The Rivertonian Sometime before 1807 the Rev. Daniel and Catharine White left Greenock, Scotland and sailed to North Carolina. Settling near the Lumbee River that now borders Scotland and Hoke Counties, they began the slow backbreaking work of clearing land and establishing a homestead. Today, the homestead remains in the family and is known affectionately as Riverton. Along the way, Daniel also started Spring Hill Baptist Church in 1807, and it is still strong after 207 years! One of the many noted traditions that have followed their descendants for over two centuries would be the adherence to Scotland time, of a belief and lifestyle that some things will get done at the appropriate time. When that time is finally set, it will be precise, and thats how it was with Roys service! Roy was a descendant of Daniel and Catharine. We never met, but we communicated over the Internet. Never did he let on that he had terminal cancer and could not talk. Roy lived in Raleigh, but his home and heart resided in Riverton. He invited me to take a canoe trip on the Lumbee with him and several others last spring. I regrettably could not make it, and only learned today that it was his last trip down the Lumbee. Roy died three days after his 64th birthday on January 4, 2014. Sometime in February his father, Robert Leroy McMillam, Jr., called me and set a time for a graveside service: 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Spring Hill Cemetery, a serene, rural cemetery that holds the mortal remains of many family members. By that time his granite memorial will have been installed and half of Roys cremated remains would be poured into a hole under the memorial. The other half would be scattered in the Lumbee. April 12 arrived as a perfect, sunny, warm, and low humidity day. Before the service the carpet grass was pulled back to reveal Roys memorial. It concluded with A Sunburnt Boy. Jim Smith, a Presbyterian lay minister and a cousin started the service, sharing many memories and inviting many others to do the same. Humor was also the rule as it was noted that Roy once went to a party carrying a case of wine to which someone stated, Roy, you dont drink that! Roy responded, I know, but the ladies do, and then they get friendly! Robert McMillan, Roys father, is 91 years old and he stepped up - dressed in his trademark seersucker suit - and delivered the main eulogy on his beloved son. He touched heavily on the lessons of love that he personally learned early in his life, and the lessons Roy also learned. Concluding, he reflected back upon his own distinguished career as a criminal defense attorney: When arguing a case if I cant use the law, then I use the facts. If I cant use the facts, then I use the law. If I cant use either, then I simply state: He had a good mother. Roy had a good mother. Pastor Jim concluded the service with a prayer, and Robert then invited everyone to the Lumbee where we will sing, Shall We Gather at the River and read The Sunburnt Boys. Before departing the cemetery different family members used their hands to fill Roys grave with cool, light, Sandhills sand, another outward symbol of their closeness with Roy. At the River, Robert briefly shared more reflections and everyone joined in together with the old hymn, Shall We Gather at the River. Roys brother and Roys daughter then entered the canoe to commit the remainder of his earthly remains to his beloved river - flowing by in front of us. As they departed, those on the bank read The Sunburnt Boys by their cousin and late North Carolina Poet Laureate, John Charles McNeill. The final verse was prophetic with the events: You will not -- will you? -- soon forget When I was one of you, Nor love me less that time has borne My craft to currents new; Nor shall I ever cease to share Your hardships and your joys, Robust, rough-spoken, gentle-hearted Sunburnt boys! As a final tribute, three men then went swimming in the coffee-colored, sacred waters of the Lumbee. No one told them that the water was 52 degrees F, but they didnt seem to care.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 22:30:34 +0000
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