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Scene & Heard - Day of Praise: Stroke group honors Earline Heath King
Journal Photos by David Rolfe
(Left photo) Earline Heath King (from left), Barbara Phillips and Mrs. Douglas Dillard at the fundraiser honoring King. (Right photo) Ann Spencer (left) and Aurelia Eller at the N.C. Stroke Association's luncheon at the Old Town Club.
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Published: September 23, 2008
The N.C. Stroke Association held its third annual fundraiser, "Women Honoring Women," at the Old Town Club on Wednesday. This year's luncheon honored Earline Heath King, an internationally known sculptor who calls Winston-Salem her home.
Craven Williams, a longtime friend and the president of King's alma mater, Greensboro College, presented a tribute that echoed the sentiments of the about 175 people who were gathered.
"You can visit Earline any time of day or night, and she will look like a queen," Williams said. "She will look like a queen and greet you like the friend she has been waiting for for months."
King was so surrounded by those friends that I wasn't able to speak with her. I called her the next morning.
"It was quite overwhelming," she said. "I was so grateful to see so many of my friends at the wonderful occasion."
King also expressed gratitude for her independence at the age of 95 and said she "strongly supports the work of the association."
The stroke association was founded in 1998 by a group of physicians and laypeople who recognized the high prevalence of strokes in North Carolina. The association has been operating since 1999 with a mission to reduce strokes through screening and education. Its goal is to create programs that speak to stroke prevention, stroke education and post-stroke services.
Robin Voss, a board member, did a fine job at the luncheon of substituting for the board president, Paul Hammes, who was unable to attend. She welcomed the crowd and thanked table sponsors Ann Spencer, Shirley Shouse, Forsyth Medical Center, Christy Spencer, Louise Broyhill, Betty Wade, Amy Wilson Scott, Betsy Rudolph, Bill and Jack Hollan, Athena Gallins, Wachovia, Excalibur, Gilmore Lake, Susan Gordon, Jane Ahles, and Liz Kelly.
Sitting at the Wachovia table was Susan Sams, the relationship manager in wealth management. She said she was a branch manager when she met King 30 years ago. "She's a lovely lady and an asset to this community," she said. Sams attended the luncheon with co-worker Jay Abernethy and their guest, Mary Kay Johnson.
The folks Voss commended for their "tireless efforts" at making sure the luncheon ran smoothly were Betty Orr, Ann Spencer, Kelly, Gordon, Ahles, Broyhill and Gallins. She also recognized Beth Parks, the executive director of the association, and Jennifer and Vernon Foster for their contribution of copies of The Wonderful World of Sculptor, a book by Jennifer Foster.
Mayor Allen Joines of Winston-Salem honored the association of which he served as a founding board member, calling it "dear to my heart."
Joines recapped King's life as an internationally recognized artist who started sculpting when she was 50. "I applaud her beauty and the beauty she has given us," he said.
He ended his brief remarks with King's quote from Foster's book: "Every day I thank God for my gift … and just think, I almost missed it."
But it was Williams who said what everyone was thinking with the words: "She can accomplish more in a day dressed to the nines than most of us could accomplish over a much longer period dressed in bob overalls or soft clothes,. Earline could organize Patton's 3rd Army -- and if only she had been in charge of FEMA. Once she sets her sights on a goal, success is assured."
The association honoring King has a goal to prevent strokes through several programs outlined by Margaret Rudisill, the director of program development. A nurse at Stanly Regional Medical Center in Albemarle, she chose "Stroke Systems and Care" as her topic.
In addition to describing these programs and their records of success, Rudisill told two very different personal stories.
The first had a sad ending, with the death of her grandfather as a result of a stroke when she was a college student. "It was my most vivid memory of my college career," she said.
The second story, years later, happened as she stood in line with an elderly man who became dizzy and was rushed to the hospital. His life was saved because somebody recognized the symptoms of a stroke and got help within the required three hours.
"Like an orchestra, everybody worked together to start the process," Rudisill said.
Andie Fishel-Carpenter, the owner of Alphagraphics Printing Co. in Winston-Salem, has volunteered her materials and services to the association for 10 years.
"I believe in the program and know that it's saved a lot of people," she said. "It's devastating when a stroke happens and uplifting to see the number of survivors."
Near the end of the luncheon, Ann Spencer, one of the founders of the association, thanked everyone for coming. She introduced Rob Simon of Windsor Jewelers, who donated a gift certificate. Sally Dale was the lucky person who found the winning ticket under her bread-and-butter plate.
Joines gave the "closing remarks," which he joked were "the code word for making the ask," referring to time of the program to request donation. People can believe that they will "get a great return on your investment," he said. "But I hope you never have to use it."
■ Have a social or charity activity that you would like Scene & Heard to share with Journal readers? E-mail features@wsjournal.com and type "Scene" in the subject line or call 727-7339. You may contact Leigh Somerville McMillan directly by e-mail at leigh@studiomcmillan.com.
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