The North Carolina Mason

Page 6 The North Carolina Mason January/February 2010 WeLcome our new Brothers BeneaTh The Oaks By Allen Hughes Administrator Masonic Home for Children at Oxford We can do more to help the children Let me help Masonry's charities ❍ e North Carolina Masonic Foundation ❍ WhiteStone (MESH) ❍ e Masonic Home for Children ❍ Send information about wills and bequests. ❍ Please have someone contact me. My name Address City State Zip Phone My lodge In memory of (optional) Address To assure that your gift is properly credited to the fund of your choice, please make the check payable to that charity. Mail to e Grand Lodge of North Carolina, PO Box 6506, Raleigh, NC 27628. 1 ..................... Richard John Carbone 1 ..................... Richard Alfred Moore 3 ....................... Johnny Mack Godley 3 .................. Matthew Cramer Grady 3 ...................Christopher Ryan Muse 8 .......................William Kirk Bobbitt 8 ............................... Gary M. Hallett 8 ........................... Casey Dallas Jones 8 ..................... eophilos John Pryor 8 ............... Mariano Quinata Quinata 10 .......................Brian Wayne Mazor 13 ..................... Trevor Shea Houston 27 ............................. Mark Alan Carr 27 ............ William Alexander Walker 32 ...................... Jeffrey Keith Canipe 32 .................... Darryl Ethan Faust II 53 .......................... Keith Alan Sadler 58 ..................Jonathan Charles Cobb 58 ............................John Felton Hale 64 .....................................Eric Forbes 75 ........................ Kevin Jon Jungman 76 ........................ Daniel Adam Boyd 81 ...................... Kevin omas Hood 81 .....................Jeremy Scott Howard 81 ....................Michael Ray Kennedy 81 ........... William Gerald MacIntosh 83 ....................Timothy Brian Abbey 83 ................... Steven David Antwine 83 ................ Brandon Lee Blackmore 83 .............Paul Anthony Crawford Jr. 83 ........................... James Sean Cudd 83 .................... Aaron Robert Kinsley 83 .................... Dustin Edward Kirby 83 ...........................John Russell Petit 83 .........Jonathan Christopher Snyder 97 ....................... Eric Gray Crawford 97 .................... Alvis Gray Speight Jr. 106 ............... omas Welling Barrett 109 .............. Benjamin Lee Brooks Jr. 109 ....................Ryan Nathaniel Daw 109 . Gregory Augustin Goolishian Jr. 109 .................. Barry Dean Lawrence 112 ..............................Troy Gray Lee 114 .................. Charles Howard Britt 114 .......................... David Ray Cook 114 ........................Scott Elliott Nims 114 ........ Bradley Oliver ompson II 115 ............... John Francis Dullaghan 118 ...................Kevan Delany Frazier 118 ............ Galen Woodrow Holland 118 ...................... Peter Bohdan Hura 118 ................. Archie Alden Huskins 118 .........................Perry Allen James 122 ......... Jonathan Kelley Whitehead 125 .......................Joseph Brian Hope 125 .............................Billy Obid Tart 125 ...................... William Brian Tart 125 ........................ Billy Obid Tart Jr. 125 .............. Jason Kenneth ornton 126 ..................... Daniel Scott Powell 127 ....................Justin Alan Saunders 128 ................... Darren Vestal Layton 132 ................ James Scott Nethercutt 132 ............... Johnny Everett Wooten 134 .......... Bradley Davis Blackwelder 134 .................Darby William Correll 134 .............. Arnold Emory White Jr. 137 .......................Tommy Ray Smith 143 ............... Anthony Wray Maddox 146 ......................... Rory Justin Byers 146 ..................Stephen Eugene Lane 146 ......................... Eric Lane Teague 158 ................. James Harold Clark Jr. 158 ................ Ronald Wayne Seeberg 162 ......................Ralph David Nixon 162 ................... Jamison Morgan Roe 162 ................. Jason Douglas Stewart 162 .................Benjamin Eric Stinson 172 ............................Justin Wm Pace 181 ..............Patrick Ronald Dunning 188 ............ omas Alexander Dixon 188 ................. Jason Robert Gilliland 188 .................. Joshua Carliss Parrish 188 ................Dennis Micheal Spinks 191 ................ Alvis Stirling Clack III 198 .................. Kevin Duane Johnson 202 ..................... Russell Evans Beam 202 .......................... Billy Dean Byers 202 .................Wilson Scott Trammel 205 .................... Brian Sanders Carey 205 .............. Joseph Carey Wright IV 205 ...................... Byron Eugene Falls 205 ............................. Robert C. Furr 207 ..................... Harry Lee Parker Jr. 218 ................... Robert Ashley Capps 218 ....................Jeffery Scott Johnson 229 .................... Edward Frank Spain 244 ................... Joseph Dustin Purser 248 .................. Mark William Phelan 249 .................. Kenneth Duane Scott 249 ............... John Lewis Weathers Jr. 253 ...................Brian Matthew Clark 253 ..................... Justin Cody Fortner 259 .............. Charles Joseph McNally 262 ........... Ralph Edward Ashburn Jr. 262 ................Michael Everett Austin 262 .................... Jordan Mikeal Clark 262 ...................Benjamin Ray Sutton 263 ......................IV Robert Johnston 263 ............... Timothy Lee Lancaster 263 ..................Jonathan Chad Propst 263 ......................Charles David Ross 263 ................Kenneth Shane Towery 265 ..................... Chad Martin Boger 265 ................... Darren Gilbert Boles 265 ...................... Robert John Kassel 265 ........................ Dean Plott Miller 267 ........ Benjamin Michael Hawkins 272 ..................... Eric Brandon Dunn 272 ...........Matthew Quinton Maness 272 ....................... Archie Lee Martin 272 ..................... Brandon Alan Sams 282 ................... Bruce Arthur Jantella 282 ................. Edward Earl Norris Jr. 289 ............ Darrel Luther Clemmons 289 ................................... Gil Gendel 289 ...................Johnny Keith Jackson 289 ............................Bryan Cole Lee 289 ...................... George Lee Troxler 293 ....................Jacob Weston Reeley 293 ...................David Eugene Turner 300 ........ Christopher David Edwards 301 .................... Jason Leon Chastain 301 ........................ Darrel Lee Parker 302 ................... Matthew James Noel 304 ................Deral Wayne Raynor II 314 ........... Jonathan Michael Herring 319 ................Ricky Lynwood Parrish 319 ...............Michael Clyde Spradley 319 .................. Timothy Dale Waters 322 .................. John Douglas Arnette 339 .......................Robert Dale Dover 343 .................. Adam Wesley Beagles 344 ....... Clifford Longworth Michael 358 ..................... Curtis Mack Queen 363 ................ Jason Douglas Hatfield 363 ............ Samuel Gregory Hinnant 363 .....................David Baxter Searcy 380 .......... Charles Albert Marshall Jr. 380 ...................Emmett Stewart Pate 384 .................... Jerry Allen Hobbs II 384 .................. Edward Alton Owens 387 ................... Charles Russell Jones 387 .............. Timothy Scott Stiwinter 388 ................. Darrell Wayne Barkley 388 ................... Michael Todd Moore 395 ................Richard Darrell Bodine 395 .................Buck Stone Honeycutt 395 ..................John Cameron Poland 397 .................Ernest George Jackson 403 .........................Kyle Evan Barbee 404 ....................... David Wayne Bass 404 ............ Gene Wayne McIntyre Jr. 407 ..................Austin Allen Freeman 408 ........................Steven Paul Boggs 408 ................................. Altin Ilirjani 408 ........ Samuel Bradford McKnight 409 ................ Donnie Landon Allred 409 ..................... George Ray Maness 409 ........... William Brent McDonald 429 ................... James Lee Stolarczyk 432 ................. Michael Shane Ashley 432 ................... Roger Lee Billings Jr. 435 .............. Michael Anthony Smith 444 ................ Sydney Ray Leonard II 444 ................... Paul David Overman 446 ...................... Herbert Gibson IV 446 ................ Troy Justin Hornberger 446 ..................David Mitchell Mears 446 .......................... Jason Eddy Patla 446 ............ Robert Marvin Stetson Jr. 453 ................William David omas 454 ............... Michael Wayne Deason 461 ............... Edward Doyle Plyler Jr. 462 ........................... James Paul Blair 462 ...............David Walter George Jr. 462 ............... Jerry William Woods Jr. 473 .....................Steven Swain Myers 483 .......................Bobby Lee Billings 483 .................... James Elisha Dowell 483 ............... Reggie Eugene Prevette 484 ....Christopher Edward Goodyear 484 ............. Robert ornton Prisock 484 ............... Felice Antonio Schillaci 491 ............. Matthew Everette Taylor 492 ....................... Mark Antony Bare 492 .................... Daniel Vance Barnes 492 ............ Jason Matthew Broadway 496 ............... David Michael Christie 502 ................ Dennis Dale Weaver Jr. 505 ......................Joshua Aaron Poole 505 .................. Larry Gene Wright II 515 .............. Chadwick Martin Farris 515 .............................. Todd Lee Irby 515 ....... William Jefferson McKnight 515 ................. Michael Scott Nichols 521 ...................Bruce Alan Copeland 527 ..................... Jimmie Dail Aycock 532 .....Douglas Alan Walter Rembisz 532 .........................Jason David Wise 542 ............... Richard Lee Bullington 550 .....William Matthew Swearengin 552 ...................... Justin Dwight Hall 552 ................. Christopher Todd Key 552 ..............Casey Michael Landreth 555 .....................William Earl Spivey 562 ............ Donovan Todd Matthews 562 ................Stephen Forrest Sawyer 563 ....................... Billy Shane Nealey 563 ................... Kegan Grant Watson 564 ............... John Edward Harris III 564 ........... omas James Marshburn 564 ................. Randy Allen Meeks Jr. 571 ...........................Jerry Todd Sipes 573 ........................Brian Keith Wolfe 576 ......... Robert William Pegram III 583 ............. Ryan Gayle Holsopple Jr. 583 ............ Gary eodore McDaniel 583 .................. Joseph Russell Nobles 590 ..................Matthew Keith Jacobs 592 ..................... Tony James omas 593 .......... Joseph Christopher Martin 594 ...................... Dana Quin Shatley 595 ............. Benjamin Warren Burger 602 ..................... Cecil Wayne Alston 602 ......................... Justin David Ellis 602 ....................... Scotty Ray Medlin 602 .................. Michael Charles Rose 606 ................ Derrick Chad Houston 616 .................... Cory James Baldwin 617 ..........Donald Edward Martin III 617 .................. Joshua omas Raney 618 ....................... Jeffrey Bryce Jones 626 ...................Brian Keith Atkinson 626 .................... Dalton Mack Jordan 626 ........Christopher Lynn Newsome 626 .................. James Mark O'Daniel 626 ................. James Robert Shaffner 626 ...................... Joseph Evan Staton 629 ................ Roger Arnold Vance Jr. 637 ............. William Randall Shelton 643 ...................... omas Earl Smith 650 ........................Alan Barton Wray 658 ................ Brandon Matthew Cox 663 .............. Honley Dee Etherton Jr. 663 ..................Paul Douglas Morrow 669 ..............................Gerard Clapso 670 ................ Joshua Douglas Martin 674 .............. Matthew Shelton Ashby 674 ...............Luke Joseph Boudreault 674 ............ Kenneth Chaite Kaufman 676 .......................Andrew Ray Heim 679 .......................Derec John Mercer 680 ........................ Travis Lee Adkins 680 ..................... Brent Foster Keelan 680 .......................... John James Stein 680 ...........Glenn Walter Trieselmann 685 .....................Fred Allen Elliott Jr. 686 ................ Charles Drew Edwards 686 ....................Daniel Lee Stephens 686 .......omas Gilmore Stephens Jr. 687 ...................Christian Ellis Farrell 687 ....... Douglas Marion Rowland Jr. 688 .......... Vincent Anthony Medgley 688 .................omas Earl Simmons 688 ................... Charles Ray Webb Jr. 689 ................... Brandon Lee Bridges 692 .................. Timothy James Wood 692 ....................Fernando Raul Ycaza 694 .......................Clem Flemon Ellis 694 .................. Ray Franklin Johnson 694 .....................Bryan Ceciel Patraw 697 .......Eugene William Christian Jr. 697 .................. Billy Perry Hansley Jr. 699 ................ Timothy Lendis Hayes 701 ........... Adam Anthony Berkowitz 701 ...................... David Charles Guy 701 ................. Josh Randall Williams 702 ................. Jeremy Eugene Dodge 704 ........ David Christopher Wheeler 706 ...... Nicholas Dean Culpepper III 708 ................. Carter Eugene Adkins 708 ...............Garrett Brandon Beaver 708 ................Philip Whit Covington 708 .................... Scott omas Grady 708 ...............Samuel Clarence Losew 708 ..........Jordan Matthew Whichard 709 .................James Omer Ballard Jr. 709 .....................Fred Sherrill Lee IV 713 ................... Michael Gene Rhyne 719 ............ Lonnie Wayne Lassiter II 720 .................. Lewis Wetzel Burgess 720 ................ Justin Alexander Lewis 722 .......................Collin Shore Davis 723 ............Matthew Edward Bradley 723 ..................Raymond Curtis Eure 727 ................. Roland Issac Patterson 727 ....................Gregory Ryan Smith 727 ......................... Ricky Dan Smith 731 ........................Noel Van Gilmore 733 .................. Justin Michael Crawn 733 ................. Daniel Stoner Clay IV 736 ...................... Ferdinand Alago Jr. 736 Trent Brachus Melville Meadows 737 ..............Richard Carl Gelsomino 738 .................Randy Scott Hathcock 739 ............... omas Orlando Evans 739 ..................David Oliver Harmon 739 ........................... David Paul Hux 741 ................. Brandon Corey Styron 743 ...............Joshua David Alexander 743 ..................... Tyler Kevin Stevens 743 ............. Robert Raymond Wilson 744 ........................Cody Stuart Allen 746 .................. John Kevin Antonson 751 .................... Jonathan Neil Bailey 752 ........................ Jason Gray Cheek 752 .......... Walter Harrison Craver III 756 ........................Dustin James Hall 757 ......................William Paul Baker 757 .....................Phillip Wayne Berry 757 ...................Jeremiah Everett Buff 758 ............. Christopher Lee Gupton 758 ................... James Frederick Reid 759 ...................... Billy Ray Winecoff 762 ..........................Aaron Bart Cecil 763 ........... Charles Gregory Kirkman In recent months the lyrics of an old tune keep coming to mind with a slight change as I wonder, "Where have all the children gone?" Our state and the nation are well into the second year of a major economic recession which has adversely affected the liveli- hood of many, many families. Public support programs have been reduced or in some cases eliminated because of budget constraints. During such severe conditions, it is logical to think that homes such as the Masonic Home for Children would be filling up and the number of children in the custody of the Department of Social Services (DSS) would be much higher. However, the number of children in the care of MHCO is 15% less than when the eco- nomic crisis began. Other residential homes similar to ours also are experiencing reductions in admissions. e reports I have seen indicate a significant drop in the number of children on the rolls of DSS during the same period. What has happened to cause the unexpected reduction in the number of children needing outside support? Are there children living in unsafe conditions because reductions in public funding have limited the support that can be provided? Or have commu- nity support programs become more effective in keeping children with their families? I don't know the answers, and I can only hope that children are not being left in unsafe situations because the families can't get the help they need. I have spent most of my adult life working with people in numerous situations, and I have wit- nessed so many cases in which the children were the first to suffer when families experienced conflicts or hardship. I can't believe that someone has waved a magic wand and caused all the parents or legal guardians to put the needs of the children first. Conversely, I am concerned that cuts in public funding could result in more chil- dren living in unsafe conditions. Cuts in staff and funding could force the social services and other public agencies to focus more on reaction to actual cases of abuse and neglect and not be able to initiate preventive measures to address potential neglect or abuse of children. MHCO can be a safe alternative to DSS having to take custody of children in potentially undesirable conditions. We will not shield abusive parents, but we want to offer assistance to families to avoid potential situations of abuse or neglect. Having lived my childhood away from my family, I fully agree that a typical family life is desirable