Cumberland County residents consider the annual Black-Eyed Pea Dinner a can't-miss event
Gloria Swain scooped another spoonful of black-eyed peas into her mouth. A "Happy New Year" black and gold party hat was perched on her head.
Next to Swain was a plate of black-eyed peas, collard greens, candied yams and barbecue. The plate, she said, was for her husband, who is a patient at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center's rehabilitation facility.
Her husband, Harold, suffered a heart attack on Dec. 10. He didn't want to miss out on the tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, so he asked his wife to bring him a plate.
"He wanted his black-eyed peas," she said.
Swain and her husband have attended the black-eyed peas dinner on New Year Day for at least a decade, she said.
"He would have been here if he could," Swain said.
The Swains are not the only ones who have made the annual black-eyed pea dinner a tradition.
Organizers estimated between 2,500 to 3,000 people on Wednesday attended the 20th Annual New Year's Day Black-Eyed Pea Dinner at the Crown Expo Center.
The dinner is hosted by Lee Warren, the county's register of deeds; Billy West, the county district attorney; and Ed Grannis, the retired district attorney.
"It's a great Southern tradition," said Grannis as he greeted people at the doors. "It gives us an opportunity to come together and wish each other well."
The free dinner is made possible by the support of sponsors and volunteers, Grannis said.
"The three of us could not pull this off," he said. "You've got to have a lot of people helping to pay for it and put it together. It's very clear that people understand the benefit to the community, and that's why they participate.
"It's really a neat community event.
"I am not aware of small or large communities who have something like this anymore," Grannis said.
Hundreds of pounds of black-eyed peas, collard greens and candied yams are ordered months in advance for the event, organizers said. About 140 pounds of barbecue was served during the dinner. Volunteers began cooking at 5:30 a.m. a day prior to the dinner.
"We did not run out," West said. "We were prepared for the large crowd."
Seeing the thousands of people who came to fellowship was worth the hard work, West said.
"The dinner certainly draws a diverse crowd and a cross section of the community in every way," he said.
Nedgie Hathaway and Bobby Bundy, both of Fayetteville, arrived early to be the first in line. Hathaway has attended the dinner for the past 13 years.
"I enjoy the food," Hathaway said. "It's always delicious and I get to socialize with friends. They do an excellent job every year."
Stephanie Campbell of Raeford brought her son, Del'Sean, to the dinner. Campbell, who was wearing a pair of bright yellow 2014 glasses, said it was the first time they attended the event.
"It's a new day and a new year," she said. "I appreciate those who give back. It also saved me from cooking."
No comments:
Post a Comment