Happy Birthday Wishes to Alicia Mosley, July 18, Chesterfield; Jerry Foster, July 19, Saxe; Patrick Morton, July 19, Richmond; Keianna Snead Green, July 22, Richmond; Diana Foster Edwards, July 23, Richmond; Derrik Dennis, July 23, Keysville; Josh Perkinson, July 24, Saxe; Estella Jennings, July 24, Drakes Branch. I wish all of you many more happy birthdays. Happy birthday!

Anniversary wishes to Laura and Jimmy Moon, Saxe, July 20, 22, years. May God bless you with many more happy years together. Happy anniversary.

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 and thoughts for a quick recovery.

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: Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.

MOTIVATION

If you are willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. The secret to happiness is to do what you like. The secret to success is to like what you do. We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future. Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen. Don’t let a bad day make you have a bad life.

Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow. What brings you down will eventually make you stronger. Don’t let little things get you down. You have got many reasons to look up to God and say thank you for being in my life, and bringing you through everything you may go through.

I would like to send an appreciation to Betty Ramsey and her staff at The Charlotte Gazette during the death of my mother Elizabeth V. Freeman. We appreciate all you have done for us.

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.