for all children. However, I recognize that life is not typical in all families and that not all families provide proper care for their children. I am prompt to admit that the support, the care, and the opportunities I received in living at our children's home were far better than what I would have received had I lived with my family. I want other children to have the same care and opportunities I received. e Masonic Home for Children can help many more children if only they are brought to us. We need the help of all our Brother Masons to send those families to us. We will not be able to help everyone who calls because some of the children will have special needs we cannot support, or their behavior warrants more direct supervi- sion and discipline than we can provide. Even in those cases we can recommend alternatives for help. We are staffed to care for low to moderate risk children who have the physical and social abilities to be able to live with other children and follow a daily routine without requiring constant assistance and supervision. We try to ensure that we can meet the needs of the children and family before we approve admission. It is not practical to change the admission standards just to increase the resident census. To do so could jeopardize the safety and care of the other children here. MHCO is not a discipline center; if a child refuses our guidance and repeatedly fails to cooperate with the staff and other children or poses a threat to the safety of him/herself or others he or she will not be allowed to remain here. ere probably are many children across the state whom MHCO can help; I do not know who or where they are, nor can MHCO offer assistance until the parents or guardians contact us. Our Home has cared for children from every county in the state, and I cannot accept that there is not at least one family with chil- dren in each county we can help. We need individual Masons and Masonic Lodges to get the word to the families who need assis- tance in their areas about our Home. MHCO will try to provide as much background as we can to help convey information to the prospective families. We ask also that the Lodges assist the fami- lies they identify through the application and admission process. If families need help, but do not want their children to be so far away from them, we can tell them about other residential homes closer to them which may be able to help. Our Home has cared for thousands of children in need and has been able to continue operations through many financial and social challenges because the Masons of North Carolina have believed in the cause of caring for children in need. In each challenge, whether financial problems or public support issues, Brother Masons have stepped forward to preserve our Home. We consistently ask for your financial support because we need a constant flow of dona- tions to keep e Home in operation. It now is just as important that you renew the efforts to find families with children whom we can help. While we may ask Masons to assist families in keeping contact with their children, what we need you to do is to tell the families about the Masonic Home for Children and get them to contact us. Our staff will handle the rest of the process. A phone call by the parents or legal guardian to (888) 505-4357 or (919) 603-3948 will start the process. As I prepare this article, MHCO has space to care for 15 boys of ages 7 to 17, 14 girls of ages 7 to 17, and 4 boys or girls who are 6 or younger without having to increase the budget. Our resident census is well below capacity with almost 40% of our beds empty during the most severe economic conditions in recent history. It would be great if there truly was not a need for our Home. How- ever, there are daily reminders of children who cannot live safely with their families in their own homes. Let's hope that we do not have to read of the death of children in abusive situations before action is taken to prevent conditions which may lead to child ne- glect or abuse. e Masons opened this Home in 1872 to provide for children in need. e circumstances were different, but some of the basic needs are the same, and there still are many children living in undesirable conditions. We can do more to help families with children in need. Please help us find those children; we'll do what we can to help care for them if we can get them here.

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