gayparkerfamilyreunion

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

by Edith Barnes

Gay/Parker Family Reunion Weekend 2015 is now upon us and we want to see you and your entire family there! This year to help with the expenses we would like for each family to plan to make a sizable donation to assist with this year’s costs and the planning for 2016.

Robert Gay(1896-1978) and Lillie Parker Gay(1897-1984) had 10 children: Herman Lee Gay(1915-1965), Gennie Gay Phillips(1918-2007), Arie Gay Vines Artis(1920), John Albert Gay(1922-1939), Nancy Gay(1924-1924), George Lawrence Gay(1925-1976), Lucille Gay Blow(1927-2010), Erma Dell Gay Anderson(1930-2013), Robert James Gay(1932), and David Clinton Gay(1935).

                              Pa Bob                                                                        Ma Lillie

  Gennie

  Arie                        

  George 

     Lucille “Lu”

   Erma Dell

 Robert James “Rob”

 David Clinton “Dave”

A casual glimpse of Terra Gay’s resume makes you think of William McDowell’s gospel song, “I Give Myself Away,” a song that proclaims the power and impact of opening oneself for serving, sacrificing, and giving. The song is probably the best way to describe the world of Terra Gay, daughter of William and Candy Gay, who live in the Atlanta-Decatur, Georgia area. Terra lives in Conley, Georgia.

Terra’s world involves giving through volunteerism and training communities to serve. Her gift of giving herself and her skills began with her work in Hands On Atlanta AmeriCorps as supervisor.

Later, she worked as a Community Education Partners Language Arts Teacher and Learning Community Instructional Leader. She’s worked in Hands on Network as the Associate Director and as Associate Director of Hands On Atlanta Schools Program.

Currently, Terra is President and CEO of The Ngambika Academy, which Terra describes as ” ‘a train the trainer’ model and curriculum for volunteers and mentors seeking to create ongoing leadership service learning and life skills training to young people.”

In 2014, Terra met with  groups in Farmville and Winston-Salem to provide the groups with guidance and direction in attaining funding for a program involving children living in low income housing.

Some of us are born to sing, dance, preach, or build, or assemble objects.  And, some, like Terra Gay, are born to serve and to give.

Here’s another link, pdf, to activities of Terra.

Corps 18 Program Overview

Rev. Robert J. Gay, Jr., “Bud,” received installation services as pastor at Moore’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church  in Newport, NC. The installation took place on February 22, 2015.

Moore’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church was begun in 1860.

Rev. Billy C. Boyd, pastor of Hays Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Pactulous, NC., preached the installation sermon. Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Cooper, Moderator of Old Eastern Missionary Baptist Association presented the charge to the pastor. Dr. Reginald Barnes, President of Eastern District Union, delivered the charge to the church.

Pastor Robert Gay, Jr.,”Bud,” received encouraging remarks from his father, retired pastor of St. Matthews of Connecticut, Bishop Robert Gay, Sr. and Rev. Mary Worsley, pastor of Emmanuel Community Unison Baptist Church in Winterville, NC.

In his remarks Pastor Robert Gay, Jr., “Bud,” gave thanks to God most of all. He also thanked his father Bishop Robert Gay, his uncle, Deacon David Gay, and his cousin, Rev. Mary Worsley for their attendance. He thanked his mother, Mrs.  Mary Spain Gay, who was unable to attend the installation due to snowstorms in Connecticut.

We know and feature at our reunions the amazing number of family members in the ministry, the select few in professional sports and music, and the continuously growing number of family members who have served in the military.

Most of us, though, are just family members who are out there and working. We are working in jobs from trucking, healthcare, education, business management, technology, and welding to social service, banking, food service, entrepreneurship, and human resources. Whatever the industry, some of us are probably working in those jobs.

Check out these links and ads to businesses and services operated by members of our family.

Kimberly Gay Smith’s Kim Smith Speaks

Crystal Gay’s Accounting

Allison Gay’s creative website allisongayphotos