Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 6, 1993 TAG: 9309020327
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Kathleen Wilson
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Then, on a day they'll never forget back in 1985, they all lost their jobs together.
And the employees of the old Kroger Bakery got through even that the way they did everything else.
Together.
``When we got to work one day, there were guards waiting,'' John Clayborne recalled last week. ``They gave us 30 minutes to clean out our lockers.''
For John, who had worked there for 21 years, it was devastating. But it could have been worse, he figures.
``For lots of people who worked there, it was the first big-paying job they'd had. They bought houses and cars and then BOOM!''
They don't recall being a particularly close-knit bunch while they worked together. But when 171 people all lost their jobs on the very same day - without warning - they learned who the people were they could really count on.
It was the ninth year this group and their families broke bread together at the reunion they hold to commemorate the day they lost their jobs.
This year they collected in Fallon Park. From the road, they look just like a family reunion. People feasting on fried chicken and tossing horseshoes.
Jim Carroll, who, along with Ruby Goad and Eileen Ensor helps organize this get-together each year, was luckier than most. He retired after 41 years there, exactly two weeks to the day before they shut the bakery down.
Still, it was important to Jim that he was there for those who weren't as fortunate. ``After what happened, it was so important that we all stick together,'' he said, opening his wallet to show the Teamsters Union card he still carries.
It takes a lot of work to keep this crew together, but they manage. In an index-card file box are scraps of paper with as many updated addresses and phone numbers they can find. The organizers hit up lots of local businesses to donate T-shirts and baseball caps.
They even gave away $5 gift certificates to Kroger.
But those weren't donated.
``No, we had to buy those ourselves,'' admitted Ruby.
While distributing the bounty, Jim impressed the heck out of me with what appeared to be sign language, directed at four former employees who are deaf.
``No, I don't know sign language,'' he said, puzzled that I asked.
``We just all know how to talk to one another.''
That was true enough. When he went to leave the picnic, Calvin Neighbors - who is deaf - gave Jim's wife, Margaret, a radiant smile. Then he reached out and gave her a big ol' hug.
``See?'' she said. ``We don't need sign language to understand one another.''
\ When John Clayborne arrives at these festivities, he comes with nothing up his sleeve and a briefcase full of stuff he won't let anyone look at.
John is a master magician who turned four nickels into dimes right in the palm of my hand. In fact, he can do just about anything with that magic wand of his.
Which is why I was more than just a little nervous when one time before he waved that thing in my direction he wanted to know if I had any children.
Yikes!
Then, with a tap of his wand, John filled a blank book with splashy colorful circus drawings.
``Hey, John!'' hollered Eileen Ensor when she was passing a brown paper sack to collect donations for next year's reunion. ``Get on over here and change all of these ones into fives!''
\ Emily Brady is having a party.
I'm telling you this because she doesn't want to have to send out hundreds of invitations. And she doesn't want to hurt anybody's feelings by leaving them out.
Her parties are well-known for colossal turnout, and over the years the guest list just gets more and more out of hand. There were so many people at her Christmas soiree that the furniture really almost had to go.
Which is why Emily commissioned a deck that will be ready in time for her party. Which will be sometime later this month.
Emily thought about buying an ad. Handing out fliers in the Market at lunchtime. Maybe even listing it with a local cable company so everyone who had cable would get her message.
Then she thought about Mingling. But I can't really tell you anything else about it; we don't advertise parties in Mingling.
But what's the harm in telling you that if you know Emily Brady - or maybe if you'd just like to know Emily Brady - and you know how to reach her, give her a call.
She'd like to invite you to her party.
by CNB