Dorothy Weeks 164 N Schumaker Rd November 28, 1998
Bennett, C080102
Dear Family,
By now most have heard something about my trip to GA, SC, and NC. For my records it has to go on paper! Thurs. before leaving Nov 11, I began a cold, the following Mon. I felt worse than ever. I emailed Alisha about coming to Thanksgiving dinner and mentioned my. cold.. She wrote back accepting and that she would pray for my cold. I was humbled. Now praying for breast cancer is one thing but a cold? I took 2 lemons, grapefruit oil and joined her in prayer. By the afternoon for the first time in 5 days I didn't feel like lying down and felt better. What a kind God we have.
Tues afternoon I taught the HS chemistry classes which is always fun and helps out with $.
11 11 1998 Wed. Dear Bruce got up at 4am to take me to the plane. Vanguard #608 6AM to 8:30am Kansas City, lv 9:10am. Arr 12.05 ATL. Yep, you guessed it. I arrived 20 min before departure and had to hand carry my 2 suitcases and shoulder bag to the end of the terminal for Vanguard. My rate was $220 RT Denver/Atlanta via Kansas City. David Gaudet was my traveling partner to Kansas City. He hires young people to go in bars and see if the owner checks their ID. He is funded in part by Coors Beer. His company: BARS, Greenwood Village, CO 3033-796-7888 It is important to him to spend time with his wife & two sons He started this business 6 mo ago. He is Catholic, boys attend a Christian school.
I called Mary Ward 816-373-0444 at Kansas City. She still is a salesclerk and sub/teacher. Her daughter working a lot but going on for the Lord. Mary takes her 2 grandkids to SS. Mary's always a cheer. Call her when you fly through..
Stephanie Leister from Papillon, NE (800-843-4087) is a Senior Sales Director for Mary Kay and flew from KC to Myrtle Beach for a convention. Previously she had lived in SC and came to know the Lord as her Saviour there even though she resisted for some time She had a faithful friend. I had planned to sleep but conversation seemed more important.
I flew into Atlanta at 12; Roger & Susan from their visit with Suzette at 1pm. I had left the name of their carrier at home and wasn't sure where to meet them at, the airport. When asking if there was an arrival screen like there is at DIA and learning there wasn't, I chose the nearest one, American Airlines. Lo and behold, 1 PM Rog & Susan debarked. Again the Lord was so good to me. We took the city train about 1/2 hr to where their car was parked. Roger was tired; Susan easy to talk to. They had a splendid time with Suzette who had planned their itinerary for 10 days (?). Sandy beaches, good contacts. I didn't record their data and my memory fails.
Susan fixed us hamburgers and salad then left to pick up neighbor's Mary at school.
11 11 1998 Wed. Roger lent me his Toyota wagon and directions. At 4pm I headed for Columbia, SC. I thought I would never get to Augusta. Then it was still farther. Violet Ray had directed me north on 77 to Charlotte; son Rych south to Charleston. I chose N and drove 15 mi without finding the next clue. A phone call and retracing my steps. I was so glad to be in their home by 9:30pm. 7916 Ronson Dr. 803 783 3091 Tired yet energized some, they reminded me Bruce and I had slept in their home in 1976! And enjoyed Bruce on the saw. I learned about their family of 3 children. Rych is handsome, considerate, single, and 36. He was so helpful giving me his SC map of counties and mapping out how I could find the grave of Edith Ray, Dwight's gr-gr mother. Violet had fixed me spaghetti and salad. Before I retired at 11 had a little spaghetti. Violet speaks freely of the Lord's help in her life
Eldridge was warm and glad for my visit. It was a very good start for my trip.
I took Charles Brandon’s address but never called. 2916 Blossom St. Columbia 803 799 5169.
11 12 1998 Thurs. By 8 Eldridge was at work, Violet late because of me, and I was on my way to Conway, county seat of Horry Co.
Rays came from Horry Co. and I headed for the court house to do family research. I had never done this kind of research before. And Conway has records in 4 different buildings and I was thoroughly confused. I listed possible Probate Records of interest, while at the Court House Archives. At the end of the day I had to go to Starpoint Record Center on 4th to look at the actual old documents of land/letters. It was very interesting and I copied some. Always feeling in a hurry to get to NC
Trying to find the health dept for death records I asked Esther Suggs for directions. (8869 Hwy 90, Longs, SC 29568) She was very interested in my work. Only deaths from 1915 are available in Horry Co. There was one old birth: Ray, William Ethel b. 1888.
At the Registry of Mieus [2013: not sure what "Mieus" is supposed to be.] I looked for Deeds & Land Records —Grantor/ee books They were helpful for Edith Ray family. You had to xerox the microfilm, not the big book. Then I skipped to the Starpoint Records and copied Skipper & Cannon records. [2017 see Jesse Cannon as guardian of John M. Cannon’s 6 children]
Stopped at Conway public library and scanned the 3 ring binder that Jeanne Graham had compiled of all cemeteries in Horry Co. before she died. She died 2 months ago. There was no Ray cemetery listed. I did find Hopkin Ray (Franklin's bro.) at Bayboro Cemetery so determined that would be my next stop. I tried to find Gayle Harrelson (Faxon's oldest) at the tax collection bldg but she was gone for the week
From Conway to get to Ray Cemetery* you take 410 N. L34, L19, L3G9, L at Pisgah Church; I passed the little white sand road first. Retracing my steps I turned into the wilderness fearful of what was ahead. I found the gravestones. Some wood, some stone. Edith's was broken in 3 pieces. Stone: Edith wife of Rister Bullard, born Oct 12, 18301 d. May 20 1904. The dates were hard to read. When I drove out of the bushes the first sign I saw was "Green Sea". Green Sea is near the city of Loris located near South Carolina Highway 917.
