SHOALS — Residents here turned out in large numbers Saturday morning to honor the memory of one of their own.
Food and fellowship were both plentiful at a benefit breakfast held by the Shoals Ruritan Club, with proceeds to be used to establish the John Henry Cain Memorial Fund.
John Henry had for years operated an automotive repair shop on Shoals Road next to the elementary school in the heart of the community. He was active in the community and, according to friends, had established a reputation for helping neighbors in need. Residents of the Shoals community and beyond were left shaken when the 72-year-old was found dead at his home after having been shot on Feb. 9 of last year.
“It was unreal the number of people who came out for this,” noted Ruritan Brenda Brown. “There was a line throughout the morning with so many sincere friends of John wanting to be a part of this. It was such a tribute to John.”
“People came from well beyond Shoals,” Brown continued. “We had people here from throughout Surry County as well as from Stokes and Forsyth.”
According to Shoals Ruritan Wallye Jones, Ruritans from a Wilkes County club also attended, showing their support for the local club and for the project.
Jones pointed to club member Ronnie Inman, a longtime friend of Cain’s, as one of those who served throughout the morning to honor his friend’s memory.
“Ronnie stayed outside cooking sausage and bacon on the grill, set up under a tent in the rain, just as John Henry would have done,” Jones said.
“It was truly amazing to see the number of people who attended, and who gave generously from their hearts. A friend of mine commented that this was a wonderful tribute to the life that John Henry lived,” Jones added.
Club members described the setting as a gathering of the many who had shared a friendship with Cain.
“We were thrilled that so many seemed to know each other through John and everyone enjoyed the morning. It was a wonderful way to get this started.”
According to club members, the fund will be used each year to provide a donation to Shoals Elementary School. The school social worker will be able to disperse money as needed with funds also available to meet school needs and help with school projects.
“We did really well, but we haven’t reached our goal yet,” Brown said. “We’re still taking donations and, if we were to exceed it, everything will continue to go into the fund.”
Donations for the John Henry Cain Memorial Fund may still be made to the Shoals Ruritan Club, c/o Gordon Jones, 310 Knollcrest Drive, Pinnacle, NC, 27043.
“This will continue to allow his name and memory to be kept alive through the help the fund provides the children at Shoals Elementary School. And that was something he always enjoyed and cared about.”
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Source: https://www.mtairynews.com
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