Christmas Happiness: Gift in honor of golfing buddies

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 22, 2016

By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY —  When David Hall was sick about four years ago, there was a group of men who were there for him. The men have continued to provide friendship and support, he says. He and his wife Charlotte have earmarked their Christmas Happiness contribution this year in honor of those 12 men.

For more than 20 years, the Halls have given to the fund in honor or memory of others in their lives and this year it’s David’s golfing buddies: Chris Agner, Tom Carlton, Bill Carter, John Casey, Raymond Coltrain, Larry Gish, Perry Hood, Wayne Koontz, Jim Mitchell, Mark Perry, Andy Porter and Max Spear.

“I enjoy playing with them and having supper on Sunday nights. It’s a wonderful group of men who provide friendship and support,” Hall said.

Some of the men he’s known for about 35 years, but collectively they’ve been golfing buddies for about five years.

Both Charlotte and David are Burlington natives, but have lived in Rowan County since 1980.

The community makes contributions to the Christmas Happiness Fund. Those who give send donations to the Salisbury Post by hand delivery during business hours or by mail. The money is totaled by the Post business office staff and then is given to the Salvation Army of Rowan County to distribute to eligible families. Some of those families have already received vouchers and have been able to place Christmas presents under the tree.

Contributions to Christmas Happiness may be delivered to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or mailed to Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. Please make checks payable to Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you want your donation listed

“We gave because we know this is a time when children need to be happy and we just tried to contribute to that,” Hall said.

Today’s contribution are:

In honor of Anne and Dave Clay by Jackie Pearce and Betty Mohs $100

In memory of Don, Boyce, and Clyde Stiller by Fran Lawson $25
Anonymous $100
In memory of America’s dying civility $50
Linda J. McMurrer $100
Mark and Barbara Perry $100
In honor of Beth Arey, friend and office manager and to all those that trust their hearing to our care by Dr. Lorin S. Oden $250
In memory of Buck Hurley and in honor of Gordon, Carolyn and Jeff by Joe and Judy $50
In memory of Ruby Long by Frances W. Lomax $25
In memory of Roy and Gladys Stokes by Barry $100
In loving memory of Donald O. Byerly by wife, Sarah, children: Don, Lynn and William, grandchildren:  D.J., Ashley, Leonard, Paul and Rachel, great-grandchildren: Katelyn, Parker, Ava, and Landon $100
In memory of Clifford L. “Snookie” Bernhardt and his two 4 legged companions, Cricket 1 and Cricket 2 $50
In honor of Keenage Club Salem Lutheran Church by Keenage Club Salem Lutheran Church  $125
In memory of Paw Paw Murph and Maw Maw Murph by Michael and Melissa $25
In memory of Uncle Ken by Michael and Melissa $25
I love and miss you Paw Paw Fred by Garrett $25
In memory of Aunt Mae by Garrett $25
In memory of all members that passed by Crown In Glory Lutheran Church  $100
In memory of Martin Shotzberger $100
In loving memory of Lettie Mabry and Leslie Tucker by Linda and Terry Thomas $50
In memory of Bill McKinney and Bill Gilland by Bethel United Methodist Men $200
In honor of my “golfing buddies”: Chris Agner, Tom Carlton, Bill Carter, John Casey, Raymond Coltrain, Larry Gish, Perry Hood, Wayne Koontz, Jim Mitchell, Mark Perry, Andy Porter and Max Spear by David Hall $100
Christian Reid Book Club $100
In memory of Rose and Eddie Post by David Post Family $250
In memory of Jimmy Hurley and Rose Post by Ed and Elizabeth Cook $200
In honor of George Cannon, Judy Leazer, and Jan Hatley, who are beautiful, funny and courageous people by Wayne and Delores $25
In honor and memory of all Veterans by Faith American Legion Junior Auxiliary Unit #327 $150
For the Kids $100
Anonymous $50
Total $2,700
Running Total $51,538.57
Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.