The Buzz Clergy banquet was huge success

By Marlene Bohr

If you missed out on the annual Piney Woods Clergy Banquet this year, you missed out on very fine affair. This is the third or fourth year I have attended by invite and I have to say this year topped some of the other good years the group has gotten together to honor members of the clergy.
I’m sure these ladies work very hard from the time the banquet ends until the time of presentation for the next year. The food was served buffet style with the assistance of high schools students and Rita Singleton. I am always amazed at how our young people are so considerate and professional. These girls did a great job with dishing out the food to the people as they passed through the line.
Daingerfield’s own Tra Young sang a few gospel songs and I must say he was at the top of his game. It had been awhile since I had heard Tra sing and he did a great job. I think a lot of people quietly sang along with him. A Daingerfield alumni Richard Lee was at the keyboard and sang gospel songs, one of which he wrote. The man has a fantastic voice and his fingers didn’t miss a note on that keyboard.
I know many people who work at Northeast Texas Community College, but had not met the guest speaker, Dr. Karyn L. Skaar. What an interesting speech this lady gave talking about her family and how the clergy had been involved from her baptism to the time of losing a grandparent. She is a very gifted speaker and never lost anyone’s attention the entire time she was speaking.
Charlesetta Bruce read the information about why the Piney Woods Club holds a yearly clergy banquet from the time a ship, the Dorchester, was hit by the enemy in the North Atlantic during World War II. She relayed the events of the evening, the ship sinking and told of the actions of four men of God who gave up their lifejackets so others could live. Since that time civitan clubs all over the United States, such as the Piney Woods Club, have held clergy banquets the first Saturdays in February in remembrance of these four chaplains and their sacrifice. These clubs also honor local clergy at these events.  
If you see the advertisements for next year’s clergy banquet, purchase a ticket and attend. The word gets out in January, and the event is open to anyone, clergy or not. Tickets are very reasonable, and the entertainment and food are just really special. Congratulations to the ladies of the Piney Woods Civic Club for successful banquet and a job well done.