NEWSLETTER SPONSOR

     If you or your company would like to sponsor a future newsletter, please contact any officer or mail your check for $165 to P.O. Box 32, Ceres, VA 24318.  This covers part of the cost of postage.

 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

    Hello.  Hope everyone has had a wonderful fall.  I hope our three little snows so far are not a sign of things to come when winter actually arrives.  I have had a knee replacement and am still recovering but it is going good.  Hunting Season is going great in Ceres by the pictures on the wall at Harners Market.

   Homecoming was great, as usual, with great friends, food, and fellowship.  Special thanks go out to Betty for the organization and coordination of the event.  And thanks to everyone who worked so hard in making the Homecoming the event of the year.  With the new renovations of the gym we have developed a wonderful facility for our community.

    As this is my last President’s message.  I want to tell you all how much I have enjoyed being your President over the last 5 years. We have accomplished so much, our dinners and events are wonderful and they have provided us with needed funds for our community facility.  We opened our gym for the 17 team Bland Youth Basketball league with 130 grades 2 – 7 youth.  I hear all the time from many people outside of Ceres how they so much appreciate the gym.  Ceres has a great community facility.  I feel so proud to be a part of this organization when I look outside at our events and see people dancing to music on the deck, the kids playing football and enjoying the playground and the wonderful fellowship we all have with our friends and neighbors. We have also made a great impression on our community, County of Bland and the Wythe/Bland Chamber of Commerce which recognized us with the Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Achievement Award for 2011.  This was made possible by the hard work of our Henry C Groseclose Museum committee.  I could go on with what we have accomplished over the last few years and it is only possible due to the hard work of our CAA Board and our members.  I know our new President Mr. GH Peery will continue leading us in providing our community with one of the greatest facilities and Museums in the area. 

    Please continue your hard work, support of our organization and let’s recruit more members.  Hope to see you at the Exercise Room and all our events.   Happy New Year!

Wade Hall, President

 

CERES HOMECOMING AND DEDICATION

    The CAA sponsored its eleventh annual Ceres Homecoming and its Dedication of the new gym floor on October 15, 2011. The weather could not have been more perfect and the fall colors decorating the valley provided the ideal backdrop.  The Homecoming was well attended and enjoyed by all.  The theme for the day was AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. The day started with registration and a chance for guests to tour the buildings on the former Ceres school campus and visit with old friends.  Attendees were given a 2012 date book and tickets for door prizes.   An added treat this year was the addition of a video of Marie C. Groseclose giving an Introduction and Welcome to the Museum.  The CD was produced by John and Bonnie Dodson. 

    At noon, everyone gathered in the decorated gymnasium for the Dedication Service with Wade Hall as Master of Ceremony.  Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Rebecca Neel Gilbert beautifully sung, America the Beautiful.  The song was dedicated to Rebecca’s late father, Larry Dean Neel.  Wade Hall gave an interesting time-line of the struggles to get the floor installed.  Audra Repass had a slide show of the construction progress.  Eric R. Workman, Sr., Bland County Administrator and Henry Blessing, Bland County Supervisor representing Sharon District provided comments.  A message from “Rick” Boucher expressing his regrets at not being able to attend and offering his best wishes was read by G. H. Peery, III.  The official ribbon cutting was by the Association committee members who spent countless hours attending meetings on this grant and construction process:  Wade Hall, Robert and Lorraine Waddle and William and Betty Hubble.  William Hubble was selected to actually cut the symbolic ribbon because he was the person who approached Congressman Boucher about a grant and got the process started.

    At 1:00 PM, a delicious and bountiful meal, catered by Loretta Worrell Catering Service, was served.  The decorations in the gym by Becky Kimberlin, Lorree and Buddie Waddle and their committee members carried out the America the Beautiful theme.

    Following lunch, there was a salute to our military men and women.  Special thanks were given for their service to our country.  Rebecca Gilbert sung “Freedom’s Never Free” as a tribute to all past and present service personnel. 

    W. Nelson Tibbs led the annual “Rose of Remembrance” segment of the program.  Eighteen members, family and local citizens whose deaths were reported to the Association since the last Homecoming were remembered with a long stem rose presented to family members who were present.  Those remembered were:  Mary Frances Umbarger Barrington, Andrew Bane Crabtree, O. Claude Davis, Gilbert Raymond Repass (husband of Jean Atwell Repass), Dr. Emory C. Bogle (son of Fred and Ruth Brown Bogle), Margaret Hanshew Moseley, Allie Hagy Ingram, Randolph Hanshew, Earl Durham, Faith Danette Penley, Nora J. Lambert Umbarger, Larry F. Thompson, Robert “Bobby” Cruff, Patsy Patrick Dillow, M. “Jack” Williams (brother of Carrol Crabtree), Mae Groseclose Heslep, 98, (former Ceres teacher), Lindell Hatcher (husband of Nancy Lambert Hatcher) and David Chrisley (brother of Annie C. Peery.

