The knights of Durham N.C: the meaning of true friendship

North Durham, N. C. counsel of elders

Friendship is a golden chain that joins friends together and if you never break that chain we will be friends forever. This is true for a group of childhood friends in North Durham, North Carolina. At 2010 North Roxboro Road, North Carolina, a miracle happens each day.

2010 North Roxboro Road is the location of a McDonald’s restaurant, and like most McDonald restaurants this spots sees a range of people coming and going; most of whom comes to purchase from the large menu. However, for me and many others this location has been my source of free wifi. But there is a rear phenomenon that occurs at this site daily. Each day a group of guys assemble at this spot.

The owner of the restaurant had a large round table made and the table is dedicated to and for the use of the senior men of Durham. Each day from about 10:00 am until 2:00 PM or whenever they decide to leave, a group of old friends gather at this table and they spend most of the day discussing current issues, neighborhood events, politics, as well as playing catch up with what have happened in each other’s life after they parted.

It is interested to note that these old-timers are not pre-occupied with cell phones and other modern day gadgets of convenience. They cannot be seen texting, browsing Facebook, or doing any of those uncultured things that this generation spends most of their time doing, even in the company of other; as they take what was supposed to have been a convenience, and transformed it into a distraction and in most cases an inconvenience. This is not so for these fellers, you will never see any of these guys fiddling with their phones. But they can be seen actively engages in health discussion, never raising their voices, or getting angry with anyone who disagree with them or who do not share their opinion; however, you can always hear an eruption of laughter coming from the table.

The remaining Knight of the round table

The twelve plus African American men who meet at this location are all retired and  their personalities differs as the species of fish. differs. There are a few of them who are still actively employed running their own small businesses. Those who are  self-employed still find the time to assemble daily ensuring that their spot at the counsel's table is preserved and their friendship with the guys continues to grow. As a result they work from the round table; each day they take their spot at the table, joining the Knight in the daily activities, however they will leave if their business requires them too, but will rejoin the company of friendship as soon as is humanly possible; in most case that is when the job  is done.

Mr. Jones

This group is made up of many distinguish gentlemen, of which the Grand Master is Mr. Jones; he owns this title  by virtue of his age. Mr. Jones is the oldest of the Knight. He is ninety years old and he is quick to proudly share his age. Always with a smile on his face, like most of the guys in this group, he displays a happy personality. Mr. Jones is not afraid to celebrate the fact that at ninety years old, he is also not afraid to declare he is doing well for his age. My Jones with a smile on his face and a  hint of pride chuckle: "no one have to tell me, I know I am doing pretty well for my age, I know that I am doing well for I am ninety years old; I don’t have any pain in my body and I don’t owe anyone anything, he said as he lay back in his chair, look out into space as he laugh, reflectively celebrate in his accomplishment Mr. Jones who walks with a walking stick is quiet most of the time but always seems to have a smile on his face.

Mr. Sam Vereen

Next in this elite group of gentle men that forms the Knighthood of Durham North Carolina is: Sam Vereen, Sam was born May 1^st, 1913, as a young man he had many jobs, when asked about his youthful employment he said: I did many things when I was young; I worked as a carpenter, at the cotton mill, I also worked with the rail Road the father of nine said as he took a moment to recollect on his youth. Sam was married to his now decease wife, who passed eleven years ago for forty two years before she departed this life. Sam is a very friendly fellow and is with a nice personality and he is always ready for a conversation.

Among the Knights of Durham North Carolina is a minister of religion, who can still be found breaking the

Rev. Jones

bread of life and feeding his flock at the Faith Gospel Tabernacle in Durham, North Carolina, Reverent Jones, is married for forty years and has eight children. In speaking about his child bearing days he said, when he was playing he hit a lot of home runs to be specific I hit eight home runs. I have eight children he proudly declared. This minister of religion is eighty seven years old.

Another of the Nights who occupied the round table is a happy go lucky guy: Percy Joynar, Percy is always smiling and it seems that nothing ever troubles this man. He is always ready for a conversation, and from his speech you can tell that he is highly intelligent. Percy worked in the wholesale drug industry for many years and is now contented with his retirement. When asked about work Percy said don’t you think that an eighty seven years old man should retire? This proud father of five children said that he was retired some twenty years ago and is enjoying their retirement.

Mr. Percy Joyner

There are some noticeable qualities that is common to all of these gentle men and it is not that each of these men is over eighty, but those qualities are: they are all active; they rise and from their seat and move around with every little ease and without help, they have lucid minds, they are not suffering from the old aged diseases that is common in many people forty years their junior, they are very opinionated; they can be seen and heard expressing their various opinions on topic of discussion and they have a great deal of love and respect for each other; which is evident in the fact that they wake up each day and are drawn to the round table where they will enjoy each other’s company.

By the time I got around to speaking to the others and take photos of the Knights of Durham, North Carolina, most of whom are childhood friends, Some of them would have left as they were required elsewhere while there were two who did not make me uncomfortable but was clearly reluctant that a stranger had invaded their midst which is understandable.