The North Carolina Mason

November/December 2019 The North Carolina Mason Page 7 Teams cook up wins for Homecoming A third-time entrant took the top prize this year at the annual Masonic Home for Children Homecoming barbecue contest. Union #618 first entered three years ago – the same year Hurri- cane Matthew dropped more than nine inches of rain on the BBQ teams. ey were not discouraged. In fact, they adopted the name "Soggy Bottom Boys" and have attended Homecoming ever since. ey did an extra good deed for the home, inviting folks to sample their cooking before big day. ey ask for donations for the sampling and this year raised $555 to go toward the new pool/aquatic center. Here's the winner's list: Overall winners: 1. Union #618 2. Tobacco Wood Brewery 3. Keller Memorial # 657 Chicken: 1. Union #618 2. Tobacco Wood Brewery 3. Orphans #761 Pork: 1. Keller Memorial #657 2. 13th Masonic District 3. Tobacco Wood Brewery Longtime MESH LLC chairman honored as he leaves its board Steve Burgess, member of the North Carolina Masonic and Eastern Star Foundation LLC board of managers since its incep- tion in 2011, and chairman from 2015 through 2019, will step down at year's end for medical reasons. But his board colleagues and friends plan to make sure he and his work will always be remembered. Current and former LLC managers and two brethren who heard that a fundraising effort was afoot chipped in $2,500, which will go toward a bench that will be placed on the campus of White- Stone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community. e gift was announced at the WhiteStone board's November meeting. Brother Burgess was in attendance, and thanked his brothers, sisters and friends for their friendship. Burgess will step down as of Dec. 31. e WhiteStone board's resolu- tion honoring Burgess said he has "exemplified a U.S. Marine's bulldog-esque determination in building an organization that delivered compassionate relief with businesslike efficiency, and ensuring that in the LLC's operations, every detail was accounted for, every I was dotted, every T was crossed, and every dollar was wisely spent." e resolution went on to say that he "embodies the Masonic Closing Charge, being diligent, prudent, temperate and discrete, seeking to befriend and relieve every brother, and believing that every human being has a claim upon his kind offices." In his resignation letter, Burgess wrote that as he faces medical challenges, "my supreme dictator and love of my life, Doris Regina Burgess, has ordered me home. My wife, family, and dog want me to stay home for a while. I have been neglecting them for quite some time with all my fraternal activities." He said it has "been fun, rewarding, and a pleasure to serve; but the time has come to retire to the rocking chair and dream of days gone by, or the 'Golden Years,' or whatever they call old age nowa- days. … Words cannot express to you the satisfaction and pleasure I received from my opportunity to serve with the talented and dedi- cated individuals at WhiteStone, NC Masonic Foundation, and the MESH Foundation LLC." Steve Burgess holds a resolution from his colleagues honoring his work on the MESH LLC board. The resolution was presented at the fall WhiteStone board meeting. The "Soggy Bottom Boys" take a breather after a very successful effort at the an- nual MHCO Homecoming Barbecue contest. OXFORD – If you could find nothing to smile about at the 2019 Masonic Home for Children annual Homecoming celebration and parade – you are in big trouble. The weather was perfect, the barbecue was tasty and plentiful, the parade was one of the biggest and best ever, and the tireless Tams capped off the day with singing, dancing …. And even more dancing. The annual reunion of those who grew up at the home was a rousing success, and was capped off on Sunday with a service and dedication of a fund honoring Donald Sizemore. Photo by Beth Grace

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