THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA PRESENTED BY Roger Bullard CBo M8208f 00039227096 FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION Friends Through the Years First Baptist Church Wilson, North Carolina -<*** -*w? -v£- 4 Pedro Nijera, Artist Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from and Technology Act administered by the State Library of North Carolina. Grant issued to subcontractor UNC-CH for Duke University's Religion in North Car .org/details/friendsthroughyeOOm Most of the articles in this booklet titled "Friends Through the Years" were written by Frances R. Moore for publication between January 1990 and May 2003 in monthly issues of "The Senior Scene." Members of First Baptist Church of Wilson, North Carolina, were chosen randomly, and often the name or names of the person or persons interviewed as "Senior(s) of the Season" were not revealed until the end of the article, similar to the format of the old television program "This Is Your Life." The beautiful cover of this booklet was created by the late Pedro Najera depicting "Sunrise - Sunset." Appreciation is expressed to Charlotte Turner for reviving the idea of creating "Friends Through the Years," to Eleanor Tabb and Rev. Tom Riley for their early participation in working to publish this booklet, and to past and present FBC office secretaries for their helping in printing "The Senior Scene." Members of First Baptist Church are grateful and look forward to reading similar articles by Faye Maclaga-King, who began in November 2009 writing life stories of more of our members, which are again being published in monthly issues of "The Senior Scene" and distributed at the monthly luncheons of the Senior Adult Christian Fellowship and posted at various locations in the church. Printed 2010 Thurman and Rachel Bailey "The Senior Scene" April 1995 From the beginning they had much in common. He was the second of 12 children, and she was the fourth of 12 children. He was born in Henderson and, while still an infant, moved with his family to Clayton. She was born in Danville, Virginia and her family moved to Wake County near Garner while she was still a baby. They met at a Halloween party in Clayton when she was 16 and he was 22. She was dressed as a clown. At the time, she was interested in his cousin, who had no mode of transportation to visit her. Our "hero" was working for a Ford dealer at the time and did have a car, so he kindly took his cousin to visit her during the year they went together. Then the cousin "went off to Durham" but our driver kept coming to visit the young lady. Well, of course, you can guess what happened! They went together for about a year and got married when she was 18. Rachel and Thurman Bailey recently celebrated their 57th anniversary! They moved to Wilson when he went to work at Wilson Motor Parts. When his boss retired, he bought the business, which he now shares with his son. Thurman is retired, but because of the recent prolonged illness of an employee, he is again going to work every day. After their marriage, Rachel became a homemaker and mother. They had four children, three daughters and a son. Judith, their first-born, was seriously ill much of her life due to rheumatic fever. However, she was able to finish high school with her class and attend Meredith College. Because of her illness, she transferred to Atlantic Christian College in her junior year, but still managed to graduate with her class. Very sadly, she died at 23 years of age. Their son Charles graduated from Wake Forest and now manages the family business. He is a member of First Baptist Church and has two children -Morgan, 16, and Leah Rachel, 13. You may remember Morgan singing a solo part in "Positive ID" with the Youth Choir recently. Their second daughter, Bonnie, lives in Raleigh with her husband, a civil engineer, and their family. Bonnie taught school until they adopted their first son, Daniel, now 23; they also adopted a daughter, Judith, now 18. They longed for children and decided to become foster parents. This led to their adoption of Sarah, now 6, and Corbin, 5. All three daughters of this faithful Baptist family went to Meredith. Their youngest daughter, Ella, also lives in Raleigh with her civil engineer husband. Both sons-in-law graduated from NC State. Ella's husband is also involved in surveying and developing land. Ella and Bonnie live fairly close to each other and share their morning walks after driving the children to school. Ella and her husband have three daughters - Holly, a sophomore studying engineering at NC State, Anna, who will graduate from high school next month, and Laura, a high school freshman cheerleader. The Baileys are very proud of each of their nine grandchildren. Rachel has always loved to sew and made most of her children's clothes; now she is sewing for grandchildren, as well as helping Thurman in his woodworking shop. Thurman is most enthusiastic when talking about their hobby of making furniture. He says that Rachel would go to yard sales and buy antique furniture in desperate need of repair. At first, they hired others to make the repairs until Thurman decided to learn how to do it himself. He attended Wilson Technical College and worked with Ray Etheridge, an expert craftsman. In the beginning, Thurman only had one piece of equipment, but he kept adding a piece at a time until now he has a well-equipped shop. The nicest thing about their hobby is that they work together, complementing each other. Thurman says Rachel is the greatest help. With her sewing experience, she makes the original patterns for their projects. Then a permanent pattern is made. Thurman says that good wood is not only expensive, but hard to find now. He makes furniture, and Rachel does the staining. They have made all the furniture they wanted for their home, as well as their children's homes, and now they are working on pieces for their grandchildren's future homes. For many years, they have donated a beautiful piece of furniture to the FBC Christmas Auction. Whenever they need a gift, they do not buy it - they simply make it! They recently received a lovely thank you note from Doris and Colon Jackson for a shelf they made as a farewell gift. Thurman says that he thanks the Lord for leading him to this hobby, because it is the most relaxing and rewarding thing he has ever done. Thurman is a long time member of the Shriners and the Masons. Rachel and Thurman joined First Baptist Church in 1945, and both are active in Sunday School and Church. Thurman, a former Deacon with many years' service, taught boys in the Junior Sunday School Department for about forty years. Rachel taught Junior girls during some of the same years. It must be true that "practice makes perfect." Senior Adult Assembly is blessed from time to time with Thurman's willingness to share his eloquent, beautiful and inspirational prayers. Most every Sunday they can be seen in the back left corner of the Sunday School Assembly and near the front right hand side of the church during worship. Rachel says anyone in the family who comes knows where to find them. Her sister, Eunice Johnson, and her family also share this pew. (It has been said this is the pew of Mrs. Pettus and Mrs. McLean, sisters and "pillars of the church" in earlier years.) Thurman and Rachel Bailey, First Baptist Church recognizes you for your continuing years of faithfulness. Your commitments to your Lord, your church, your family, and to each other make you outstanding role models for all to see. (Thurman 12/27/05 and Rachel 3/30/04) Ray and Pat Baker "The Senior Scene" February 1998 Pat was born in Southern Pines and was next to the youngest of six girls. She had Bulbar Polio at the age of 11 , stayed in an iron lung two weeks and was not expected to recover. Ray was from Sanford and the youngest of seven siblings. They met at a high school dance on Easter Monday night in 1953. She saw him across the room and asked a mutual friend to introduce them. A year after graduating, she went to Mars Hill College, where he visited her every few weeks. The next year, he enrolled at Mars Hill also. She graduated with an Associate of Arts degree and entered Woman's College of UNC at Greensboro. He was drafted into the US Army during the Cuban crisis and was stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He kept the roads busy between Fort Gordon and Greensboro. Ray Baker gave Patricia DuPree a diamond engagement ring in July 1957. During the Christmas holidays they decided to get married. He bought the license in Lee County, but it could not be used in Moore County, even though all the arrangements had been made. With college starting on January 2 and exams scheduled, they arranged a ceremony for December 29 at Ray's church and honeymooned in Washington, DC. For the next two years, Pat lived in Ragsdale Dormitory on Woman's College campus and Ray was stationed at Fort Bragg. He kept the roads busy between Fayetteville and Greensboro. Upon graduation with a BS Degree in Home Economics, Pat taught 9th and 10th grade Vocational Home Economics at Erwin while Ray went to Campbell College.