By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
Michelle Powers has never missed spending Christmas with her grandmother, Catherine Kimball.
“She’s always cooking great meals,” Powers says. “Just spending time together makes it fun.”
The Christmas Happiness Fund has always been important to her grandmother, Powers says. A $100 donation by Catherine and John Kimball in memory of their grandson and Powers’ brother, Todd Kimball, appeared in the list of contributions earlier this week.
“They give every year at least once,” Powers says, “so I thought this would be a good way to honor her birthday.”
Catherine Kimball is celebrating her 90th birthday today, and her granddaughter says she’s still young enough to sit on the floor and play with her two great-granddaughters, 11-month-old Blakely and 8-year-old Avery. “She walks at the mall every day,” she says. “She just gets around like a much younger person.”
Powers can’t say enough wonderful things about her grandmother. “She’s very caring, very bright, very intelligent …” she says. “She has so much knowledge. If I have questions about anything, I know I can always call her.
“If she doesn’t know the answers, she’ll find out.”
Michelle Powers, her husband, Jamie, and their daughters, Blakely and Avery, donated $90 to Christmas Happiness Thursday ó $1 for each year of Catherine Kimball’s life.
Michelle has this message for her grandmother: “Thank you for always being there. You’ve been a great supporter. I love you.”
Bring contributions to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or mail them to The Salisbury Post, Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639. Make checks payable to the Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you wish your donation listed.
Yesterday’s total $2,595
In honor of Catherine Kimball on her 90th birthday by Jamie, Michelle, Avery and Blakely..$90.
In honor of our family, friends and neighbors by Rick and Lisa Painter..$100.
In honor of Alice Purcell and Al Hoffman by Everyman’s Bible Class of First Presbyterian Church, Salisbury $500.
In lieu of Christmas Cards for all of our friends and in memory of Jimmy Vellines by Wayne and Pam Vellines $25.
In honor of Dr. Ronald Howell Steelman $100.
“Brown Bag Readers” Book Club $100.
In memory of George Brown and in honor of Naomi Brown by all your grandchildren and great-grandchildren $100.
In honor of Steve Huffman, the most special guy in the world to me by Meg $50.
In honor of Harold B. Jarrett American Legion Auxiliary No. 342…..$25.
In honor of all our soldiers with a prayer of safety $100.
In memory of Raymond, Sandy and Randy Bostian by Vic and Nancy Shue $100.
In honor of Mary Frances Ritchie, Edd Beaver by Dale and Marsha Beaver $50.
In memory of Everette Wilhelm, Mary Beaver and Roy Ritchie by Dale and Marsha Beaver $50.
In memory of Matt Beaver, Andina and Michael Martin, Alex, Andrew and Ethan by Dale and Marsha Beaver $50.
In memory of my husband, Bill Oddie, and my sister, Frances Cauble Leazer, by Doris Oddie …..$25.
In memory of my husband, Clifford Luther, by Mary Luther $15.
In memory of Floyd Coates by Lorene Coates $200.
In memory of Elizabeth Thompson by Robbie and Jane Measmer $25.
In honor of Rowan County DSS foster families by Carla and Jim Mallinson $50.
Carolyn Gedemer $200.
Today’s total $1,955
Grand total $24,902.25