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By Shirley Thorne

County Line Correspondent

It’s Christmas Eve and folk old and young are retiring early tonight as they await a visit from Santa. Due to the coronavirus, family gatherings will be limited.  But, even though there are no church children’s Christmass programs, remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, will always be a priority among County Liners.

As photos show, the Clarksbury United Methodist Youth sponsored a “Drive-Thru Live Nativity” for everyone to enjoy.         

Local churches have these service scheduled:

• Calvary Baptist, no services until Sunday, Jan. 3.

• Clarksbury Methodist, outdoor Sunday worship at 10 a.m. and no Thursday Bible study until Jan. 7.

• Piney Grove AME Zion, outdoor Sunday worship at 10 a.m.

• Pleasant View Baptist, regular indoor services Sunday and Wednesday; sanctuary decorated with 14 poinsettias given by the Thomas Johnson family.

• Salem Methodist, Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m.  in the sanctuary; social distancing and masks recommended.

• Society Baptist, Sunday worship at 11 a.m. in the fellowship hall; no Sunday evening service; Bible study and prayer at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the sanctuary; masks and social distancing recommended.

For the well-being of all folks in our community, some services in the churches have been canceled and/or are streamed online via FaceBook, YouTube, or church website as previouy stated.

Our community extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Margaret Hayes Griffith, who died Dec. 12 at Mocksville Senior Living after several years of declining health. She was born in 1933 in Alexander County to the late Henry and Virginia Draughn Hayes. She worked as a beautician for many years. In 2011 she married Ralph Griffith, who died July 2018; the couple made their home on Shiloh Church Road in Iredell. She joined him in worship at Society Baptist, where she was a member of the Sunday school and Young-at-Heart. A graveside service celebrating her life was held Tuesday morning of last week at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Alexander County;  she was laid to rest in the church cemetery.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of George Donald “Don” McLaughlin; who died Wednesday of last week, the day before his 93rd birthday, at Sampson Regional Medical Center after being hospitalized with pneumonia. He had been in declining health for several years and had been living with his daughter Donna and her husband in Salemburg. One of seven sons, he was born in 1927 in Iredell County to the late Clyde “Mac” and Margaret Lomax McLaughlin of Cool Springs. He attended Cool Spring High School and became self-employed as a skilled roofing contractor. He and his wife, the former Lucille Vannoy, and Donna made their home on US Hwy West near the Yadkin River. The family joined in worship at Society Baptist Church; where Don became active in Sunday school, Baptist Men, and Young-at-Heart. He enjoyed gardening, collecting guns, and playing card games with his friends. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27 at Society Baptist.

Betty S. Stroud has improved but remains at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Faye Stroud continues to rest at home while under treatment for cancer.

Join us in prayer for the Lord’s divine healing and blessings upon Betty, Faye, and  others who are having health problems. Pray for the Lord’s comfort and strength upon the families of Margaret and Don as they adjust to life without their loved ones.

Continue to pray for the many families in our area affected by the coronavirus. Pray for our country as the count of infection cases was almost 18 million and the count of coronavirus-related deaths was almost 319,000 last Monday.  Our state’s positive test rate has improved and has decreased to 10.4 percent; let’s all strive to return the rate to 5 percent or less. Again, please follow medical directives of the three W’s:  Wear a mask.  Wait 6 – 8 feet apart.  Wash your hands often.

Here’s wishing everyone a very safe and well “Merry Christmas filled with the many blessings of the Holy Birth of Jesus Christ.”

For news and memories to share, please call Shirley on 336-492-5115 or email sdtlink@hotmail.com.