Fathers recognized at Calvary Baptist.

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By Shirley Thorne
County Line Correspondent

Members of Calvary Baptist Church invite everyone to a special worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 29. The group “Anointed in Grace” will present a program of music. After the service, everyone is invited for dinner and fellowship.
The next V-Point Ruritan breakfast will be Saturday, Oct. 4. The Ruritans wish you an enjoyable summer and look forward to seeing you in October.
Vacation Bible School with theme “Magnified” 5 – 8 p.m. Friday, July 11, and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at Clarksbury Methodist.
Minnie Safley celebrated her 93rd birthday June 25. A devoted member of the V-Point Ruritans, Minnie made our senior bingo games enjoyable. Today she enjoys the loving care of her family. Minnie, all of us in County Line send you happy-birthday wishes and hope your new year of life is healthy and successful.
Our community extends sympathy to the family of Ellen Knox Myers, who died Tuesday of last week at the home of her daughter Donna Stewart, formerly of Ridge Road. She was born in Iredell County to the late Robert Don and Ruby Crouch Knox and was reared off US 64 near Cool Spring High, where she graduated in 1961. She and husband Berly settled in Iredell and reared two daughters. A service celebrating her life was held last Friday at Fifth Creek Presbyterian, where she was a faithful member; burial followed in the church cemetery beside her beloved Berly, who died in 2021.
We send get-well wishes to Romaro Scott, who was seriously injured in an auto accident last week. He was in intensive care at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and was transferred to a regular room Sunday. Roy Shoffner has improved and is recuperating at home.
Join us in prayer for the Lord’s divine healing and blessings upon Romaro, Roy, and other residents having health issues. Pray for the Lord’s comfort and blessings upon the family of Ellen as they miss her.
Our community news will again honor all students who graduated, earned a professional certificate, or received an honor or award the past year. Call or text 336-492-5115 or email sdtlink@hotmail.com details and a photo if possible.
Father’s Day Tribute
Father’s Day is a day we honor father’s living and treasure the memory of those deceased. Local churches recognized fathers in attendance with tokens of appreciation. The oldest father in attendance at the churches was reported to be 92-year old Leonard Godbey at Salem Methodist.
This year we follow our tradition of paying tribute to a senior living father, Leonard Allen Godbey, and to deceased fathers Richard Stroud and Charles A. Thorne.
• Frank and Maggie Vickers Godbey of Godbey Road welcomed the birth of their fifth child, son Leonard Allen, on Nov. 24, 1933. Later in 1937 they completed their family with daughter Louise.
Leonard enjoyed a happy childhood with two brothers and three sisters. But, at age 26 he decided to answer Uncle Sam’s call for help and joined the US Army. A career veteran, he served with honor until his retirement in 1981 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer III. But, at the young age of 48, he then worked several years as cafeteria manager at the Davie County Hospital.
Today he enjoys time with his wife Jennifer, whom he married in 1994, at their home on the Godbey family farm. He also enjoys time with his children John of Stroud Mill Road, Allen of Missouri, Ray of California, Angela of Vanzant Road, and stepson Eric of Indiana.
• The fourth of eight children, Richard Stroud was born in Davie to the late Andrew (1804-1894) and Nancy Livingston Stroud (1805-1873), who lived in a small house off Ridge Road near US 64.
In 1856 Richard married Mary Jane Swisher (1837-1927), whose family farm was nearby on Ridge. The couple settled on the Swisher farm and reared nine children, two who died before age 2. Needless to say, the prominent farming couple was concerned about education and were instrumental in establishing the Stroud School about 1881.
Today the couple has a vast number of descendants such as great grandchildren living in our area. Several of their children such as Cora S. Cartner, Alice S. Safriet, and James M. “Jim” Stroud stayed here and reared large families.
Richard died Oct. 25, 1923, with one sibling Burgess still living. A funeral was held at Society Baptist and he was laid to rest in the church cemetery where five of his siblings were buried. The large farm was sold by heirs in 1923 to a neighbor.
• On March 4, 1876, Harrison and Maria Kestler Thorne gave birth to their only son, Charles Anderson. The family lived on the Kestler family farm on Davie Academy Road.
In 1907 Charles married Maggie Gaither, who lived nearby off US 64. The farming couple bought several farms in the area before buying the Richard and Mary Jane Stroud farm from his heirs after his death in 1923.
The Thorne couple was a strong supporter of Stroud School while rearing sons Foster, Mark, and Bruce and sometimes boarded the school teacher. Hence, a wrap-around porch with side room was added before the family moved there in 1924. The school closed about 1931 and the land and the building were sold about 1940. Stroud School reunions were held in the late ’50s and early ’60s at the V-Point.
On March 24, 1953, Charles died of double pneumonia at Davis Hospital in Statesville. A funeral was held at Society Baptist, and he was laid to rest in the church cemetery. The Swisher-Stroud-Thorne farmstead remains in the family.
Here’s hoping you have found this bit of County Line news flashback. Our community is proud of and thankful for the contributions of all our fathers.