Christmas is here and I want to wish all of you in News-Reporter Land a safe, happy and healthy Christmas. It is Jesus’ birthday and I will be attending church at Beaverdam Baptist. Sunday School will not be held, but we will celebrate Jesus’ birthday with a short service at 11 a.m. Rev. Jim Edwards is pastor of the church. On Christmas Day, Sardis Baptist Church will not have Sunday School, but will have a brief meditation service at 10 a.m. There will be no evening service. Rev. John Mark Carpenter is interim pastor. Rev. and Mrs. John Mark Carpenter enjoyed having Sunday dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Danny Gunter, Wright, Courtney, Meredith, and Maddie. We awoke early Thursday morning to ice everywhere and chilling temperatures. My plans were abruptly changed from going to Bogart to my Sister’s house as I usually do every Thursday. The ice was much worse up that way and in talking to my sister by phone we decided to call off our plans for the day. J.W. went to Sherrer’s Store to get his usual sausage and egg biscuit. Our mail carrier, Melvin Bailey, who lives on Malcolm Bridge Road in Bogart, was in the store and he stated that it was bad as he came down early that morning to the Post Office. After I didn’t get to go to Bogart and Athens, I decided to go to the Primary School in Washington to their Christmas dinner where Kris Berry and her crew in the lunchroom were busy as bees dishing up delicious turkey, dressing, gravy, green beans, squash casserole, cranberry sauce, cherry cobbler, and tea. It was so good and I enjoyed it very much. It was almost like going to Grandma’s house because all the lunchroom workers greeted me with a kind word and a big smile. I enjoyed sitting there watching all the children as they got their plates and were so well behaved and so orderly under the direction of the teachers. The office girls were so friendly and helpful as they gave me a sticker to wear and gave me information. It was truly a day to remember. On Friday morning there was ice everywhere. When J.W. went to get his biscuit at Marshall’s store he heard there had been several wrecks on the roads. I noticed that the county department had put out sand on all the roads when I later went to Washington. Yes, I, with my hard-headedness and stubborn ways would have it no other way but to get out in the mess and go somewhere. I went to the Senior Center in Washington as a guest of Marian Poss for the Christmas party, program and dinner. During the morning, party foods were available which everyone enjoyed with coffee or assorted soft drinks. An interesting and uplifting program with Rev. Dennis Quinn and Mayor Willie Burns as speakers was given. Others took part in the program also. Gifts were sent by the Abstinence Education Youth Council and Orbit Leadership Group, and Rev. Charles Henderson, pastor of New Saints CME Church, came and gave everyone a nice pen on a card in a pretty little package. The card read “A snowflake is unique and so are you.” A delicious meal was enjoyed by all at noon with all kinds of delicious food brought by different people. The Center was decorated beautifully with a tree, lights, a singing Santa Claus, and many other pretty decorations. The tables were pretty with red cloths on them. A large crowd was there to enjoy the festivities. Diana Hall and Shirley Cullars were there to see that everyone had a good time. Beaverdam Baptist Church enjoyed a wonderful Sunday School lesson Sunday morning by Leeman Stewart. Rev. Jim Edwards preached a good sermon. The congregation sang beautiful Christmas carols with Leeman leading and William Morrison at the piano. Beautiful poinsettias were placed in the sanctuary. Afterwards a Christmas dinner was enjoyed by everyone in the Barrett Fellowship Hall which was beautifully decorated for the season. Many people in Wilkes County were saddened to learn of the death of Sandy Hover of Dewy Rose recently. He had cancer and was only 48 years old. Sandy was postmaster at the Washington, and then at the Rayle, post offices for many years and won the hearts of many with his friendliness and love for his fellowman. Several from here went to visit with the family at the funeral home and to the funeral. Our hearts go out to his family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Christmas was celebrated Sunday night at Sardis Baptist Church with the children’s program in the sanctuary and a wonderful fellowship in the annex with delicious finger foods. A Christmas story was put on by the