Fayetteville's Dirty Dozen and Skye Drive/Summertime Gang come through for Bill Shaw fund
Two groups of old friends have helped propel the Bill Shaw Salvation Army Christmas fund past the $100,000 mark.
The Dirty Dozen's and the Sky Drive/Summertime Gang's contributions bring our total to $108,255.75.
This marks the 64th year that the Dirty Dozen has contributed to the fund.
The 2023 contribution of $17,053.75 is made in memory of all previous members including the Dirty Dozen's longtime Chairman V.F. Talley and Bill Shaw, for whom the fund is named, according to a statement from Lee Warren and Albert McCauley, the group's chairman and vice-chairman.
The 2023 contribution is also made in memory of Henry Melvin's two sons, Rick and Mike; S.T. Home's brother Alfred "Runt" Horne; and former Sheriff Morris Bedsole.
The group started the "Dirty Dozen Endowment Fund" through the Cumberland Community Foundation, and with $8,500 contributed for this year, the total is now $65,500.
More: Bill Shaw fund: With your help, we can make a difference for Fayetteville-area families
The donation is made in memory of past Dirty Dozen members: V. F. Talley; H. B. Farrell; Lambert Williams; J.C. Yarborough; C. K. Andrews; Dempsey Hall; David C. Smith; Winston Turner; Jessie Cannady; Bob Muncy; Billy Barrett; S. T. Home Jr.; David Matthews; Rick Melvin; J Lee Warren; Henry Cotten; Luther Gore; Jim Reaves; Joe Andrews; Cecil Fisher; Tom Hobbs; James Dobbins; Fes Spell; Ed Grannis; Bob Smith; Jack Knowles; Lee Warren; Chairman Bill Shaw; Henry Melvin; Bobby Breece; Floyd Ammons; Joe Pearce; Vernon Spuill Sr.; Landis Chavis; Abner Hubbard; Dewitt Johnson; Claude Capps; Wade Anders; Willis Brown; Clay McDonald; Morris Bedsole; Col. HB Smith; R. C. Melvin; M.J. Taylor; Ottis Jones; Victor Kilby; Gene McDonald; Marvin Smith; Adrian Williams; Cleo Katsoudas; J. R. Peaden Sr.; Herman Bishop; Sen. Joe Raynor; Fonzie Williamson; Tommy Griffin; Ed Melvin; Cuyler Windham; Butch Raynor; Dan Raynor; Miles Edge Jr.; Ralph Price; Earl "Moose" Butler; Alfred "Runt" Home; Bob Streib; K. O. Spears; Wimpy McCorquedale; Steve McCorquedale; Buzz Ward; George Tatum; and Mike Melvin.
This year's contributors include: Robert Al Heatwolle; Mary Talley; Martha Talley; Susan Lynn Talley; Albert O. McCauley; John McCauley; Laura & Zan Monroe,Jr.; Cheryl & Jonathan L. Warren; Sue & J Lee Warren Jr.; Marvin & Shirley Smith; Lyndo Tippett; Donovan McLaurin; Robert Breece Jr.; Corey R. Breece; Neil Yarborough; Elizabeth M. Vamedoe; James N. Ammons; Sandy and Jim Ammons; J. Breeden Blackwell; Zita Barrett in memory of Billy Dean Barrett; Sue & Johnnie Evans; Lorene & Milo McBryde; Jeanne & Ernie Grooms; Richard E. Washbum; Sylvia & Ray Davis; Delores Knowles; Karen & Michael Farrell; Maryann Johnson in memory of DeWitt Johnson; Alice & Danny DeVane; Suzanne Streib Heflin; Dawn Matthews Carpenter; Gen. Ret. Dan McNeill; Winnifred McBryde Grannis in memory of Ed Grannis; Talmage S. Baggett, Jr.; George & Diane Turner; Rebecca Page McDonald; Sen. Brent Jackson; Marianna McCauley; John McCauley; Albert McCauley; Daniel DeVane; Susan Spears Ellis; Michael H. Farrell PP; LD. Hall; Harold Stutts; John L. Elliott; Garris Neil Yarborough; Phillip McCorquedale; Larue Windham; and Julia S. Butler in memory of Earl "Moose" Butler.
Sky Drive/Summertime Gang
The Skye Drive/Summertime Gang's $11,478 donation is made in memory of Bo Thorp, the co-founder of Cape Fear Regional Theatre, who died last year at 89.
For 47 years, residents of the Skye Drive neighborhood and young actors from "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," put on by the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, have caroled to collect money for the Salvation Army of the Sandhills.
Bharti Bakri, $250; C.N. and Hellen Bostic, $500; David & Michelle Courie, $500; Bob Exum, $500; Richard & Wendy Galt, $100; Ernesto Graham, $250; Elaine & Richard Hayes, $500; Wesley and Lucy Jones, $5,000; Elizabeth Keeney, $500; Matthew & Andrea Kelly, $100; John and Jennifer Kistler, $200; Wesley Lockfaw, $25; Jimmy Maher, $100; Lonnie Player, $300; Michael & Darlene Ransom, $250; Richard and Marie Runkle, $500; Ruth Ruppe, $100; Eric and Rebecca Sigmon, $1,000; Peter Stewart, $200; Roy & Michael Weaver, $200; Gregory and Taylor Whitley; $50; and anonymous cash donations, $353.
How to help
Write your tax-deductible check to the Bill Shaw Salvation Army Christmas Fund and mail it to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 110, Fayetteville, NC, 28302, or drop it off between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 220 E. Russell St., Fayetteville, NC, 28301. You can also donate online at southernusa.salvationarmy.org/sandhills.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Dirty Dozen, Skye Drive/ Summertime raise money for Bill Shaw fund
