Tag Archive for: #sadiescoffeecorner

TownTalk: Author Martha Gayle Book-Signing Event Saturday At Sadie’s Coffee Corner

/by

 

 

Author Martha Gayle will be at Sadie’s Coffee Corner Saturday morning, May 17, for a book signing event for her second book, When Jesus Leads. Come out to chat with Gayle between 10 a.m. and 12 noon at Sadie’s located at 324 S. Garnett St.

When Jesus Leads picks up chronicling the lives of Mary and Jimmy, and picks up where the first book, When Jesus Calls, ends.

“Both of the books are all real life,” Gayle said, and recall events in her own life journey.

Through these characters, Gayle said, she hopes to share the importance of learning to trust God above all else.

“When we walk in His way and His will, it’s always perfect, always beautiful on the other side. That’s a lot of what these stories share is just trusting God above all else,” she said on Thursday’s TownTalk.

Martha Gayle, her pen name, said it’s a humbling experience to speak to others about her life. “That’s why God gave us this life, to share it.”

Gayle said she has found healing in writing the books.

“Writing has been the easiest part of the journey,” she said.

The first book was published in 2023, and When Jesus Leads was published in January of this year. She working on a third now – she’s on Chapter 7, so far.

“It’s a story that just continues,” she said, but wouldn’t give away any secrets about what happens in the lives of her characters Mary and Jimmy in this second book.

“There’s a twist in the second book,” she said, “I’m not going to say anything else, because it’s pretty awesome, actually.”

She said reviews have been positive thus far, and she read from one that said called When Jesus Leads a “heartfelt and faith-driven novel” that deals with themes of redemption, forgiveness and faith.

“Believing, trusting and walking in the will of God is the only thing that any of us need to do,” Gayle said. “It’s not always easy but to see the blessings and to see God glorifying himself in those moments – there’s nothing like it in the world.”

She gave a little clue at what the third book may include, but readers will just have to wait until it’s out to know for sure. “I believe this third book…is going to be a healing season for Jimmy, not as much for Mary,” she hinted.

 

A line of Scripture that features prominently in her life, her writing and her website is John 11:40, which reads: “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

For Gayle, that verse is central to her life and to her endeavors as an author.

“God has planned this to the minute of what’s happening,” she said. The reviews and rewards (are) just been total confirmation that I’m doing exactly what God wants me to do in telling the story.”

 

Gayle dedicated her first book to her father; the second book is dedicated to her father and to her daughter.

We’ll have to wait and see to whom the third – and maybe more – books are dedicated.

Both books will be available for purchase at Saturday’s book signing, and Gayle said anyone who wants to bring books they’ve already purchased, she’ll sign those, too.

Visit www.marthagayle.com to learn more. She welcomes comments and prayer requests, too.

Click Play!

N.C. First Lady Kristin Cooper Stops In For A Visit On 100-County Tour

/by

North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper paid a visit to downtown Henderson today as part of her statewide tour to visit all 100 counties.

Cooper toured McGregor Hall with Director Mark Hopper and other local officials before heading to George’s for lunch and then stopping by Sadie’s Coffee Corner, Nella Roo’s Boutique and the Vance County Arts Council before departing by mid-afternoon.

“This place is absolutely amazing,” Cooper told members of the media following the tour of McGregor Hall. “I didn’t expect to see something like this…y’all should be real proud of it.”

Cooper made her way across the state not so much by geography, but in alphabetical order. “This is my 98th county,” she noted.

She said she’s had a wonderful reception everywhere she’s visited, and as a self-professed “city girl,” has learned a lot about what North Carolina has to offer.

“It’s amazing to see the pride of place that people have,” she continued. “Even cities that are struggling…have enormous pride in their community” and are willing to sacrifice to make it better.

Throughout her tour, she’s ridden ferries, climbed mountains, walked in forests and on sand dunes. And now, having completed her tour in this community, she can add McGregor Hall and downtown Henderson to the list.

