‘Becca and I with two young children moved to Rock Hill the
first week of 1956. We visited three Methodist churches and decided that St.
John’s was the place we wanted for our family. We joined the wonderful folks in
James Barber Sunday school class. We recall a few of those welcoming us: Stanley
and Millie Byers, Mary and Jeff Jeffords, Rice and Joann McMaster, and Bettye
and Curtis Rawls. This was prior to our Bowater friends arrival in Rock Hill. The
class met in the room which adjoins the main balcony. The church had just added
a three story addition for our youth parallel to St. John’s Court. A primary street
entrance faced a house serving as the parsonage.
By 1959 ‘Becca and I had added two more children to the
family. When the fourth was born on a Friday in 1959, Harry took the other
three (ages 2, 4, and 6) to Sunday school. As they trooped past Joann McMaster,
she was heard to exclaim, “Can you believe they just added another one on
Friday?”
Like most other young families we shared many Sunday
mornings seated on the floors of rooms serving as crib nursery, nursery, and kindergarten
for our children and those of others parents. What wonderful friends, young and
old, we made there!
By 1965, we devoted most of our time to church and family.
Harry, of course, had a business to run at Star Paper Tube (Caraustar). But,
when not at work, time was split between family and church. For ‘Becca this
meant chairing the committee to open the first day-time kindergarten for St.
Johns. She recalls working with Dr. Rosemary Althouse and Sue Wayne on that
committee. ‘Becca continued as chair of the committee for more than a decade.
Harry chose to work with junior high and senior high youth.
Most of all he enjoyed counseling and teaching. It was always a bittersweet
moment for him to see the group he enjoyed so much leave for college or move
into jobs. He recalls with nostalgia the period when Rev. James Freeman joined
St Johns as Minister of Education. Activities for youth included our version of
a “spiritual values” coffee house, dozens
of weekend retreats at Asbury Hills Methodist Retreat, Garden City Chapel, Lake
Junaluska, Camp Thunderbird and many day trips. For short excursions, St. Johns used a “retired”
Dodge or Reo school bus painted light blue. Our youth called it “Ole Blue”.
Harry and Conrad Quattlebaum were drivers. The vehicle was serviced by St.
John’s member Dorth Falls in his shop.
Often on Sunday evening as many as 75 youth would pack the
basement Fellowship Hall for a program of activities and light supper. It
required a large group of volunteers to prepare food for such a throng. In 1970
we only dreamed of a facility like the “Core” that our youth enjoy today. We
were cramped for space and had limited amount of equipment. But, good
fellowship and lifelong friendships developed. Harry felt his own value system
was strengthened by his exposure to those wonderful youth.
Youth who we still see regularly are Lloyd Case, Wes and
Mary Ann (Sturgis) Helton, Ben Johnson, Henry McMaster, Mary Jane (Byars)
Shuler, Glenn Rawls, and Susan Herdman. Harry continues to hear from many
others. He claims that the youth of the 1960s-1970s generation taught him much
more about life’s values than he was able to teach them. He loved them all and
misses them very much.
Mr. Dan Hollis, Sr. was our spiritual leader during our
early years at St. Johns. Among others whose most tender touches we recall were
Herb Carruth, Morrie and Susie Morgan, Bob and Evelyn Ashworth, Rice McMaster,
and Bill and Nan Ross. That list could be multiplied by one hundred and more
‘Becca served in church circles, usually as a co-chair. She
was attracted mostly to a circle she lovingly named a “little old ladies”
group. She kept no record of years she served as chairperson but Harry says “it
must have been twenty or more.” Most of its members could no longer drive.
So,’Becca usually arrived at circle with her car loaded with senior ladies.
Once ‘Becca told Harry that several ladies suggested they “drive to Charlotte
for a movie” and skip circle. All had a good laugh over that. ‘Becca still
thinks of her “senior angels” among her best friends.
St. Johns has provided us with a fine base for spiritual
growth. We have known loving senior staff from Francis Cunningham in the 1950s
to Debra Quilling-Smith today. All have contributed much to our lives. We have
enjoyed hundreds of fine friends who are living examples of the teachings of
Jesus.
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