Christmas Happiness: Rowan native gives to children in honor of group of girlfriends, family
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 22, 2015
- Illustration by Mark Brincefield
By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com
Barbara Thomason jokingly told her family to look in the newspaper to see where their Christmas money went. She was only half joking. Thomason, a Rowan County native, made a contribution to the Christmas Happiness Fund in lieu of gifts for her children and grandchildren.
She said they have what they need and she wanted to help give to the children of Rowan County who would not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season.
“I just wanted to give back. I have plenty to be comfortable. I’ve seen so much poverty in this county, and it breaks my heart about the children. They have such sweet parents, but maybe the husband or mother loses a job,” Thomason said.
“It’s a given that there are really deserving, needy families out there,” she added.
She’s been giving to the fund every year since she retired in 2010.
Thomason earmarked her donation in honor of her “very best group of girlfriends … her loving family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the First Baptist Church staff.”
She said the church staff “work diligently to feed us spiritually in preparation for ministry in our daily lives.”
Thomason has some time on her hands since her 2010 retirement from the hospital and much of her days are spent volunteering and spending afternoons with her women’s groups.
She meets monthly with a widows group who have Bible study over food and friendship.
“We enjoy eating and laughing,” she said.
The women have been meeting for about three years. Barbara’s husband, who was her high school sweetheart, died in 2006. He was the fire chief of the Franklin Fire Department. Their only son, John Thomason, is now fire chief at the same station.
The other group of women are some ladies who Thomason taught Sunday School to in the 1970s. The women were then in their 30s and now, although some attend different churches, they still meet regularly.
“I’m going to be 85 in May. They bring food and we have a good time,” Thomason said.
She worked for years as an administrative assistant at the Salisbury Fire Department and then after retiring she began working at the hospital as a patient advocate. She retired from the hospital, but still volunteers there and the Kiser Hospice House.
The Salisbury Post collects the contributions while the Salvation Army of Rowan County distributes the donations to the Christmas Happiness Fund. Families who qualify receive a voucher for each eligible child. Contributions will be collected through Christmas Day.
Donations may be delivered to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Donations can also be mailed to the Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. Make checks payable to the Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you want your donation listed.
Monday’s donations:
• In memory of our deceased members by Livengood-Peeler-Wood American Legion Post #448 … $50
• In honor of Seasoned-7 by Judy Banish … $25
• Grace Lutheran Church $215.25
• In loving memory of my husband, John, my daughter, Dana and my brother, Bill and in honor of my great grandsons, Paul and Max by Dot Eller … $50
• In loving memory of Millard Seamon, Stella, Marie, Ethel and Gladys by Dorothy Seamon … $25
• In honor of my children Ron, Rich, Ryan, Jason, Ashlyn and Anthony and in memory of Josephine Stamey and Baxter Smith by Rick Stamey … $100
• In honor of Jean L. Ray by Wilbert and Carolyn Lyerly … $200
• In honor of Joe and Phyllis Freeze by Wilbert and Carolyn Lyerly … $200
• In memory of Clay Thomas by Anna, Vance, Van and Blake … $200
• In memory of Lee Russell by Cindy and Kirkley … $100
• In loving memory of our sons, Sam and Randy by Norman and Barbara Wagoner … $50
• In honor of Johnny at Faith Road Foo Lion by A Friend … $50
• In memory of Mary Starkey and Ruby and John Brown and in honor of Brian, Brad, Carrie and Eli by Judy and Frank … $200
• In memory of Fred Josey by Bille, Debbie, Peggy and Family … $25
• In memory of our daughter, Phyllis A. Jones and in honor of our son, Tony Albright and Adam Albright and Tyler, Wendy and Darren and Norah Bernstein by Jim and Ruth Albright … $50
• In memory of Al Boulus by Thelma Boulus, Sandy and Dan Flowe, Michael Boulus and grandchilren … $100
• In memory of Charlie Peacock, and in honor of Dot Peacock and Delsie Karriker by Marshall, Jennie and Mike Murphy … $100
• In memory of Laura Frazier and Jennie Sparks by Oasis Book Club … $100
• In memory of Warren and Anne Stansbury, my brother and his wife by Betty and Bobby Lomax … $500
• Anonymous … $20
• In memory of Peggy Ketchie, Benjamin White, and Melvin Harvell by Family … $50
• In memory of Harry and Odelia Lyerly by Family … $50
• In memory of Bernard and Lorraine Williams and Clifford and Hazel Bost and in honor of my Mom and Dad, Sheila and Joe by Brandon … $50
• In honor of our Mom and Dad, Brandon and Brad Vinson by Neely, Taylor, and Asher … $30
• In memory of deceased co-workers at Rowan County Assessors Office: Jerry Rowland, John Smith, Bill Snipes, Madolyn Yates, Virginia Kluttz, Mae Francis Johnson, Margaret Young, Vivian Mull, Chubbie Jordan and Binkie Williams by JHW … $30
• In memory of Harvey and Ethel Honbarrier by Howard and Pat Sexton and Tim and Cindy Hart … $100
• In memory of my father Carl Cauble and Mildred Waller by Brenda Cauble … $100
• In honor of my mother, Evelyn Cauble and my brother Steven Cauble by Linda Cauble … $100
• In memory of my husband, Carl Cauble and Marie Rogers by Evelyn Cauble … $100
• In honor of teachers, Melva Menius, Evelyn Eller and Maggie Bowman by Providence Ladies Bible Class … $25
• In lieu of cards by Dale and Betty Boger … $100
• In honor of my Tuesday, Thursday 3:50 Vivers … $25
• In honor of Dr. Steelman by Artie and Angela … $50
• In loving memory of Janet Kepley and honor of Connie and Selena Julian by Connie Julian … $25
• In memory of my parents … $100
• In honor of our children and grandchildren … $100
• Christian Reid Book Club … $100
• In honor of our dear friend, Ray Rivers by Dianne, Debbie, Kim, Marsha and Sharon … $125
• In appreciation and to honor Bill Kenerly and the Veterans he speaks for … $1,000
• In honor of the very best group of “girlfriends” a woman could be blessed with, and also to honor my loving family, grandchildren, greatgrands and the First Baptist Church family and staff who work so diligently to feed us spiritually in preparation for Ministry in our daily lives, may your Christmas be especially blessed by Barbara Thomason … $100
Total $4720.25
Running Total $45,869.33
Correction from Dec. 19
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Livengood, Robert, Harold, Lucille, Ruby, Shirley, Richard and Mary by The Livengood Family … $100
Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.