Vance County’s issues surrounding public education, health care and attracting medical professionals and educators to rural areas are not unique, unfortunately, she said.

Cooper encourages individuals to get out and find destinations in the state that may be unfamiliar.
“There may be something great just around the corner from you,” she said.

Pearson Honored For His Vision, Enthusiasm For Downtown Revitalization

/by

Dr. Stephen F. Pearson loved the city of Henderson and worked tirelessly to help with revitalization efforts. Patrons of Sadie’s Coffee Corner and visitors who travel Garnett Street in cars or on foot will now see a tribute to Pearson’s enthusiasm and dedication for downtown development.

A group of local officials and community leaders gathered Tuesday morning as Pearson’s widow, Amanda, and his son Corey cut the ribbon to officially name the parking area and adjoining greenscape in memory of Pearson, who died from cancer in March 2021.

In remarks to the group during the ceremony, son Corey said it was hard to believe that just a few years ago, he and his dad were riding around the area in an RV when they passed “an unlikely gun shop.”

“That’s the spot,” Corey said, recalling his father’s comments. “We’re going to turn that into something.”

And that’s how Sadie’s Coffee Corner came to be in the building at 324 S. Garnett St. that once housed Gupton’s Sporting Goods, Inc.

“I wish I could have his vision,” Corey said. “He loved everyone here and he loved this town,” adding that he wants to keep his dream alive and keep his vision going.

“He saw the possibilities and potential of our downtown and had a vision of how to bring them to fruition,” said Downtown Development Commission Director Tracy Madigan. “His low-key enthusiasm and drive were infectious,” she told those gathered for the occasion. “(He) created the momentum and excitement that we’re feeling today,” Madigan said.

Where others saw empty storefronts, Pearson saw potential. He wanted to make sure not only that Sadie’s was successful, but that the downtown area become successful. Pearson jumped in with both feet, joined the DDC board and soon became chairman.

“He inspired others to get involved,” she noted. “We have a great little oasis right here in the middle of town,” Madigan said, all inspired by Pearson and his vision for revitalization.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon said Pearson was a person committed to service – serving others and serving the community. But he was a self-proclaimed “disrupter,” someone who didn’t want things to be done the way they’ve always been done.

The “parklet” installed by a local volunteer gardeners’ group, now enhances a corner of the lot that adjoins Sadie’s at the corner of Garnett and Orange streets.

Amanda Pearson said her husband was the public speaker, not her. “I know that he would love this,” she said of the recognition bestowed on her late husband. “He loved this town so much.”

Dr. Stephen Pearson – City’s Orange Street Lot to Bear His Name

/by

The late Dr. Stephen Pearson, co-founder of Sadie’s Coffee Corner downtown, will be remembered in a ceremony next week.

The City of Henderson will host a ceremony and officially name the city’s Orange Street parking lot after Dr. Pearson.

That lot is next to Sadie’s on South Garnett Street.

The ceremony will take place Tuesday, March 8 at 11 a.m.

The public is invited to attend.

Pearson and Amanda Pearson, his wife, celebrated the grand opening of Sadie’s on November 9, 2019. Pearson died at age 57 about one year ago in late March 2021.

Pearson was well-liked and loved by many and had otherwise risen to the board chair level of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission.

As he said in a video presentation at the 2020 Henderson Vance Chamber of Commerce meeting and banquet, “We came in with very clear goals, a very clear business plan, things that we would absolutely make sure that we changed in the dynamic of business on main street, and we also came with the mindset that if we are going to come down and provide some change, then we’re going to change from the inside. You can’t change things from the outside.”

Pearson a Bundle of Intelligence, Leadership, Passion and Success

/by

Dr. Stephen Pearson, co-owner and operator of Sadie’s Coffee Corner and champion of downtown revitalization in Henderson, has died. He was 57. Friends and colleagues remembered Pearson Friday as an entrepreneur dedicated to making Henderson a better place for the community to enjoy.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Pearson chaired the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission for almost a year. “He brought his business development expertise and background to our downtown development efforts, invested in our community and led our DDC with passion and determination,” said City Council member Gary Daeke.

