Newspapers / West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, … / April 22, 1982, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
I' (‘iCongratulations ! Cove City's — 25th Anniversary L. R. Sermons General Merchandise Co. of Fort Barnwell — 60th Anniversary East Carolina University’s — 75th Anniversary The West Craven * '*■ / ■* ' ( l?L HIGHLIGHT Volume 5, Number 16, Vanceboro, N.C. Thursday, April 22, 1982 12 Pages 20 Cents L. R. Sermons Gen. Mdse. Co Founders - Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Ray Sermons Celebrating At L. R. Sermons Gen. Mdse. Co. It all started back in 1922 when Mr. Leslie Ray' Sermons approached Mr. L. Harvey of Kinston and asked him for a loan of $26. Mr. Harvey said, “What , do you plan to do with so much money?” Mr. Sermons replied, “I want to open a grocery store in Fort Barnwell.” Mr. Sermons promised to pay the $26 back in 6 months, but was able to make the repayment in 4 months. This has been the way of the company throughout the sixty years it has served the Fort Barnwell community. Mr. Sermons was a friend to all and extended credit to most of the farmers in the community on a . yearly basis. He was active in the business for 61 years. Mr. Sermons and his wife, Lucille, were household names throughout the community. Mr. Sermons passed away in August of 1974 and Mrs. ’S^ljiions in April 1982. The original store was located about 200 yards east of the present store site. The business was relocated and a new building erected in 1930. This building served the community until 1967 when it was modernized and expanded. A furniture partnership was also added. William M. McCombs III, came with the company in 1972. Mr. McCombs and his wife, Leslie Dawn, purchased the business in 1974 and three years later the business was incorporated. The store generally carries groceries, hardware, meats, and fancy fruits. The main item in the meat department that this store is known for from North Carolina to all parts of the country is their homemade sausage. The sausage is made from prime pork trimmings, seasoned and stuffed the old fashioned way. Mr. McCombs comes to this part of the country from Virginia where he met and married Leslie Dawn Sermons in 1969. At that time she was an elementary teacher in the Virginia school system. His career experience has been with the military and with Johnson & Johnson Co. After their marriage, Mr. and Mr. McCombs moved taGrifton in 1972 and then to Fort Barnwell in 1979. During his spare time, Mr. McCombs enjoys fishing and traveling. Mrs. McCombs is employed by Pitt County Schools as a second grade teacher in Grifton. Mr. McCombs’ hope is that the business can continue to serve and grow with the community as it has during the past 60 years. Friendliness and courtesy have been the ingredients of making the business successful. The McCombs assure the community they will continue to live up to their motto “Our objective is service, our standard is excellence.” For the L. R. Sermons General Merchandise Co.’s 60th Anniversary celebration, the store will be giving balloons to the children, a free gift to all 60 year old citizens who visit the store on April 22-26, and to the first 60 ladies an azalea will be given to commemorate the store’s 60 years of service and throughout the store there will be “60th Anniversary Specials”. Make it a point to make a stop in Fort Barnwell at L. R. Sermons General Merchandise Co. and help them celebrate on April 22-26. Cove City Celebrates April 24th Cove City, a busy little town in western Craven County, is set to celebrate its 26th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, April 24th. The schedule for the day will be as follows: 10 A. M. Reception and cake cutting at Cove City Town Hall with Mayor L. D. Davis and town aldermen as hosts. 11 A. M. Barbecue pork and chicken will be served by Cove City Rescue Squad throughout the day and afternoon. 2 P. M. James McIntyre, Treasurer of State Republican Party, CPA Greenville firm, will bring keynote address. Presentation of American Flag by Woodmen of the World. Epilogue Reading of Cove City’s past 26 years by Ms. Letha Hawkins. During the day the following activities will be available for your entertainment. Exhibits at the Town Hall by Viccie Brown and Bernice Chadwick in handi-crafts:Kirk Daniel with paintings. Hood’s of Cove City with plaster craft; John Mullins with antique clocks; McCoy’s Flower Shop with flower display; Terri Grady with paintings, Ashley Koonce with paintings, drawings, sketches; Roy McCoy with sketches and art work; West Craven Jazz band; Church choirs with singing; Tryon Twirlers, a square dance group; Clogger pair from state clogging team; Country & Blue Grass music, two gospel singing choirs and a special activity for children presented by the Cove City Library. The library will have on display its plans for the new library expansion. All in all a special day for a special part of Craven County. Gather up the children, pack up some chairs and head over to Cove City for their 26th Anniversary Celebration bn Saturday.
West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 22, 1982, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75