Grandparents Day event brings families together

National Grandparents" Day, ipinagdiwang kahapon

Royal Blossom, 7, rushed out of bed Sunday morning. He was excited to see his grandmother, Jane Pettey.

"I got dressed real fast for Grandparents Day," Blossom said. "She"s my favorite."

For the past 25 years, Pettey has hosted a Grandparents Day gathering for the public in Fayetteville known as The Celebration of Grandparents.

Grandparents, grandchildren and other relatives gathered at the event from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for food, prizes and performances by musical groups.

A well-known area country singer, Pettey said she thought of having an event for grandparents while performing at nursing homes about 32 years ago.

Pettey is known for singing traditional country music. Her unique vocals are adept at taking on the music of Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Tom T. Hall.

She said she saw many lonely seniors at the homes whose grandchildren lived far away. She wanted to cheer them up.

The goal of the event is to make grandparents feel appreciated, Pettey said.

"A lot of people say they don"t know Grandparents Day exists and that"s sad," Pettey said.

The events were originally held in May. However, in 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation declaring the first Sunday after Labor Day Grandparents day. Pettey then moved her celebration to September.

Pettey has held the event at the J.S. Spivey Recreation Center and Christina Smith Park at 500 Fisher Street for the past 12 years.

For the first time, Pettey did not have her daughter, Asia Pettey, who is the mother of three of her grandchildren at the event. Asia Pettey recently died after battling breast cancer.

"We"ve always been a real close family and Asia was always was my buddy," Jan Pettey said.

Many people came out to support Jan Pettey"s efforts.

Asia Pettey"s former boyfriend Kimani Marshall said Jan Pettey has always raised the bar as to what being an excellent grandparent looks like.

"Jan has always been a positive person," Marshall said. "She puts 100 percent of Jan in everything she does."

Marshall said her drive is what has made the Grandparents Day a success and is the reason why all her grandchildren look up to her.

"They flock right to her," Marshall said. "I want them to strive to be that great.

Source: http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/grandparents-day-event-brings-families-together/article_67c2d2e9-d420-591c-b819-d9697b6d12bc.html