Happy belated birthday wishes are sent to to Derrik Dennis, July 23, Keysville and Corrine Roberts, July 23, Keysville.

Birthday wishes are sent to Marie Dodge, July 26, Saxe; Roberta Holiday, July 27, Williamsburg; Kenya Holiday, July 29, Williamsburg; Kelcey Watson, July 29, Wylliesburg; Tawanda Jennings, July 29, Drakes Branch; Shornette Walton, July 30, Drakes Branch; Vincent Louis Thompson, July 30, Keysville; Laci Skelton, age 13, July 30, Red Oak; Jada Spaggs, July 27, Farmville; Sheneka Ferrell, July 31, Williamsburg; John Seymore, July 31, Appomattox; and Herbert Brogdon, Aug.1, Charlotte Court House. I wish each of you many more happy birthdays to come.

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

Anniversary wishes Cheryl and Edward Hicks, Aug. 1, 13 years, Charlotte Court House and Marie and Paul Walton, Aug. 1, Drakes Branch, 17 years.

I wish each of you many more happy years together with God’s Blessings. Happy anniversary!

Sympathy to all of the families who 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:

FRIENDS

F — Fight for you.

R — Respect you.

I — Involve you.

E — Encourage you.

N — Need you.

D — Deserve you.

S — Save you.

FEAR

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is a light shining somewhere nearby. Count your smiles instead of your tears, count your courage instead of your fears. I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.

Courage is one step ahead of fear. To lead is difficult when you’re a follower of fear. Truth fears no question. Fear not for the future, weep not for the past.

You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he or she uses to frighten you. Fear doesn’t shut you down — it wakes you up.

News is due by 5 p.m. Friday. Any news received after this time will not be included in this column. News can be submitted by calling Virginia Freeman at (434) 568-0596.

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