Kim Myers-Carrico and Bev Myers-McGraw share a special bond. Their Sisters in the Lord. Sisters By Blood-Myers blood that is, and their Sisters of The Heart. They love their Family, Their Church Family, Their Friends and they adored The Building that was home to Fox Fairview Church.
Like everyone else they’ve grieved the loss of this special place. For them, it was more than their early beginnings of going to Church but it was also the home of their Myers Family Reunion-something they’ve looked forward to every year.
When Kim received the call on the morning of August 6th from a neighbor of the Church that it had burned, she says she immediately thought of all the things that could never be replaced in that building. The famous potbelly stove, the wooden pews-a style that they’ve not manufactured in most likely nearly a century, the piano, the Phillips Funeral Home fans and tons of other small things. “I just cried”, said Kim. Then she called her Cousin, Marvin Myers who has with his immediate family kept the Church and Cemetery in impeccable condition for decades. Marvin is a Trustee and has been the Overseer. Marvin, His Brothers Mike and Jim help as well. She said it was a very tough call to make.
“Delano and Lois’ Family have never been given the credit or recognition they deserve for how they’ve cared for The Church and Cemetery and they need to know their Mom and Dad would be so proud of them”, said Kim. (Marvin, Mike and Jim are Delanos and Lois’ Sons)
Kim said as she started thinking about her time at Fox Fairview and reading some of the memories her mind was flooded with the great times she and her family had there.
She loved hearing Delanos Daughters Velvet, Valerie and Angie sing. She said it was a real blessing to see them play the piano and sing and she always looked forward to it.
Fox Fairview is where Bev was saved. She was saved at The Church and Baptized by Billy Payne and Amos Wilson at Gerald and Bessie Kingery’s pond out on 775 down over the hill from Darrell and Brenda Fowlers.
“Karen Saunders-Hayes was supposed to be baptized with me that day but she was pregnant with Danny Jo and the Doctors told her not to do it”, said Bev.
Sunday School was a special treat for Bev. Amos Wilson and Richard L. Wade was her Teacher. As you walk in the front doors of the Church, they met in that back right-hand corner except when it was good weather, Richard would take them outside and they would gather on the sidewalk around Myers Water Barrell Corner.
“I really enjoyed Sunday School with Amos and Richard, both. It was a lot of fun”, Bev says.
Kim recalls how the big open floor concept of Fox Fairview like all the older Churches made it a challenge but also made it fun.
Kim who has spent the last few decades attending Perkins Ridge says every time she hears the Song “Broken Pieces” she thinks of her time at Fox Fairview and her Cousins and Friends singing that song.
“They were not afraid to try new things and one time they let me book a Singing Group out of Oak Hill to come and sing. They had guitars and drums and were a little rowdier than what they were used too”, said Bev. The Young People liked them but she recalled the older crowd not so much.
No one can think of Fox Fairview Church without thinking about the Myers Reunion, especially if your last name is Myers.
Kim says that each year at the Reunion after eating, the bell would ring and the Myers Family would head inside for Church. Prayer was offered, Hymns and Music was sung, sometimes Preaching and it would be followed by their Business Meeting.
“It’s just something that we’ve grown to look forward to and we get excited about going back every year”, said Kim.
Fox Fairview Church is also where a longstanding Myers Tradition would take place.
A Bible that has been in the Family for many decades has always been presented and kept by the oldest living Myers Male in the Family. It is actually engraved with their name and presented at The Church.
Have you ever wondered what it will be like when you get to Heaven? Everything is perfect. People are happy. Everyone you know and love is there. There’s laughing and Singing. Children are playing. The food is perfect and there’s plenty to eat for everyone. Everyone is happy to be there and thrilled to Worship the Lord.
The times that Kim and Bev described (as well by others) would lead one to believe that Fox Fairview gave folks a very small glimpse of what Heaven will be like one day. The only difference? Perhaps the gravel road will have been replaced by gold and our first 10,000 years will seem like one big massive Myers Reunion at Fox Fairview Church.
We appreciate your memories, tributes and testimonies.
God Bless You.