    During the business meeting, minutes of the last Board meeting, Treasurer’s report, Museum report and current membership list, as presented in the program, were approved.  A proposed change to the Association Constitution/By-Laws which would make all past presidents permanent members of the Boards of Directors was approved.  The following Association officers were elected for 2012:  President – G. H. Peery, III, Vice President – Betty C. Hubble, Recording Secretary and Reporter – Michelle H. Groseclose, Membership Secretary – Lorraine S. Waddle, Historian – Kathy M. Hubble, Treasurer – Robert I. “Buddie” Waddle.  Wade Hall will hold the position of Past President.  The Association’s Board of Directors for the period through 2012 will be Jonan C. Cassell, Sue T. Repass and W. Nelson Tibbs and Anne H. Britton, William H. Hubble and Frankie Gray through 2013.  Elected to serve three-year terms through 2014 were J. W. Cassell, Evelyn H. Groseclose and Elizabeth N. Kimberlin.  The Association Endowment Fund Directors will be Joyce Keen, G. H. Peery, III, and James Wilson for a term through 2012, and Judy Cassell, William H. Crabtree, and DeWayne Hubble through 2013.  Dean D. Kirk, Robin U. Repass and Jerry Thompson were elected to serve three-year terms through 2014.  Rebecca M. Peery was elected to fill the unexpired term through 2013 of Anne H. Britton who will be an automatic Board member as a past president, and A. Glen Repass was elected to fill the unexpired term through 2012 of G. H. Peery, III who was elected 2012 President.  Automatic past president board members will be Anne H. Britton, Doris C. Woodward, Donna H. Compton, Frances C. Davis, Betty C. Hubble, Archie B. Atwell, Wade F. Hall and, now, G. H. Peery, III, the newly elected President for 2012.

    A much anticipated event of the day was the drawing of the winning tickets in the annual raffle.  30 raffle prizes were awarded to: Sarah Bracken, Vernon Altizer, Daniel Bennett, Jack Compton, Adam Kegley, Veronica Compton, Janette Rose, Dandy Doane, Gladys Deaton, Patricia Williams, Linda S. Schwaitzberg, J. C. Kidd, Isaac Repass, Ruby K. McMillan, Marvin Carver, Dan Dent, Sheri Henderson, Annie Peery, Barbara Rose, Rick Hanshew, Mae Hanshew, Kelly Williams, Erin Thompson and Amarratt Carter.  The five largest prizes of the day were a laptop computer donated by Wade Hall, Bill and Betty Hubble and C.A.A. and won by James Young; a handmade quilt donated by “Just for Fun” Quilters and won by Mike Dye; a framed P. Buckley Moss print donated by the Moss Foundation and framed by Farmer’s Daughter Framing won by Jack King; a 270 Remington rifle w/scope donated by the Association and won by Kathy Johnson; and a Sears Craftsman Cutting Kit donated by James F. Wilson and won by Donald Cooper.  Della Mae Neel of Ceres sold the most raffle tickets; Linda Davis of Bland was second with only $6 fewer tickets.  Prizes will be given to both.   Total raffle sales - $4,014.  Over 100 door prizes were given to those attending the Homecoming. 

    Appreciation was expressed to all the donors of the raffle gifts and door prizes, especially those who gave more than one gift. The following businesses and individuals donated prizes:  Ceres Alumni Association, P. Buckley Moss Foundation and custom framing by Farmers Daughter, “Just for Fun” Quilters, Muncy Associated Management Service, Inc., Dean Kirk of Builders Supermarket, James. F. Wilson, Brenda Kidd Thompson, Glen and Robin Repass of Chick-a-Bee Farm, Elaine Kegley, J. C. Kidd, Crabtree Family Sewing, Bill and Betty Hubble, J. W. and Judy Cassell, Buddie and Lorree Waddle, Jonan C. Repass, Della Mae Neel, Jack King – State Farm Insurance, Wade and Becky Hall, Applebee’s of Wytheville, New Peoples Bank of Bland, Sue Repass, First1Bank of Wytheville, Evelyn H. Groseclose, Harner’s Market, Affordable Tractor, BB&T of Bland, Randy Townley – Bland Auto, the Repass family of Milton, WA who provided 40 door prizes in memory of Gilbert Raymond Repass who was NASCAR Northwest Region Director, Wiley Cox who provided 25 $2 bills as door prizes, Big Walker Lookout, and Bland Farm Bureau. 

   Thanks were extended to all who helped make this day such a success and to the Ceres Ruritan Club for allowing the guests to tour the former school building and for its upkeep.

 

TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE A SUCCESS

   The 2011 TOYS FOR TOTS drive ended December 1^st and the toys were distributed.  Thanks to all the folks who cared enough to donate the 58 new unwrapped toys and stuffed animals.  

