By Shirley Thorne

County Correspondent

People of all ages enjoy Vacation Bible School (VBS) at County Line. As the photos show, many people enjoyed the great food and fellowship with others as Society Baptist VBS kicked off on Sunday afternoon before heading out to have fun on the huge waterslide and the games. Unfortunately, outdoor activities were interrupted as a storm sent people rushing back to the Fellowship Hall.

The Statesville Corvettes will have a cruise benefiting Matthew 25 Ministries of Harmony from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, August 6 in the Signal Hill Mall parking lot in Statesville. Ministries desperately need tins and money. Everyone is invited to cruise-in. People are asked to bring cash donations and/or canned food and hand them over to one of the Corvette Club members. Matthew 25 Ministries, founded in 2007 and locally run, provides assistance to families in need in northern Iredell County, which includes part of our County Line community.

Upcoming community events: Homecoming at Clarksbury United Methodist on Sunday August; 21; and homecoming to Society Baptist on Sunday, September 18.

Our community expresses its sympathy to the family of Gail Koontz Ijames, who passed away on July 15 at Somersett Court Assisted Living in Mocksville. She had lived there for four years.

The youngest of three children, she was born in 1942 in Davie County to the late Ernest and Helen Jones Koontz of Mr Henry Road. She attended Jericho Church of Christ, of which she was a member, and also attended Salem United Methodist Church. In 1960, she graduated from Cool Spring High School; where she served as marshal and valedictorian, voted most intellectual senior superlative, an active member of Beta and several other clubs, and yearbook staff. She graduated with honors from Mitchell College and Catawba College, then earned a master’s degree in her chosen career in library science at UNC-Chapel Hill. She was a librarian in Virginia and North Carolina, including a children’s librarian at the Davie County Public Library for many years. An avid reader, she believed strongly in the importance of books and stories in life.

In December 1972, she married Bill Ijames; the couple called Mocksville home and raised daughters Amy and Abby.

A service celebrating his life was held July 20 under the Salem United Methodist shelter; she was buried in the church cemetery.

Gail had contributed news to our community, especially those related to Cool Spring High. His support has always been greatly appreciated and will be missed.

We offer our condolences to the family of Jimmy Ray “Jim” Seamon, who passed away on Sunday last week after a period of declining health. The sixth of seven children, he was born in 1937 in Davie County to the late William “Bill” and Etta Williams Seamon of County Line. In 1948 the family bought a farm on Ridge Road and moved there from Smith Lane near Ridge. He attended Society Baptist Church with his family.

In 1955, he graduated from Cool Spring High School, where he was a school bus driver for two years and an active member of the Future Farmers of America for four years. He then married Louise Bailey of Couny Home Road of Davie, his high school sweetheart and wife of 66 years. She joined him in worship at the Society, where they were devoted members and Jim often helped with necessary repairs to the church building and the landscaping of the cemetery. The couple built a house on Greenhill Road and raised children Kazanne and Randy. Several years later, the couple joined in worship at Hardison United Metodist Church. Retired from RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., he was also a skilled carpenter as he learned from his father and helped his family build many homes.

A service celebrating his life was held last Friday morning at the Hardison United Methodist Church; he was buried in the church cemetery.

We offer our condolences to the family of Elizabeth “Lib” Turner Leonard, who passed away Thursday afternoon last week at home after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. The fourth of five children, she was born in 1947 in Davie County to the late Bruce and Frances Jones Turner of Mr Henry Road and attended Jericho Church of Christ, where she remained a lifelong faithful member.

She attended Cool Spring High School and transferred during her senior high school years to Davie County High School, where she graduated in 1965.

Later in 1965 she married William Bowles, lived on Davie Academy Road and was a loving and devoted mother to her sons Andy and Alan.

In 1999 she married Ralph Leonard, who died in Bermuda Commons just two days before his death; the couple made their home on Sunset Circle near Jericho Road. Lib retired from the Davie County Soil and Water Conservation District after more than 30 years and served twice on the Board of Directors following his retirement. Sympathetic and caring, she loved her family very much and enjoyed spending time with them and serving others. A service celebrating his life was held last Monday at Jericho Church of Christ; she was buried in the church cemetery.

Our community sends well wishes to Eva Campbell, who was at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Betty Anderson has improved and is recovering at home. Rayford “Tink” McDaniel continues to rest at home with hospice care. Alice Waugh is still in rehab at the Davie Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Join us in prayer for divine healing and the Lord’s blessings on Eva, Betty, Tink, Alice and others with health issues. Pray for the comfort and strength of the Lord upon the families of Gail, Jim and Lib as they miss their loved ones deeply in life. Also, keep praying for those affected by Covid; cases continue to rise in Iredell and Davie.

For news and memories to share, please call or text Shirley at 336-492-5115 or email [email protected]