Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Shirley Thorne

County Line Correspondent

With our recent inclement weather and periodic temps near 20, be sure to check on elderly neighbors, especially those living alone.

Our local churches continue with limited services following medical directives and on line viewing as previously stated.

Society Baptist Church is now holding Sunday 11 a.m. worship service in the sanctuary and Wednesday 7 p.m. prayer and Bible study in the fellowship hall.

Tonight (Thursday) Bible study at 7 p.m. at Clarksbury United Methodist Church will feature Chapter 2 of Revelations.  Always, contact the church office or a member for updated changes.

Our community extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Tonja Lachelle James, who died at home Jan. 12 in Sumter, S.C., where she had lived for several years. She was born in 1973 in Iredell County to the late Larry W. James and Phyllis Holland Pruitt and was reared in Iredell.   She attended Iredell County schools and Mitchell Community College and had worked in home health.  Before moving to South Carolina, she was an active member of Piney Grove AME Zion Church, where she was founder and choir director of the Phyllis Pruitt Memorial Youth Choir. A service celebrating her life was held Saturday afternoon, Jan. 23 at Piney Grove AME Zion Church; she was laid to rest in the church cemetery.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Barry Michael Wilson; who died Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Gordon Hospice House of Statesville after being at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He had suffered from diabetes and had been in declining health for several years. Born in 1954 in Rowan County, he was the second of seven children born to the late Wade  “Nick” and Ceola Wilson Wilson of Davie. For most of his life, he lived on the Wilson family farm off Ridge Road near I-40. In his youth he attended Piney Grove AME Zion Church with his family and attended Davie County schools. Prior to being disabled, he was employed by Thornett Furniture Co. of Statesville. Later in his life he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and again attended church at Piney Grove as long as he was able to drive. The last several years of his life he lived in Mocksville. A memorial service celebrating his life was held last Saturday afternoon at the home of his sister Venessa Cuthrell on the Wilson family farm; interment was in the Piney Grove AME Zion Church Cemetery beside his beloved mother Ceola, who died in 2016.    

Shirley P. Lewis remains in rehab at Bermuda Village in Advance. 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 Shirley, Faye, and  others who are having health problems.  Pray for the Lord’s comfort and strength upon the families of Tonya and Barry as they adjust to life without their loved one.

Sadly, news of the unexpected death of Gene Wilson has just been received; Gene is a brother of Barry.  Remember the Wilson family in your prayers. Lambert Funeral Home of Mocksville is serving the family.    

Continue to pray for the many families in our area affected by the coronavirus. Pray for our country as the number of coronavirus-related deaths was over 443,000 last Monday. Pray for our state as the number of coronavirus-related deaths was 9385 as of last Monday. The good news is that our state’s positive test rate decreased to daily rate of 9.7 %.  Let’s all just wear a mask and social distance 6 – 8 feet when around others so that we can decrease that rate to a desired 5 % or less.     

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