Social - August 2003

Music fuels Friday fun at gas station

By DIANE TURBYFILL, Staff Writer

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Linda and L.A. Sherrill traded in their family business for a town tradition.

The former owners of Hometown Market in Boger City now own Crouse Mini Mart. Along with the gas pumps and coolers, they inherited an extended family.

Every Friday night as the sun heads west, music enthusiasts grab their banjos and guitars and head to Crouse.

“These people that come here are from everywhere. I think it’s great,” says Linda Sherrill.

The stretch of N.C. 150 by the convenience store lines with cars beginning as early as 5:30. “Pickers” get out their instruments and start plucking.

A crowd gathers in the parking lot as members of two bands, Firecreek and South by South, team up to strum and sing a few tunes. Some of the band members lean on a pick-up truck, a few take a seat and others stand for hours.

Spectators watch, listen and chat as they stand around the perimeter of the circle.

Benches outside of the store begin to fill up. Some folks just grab a spot on the gas pump island and catch up with old friends.

“We always come to listen,” says Tom Rash as he sits and visits with his nephew Don Rash, and friend Ernest Lawing.

Lawing says the Friday night event reminds him of when he owned Lake Norman Music Hall years ago.

“I enjoy seeing people — seeing the players and watching them play,” Lawing says.

Music flows from the parking lot and the store.

“They pick outside, inside, over in the corner or wherever they can get,” says Sherrill.

Down the aisle from the full shelves and stocked refrigerator, a side room is set up for the show. A small stage and folding chairs are in place.

It is standing room only as Carolyn Russell, Barbara Pennington and the Rev. Bobby Meeks belt out “How Great Thou Art.”

The audience applauds and awaits the next song.

Just around the corner Ray Edwards plays a few notes on his guitar, warming up for his turn on stage. Ray and his wife, Mary, have been performing at the store for about two years.

“We’ve been coming ever since it started,” he says. “We know everybody. It’s a family type thing.”

Sherrill says she and her husband quickly became part of the family when they bought the store three months ago.

“We inherited this,” she says.

As the sun goes down on the warm summer night, the shows continue. Sherrill says things usually wrap up about 10 p.m. or until she turns out the lights.

“They’d stay the night if they could,” she says.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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