   The 15 toys were donated to the Bland Ministry Center for their Christmas distribution to needy children.  The 43 stuffed animals were donated to the Virginia State Police so that the officers can have in their cars an item to comfort frightened children at the scene of accidents.

   Thanks to Penny Gray and Harner’s Market in Ceres for their efforts to collect toys. 

 

PROPOSED BY-LAWS CHANGE

   On October 15, 2011, the following proposed addition to the by-Laws and constitution was approved by the membership:  Article V, Section C2  “Effective immediately, all past Association Presidents shall be members of the Association Board of Directors and Endowment Trust Fund Board of Directors with no expiring terms.”

  

A NEW NEWSLETTER FEATURE

LOOKING FOR FAMILY

   Dean DeRosa (email - dderosa@adr-i.com) seeks a photo of his great grandfather's brother, Adam Dallas Groseclose (1846-1929), a life-long resident of Ceres, VA.  He was a member of the local Confederate unit mustered in the area (51st VA Infantry), and presumably was later active in the Confederate veterans group in the Ceres area. Perhaps a photo of local Confederate veterans survives among Ceres area descendents, identifying A. D. Groseclose.

 

REPORTED DEATHS

The following deaths were reported since the last newsletter was published:

   Mrs. Mae Groseclose Heslep

   Lindell Hatcher (husband of Nancy Lambert)

   David Chrisley  (brother of Annie Peery)                

   Doyle N. Shupe

   Lawrence Toms, III (son of Mabel Cregger Toms) 

   Harry Cassell

   Robert F. Barger

   Frances Stowers

   Juanita Tibbs Dame

   Earnest Snavely (widower of Nancy Cregger Snavely)

   Laura Lee Shupe (daughter of Linda Hubble Shupe)

   G. Levi Shewey, Jr.

   Ida Brown

   Anna Catherine Davis Jefcoat

 

MEMORIAL GIFTS

In memory of Mae Groseclose Heslep

   By William and Patricia Hepler

   By Marie C. Groseclose

 

In memory of Mildred Peery McCall

   By her son, Bruce McCall

 

In memory of classmates & friends lost in 2011

   By James F. Wilson – for Endowment Fund

 

In memory of Kathleen Duncan Hall

   By her niece, Linda S. Schwaitzberg

 

In memory of Gilbert Raymond Repass, Jr.

   By the Repass family

 

In memory of O. Claude Davis

   By his daughter, Katy and Brad Porter

   By his daughter, Wendy and Steve Lowe

   By his daughter, Pam and Chris Bray

 

In memory of William M. Creggar

   By Dr. and Mrs. Sidney Harvey

 

In memory of Louise Fortner Young

   By James Young

 

In memory of Doyle Shupe

   By James B. Muncy

 

In memory of Ida Mitchell Brown

   By Carol’s friends at BRMC Laboratory

   By Old Glade Antique Tractor Association

   By Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory

   By Patsy Waddle

   By Ida’s sister, Helen Mitchell

   By Ida’s sister, Pearl Mitchell

   By James F. and Betty G. Wilson

 

In memory of Catherine Davis Jefcoat

   By the family of the late O. Claude Davis;  Frankie, Pam, Katy, Wendy and families

   By Sherry Hollar

   By James F. and Betty G. Wilson

 

Membership – Open to everyone

   As of Dec. 2011, there were 151 paid members of the Ceres Alumni Association.  Dues are $25.00 for one year, and $100.00 for five years.  Memberships are based on calendar year (January – December).  Dues for 2012 may now be paid.  In answer to a question:  Yes, $100 dues for five years may be paid for any multiples of five years at any time.  One free year is received with each $100 payment.  We appreciate your support.  

 

 

 

 

CAA UPCOMING 2012 EVENTS

 

Monthly Board Meetings

3^rd Thursday – 7:00 PM

Except 3^rd Saturday - Jan., Apr., July, & Oct.

Everyone is welcome to attend

 

Relay for Life Spaghetti Supper

February 17, 2012

Time to be announced

 

All-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast

Applebee’s Restaurant, Wytheville

March 31, 2012 ~ 8:00 – 10:00 AM

$5.00 per person

Advance tickets or pay at the door

 

 

Ceres Day and Flea Market

Saturday, May 5, 2012

 

Bill Creggar Scholarship Fund Supper

Date to be announced

 

Summer and Fall Pig Roasts

Dates to be announced

 

Picnic and Quarterly Meeting

Saturday, July 14, 2012 at 1:00 PM

 

Chicken Roast

Date to be announced

 

12^th Annual Ceres Homecoming

Saturday, October 20, 2012

 

Christmas Pig Roast (takeout)

 

 

Check the web site www.ceresva.org for dates

and other upcoming events as they are scheduled.