Birthday wishes to Kelly Foster, Sept. 7, Saxe; Edward Hicks, Sept. 9, Charlotte Court House; Harold Snead, Sept. 9, Bridgeport, Conn.; Hilda Foster, Sept. 10, Randolph; Deidre Vaughters, Sept. 10, Red Oak; Leroy Gee, Sept. 10, Kathleen, Ga.; Linda N. Guill, Sept. 10, Randolph; John Gee, Sept. 12, Farmville; Hazel Brogdon, Sept. 12, Randolph; Lewis A. Carter, Sept. 13, Keysville; Nicholas Foster, Sept. 13, Cumming, Ga.; and Tamika White, Sept. 13, Charlotte Court House.

I wish each of you many more happy birthdays to come!

Congratulations to David Walker and Jimesha Gray on their marriage on Aug. 14 at Pentecostal Church of God in Blackstone. God’s blessings go out to you on your marriage. May you have many blessed years together.

Get well wishes to all of the sick and shut-in. I hope you are up and well soon. You are in our prayers and thoughts for a quick recovery.

Sympathy to all of the families who have lost a loved one recently. Our heartfelt prayers and good wishes go out to all of you in your time of need. You have our deepest sympathy.

Thought for the Week: Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Family

I don’t care how poor a man is if he has family, he is rich. When you look at your life, the greatest happiness is family happiness.

Blood is thicker than water, and when one is in trouble it is best to seek out a relative’s open arms. In times of testing, family is the best. You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.

News is due by 9 p.m. Friday. News can be submitted by calling Virginia Freeman at (434) 568-0596.

Virginia Freeman is a community columnist for The Charlotte Gazette. She can be reached at vstars@pure.net.