*06 10 1998 wrig@sccoast.net to JStrick293@aol.com re: Ray Cemetery
Jim, This is all I show in the cemetery listings for the Ray Cemetery. [dw: same as link online except Wright omitted Mary Ray Hooks and Ludie May Ray]
I drove through Green Sea where Edith Bullard lived in 1900. It wasn't far from Tabor City. I asked at the drugstore where Mamie Ray lived. At 5pm unannounced I knocked on Mamie's door who had waited for me all day. She called Edith Evans who also had waited all day. Mamie gave me 2 hot dogs. Mamie told me about Tabor City’s Sweet Potato (Yam) Festival. I called Annette who invited all her brothers over for the evening and Larry Cartrette came to pick me up. I stayed there all night after hearing the Ray brothers tell stories of their father, Wm McKinley, Uncle Ken. Larry & Annette have gutted
uncle Kin's home and remodeled it to look like a House Beautiful.
11 13 1998 Fri. She fed me sausage & eggs and took me on a golf cart trip in spite of the fact they were on their way to Raleigh for their daughter's birthday.
I spent the rest of the morning with Mamie, enjoyed lunch at Mama's cafe. I spoke with Zeno's widow on the phone and wanted so much to meet her but Mamie said I'd never get away. She's 94y or so. Mamie led me back to Faxon & Willa Mae's who drove with me to Franklin Ray's grave and to Elder & Edith Evans home. We had a great visit.
Time was 5pm when I left for Melanie Rochat's at White Lake. It was rainy and dark and I missed the turn to her condo. She and Patrick fixed me a super stir fly for supper, Jenifer joining. I called one Weeks in the phone book and woke up the lady. Then I left a message at R. Munford. I used Mel's bed until midnight and then we switched and I was on the comfy couch; They were most accommodating.
11 14 1998 Sat. Mildred Weeks (862-8156) responded to my Munford call. So Sat AM was spent happily visiting her & eating her meat pies, a quick stop at Columbus Co. Library in Elizabethtown, 2PM at Clarkton Expo to see Mike Munford, Ruth's grandson, and his group do clogging. They led me to Arlene Helms. Paul & Arlene took Mildred & I to Lumberton for a delicious steak dinner. (2013dw: Ryan's Grill Buffet & Bakery closed in 2011)
11 15 1998 Sunday AM I went to Baptist Church with Arleen. Her friends were glad I came. Home for ham & potato salad, etc. As we were leaving for Clarkton Cemetery Norman & Jessie drove up so us women went to see J.J. Weeks grave then to Bolton for JT Weeks (Dwight's dad) grave. It was special until I had to pick the beggar lice from my clothes.
No sooner had we returned than Barry & Wanda Helms came for a very good visit. Barry teaches the men's SS class, is a 'reverend' and works for power company. Arleen called up ex-Baptist preacher. He asked if I was a "Friend". They agreed with me that the Lord Jesus did all the work on the cross to wash my sins away and that "all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God." Arleen had heard the term "truth" from Arkebauers years ago. I told them how we meet simply around the Lord Jesus to remember Him and His death with no one but the Holy Spirit to lead. Son Wayne Helms, science teacher, came over, too. His wife was ill. It was a very special day with these folks
11 16 1998 Monday AM Arleen went to doctor. I spoke with Essie Lanier on the phone. The morning was sent at Whiteville Court House Clerk of Superior Court, in the vault piled high
2
Notes from burnt spiral:
11 17 1998 gas at Augusta 9.7gal $8.04 67614
10.5 67808
missing p. 3- What happened Nov 17 & 18.? Wed Nov 18 I think Mel drove her canoe home and I followed.
*06 10 1998 wrig@sccoast.net to JStrick293@aol.com re: Ray Cemetery
Jim, This is all I show in the cemetery listings for the Ray Cemetery
photos
11 13 1998 Photo of Ruth Munford, Mildred Weeks
n.d. photo of Patrick and Mel
11 19 1998 Visit Carter Center with Mother.
Roger's home with David and Mel. Mel went to a concert.
11 20 1998
Roger with ADR's saw. Sitting in upper house 10am with sweaters on.
Susan and Mel fix Roger's birthday meal. 58yo Why didn't we wait until the 60th?
Roger and David laying pipe?. David shoots squirrels.
Mom & I meet the man in camo across the road.
Marilyn at Lake Lanier
11 21 1998 Mel buys "biled" peanuts". Mel drives us to a lovely falls.
11 22 1998 Breaking of bread with John & Kathy Schroder johnschroder@mindspring.com and Ron & Sharon Labolle
11 25 1998 Stone Mtn with Mel.
Flew home 11 22? on Vanguard. 11 22 Met Ryan James, hydroconst@aol.com, 2012 W Elizabth St, Ft Collins 970 224 0390 CSU Senior civil engineer, soccer tennis
11 26 1998 Thanksgiving dinner with Alisha here. (Weeks relative from CO)
11 29 1998 Dwight's 77th birthday with Lydia, Matt Huff. Jon Labenne's.
12 5 1998 Lynne Bilisoly's dress up
12 29 1998 Tues Don Morris family have supper and record music.
12 30 1998 Linus Menne, Dawn Deal for supper. I was late.
12 31 1998 Lunch at Stan Jacobsen's. New Year's Party at Steve Huffs.
01 01 1998 Ron Tomocik teaches Danielle accordion.
01 16 1999 our Bennett house burned down.
2 1999 Jim & Ginger Strickland mailed will of JT Ray to Dorothy. 2400 Hwy 308, Galivants Ferry SC Jim 1938-2010. d of mesothelioma. [learned 4 11 2020 dew]