Each local church selects a member who has rendered valuable service to the church as an active member and worker in the church. Recipients selected by the local churches will then be honored during the annual Laity Conference at Lake Junaluska in August.

Margie B. Ayers has always lived in the Salem Church Community and is a descendent of Andrew J. and Clementine Satterfield, charter members of the 152-year-old Salem United Methodist Church.

She began attending and transferred her membership to Salem nearly ten years ago and has been active in all phases of church life ever since. She presently serves as chair of the administrative board and has served as a member of the board of trustees and member of the finance committee.

Margie is a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class, and active in the Beth Henderson Circle of the United Methodist Women. She has served for years as treasurer of the United Methodist Women. She also serves on the scholarship committee and has served as chair of outreach. Additionally she serves as leader of the Salem Prayer Group and has been a member of this important group for years.

“Margie is a go-to person to get something done in the church. She is a person of great compassion and Christian commitment,” said Rev. Bud Cameron, minister of the church.   

John Perry has been a member of Salem for over thirty years and has been a Sunday School teacher at the church for over thirty years as well.  At present he teaches the John Tate class. He was chair of the administrative board for approximately twenty years and has sung in the church choir for twenty-five years.

John has served as chair of the finance committee, the scholarship committee, board of trustees, building committee and as president of the United Methodist Men. 

John has been a mission delegate from the church serving on the Surry Board of Missions for years and was a member of the church’s sesquicentennial committee.

“John’s sincere commitment to Salem United Methodist Church and his years of service to the church in many capacities merely demonstrate the Christian commitment that is so important to John,” said Rev. Bud Cameron, minister of Salem UMC.

Juanita Tate Given Two Christian Service Awards from Salem United Methodist

Juanita Tate has spent 60 years of her life dedicated to Christian Service at Salem United Methodist Church. She was recognized Sunday, March 8 during a special awards ceremony.

United Methodist Women's President Carol Thomas presented Juanita with the Lifetime Achievement Award service pin for the recognition. Rev. Bud Cameron read a detailed history of Juanita's life including her many years of 

work as a Sunday School teacher, historian and volunteer at Salem. 

Rev. Cameron gave Juanita a framed certificate for the Dedicated Christian Service Award on behalf of the church. Juanita was also given a corsage on a special day, which was made even more special by the visit from Juanita's only child, Ann, who lives in Colorado.

Download Juanita's Life History, PDF or MS Word.

Salem's Christian Fellowship Center Completed & Beautiful

Salem United Methodist Church has gotten bigger and better with the addition of the Christian Fellowship Center including a great remodeled kitchen, minister's office and Sunday school room. The project was started because of an interest by the women's group to expand the kitchen in March 2005.

The Christian Fellowship Center was the result of the hard work that followed until the completion of the project in the fall of 2008. The first church event held in the new area was in December 2008. The project was completed in February 2009.

The total project cost including architect fees was about $368,000 without interest. A total of $94,500 was pledged by church members. The church received two grants from Duke Endowment worth $162,500. The Surry Board of Mission contributed $12,000. The church is currently hosting regular events to help pay the remainder of the loan, which is $120,000 after grants and pledges are received. Please support us in this mission.

Thanks to the Study Committee and Building Committee and each church member who made this project possible.

Special thanks goes to the following Study and/or Building Committee members: Rev. Peter McQuire, Brady & Helen Jones, Donald & Carol Thomas, the late Bobby Gravely, Chris Robertson, the late Doug Marshall, Jane Hawks, Melba Smith, Mary Lee Gravley, Wade Ayers, Maxine Smith, Kent and Joann Carder, the late Butch Arnold, Rev. Bud Cameron, Bud VanDyne, John Perry and Jim Boyd.

Please view more pictures on the photo page.

Boy Scout Built Memory Garden, Receives Eagle Scout on "Cory Comer Day"

Boy Scout Cory Comer constructed a Sesquicentennial Memorial Garden at Salem United Methodist Church in order to be one of only 4 percent of scouts who earn the highest scout honor - the Eagle Scout. And, he succeeded.

Cory, 17, grew up going to the church at Salem and started his Boy Scout career when he was a 7-year-old, so the project marries two important parts of this Patrick County High School senior’s life. He is a member of Troop 596.

The garden has a curved brick walkway that features 4-by 8-inch bricks, which were engraved with messages to honor or memorialize people or events.

"This project created an area surrounded by beautiful flowers and bushes where people could sit and meditate, socialize or just relax," Cory said. "The addition of the memorial walkway created a personalized touch establishing links to the present and the past."

The 123-square foot walkway leads to a garden filled with azaleas, rhododendrons, flowers and a dog wood tree and has a granite bench, which was dedicated to Clinton and Dorothy Gravely by their relatives 

Cory sold the memorial bricks for $60 each and used the proceeds to pay for the cost of the project and its future upkeep. Comer hoped to sell 100 bricks, and 132 were sold. Cory's fellow Boy Scouts pitched in along with his mother Melinda and other church volunteers.

Cory was awarded his Eagle Sco

ut at a special ceremony held at the church on March 29 during the worship service. The church also declared March 29, "Cory Comer Day."  To see pictures of the project and Cory Comer Day, go to the photo page.

Women's Group Receives Five Star Certification
Congratulations to the Beth Henderson Circle of Salem United Methodist Church!

The United Methodist Women of the Western North Carolina Conference have sponsored a Mission Today program that has challenged the UMWs of the conference to participate in the Mission Today program during the past year. In order to be recognized as a Mission Today Circle, a circle must complete eight of 12 mission goals named in the program.

The Salem UMW Beth Henderson Circle has recently received notification that the circle group was named a "Five Star Mission Today" in honor of their making a difference in missions of the conference.

The group's certificate is being displayed on the piano in the sanctuary for everyone to see. Congratulations ladies! What a wonderful undertaking! Next year, the goals have been increased, and the women have committed to winning next year as well. We are proud of your accomplishment!