Pearson and his wife, Amanda, opened Sadie’s Coffee Corner in fall 2019, and quickly got involved in the community. “Stephen and Amanda Pearson chose us for their business location out of every other town and that made him special to me and our Chamber of Commerce from the very beginning,” said Chamber President Michele Burgess.

“He had a vision for revitalizing downtown Henderson and he was willing to put in the work and the investment to make it happen. Stephen used to love to use the hashtag #whynothenderson. He saw potential here, where others see dilapidation. His enthusiasm and energy and his positive attitude will be greatly missed,” Burgess said Friday.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon remembered Pearson as a champion for downtown Henderson. He said Pearson “described himself as a disruptor, because he wanted to change the way that we do things in our community for the better… His passion for downtown Henderson was unmatched and he will truly be missed by the Henderson community.”

Pearson brought experience as well as enthusiasm to downtown development; he had a doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in global business organization leadership and was an adjunct professor at UNC-CH and Utica College in New York, in addition to being chief operating officer to Sadie’s Coffee Corner.

Dennis Jarvis, former director of the Henderson Economic Development Commission, said Pearson “wanted to change the world, so he thought ‘I’ll change one block of Henderson first.’ He succeeded.” Jarvis added that Pearson was “an innovator, an educator, a veteran, an animal lover and larger than life. He was a bright light and inspiration to me personally and professionally.”

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington remembered Pearson as someone who truly wanted Henderson, and the downtown area especially, to succeed. “No one is ever ready to receive such sorrowful news,” Ellington told WIZS News Friday, “and with much sadness the City of Henderson mourns the loss of a man that will be remembered as big in stature, but most importantly big at heart.”

In an April 22, 2020 interview on Town Talk, Pearson said Sadie’s supportive customers and community partners, combined with his belief that downtown is the “epicenter of the growth in Henderson,” would help ensure the coffee shop’s continued success.

Joe Hedrick, a regular patron at Sadie’s said “Steve Pearson had a great vision for our community and a determination to make downtown Henderson a better place for all of us.”

Pearson revealed in that Town Talk interview from 2020 that he and his wife believed so strongly in the downtown’s potential that they would be developing another downtown location that would include a business incubator, a business accelerator and will include a classical pizza, cheese and wine tasting shop.

Mayor Ellington said the Pearsons were active, positive members of the community who “continue to impact downtown in ways we haven’t seen in years.” More development in the Garnett Street area is a way to carry on Pearson’s mission of a vibrant Main Street, Ellington said.

Brian Boyd, a friend of Pearson as well as a coffee shop patron and board member of the Chamber and Henderson-Oxford Airport Authority, had this to say:

“God blesses us with giants in life that have large presence, vision, compassion and care. Giants do not always get the most time to be here, but they make the most of their time and leave a legacy that can continue through everyone they touched. I will miss my friend Steve and I am sad by his passing but still motivated by his vision for the growth and continued betterment of our Henderson community, kindness and care for all people and determination to progress in all things.”

Boyd said he and Pearson had talked about Henderson and its potential for continued growth and development. “Henderson was a place where he wanted to leave a legacy of hope and change for the good,” Boyd said of his friend. “He loved his time here.”

Henderson Police Department

HPD to Hold ‘Coffee With The Community’ Chat at Sadie’s Coffee Corner

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy the Henderson Police Department

Please join your neighbors, community leaders and the Henderson Police Department for a “Coffee With The Community” chat at Sadie’s Coffee Corner on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Help the HPD widen the lines of local communication by expressing your opinions and discussing concerns over coffee.

Sadie’s Coffee Corner is located at 324 S. Garnett St. in downtown Henderson.

