A 95-Years-Young Community Treasure!

One of Patrick County's most beloved citizens, Mrs. G.I. McGhee, was honored by the Patrick Springs community and citizens throughout Patrick and surrounding counties on her 95th birthday, Saturday, February 16th. The guest of honor at a gala birthday celebration, Ms. Etta McGhee, smiling and full of life, greeted hundreds of friends, admirers, and family members during a reception in the new Ministry Center at her beloved Patrick Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the day, she had received a buttered nose from owner Denny Alley during a family birthday breakfast at the Coffee Break Cafe in Stuart.

Ms. McGhee received a tablefull of gifts and cards from citizens who enjoyed family fellowship, food, birthday cake, and a video highlighting some of Ms. McGhee's memorable moments as they joined in celebrating her remarkable life. On display in the spacious new Ministry Center were many of the handmade quilts that Ms. McGhee to which she has devoted countless hours and her enormous talents. I was proud to be among the many folks who honored Mrs. McGhee on this very special occasion.

Ms. McGhee joined Patrick Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church when it was founded in an old garage in 1943. Today, it is one of the largest churches in Patrick County having recently dedicated a new multi-purpose Ministry Center. Ms. McGhee and Ms. Ruth Martin are the only two surviving charter members of the church. Her husband, the late G.I. McGhee, and her brother Elmo Hopkins, served as the first pastors of the church of which she is so proud.

Ms. McGhee brought up her 7 children in the church. "That's the first place I carried them was to church, and they didn't know anything but to go to church," she said of her children during a recent interview. Ms. McGhee's 7 children are (from oldest to youngest): Gerald, Pearlie, Elaine, Naomi, Nadine, David, and Tommy. David and Tommy McGhee, the two youngest, both followed in their father's footsteps and became ministers. Bishop Tommy McGhee serves as the conference superintendent of the church.

Ms. McGhee is truly proud of her family, her church, and her community. "There's no place any better than Patrick Springs," she said.

At 95, Ms. McGhee still leads a relatively active life and is full of playful humor and good cheer. In fact, she recently renewed her driver's license for another 5 years. Happy motoring well into your 100s, my dear lady!

What is her secret to her long long life? "Just keep going. Keep going, keeps you going," Ms. McGhee told me in our interview. I wish her many more happy and productive years of life. Ms. G.I. (Etta) McGhee is truly an inspiration to her family, friends, church, community, and to the many near and far who have come to know and to love her dearly. I am among her many admirers. Happy 95th birthday to my friend, Ms. Etta McGhee, and many happy returns of that blessed day. God bless this dear lady and community treasure!

I celebrated my 57th birthday the day before Ms. McGhee's birthday. It was one of the happiest I've ever had thanks to my radio listeners who called in on my show to wish me a happy birthday and sent cards and gifts of all sorts. During my birthday show (along with my frequent radio co-host Vernon Harris) on Fri., Feb. 15th, I received a beautiful birthday cake from my friend Faye Staples, a tasty heart-shaped cake from Amy Fain and her mother Ann Burnette, a half of a beehive cake from Wanda Ayers Slate of Wanda's Jewelry, as well as sweet treats from my friends Cheryl Gunter and Phyllis Eastridge. Thanks to these and to many others for your birthday cards and your many kind words and deeds as I began a new year in my life. Please pray that God will continue to bless me with the opportunity to serve these beloved listeners, our caring citizens, and this wonderful county that we affectionately call "God's Country" on WHEO for many years to come. Thanks again for your kindness; I love you Patrick County!

Still "cuttin' the mustard",
You friend, Richard