Dolores Medlock came away from Relay for Life the winner of a beautiful crocheted quilt in the Relay colors of purple and white.
LaVerne and Ollie Stokes of Hartsville donated the quilt in memory of their son Michael “Mike” Stokes who died on Dec. 12, 2006, of cancer. He was 52 years old. Ollie Stokes said the quilt had special meaning to her and her husband. Cancer is something the Stokes knows too well. LaVerne and Ollie have both had skin cancer and her brother-in-law is very ill with cancer. It was through her sister Janice, who lives in Georgia, that she met the woman who made the quilt they donated to raise money for cancer research.
Ollie’s sister Janice worked with the talented Norma Morris of Georgia. Ollie said the woman had never been to the beach, and she and her husband were living at Garden City at the time and invited her to their home. A friendship developed out of a common bond. Norma had breast cancer, and Ollie had had her breast removed. “We became friends,” Ollie said. “We would visit her [Norma] at the hospital, and my sister and I would buy her groceries and take her a milk shake.” Ollie said she liked to have a milk shake almost every day.
Norma finished the quilt in her final days, said Ollie. “I don’t know how she did it, but she did,” Ollie said. Ollie pointed out that the California king-size quilt is very heavy and was even difficult for her to pick up. She said Norma, who had trouble sleeping, would work on it day and night. They have had the quilt for about five years, but Ollie said she believed it could be put to a better use and decided to make the donation so that money could be raised for cancer research. Nearly $400 was raised for cancer research by the quilt.
Edna Sims and Evelyn Dampier are co-committee chairmen for the survivors at Relay for Life. Sims said she heard several men say they wanted to win the quilt. “Every time I took a lap, I told my husband I wanted it,” said Medlock. Medlock said that a friend and co-worker at A. O. Smith, Gracie Clavon, called her house about 11:45 p.m. to tell her she had won, but she didn’t get the message until the next morning since she had already gone to bed. “I am thrilled and honored,” said Medlock, a breast cancer survivor. She has a spot already in mind for the quilt. “I have a king-size bed. I’ll change my whole décor to have a place for this,” she said excitedly.
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