Happy belated birthday wishes to Sampson McCargo Jr., Aug. 7, Chase City.

Birthday wishes are sent to Gayle Inge, Aug. 23, Saxe; Fay Wilmouth, Aug. 23, Cullen; Tracey Gregory, Aug. 24, Drakes Branch; Shawleace Hill, Aug. 24, Saxe; Margaret Polland, Aug. 25, Scuffletown; Anisha Marable, Aug. 26, Charlotte Court House; Chris Hamlette, Aug. 27, Madison Heights; Trevor Johnson, Aug. 28, Keysville; Debra Anderson, Aug. 28, Drakes Branch; Frankie Hicks, Aug. 29, Charlotte Court House. I hope you have a wonderful birthday filled with fun and joy. I wish all of you many more happy birthdays. Happy birthday!

Get-well wishes go out 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 wishes to Annieruth Vaughters, of Saxe, who is recovering from surgery.

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

Thought for the week: Don’t be the same, be better.

CRYING

Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don’t know how to laugh either. It is a relief to weep.

Grief is satisfied and carried off by tears. Let your tears come and let them water your soul. Tears are God’s gift to us. They are our holy water, they heal us as they flow.

News is due by noon Friday. Any news received after this time will not be included in this column. News can be submitted by calling (434) 568-0596.

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