Happy Birthday wishes to Omar C. Roberts, Dec. 20, Drakes Branch; Jarla Brok, Dec. 21, Germany; Denise Brok, Dec. 22, Germany; Herman Brown, Dec. 24, Saxe; K’ishawn Spencer, Dec. 25, Drakes Branch, son of Tameka Freeman and grandson of Virginia and Paul Hamlett Jr.; Joseph Wilborn, Dec. 25, Saxe; Roland Gaines, Dec. 25, Charlotte Court House. On your Birthday, lots of people are thinking of you. I just wanted to let you know that I am one of them. Happy birthday!

Anniversary wishes to Herman and Loriane Brown, Dec. 24, Saxe, 31 years. May God bless you with many more happy years together with God’s blessings. 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. Keep Doug Wilmouth in your prayers as he is recovering. Keep all of our prayers going, we might need them for ourselves one day.

Sympathy to all of the families who lost a loved one recently. Sympathy to the family of James Saunders of Drakes Branch and to the family of the Pastor Gladys Watson of Chase City. Our heartfelt prayers go out to all of you in your time of need, you have our deepest sympathy.

Thought for the week: Be Happy, not because everything is perfect, but because you choose to focus on the perfect moments.

CHRISTMAS DAY

He who has not Christmas in his or her heart will never find it under a tree. Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has a strong authority.

May peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through. Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the gentle flame of charity in the heart. May all of your hearts be filled with joy at Christmas and all through the year.

To all of you, I wish you a merry Christmas from my family to yours. Merry Christmas!

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.