SALISBURY — Marilyn Fisher still remembers the awe she felt last November at the First United Methodist Church memorial service held for her son, Bill Jr.

More than 500 people attended, she said, a sign of just how much he was respected in his community as chief probation officer and, after retirement, as a part-time “beertender” with Cabarrus Brewery.

“We knew we loved him,” Fisher said. “But obviously, he was well known around town.”

Attendance at the service would be but one facet of a community outpouring of support for Bill Jr.’s wife and two young children. But one person particularly stood out, Fisher said.

Debbie Suggs, a Salisbury caterer and longtime supporter of the Salisbury Post’s Christmas Happiness Fund, offered support on multiple occasions. She catered a meal for the Fisher family as they visited for the memorial.

Twice when catering for the Granite Quarry Civitan Club, Suggs would donate all proceeds to the Fisher family, Fisher said.

“Debbie is one of the most generous, caring people that we know,” she said. “She has done so many wonderful things for our son’s children and our family since (his) death. … We can never show enough gratitude and thanks to her for all she has done.”

With this in mind, and knowing Suggs’ soft spot for children, Fisher and her family made a $50 contribution to Christmas Happiness in her honor this year.

“I just knew that’d be something Debbie would love,” said Fisher. “She’s just wonderful. People don’t know what all she’s done.”

Christmas Happiness supports local children who may not otherwise receive gifts for Christmas. The donations are contributed by the community, collected at the Salisbury Post and distributed by the Salvation Army of Rowan County.

Contributions to the Christmas Happiness Fund 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, NC 28145-4639. Please make checks payable to Christmas Happiness and indicate how you want your donation listed.

Today’s contributions are:

• Prime Timers First United Church of Christ, $50

• In loving memory of Ryan Turney by Charles and Norma Goldman, $25

• In honor of our fellow “Wing and Footers” by Charles and Norma Goldman, $25

• DRC Pickleball “Serving with a purpose” — donations of 80 players of Holly Jolly Games, $3,595

• Ron and Lisa Phipps, $500

• In memory of the best grandmother ever, Mama Burton, and in honor of our awesome grandfather, Papa Floyd Burton, who will celebrate his 99th birthday on Dec. 28. Merry Christmas and happy birthday, Papa, by Drew, Chris, Bubba and Megan, $50

• In memory of Blanche Hefner and Helen Little by Phyllis and Charlie Little, $100

• In memory of Matt Woods by Pennie and Dick, $100

• In memory of Daryl and Phillip by Pennie and Dick, $100

• In loving memory of my mother, Ruby Simmerson Chilson; my father, Henry Chilson; and my nephew Nathan Eric Raymer by Melanie Chilson, $25

• In memory of my parents, Polly and Dave Graham, and my sister Patsy by Nancy Graham Corriher, $50

• In memory and honor of all veterans past, present and future by Amvets Post 565, $50

• In honor of our family members past and present by Glenda and Woody Campbell, $100

• In honor of Colleen Walton and in memory of Ralph Walton with love by the Granite Quarry Group – Ann, Carol, Susan, Tammy, Gayle, Sara, Wanda, Nancy, Roselyn, Karen and Bonnie, $100

• In memory of Vivian Diggs, Sarah Basinger, Sandra Mowery and Linda Eidson by the Wednesday Lunch Bunch, $155

• In memory of Norde and in honor of Saylor, Sophie, Sam, Molly, Ella and Graham by Kay Wilson, $100

• In loving memory of Susie and Tom Thurston and Dick Thurston by Susan and Joe, $200

• In memory of Alda Davis by Robert and Sandra Cobb, $100

• In lieu of Christmas cards to family and friends by Dale and Jackie Newark, $25

• In loving memory of our brother Troy Treece by Renda Barrier and Curtis Treece, $50

• In loving memory of Marian Morant White and Harvey Mitchell White Sr. by Fonda, Cheryl, Bonita, Harvey Jr., Smyre and Chester, $100

• Spencer Moose Lodge 2019, $100

• In memory of Katie and Alan Morgan by Robert Morgan, $50

• In memory of Raymond and Susan Dennis by anonymous, $200

• In memory of George E. Rusher Jr. by the Rusher family, $100

• In lieu of cards by Bill and Becky Phelps, $100

• In honor of Sheriff Arthur Shuping for his 35 years in the Sheriff’s Office; thank you by Mary Shuping Picking, $100

• In memory of co-workers at R.W. Normans and other friends, E.E. Lampert Sr., Don Barger, Blanche Lampert, Norman Beaver, Rosemary Spain, Maxine Carlton, Walter Wise and Ruth Cline, by Pat Beaver, “Pocita,” and “Swicy,” $30

• In memory of Baby Chad by Maw Maw Bost, $25

• In loving memory of my wife, Jane, by Stanton Monroe, $100

• Anonymous, $40

• In memory of George Brown by Naomi C. Brown, $100

• In memory of Giorgio and Mercede Porcari and in honor of all my foster children by Sandy Porcari, $100

• In memory of Hoyt Pope and in honor of John and Peggy, Harry and Pat, Ebie and Mike and Gwen by George and Blanche, $100

• In honor of Debbie Suggs by the family of Bill Fisher Jr., $50

• In memory of Tiger, Stinker, Gizmo, Squirt, Wesley, Lucy, Chloe and Brownie and in honor of Tricia on her birthday by Harry, Benny and John, $100

Today’s total: $6,895

Running total: $35,597.81