Town Talk 11/12/19: Sadie’s Coffee Corner Open for Business in Downtown Henderson!

/by

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Dr. Stephen Pearson, co-owner of the newly opened Sadie’s Coffee Corner in downtown Henderson, was the guest of honor on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program.

On Saturday, November 9, Pearson and wife Amanda celebrated the grand opening of the coffee shop located in the former Gupton’s Gun Shop building at 324 S. Garnett Street.

“The grand opening was awesome,” said Pearson. “We got to meet all kinds of people from town. A lot of people expressed joy in having a place to come, sit down, relax and get a good coffee.”

With local offerings from Wake Forest-based Black and White Coffee Roasters, Lake Gaston Coffee, Durham-based Big Spoon Roasters, Enfield Honey Farm in Halifax and baked goods from Strong Arm Baking Company in Oxford, the Pearsons are investing in the area they now call home.

Formerly based in Tampa, FL, the Pearsons began to familiarize themselves with the area when Stephen’s job as a contract worker for the government required travel to nearby Youngsville and Raleigh-based customers.

“Amanda fell in love with North Carolina and we decided to find somewhere that would be a great place to live,” explained Stephen. “We came to Henderson and saw some opportunity. We saw a town that possibly could use some investment.”

Alluding to the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission and the City of Henderson’s efforts to reinstate the area to North Carolina Main Street status, Pearson said part of the attraction to downtown was the revitalization movement.

“To get a Main Street running the way it’s supposed to you need to have a barbershop and a coffee shop – places where people can do communal things. A place where people can have disagreements without arguments, talk politics or religion. When we came here, we were looking for a place like that and couldn’t find one. So we knew there was a natural need for it, and we believe downtown can grow from that.”

As for the name of their new venture, Pearson said the couple needed to look no further than their own loyal dog.

“Every day when I come home, my golden retriever Sadie sits at the door, wags her tail, has a big smile on her face and is happy to see me. When you walk through our doors, we want to put a smile on your face and know that you’re welcome,” said Pearson.

Sadie’s Coffee Corner is open seven days a week; Monday – Friday from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., Saturday & Sunday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.

For more information, please visit the website at www.sadiescoffeecorner.com, check the shop out on Facebook (click here) or call (252) 557-1165.

To hear the interview with Pearson in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Sadies Coffee Corner Holding Contest for Downtown Henderson Mural

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

Sadies Coffee Corner (SCC) is looking to the community to provide a mural that represents Henderson and its future! SCC is looking to engage young people in this creative opportunity to tell the story of Henderson.

To enter, submit a rough sketch and a one to two-page description detailing the meaning of the mural. Entries will be judged on young people’s role in crafting the mural sketch and narrative, the meaningfulness and creativity of the design, and the connection to the theme “Henderson Moving Forward.”

Judges will include a panel of SCC staff, votes from your community and the City of Henderson. The winning agency will receive a gift card to cover the purchase of art supplies and a cash prize of $500.

THE CANVAS TO PAINT ON – 324 S. Garnett Street in Henderson
Judging Criteria:

  1. Youth driven
  2. Relation to the theme
  3. Creativity and originality
  4. Quality of artistic composition
  5. Overall impression/story
  6. Accompanying essay

Rules:

  1. There are no fees incurred to enter the contest.
  2. Those entering the contest may not be included on the judging panel.
  3. Only one entry per individual or team.
  4. Entries must be submitted on or before Saturday, August 31, 2019, at info@sadiescoffeecorner.com.
  5. Participants agree to have their sketches, essay, and organization information published online.
  6. Winners agree to be recognized in local media.
  7. Award of the gift card must be used for art supplies to help complete the creation of the mural.
  8. Winner agrees to share images of final artwork with SCC facebook and social media upon completion.
  9. Decisions of the contest judging panel are final.

If you have questions about the 2019 Mural Contest, please contact info@sadiescoffeecorner.com.

(This is not a paid advertisement)