Benefit concert to be held for Floydie
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 27, 2013 1:46 PM
Three popular gospel groups will perform at a benefit concert Friday night in Goldsboro for Floydie Harris, the Dudley man whose right leg was partially amputated last month after an accident at his home.
The 45-year-old father of four was repairing a fence when a fully loaded semi truck left the roadway and struck him. He was hospitalized in Vidant Hospital in Greenville and underwent multiple surgeries before being released earlier this month.
Faith Free Will Baptist and Faith Christian Academy, where Floydie and his wife, Rhonda's two youngest children are students, rallied around them. Several activities and fundraisers were held, bringing in more than $24,000 to help defray expenses since the Jan. 31 accident.
Ricky Carden, owner and manager of Down East Boys, said he learned about the Harris situation through his father-in-law, who attends church in Greeville with Floydie's parents.
"We always like to try to help when we're invited to do that if we can work it into our schedule," he said. "And of course this situation, the family being together with the church down at Gum Swamp Free Will Baptist in Greenville, being invited by them, his mom and dad attending there, we were able to work it into our schedule.
"That's what we have been called to do, that's what we have done for years."
The Down East Boys, now based in Reidsville, formed more than 25 years ago. In 1990, they were honored with the Singing News fan award for Horizon Group of the Year.
On Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Adamsville Baptist Church, they will be on the program with The Anchormen Quartet and Southern Ambassadors, both familiar to Goldsboro audiences.
Since 1979, The Anchormen have become one of the most requested quartets in gospel music. They have had 15 singles that made it to the national charts. They have been finalists for several Singing News awards, and have performed at the Grand Ole Opry and country's music's Fan Fair, both in Nashville.
Tim Bullins, manager for The Anchormen, lived in Goldsboro for many years before moving last year to Asheboro, where the group is now based. He said the group is looking forward to performing for the hometown crowd.
"It's just definitely a tragedy what happened, but we're glad to be able to be part of it," he said.
Admission to the concert is free, but a free-will offering will be taken, with proceeds going to the Harris family.
CDs and products for each group will also be available for sale.