A good crowd enjoyed fried trout, cole slaw, baked beans, grilled pig tails, water/soft drinks, and dessert at the Gay-Parker Family Reunion fish fry. Luckily for eastern North Carolina area, Hurricane Arthur passed over leaving only extra rain, and less heat and humidity.
With Ronnie Gay handling master of ceremonies duties, this year’s banquet featured a welcome from the Honorable Elsa Mason, Mayor of Farmville, NC, and the banquet key address from Elder Billy C. Boyd, pastor of Hayes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Pactolus, NC.
Mayor Mason spoke to the family about the improvements that the town needed to make in different communities and how she became involved in local politics after a career in nursing.
Elder Billy Boyd, son of Bishop Robert Gay, was introduced by his brother Robert “Bud” Gay, who promised everyone that Elder Boyd would be brief.
Elder Billy directed a rousing address(sermonette) to the young members of the family. First, he said he wanted to talk about a man named Jesus. Elder Billy told a story about a tax man much like Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax collector, who met Jesus. This tax man was able to witness the restorative and saving powers of Jesus through the miracles of the man cleansed of demons, the woman who suffered for 12 years and was healed when she touched the hem of Jesus’ robe, and a young boy being raised from the dead. Elder Billy also recalled his Sunday interactions with Ma Lillie and Pa Bob at Paul Chapel’s Primitive Baptist Church.
Here’s an excerpt from Elder Billy Boyd’s address(sermonette).
Also, during the banquet, family members donated $178.00 toward the purchase of Ma Lillie Parker’s headstone. Currently, the headstone fund has $478.00.
Everyone felt the spirit from the performances by the Vines Sisters and the Gay-Parker Ensemble.
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