Monthly Archives: June 2015

On April 11,  2015 and on April 18, 2015,  Marion Barnes, husband of Edith Gay Barnes, photographed two big celebrations from the 2nd Generation of the Gay-Parker  family.

Uncle Dave’s 80th birthday celebration, held at the Pitt County Shrine Club in Winterville, was a surprise event sponsored by his children.

Aunt Arie’s 95th birthday celebration, sponsored by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was held at Union Grove Church near Farmville.

 Edwin L. Gay (1949-1973)

Edwin LeVern Gay grew up as a member of one of the two sets of twins that Uncle Herman Gay and Aunt Dannie Ruth Dupree Gay had. There was Ronnie and Donnie, the baby twins; and Edith(Edith Gay Barnes) and Edwin, who were the knee-baby twins. Edwin graduated from HB Sugg High School and later NC A & T University. He participated in ROTC while at NC A & T and sang with an R&B  group called The Sensations. After graduation, Edwin served in the Air Force and was stationed in Michigan at  the time of his death.

A good way to learn about Edwin’s beliefs and his view of the world in 1971 is to read a poem he published in the NC A & T yearbook in 1971.

The poem is titled, ” Me” and here are the opening lines.

“Send me the moon, the stars, and all of Earth’s greatest possessions,

Cover me with the respect of all mankind whether I be good or bad.

Try to understand not only who I am, but also who I love to be.

And ask not of me those promises that I wish not to fulfill.

For I belong, not to a group, but as an individual,

Gifted with the mind and intelligence to be as I desire,

Guided not by the instinct or the feelings of others,

Rather by the feelings off-sprung by the inner soul

And inner mind.”

Click here to read all of Me by Edwin Gay.

   Bishop Robert Gay

Mother Ethel Gay

You can always have dinner or a picnic for the immediate family and a friend or two. That kind of celebration just wasn’t enough for Bishop Robert Gay and Mother Ethel Gay this year. On May 16, 2015, they stepped outside the box of a small quiet meal into a lively, spiritual-music filled Saturday afternoon occasion and offered barbecue, fried fish, tea, soft drinks, and a list of desserts for family near and far, for friends near and far, and for church friends near and far.

Check out this slideshow of pictures.

Here’s a musical performance by a group of singers from St. Matthews in New Haven, CT and a musical rendition from the Vines Sisters and Family, featuring Johnny Ray Daniels.

Bishop “Rob” Gay(far right) with great-nephew Elder Robert “BoJack” Phillips. Jr. and nephew Elder James “Buddy” Phillips