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By Shirley Thorne

County Line Correspondent

Last Monday was Memorial Day  –  a sacred day to pay tribute and gratitude to those who gave their life to defend our country and freedom. We remember young men from our community who died in service:

• Civil War    –    James F. Cartner, Solomon M. Daywalt, Moses L. Granger, and Henry P. Kesler.

• World War I    –    Lemuel “Lem” Keller.

• World War II   –    Billy Daywalt, Adren Koontz, James C. Moore, James Edward Stroud, and John Wilson.

Our gratitude and respect to their families. If you know a member of the family of one of these or another “Gold Star” family, express your gratitude.

Clarksbury Methodist will host a Father’s Day cookout and games at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15.  Everyone is invited, but call Teresa Evans on 828-578-1149 if you plan to attend.    

Our news will honor students who graduated, earned a professional certificate, or received an honor or award the past year. If you did or know of someone who did, call or text details and/or photo on 336-492-5115 or sdtlink@hotmail.com.             

Upcoming community events: Flag Day ceremony by V-Point Ruritans at the Harmony Cemetery Friday, June 14; Davie High School graduation 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15 with rain date Sunday, June 16.

Our community extends its sympathy to the family of Arlie Clyde Absher, who died Monday of last week at home. One of five children, he was born in Wilkes County in 1942 to the late Lester and Beatrice Combs Absher. Arlie attended Wilkes schools and married Mary Maxine Taylor.  The couple were rearing children Jeffrey, Joey, and Regina when Mary died at age 33 1974.   In 1977 Arlie married Alice Church of Iredell.  He joined her in worship at Fairmont United Methodist, where he was a Sunday school teacher.  The couple made their home on NC 901 near Harmony and were active in community affairs.  Arlie was a past president and longtime dedicated member of the V-Point Ruritan Club. Retired from Iredell-Statesville Schools, he had worked at West Iredell High and had served as chair of the N.C. Association of Education Support Personnel.        A service celebrating his life was held Thursday of last week at Fairmont.

Until his health declined, Arlie was our community news contact for the V-Point Ruritans. His support through the years was appreciated.

Our community extends sympathy to the family of Hugh Shirik Gaither, who died at his apartment in Statesville last week.  The youngest son of Hugh and Thomasene Turner Gaither, he was born in Iredell in 1975.  In his youth Shirik attended Piney Grove AME Zion with his family and continued to attend there at times throughout his life.  He attended Harmony Elementary and North Iredell High. A sharp dresser, he took pride in his appearance even as his health declined and he needed dialysis multiple times a week. Shirik lived life on his terms. He was known  by friends and family to be a straight talker but willing to apologize if wrong. He loved his ball caps and fishing. A memorial service was held Sunday at Piney Grove.  Pastor John Phifer officiated and his sister, Victoria Brown, gave the eulogy.

Pray for the Lord’s comfort and blessings upon the families of Arlie and Shirik; and remember in prayer Stan and Shelly Stroud,  her grandmother Maggie Reid Combs died May 17.