The North Carolina Mason

Page 2 The North Carolina Mason November/December 2015 By Chris Richardson OXFORD — e threat of rain caused some unease as the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford prepared for its Fifth Annual Masonic Home- coming Festival celebration. Home- coming is when the Home welcomes back alumni, Masons, friends, and fam- ily from throughout the state and coun- try. e fall tradition of fellowship and reminiscence celebrated its fifth year of the current format of bringing together alumni and Masons to celebrate their relationships with the Home that has served more 10,000 children. An esti- mated 2,500 attended. Happily, though threatening clouds skirted the campus while drenching neigh- boring communities, the showers steered clear of the campus and parade route. e weekend brought many bright spots in events, activities, and moments happening throughout the weekend and around the campus. It represented the work of hundreds of volunteers who gave their time, travel, and commitment through the year A beautiful Friday morning wel- comed golfers from around the country for the annual Chip Shots for Children Alumni Charity Golf Tournament, the "official" first event of the weekend. Alumna Chairperson Terry Gilliland and alumnus sponsor Charlie Burton along with their alumni volunteers hosted more than 20 teams and gener- ated more than $60,000 for the Alum- ni's Endowment Fund. Back on campus, cooks from around the country began setting up, prepar- ing their sites, and warming their grills to compete to be the best in barbecue at the Fifth Annual Ma- sonic Homecoming Barbecue Cookoff. A record 19 teams com- mitted their time to participate. Cooking all night, these teams not only contended for trophies and bragging rights, but provided the delicious meal serving more than 2,000 guests during Saturday's celebration. e Friday night yard party is quickly becoming the event before the event. It furnishes a relaxing and satisfying evening under the oaks. With music, fellowship, and delicious stew courtesy of Salis- bury's Andrew Jackson 576. A large crowd enjoyed a beautiful fall evening. At the same time, across campus at the Cobb Center at Dunn Cottage, the Home's museum and archives were honoring the Cobb Foundation's sup- port and the vision of alumnus Bill Cobb who initiated the project in 2005. Former Home Administrator Allen Hughes spoke on the Center's impact and influence over the past ten years. On Saturday morning, with the as- sistance of the City of Oxford Police Department and the Granville County Sheriff 's Department, the Home host- ed North Carolina's biggest and best Shrine parade. With area and Shrine marching bands, local dignitaries, civic organizations, and our grand line offi- cers and Order of Eastern Star grand officers in tow, Oxford native Parade Marshal Jeff Gravley of WRAL TV- 5, lead the parade with his mom Pat Gravley and sister Angie ornton. ere followed tiny cars, and troupes of clowns, and stunt drivers, motorcycles, mini-trucks, and much, much more. Following the parade, guests gath- ered around campus to begin tradition- al Homecoming activities. e fun in- Home for Children celebrates Homecoming cluded tours of cottages, inflatable fun for the kids from Ragland Productions, visits to the Museum and Archives, and cottage booths with desserts and games. As a homecoming queen was crowned and lunch wound down, the crowd set- tled in for the headline entertainment. e Embers featuring Craig Woolard Joey Transou prepares for the contest. The North Carolina Shrine puts together its biggest show of the year at Homecoming. Friends watch the parade. see next page

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