children and youth under the direction of Angela Armour, Adriane Echols, Monica Gunter, and Denise Armour. The characters in the play were Keaton Wilson, Rebekah Echols, Roy Bowen, Courtney Gunter, Cody Armour, Meredith Gunter, Avery Hall, Jackson Armour, Adriane Echols, Lindley Hall, Hunter Armour, Trey Bowen, Joshua Bryant, Anthony Echols, Jasmyne Fry, and Maddie Gunter. The carolers were Billy Amason, Jack Armour, Lyn Armour, Rubye Armour, Nina Boatwright, Betty Carpenter, Larry Fleming, Joyce Fry, and Boyce Hall, under the direction of Pam Hall. Rev. John Mark Carpenter welcomed everyone and invited them to go to the annex after the program where delicious refreshments were enjoyed. Santa came in to the delight of the children and adults, alike. He gave gifts to all the children and most of them sat on his lap to tell him what they wanted him to bring them. It was a funtime for everyone. To see the children’s faces with Santa was a joy to everyone. Fred and Ann Corbett have had these visitors over the past week: Barry and Dana Echols, J.W. and Bonnie Boatwright, Charles and Nina Boatwright, Richard Byrd, Rev. Jim Edwards, Beverly Corbett, Shirley Bufford, Penny Callaway, Esther Dawson, Ruth Flynt, Douglas Mathews, and Robert Martin. Fred and Ann appreciate every thought and every prayer. Mrs. Martha Hall came from the hospital Saturday to the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Boyce and Pam Hall, Lindley and Avery. Your prayers and thoughts are greatly appreciated. Mrs. Elizabeth Smith was surprised Saturday when all three of her sons, Charlie, Bobby, and Jimmy, came and brought dinner for her birthday which was Monday, December 19. Charlie and Bobby’s wives came also and they had a great time celebrating. Mr. Ralph’s birthday was Monday of last week on December 12. Laverne and John Sword of Elberton visited him for his birthday. Mrs. Ann Williamson also visited one afternoon and Jean Harper visited one morning. Bill and Hope Remsen and Delaney of Evans spent Sunday with Mrs. Peggy Echols. Mrs. Ruth Flynt and Mrs. Sudie Kennedy went to Thomson to the Senior Center for their annual Christmas program and dinner Friday. They enjoyed it very much. Mrs. Sybil Vaughn went to her church, Burt’s Methodist, where she enjoyed the Christmas dinner and gift exchange. The Stewart family Christmas party was held at the home of Tim and Gail Stewart and Alyssa Saturday night. Franklin Poss of Atlanta and Florida visited Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Shedd and other family in the area Saturday. Jill Vaughn of Augusta and Penny Vaughn of Martinez spent Tuesday with Mrs. Annie Blanche Vaughn. Spending the weekend with Miss Annie Blanche were Malvin and Kay Vaughn of Marietta. Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Lewis of Waynesboro, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Kennedy, Grace, Hannah, and Brandon, and Brittany of Bluffton, S.C., and Bud Kennedy of Union Point spent Sunday with Mrs. Sudie Kennedy for their traditional Christmas dinner. They had a good time being together at Grandma’s house. Zachery and Kyle Frankel spent Sunday with their grandparents, Clyde and Sandy Whittington. Sandy, Neil, Kim, and Zachery went to the Christmas program and party Sunday night at Sardis while Kyle stayed home with his Grandpa. George and Ann Wideman visited Tom Hardy one day and carried him a gift. Gene Winfrey, Buster and Sandy Winfrey, and their daughter, Larry Maxwell, and James, David, and Mathew and Watson Wideman, visited George and Ann. Mrs. Bonnie Boatwright visited Mrs. Ruth Flynt Saturday and while there enjoyed some of Ruth’s homemade goodies with a Diet Coke. Cocoa sat on the table in front of the window watching Bonnie’s dog who had come with her. The little village of Willlisville on the Philomath Road is decorated so beautifully for this Christmas season. If you have not been that way it would be worth it to ride up that way just to see Willisville in all its splendor and glory. Another home that you should not miss is the home of the Caseys on the Centerville Road just across from the Donnie Berry home. Some more beautiful spots you have just got to see are Lovelace Way in Washington and the Joe Griffin home just off the by-pass. We also have many other homes that are decorated really pretty right here in Rayle. Every year it seems like more and more decorations are put up. I will not be gathering any news for next week due to the holidays. I love all of you and hope you will have yourself a merry Christmas.