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By Shirley Thorne

County Line Correspondent

There was beautiful weather for annual homecomings at Pleasant View Baptist and Society Baptist last Sunday.  Society folks also celebrated the founding of the church 200 years ago when the first service was held on Sept. 22, 1821.

Calvary Baptist postponed a community fish fry until October and have canceled all services through September as a member tested positive for the coronavirus.

Due to the coronavirus,  Salem Methodist canceled the annual homecoming. The church will have regular worship at 9:30 a.m. followed by Sunday school Sunday, Sept. 26.

Our community extends sympathy to the family of John William “Alf” Smyre, who died Monday, Sept. 13. One of eight children, he was born in Iredell County in 1952 to the late Robert Lee and Hazel Redon Smyre. He graduated from North Iredell High School and worked as a diesel mechanic for Freightliner. He and his wife Rosetta made their home on Jericho Road in northern Iredell, where they reared son John and daughter Wanda Renee.  He and Rosetta attended Society Baptist and Siloam AME Zion. He loved spending time with family and friends and working on the family farm. A service celebrating his life was held at noon Saturday at the chapel of Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary of Statesville;  he was laid to rest in a plot on the family farm.

We extend sympathy to the family of Deborah Durham, who died Friday of last week at her home after a battle with liver cancer. She was born in 1954 in Danville, Va. to George “Dutch” Calloway and the late Peggy Ann Calloway. As the wife of United Methodist minister, the Rev. Donnie Durham; she moved with her husband as his assignments changed. After moving to Thomasville, she became an active member of Mt Pleasant and worked for Hospice of the Piedmont.  The couple served as the pastoral family of Clarksbury Methodist from 1997-2001. A service celebrating her life was held Monday afternoon at Mt. Pleasant; she was laid to rest in the church cemetery. She will be missed by Clarksbury families and the families of the other churches.

Our community sends get-well wishes to Gene Snow and the Rev. Neal E. Eller Sr. Gene was hospitalized last week but is recuperating at home.  Eller was injured in a fall and has been hospitalized in Kernersville. Alice C. Waugh remains in rehab at Davie Nursing and Rehab Center of Mocksville. Join us in prayer for the Lord’s divine healing upon Gene, Rev. Eller, Alice and other residents who are having health problems.  Pray for the Lord’s comfort and blessings upon the families of John “Alf” and Deborah as the families miss their loved ones deeply.

Remember in prayer Gretna Feimster; Carolyn, Shanlynn, and Tawana Nichols; and Joe and Sheila Stroud Tulbert. Gretna’s sister-in-law Ruth Feimster Welshans died Wednesday of last week at Maple Leaf Health Care of Statesville after a period of declining health. Carolyn’s husband and Shanlyn and Tawana’s father William C. Nichols died Saturday, Sept. 11 at his home. Sheila’s mother Faye Stroud died Wednesday of last week at Forsyth Medical Center; Faye’s husband was the late Sanford E. “Eddie” Stroud III.

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