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By Shirley Thorne

County Line Correspondent

County Liners are looking forward to Christmas.  School kids are anxiously waiting their long winter break and Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve. As photos show, many folks were glad to visit with Santa Saturday at Clarksbury United Methodist Church. Local churches are planning Christmas programs and cantatas.

Society Baptist Youth will give an outside Christmas story presentation Saturday, Dec. 10 at 6, 6:20, 6:40, and 7 p.m.  {Rain date will be Saturday, Dec. 17.) Church members invite everyone as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ via this outdoor event.

Calvary Baptist Church members will be Christmas caroling and visiting with residents at Rosewood Assisted Living of Harmony at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. They invite others as they share the joy of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ with the residents.

Upcoming community events: Christmas cantata at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 at Society Baptist; Christmas cantata at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 at Calvary Baptist; and Christmas program at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, followed by snacks and visit with Santa at Clarksbury United Methodist.

Our community extends sympathy to the family of Doris Taylor Payne; who died Friday, Nov. 19 in New York. One of six children, she was born in 1927 in Newark, N.Y. to the late Deroy and Iva Gannett Taylor. She earned a degree in sociology from Cornell University and was employed as social worker and secretary in New York.  She and husband Wesley reared their three children and lived in New York.

After her retirement, the couple moved to North Carolina and joined son Charles and wife Anita in worship at Clarksbury Methodist. Doris and Wesley enjoyed 63 years of married life before his death in February 2015.  Doris had a strong will and a deep love for God and family.

A service celebrating her life was held last Friday afternoon at Clarksbury;  she was laid to rest in the church cemetery beside her beloved husband Wesley.

We extend sympathy to the family of James Coyt “Jimmy” Cartner Jr., who died Sunday of last week at Gordon Hospice House of Statesville after a brief illness and hospitalization. One of two children, he was born in Iredell County in 1936 to the late James Coyt “Buck” and Mary Coble Cartner of Stine Road off Rim Rock Road.

Jimmy attended Mount Bethel United Methodist Church with his family.  He graduated in 1954 from Harmony High School; where he was active in Future Farmers of America and 4-H and was a bus driver. In 1957 he married Shelby Jean Richardson;  the couple settled on the Cartner family farm and reared their four children.

In 1998 he retired from J.C. Steele & Sons of Statesville after 34 years;  he began as a machinist and later became manager of the machine shop.  Throughout his life he loved farming and operated a beef cattle business on the family farm. He continued farming until his health began to fail this year.

A service celebrating his life was held last Friday afternoon at Mount Bethel, where he had been a lifetime dedicated member;  he was laid to rest in the church cemetery.

Our community sends get-well wishes to Clark Young, who has pneumonia at Iredell Memorial Hospital.  Mildred Benfield has improved and is recuperating at home. Margaret Ann Shew and Alice Waugh remain in rehab at Davie Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Join us in prayer for the Lord’s divine healing upon Clark, Mildred, Margaret Ann, Alice, and other residents who are having health problems.  Pray for the Lord’s blessings and comfort upon the families of Doris and Jimmy as they deeply miss their loved one. Remember in prayer the family of Glen Burgess “GB” Owings, who died unexpectedly last Friday morning and was a grandson of County Line native Bill Owings. Continue to pray for those affected by the RSV and Covid-19 and its variants.

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