Pope Funeral Home

The Survivors Dinner is held each year as a precursor to the Nash County Relay for Life, which will be held later this month.In an earlier interview with the Telegram, Dale Joyner, co-chair of this year's Nash County Relay for Life, commented on the Survivor’s Dinner.“Anyone diagnosed with cancer is a survivor,” Joyner said. “The dinner is the highlight of what we do. This is one of the best Relay events in Eastern North Carolina.”This year’s dinner was sponsored by Cornerstone Funeral Home and H.D. Pope Funeral Home. Guests of the survivors dined on food from Doug Sauls BBQ, which was served by volunteers from local Girl Scout troops, Cooper’s Ruritan Club, Oak Level Ruritan Club and the Danny Talbott Cancer Center at Nash UNC Health Care. The Nash County Relay Committee helped set up for the event.This year’s dinner did not feature a speaker. Instead, guests were treated to musical selections by Tracy Farmer, Lottie Parker, Ronnie Ezzell and others. At one point, Parker sang “What a Wonderful World” as guests held lighted candles aloft.“We do this in memory of those who lost their lives to cancer,” said Pamela Sutton, who helped organize the event. “God’s plan was different for them.”Later this month, more events will be held to raise money and awareness for cancer research. The annual Nash County Relay for Life event will begin at 4 p.m. on April 27 at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex at 600 Independence Drive. Events will continue at 8 a.m. on April 28 as the "Running Over Cancer" event is held. This event will be Relay For Life of Nash County's first annual 5K Fun Run and One Mile Fun Walk. It will be a non-competitive event with all proceeds going to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Nash County.For more information about the “Running over Cancer” event, contact Dale Joyner at 252-904-3267 or go to https://bit.ly/2GNweIZ.For more information about the Nash County Relay for Life, go to https://bit.ly/2GOfz8f... (Rocky Mount Telegram)