The Tuckers should have their own Horatio Algier Award for Kannapolis,” Macon added.
Beginning with their first shoe store 48 years ago, the Tuckers now have the largest privately-owned shoe company in the U.S., with more than 1,081 stores. When construction is completed at company headquarters, more than 1 million square feet of office and warehouse space will be under one roof. That is the equivalent of nearly 17 æ  football fields.
“They give because they believe it is the right thing to do, not for the attention,” said Lisa Tucker, one of the Tuckers’ four children and business employee. “They very quietly give, not to be in the paper, not for the recognition.  I’ve had managers in stores I visit say to me, ‘So, you’re Bobby’s daughter. Your dad did this for me. … Or, I got the prettiest flowers from your mom.’ That’s just them.”
Bob and Carolyn’s other children include daughter Jackie Snipes, and sons Greg and Bobby Jr. All work at Shoe Show, where Lisa shared there aren’t any job titles.
“We don’t have titles at Shoe Show,” said Lisa Tucker. “Why? What’s a title mean? Your job is your job.”
In closing for the evening, Carolyn Tucker thanked guests for attending the celebrity roast. Bob Tucker gave glory to God and acknowledged the work of Shoe Show employees through the years.
“I thank God for all he has done and for the help of all the people,” said Bob Tucker. “You don’t do something like this all alone.”
Previous recipients of the Kannapolis Education Foundation Distinguished Community Service Award are Tom Dayvault, J. Carlyle Rutledge, Troy Day, Bill Whitley, Millie Hall and Bachman and Mabel Brown.
Master of ceremonies for the night was Dr. Ed Tyson. In addition to Atkinson and Macon, roasters included Gladys Puntch, Leon Lackey and Bobby Tucker Jr., who won his chance to roast his parents during an open floor auction.
Contact Joanne Gonnerman at 704-932-3336 or jgonnerman @kannapoliscitizen.com.

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