Cherryville’s McGinnis Furniture celebrates 50 years in business

Store opened on Oct. 18, 1973, and hasn’t looked back since…

by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info

Cherryville’s Mrs.

her 100th birthday on Jan.

2023,

Hazeleen Brandon celebrates 100 years of life

The family celebrated with a big party at Cherryville’s First Baptist Church’s Christian Outreach Center

by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info

A milestone has been reached as a Cherryville woman, Ms. Hazeleen Brandon, turned 100 on Jan. 31, 2023.

Ms. Brandon and her family celebrated, according to City of Cherryville officials, with a big party last Saturday at Cherryville’s First Baptist Church’s Christian Outreach Center. She had over 200 guests to at- tend. Cherryville City Clerk, Paige Green said, “…Mayor Beam and I visited her at home and presented her with a (city) proclamation.”

Mrs. Green noted the wording of the city’s proclamation for this auspicious occasion were as follows:

“WHEREAS, Mrs. Hazeleen LaVan Bush Brandon was born Jan. 31, ,1923 in Hartsville, S.C., at home. Mrs. Brandon is the daughter of Jimmy and Ellen LaVan. Her family farmed for a living and Mrs. Brandon quit school at age seven to farm with her family. She farmed until 1948; and…”

“Whereas, Mrs. Brandon married Mr. Oscar Bush in October 1941. Together they had four children: Annie Retha, Doris Jean, Maurice,

Support for charter schools and opportunity scholarships up

COVID pandemic’s learning loss a top concern by MITCH KOKAI

John Locke Foundation

RALEIGH – North Carolinians are overwhelmingly supporters of school choice, according to the results of the John Locke Foundation’s latest Civitas Poll.

Over two-thirds of likely North Carolina voters support the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, which grants scholarships to low-to-moderate-income students to attend a school of their choice. An even greater share of North Carolinians (68.8 percent) support Education Savings Accounts, which provide families with funds to pay for educational expenses, such as tuition, tutoring, and instructional materials.

Charter schools, which have become a popular education option for families, received 68.7 percent support among those surveyed. Charter schools have more than doubled in number since the state-mandated cap was removed over a decade ago. Support for school choice programs is high in spite of – or perhaps because of –North Carolinians’ displeasure with the current state of K-12 education in the state.

When asked about the quality of elementary through high school education, twothirds of respondents said they are “dissatisfied.” Of See CHARTER, Page 2

Hubert K. McGinnis, Jr. said his family has been in the furniture business “for over 100 years”, so it’s no surprise, and not an understatement, to say it is in his blood. So much so, that now he can say he has a half-century at the helm of his own business in Cherryville.

Hubert noted his mother and father helped with the funds to purchase the building and his sister, Freida, owned half of it.

Of his sister, Hubert said she came to work later (around 1978 or 1980). Hubert said she attended Lenoir-Rhyne and later taught PE and Health at Crest High School.

Hubert and wife, Pam, married in 1981 and since then, she too has been an integral part in making McGinnis Furniture a literal household name in downtown Cherryville. They have two children, Sam and Bess, they said.

The McGinnis’ business

– a downtown staple – is located at 303 East Main Street. It has a large showroom replete with just about See McGINNIS, Page 10