News of former U.S. Rep. Bill Hefner’s death Wednesday in Alabama hit some people in Rowan County hard.
Anne Anderson of China Grove worked for Hefner when he was singing gospel music with the Harvesters Quartet. She and Ellen Safrit coordinated the group’s singing schedule and concerts, she said.
“We became good friends,” a tearful Anne said Thursday morning in a call to the Post. “He wasn’t only a friend to me, he was a friend to the people.”
Many years after Hefner left the group to serve the 8th District in Washington, she went to see him address a group at Calvary Church, she said.
“He put his arms around me and said, ‘Anne, we go way back,’ ” she recalled.
A Democrat, he was a friend to people in both parties, she said.
Hefner, who represented this ares in the U.S. House from 1974 to 1999, died of a stroke Wednesday. He was 79.
“I’m upset,” Anne Anderson said. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”
Share your memories of Congressman Hefner. E-mail mcooke@salisburypost.com or call 704-797-2246.