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By Shirley Thorne
County Line Correspondent

The spirit of Christmas continues to be active in County Line regardless of the storms that prevailed last weekend and postponed or canceled events. We again have many community events planned. The birth of Jesus Christ continues to be foremost in planning events.
Enjoy your evening Friday, Dec. 17 and Saturday, Dec. 18, by including two local drive-thru nativities on your itinerary:
• Clarksbury United Methodist Church, NC 901, will have a drive-thru live “Nativity” from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17.
• From 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, Society Baptist Church, Garden Valley Road just off Society Road via US 64 West, will have a drive-thru live “Journey to Bethlehem” re-enacting the events of that Holy Night when Jesus Christ was born. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies as you drive thru.
On Sunday, Dec. 19, local churches have these special Christmas events planned:
• Church Christmas play following 11 a.m. worship service at Piney Grove AME Zion Church;
• Christmas cantata at 5 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church followed by snacks in the fellowship hall;
• Christmas cantata at 6 p.m. at Society Baptist followed by snacks in the church fellowship hall;
• Calvary Baptist Church members are asked to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16 for a Christmas service with gifts for residents at Rosewood Nursing Center in Harmony; and
• Piney Grove AME Zion Church will celebrate Advent with programs throughout December. Due to the severe weather last Saturday, the church trip to the Tanglewood “Festival of Lights” was canceled.
Society Baptist Church will have no prayer and Bible study on Wednesday, Dec. 15 & 22.
Upcoming events include a “Children’s Christmas Program” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23,at Clarksbury United Methodist Church followed by refreshments & visit with Santa in the fellowship hall.
Our community extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Edgar “Ed” Williams, who died Tuesday of last week at his home on Ridge Road. He had bravely battled cancer the past two years. The younger of two sons, he was born in 1936 in Davie County to the late Clyde and Zeola McDaniel Williams of Ridge Road. He attended Cool Spring High School and had attended both Salem United Methodist Church and Society Baptist Church. He was a devoted caregiver for his wife Ruby for many years prior to her death. He then married Barbara Ann Williams of Ridge Road. Retired as supervisor for Hall-Turner Heating and Cooling; he enjoyed gardening, fishing, going to the beach, and updating his home. He was always ready to help a neighbor or friend in need or sorrow. A service celebrating his life was held last Friday afternoon at Society Baptist Church; he was laid to rest in the church cemetery with other family relatives preceding him in death.
We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the Rev. Neal E. Eller Sr., who died at his home Wednesday of last week. He had been in declining health since being hospitalized for an injury from a fall in September. One of 13 children, he was born in 1931 in Iredell County to the late Thomas I. and Bertha Sherrill Eller of East Monbo. He attended Bethel Baptist Church with his family and graduated from Troutman High School. In 1951 he married the former Faye Bolick, who died January 2020. Upon graduation from Gardner Webb Junior College, he began his Baptist ministry as pastor of Society Baptist Church in 1961. After graduation from Wake Forest College, he earned a masters in theology from Southeastern Baptist Seminary. He then pastored several churches, including Diamond Hill Baptist Church of Statesville, before retiring from Bethany Baptist Church in Forsyth. He then served as interim pastor for many area churches. He loved sports, especially watching the Deacons and Braves. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 23 at Union Cross Baptist Church, where he was a member. The Rev. Eller was deeply loved by Society folks and had returned to speak many times.
Mildred C. Beck has improved and has been recuperating at home since Tuesday of last week. Betty G. Richardson and Alice C. Waugh remain in rehab at Davie Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Mocksville. Join us in prayer for the Lord’s divine healing upon Mildred, Betty, Alice, and other residents who are having health problems.
Pray for the Lord’s support and blessings upon the families of Ed and Pastor Eller as they deeply miss the presence of their loved ones. Remember in prayer Dick and Diane Card and Benny Brown. Dick’s sister Marie died last week and Benny’s brother-in-law Johnny Wayne Bumgarner died Saturday, December 4. Remember in prayer the many families affected by the deadly tornadoes that ravished across several states last weekend. Continue to pray for the many families in our area affected by the pandemic. As of last Monday, our state daily positive test rate had increased to 8.6 percent. Let’s all do our best to decrease that rate to 5 percent or less.
For news and memories to share, please call Shirley on 336-492-5115 or email sdtlink@hotmail.com.