By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

When Teak Edgeworth passed away a couple years ago, Bob Bailey said it left a hole in the golf club.

The group had five members, but only four people could play at a time. Since Edgeworth was one of the last members to join the group, he did not think it was his right to automatically play every weekend.

“Teak would always ask the other players if they were going to play that weekend,” Bailey said.

Bailey said Edgeworth would say he had something else to do if someone else wanted to play.

“Unfortunately, he was the first one to go out of the group,” Bailey said.

Bailey decided to donate to the Christmas Happiness Fund in memory of Edgeworth and in honor of all of his golf buddies.

The group has been meeting to play golf on the weekends for the last 15 to 20 years.

“Our games haven’t improved over the years,” Bailey said.

The games even see some action. The group members make bets and can walk away with winnings of anywhere from 50 cents to $2.50.

A lot of their time is spent telling stories and hearing the same jokes told over and over again, which are what the group calls knee-slappers.

Bailey said he had been giving to the Community Care Clinic of Rowan and wanted to do something different this year by donating to Christmas Happiness.

“I just think it’s a good thing. … It’s really the spirit of Christmas,” he said.

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.

Tuesday’s donations:

• In honor of Sunday School Teachers:  Brent Watson, Janet Rash and Gloria Schenk by Doyt Watson Sunday School Class of Salem Lutheran Church … $50.00

• In memory of Mimi, Mama Dot and Poppy and in honor of Haileigh, Caroline, Victoria, Natalie and Sophir … $50.00

• In loving memory of deceased members of Spencer High School Class of 1955 … $400.00

• In honor of Faye Sifford by Tops 139 Salisbury … $100.00

• In memory of Teak Edgeworth and in honor of Charles Harris, Carl Repsher and Charles Sowers, my golfing buddies by Bob Bailey … $50.00

• In memory of George  Brown and in honor of Naomi Brown by Brent Hartman, Greg and Lindsay Hartman, Kevin and Mary-Lynn Brown, Philip Brown and Keisha Key, Brian and Heather Loflin and Chris and Angie Carman … $150.00

• In loving memory of our parents and granddaughter by Warren and Evelyn Morgan … $100.00

• In memory of Sammie and Charlie Whitehead, Jr.III and in honor of Tommy Wayne The Real Thing by Hill Billy Hikers … $15.00

• In memory of Vicki Buchanan by Laureate Alpha Phi … $50.00

• In loving memory of Jerry Rowland by Jane Rowland … $50.00

• In memory of my parents Thomas L. and Laura H. Neely, husband, Vernon Thomside, son Anthony L. Neely by Phyllis C. Thomside … $100.00

• In memory of Mrs. Odella Howard and Mrs. Ruth Johnson by Hollie Hawkins Missionary Circle … $25.00

• In memory of R. Gordon Senter, MD by Oak Hollow Staff … $165.00

• In honor of Sunday School Teachers of St. Peter’s Blessed Assurance Sunday School Class … $100.00

• In memory of Cecil Mulkey by Terry and Sheila Mulkey … $100.00

• In memory of Geraldine Miller and Richard Miller and in honor of my children and grandchildren by Leo Miller … $400.00

• In memory of Shirley Peeler Ritchie by Anne and Bob Loeblein … $100.00

• In honor of Arnold and Brenda Herring by Preston Herring  … $50.00

• In memory of Janet Kepley by Jerry and Vickie Agner Keene … $25.00

• In memory of Steven Lee Douglas by Racine Douglas … $25.00

• In loving memory of Doris Hysinger, Jean Menius, Annie Harrison, Dot S. Leonard, Penny Lambert, Barbara Bassinger, Alma Misenheimer, Nicki Holt, Grace Millar and Maxine Everett by Wachovia Retired Women … $100.00

• In memory of our deceased members by Crown in Glory Lutheran Church … $100.00

• In loving memory of my sister-in-law, Janet Kepley and my husband, Jim Lefler by Jean Lefler … $50.00

• In memory of Ruth and Cecil Bernhardt, Gilbert and Donna Bernhardt, Phil Bernhardt and David Deese by Vernon Bernhardt … $100.00

• In honor of my 4 children:  Jeannie, Rick, Sheryl and Tim by Joyce Dement … $50.00

• In honor of Pat and Dean Featherston  (BNE) by Carol and Denny White … $100.00

• In honor of Beth and Doug and Jill and Ray by Denny and Carol White … $150.00

• In loving memory of Aunt Agnus Rhodes by Karen Lesley Isenhour … $10.00

• In honor of Carolyn Gedemer by Norbert Gedemer … $100.00

• In honor of Jimmie Webb and Linda Adams by Pennie and Dick … $100.00

• In loving memory of Joe and Lucille Lesley and Glenn and Mabel Isenhour by Kenny, Karen and David Isenhour … $50.00

Total … $3,015.00

Running Total … $33,015.12