Happy belated birthday wishes to Stanley Davis, June 22, New Jersey; Barry Pugh, June 23, Memphis, Tennesse; Charmeka Gilmore, June 24, Drakes Branch; Marie Walton, June 24, Drakes Branch; and Cubby Skeete, June 26, Netherlands.

Birthday wishes to Malissa Davis, June 29, Hampton; Vincent Davis, June 30, Hampton; Woody Toombs, June 30, Mt. Laurel; Samuel Green, June 30, Richmond; Peery Wells Jr., June 30, North Carolina; Dean Duffy, July 1, Halifax; Jermaine Vaughters, July 1, Clover; Tremon “Tre” Roberts, July 1, Drakes Branch; Alex Hartley, July 1; Ralph Foster Jr., July 1, Clover; Nathan Faulkner, July 1, Baltimore, Maryland; Isabell Evans, July 2, Phenix; Joanne Wilborn, July 2, Saxe; Dillon Foster, July 2, Pamplin; Kitara Garris Skeete, July 3, Netherlands; Bobby Napier, July 4, Drakes Branch; Quan Pugh, July 4, Augusta, Georgia; George Staten, July 4, Richmond; and Daquan Pugh, July 4, Charlotte Court House. I wish each of you many more happy birthdays. Happy birthday!

Happy anniversary to Douglas and Fay Wilmouth, July 2, Cullen and Thelma and James Jones, July 2, 40 years, Drakes Branch. I wish each of you many more happy years together with God’s blessings. Happy anniversary Dominque and Devlin Foster, July 4, seven years, Pamplin.

Get-well wishes to all of the sick and shut-in. I hope you are well soon, up and about. You are in our prayers.

I hope everyone has a happy Fourth of July. Be safe.

Thought for the week: Never treat others in the way you don’t like to be treated yourself.

FAMILY PETS

Your pets are so much a part of your family. They are so smart. They keep you company. I lost my dog Sunday. I am so heart broken. I miss him so much. His death was very painful to me, so if you have a pet, love them take good care of them because they love you too. One day they will die and leave us.

Take them for rides, play with them, let them know they are loved. If you don’t have a pet, go get one. You will be glad you did. There are all kinds of pets you can get: a cat, dog, fish and birds. You will be happy you did.

Virginia Freeman is a community columnist for The Charlotte Gazette. Her email address is vstars@pure.net.