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HomeEveryone has to feel like they are partcontinued from page IAfamiiv can find other titan- :the land itself.“But we know that he acquired other land all around us.” Sherrod said. “He grew this 17 acres to as far as you can see be-hind us. His youngest son, Arthur, actually farmed this land The only thing thatwe have that my great-grandparents touched is a family Bible, and it will be” ' -+F hi ■ 'Von display in the historical room because this is all about exploring family history;” Sherrod said. The famiiv has estab-|plished lineage from five children of Jack and Cassie Sherrod; Arthur, Benjamin. Dallas. Fannie and John.There were other children. including an Ida Sherrod, who are mentioned in the famiiv Biblewbut w hose history is un-known.are hoping to locate more famiiv members inthe area that don't knowthey are connected to this property, and we don't know they are connected toWthis property.’ Sherrod said Sherrod recently erected■: %jf‘a sign in front of the home “Sherrod Homestead. Established 1886, Proudly maintained bvW Vdescendants of Jack and Cassie Sherrod, it reads “The people in the area, they are excited, and they come by the property and they see the improvements that are beingmade. The sign out front has really, realh raisedr W ■the level of enthusiasm. Sherrod said “The entire area, Fremont, Eureka, Bailey; Sims. Wilson,Black Creek, all of these towns around here where we have family members. We have family membersWliving all over the place.“They live up and down the coast from Florida all the way up to New York and out west, of course We are scattered all over.” said Sherrod, who resides in Porterville, California.To finance the restoration and provide for the maintenance, famiiv mem-Wm-:bers stepped forw ard “1 established three categories of stakeholders to build and increase interestin the project. Sherrod said, “Founding stakeholders are those eight or 10 people who came together and put money down to get the property out of foreclosure Sustaining stakeholders are people who contribute moneymamandand to pay the mortgage.And then we have, I think the most important group in-kind stakeholders, people w ho give of their time, their energy; their expertise, their intellect and their stuff.Sherrod is heading up committees to provide fur ntshings for the home and for the restoration,Part of the restoration is to re-expose one of t he original brick fireplaces that had since been covered over bv walls■':WFamiiv members are offering their own memoriesof the site.A pig farm used to be on the back side of the property; One remember^ that there w as a pear tree over by the garage, and it is not there now; Sherrod said. “Well, you can plant one. One of the things we are going to do is open up the grounds for familymembers to plant things — flowers, shrubs, trees.a memorial. All of these things are talking points.It’s all about ownership, Sherrod said.“Everyone has to feel like they are a part of itSherrod said. “W%making it so. They' can become a part Not just financially, but emotionally And it’s working Last week, Sherrod stood in the graveyardbehind Watery BranchFree Will Baptist Church, The graves of Jack and Cassie Sherrod are right there, with those of other deceased family members about 200 yards away from and within sight of the homestead.standsee*where your great-grand parents are buried, thatraises a lot of emotions within me, Sherrod sail The house that he built and I can see his grave from the front yard.Restoring the homestead is a passion for Sherrod “1 think the Lord put the in my spint to be a part ofpreserving this propertybecause it has been in the family for so long and it is such a rich history that I could not stand by and let go. he saidci wihoflt ihes coi^ 126S 78184833 NW Nash StLeonard Paul Sherrod Jr. holds a picture of the home his great-grandfather buitt in 1886. The home is being restored for a September reunion of descendants. Drew C Wi son j Timesm'mmm
Newspaper Details
Wilson Times
Wilson, North Carolina, US
Mon, Jul 17, 2017
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Library O.
USA 03 Oct 2021
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