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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2023
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
PAGE 3A
Winder First United Methodist Church
Photos courtesy of Winder FUMC
Members of the Women’s Circle at Winder First United Methodist Church making homemade biscuits for the supper
Winder FUMC’s beloved Ham and Egg Supper returns
In 1964, a timeless community tradition was born
in Winder when Reverend Hubert Flanigan came
to town from Hartwell and brought the idea of a
Ham and Egg Supper to his new congregation at
the Winder First United Methodist Church (Winder
FUMC).
The gathering was initially hosted in the old
church on Candler Street, but it didn’t stay there for
long. The following year, it was held at the Lions
Club before it moved to its permanent home at the
Fellowship Hall of Winder FUMC’s current North
Broad Street location.
With a much larger space at the Fellowship Hall,
the supper’s popularity soared over the years, with
the largest crowd reaching 1,500 attendees. The
event transcends denominational lines as Winder
FUMC invites members of all churches in the area
to the event each year, making it a cornerstone of
the community’s social calendar.
The supper is a true Southern feast. This year,
church members will be preparing 2,000 home
made biscuits, 330 dozen eggs, 375 pounds of coun
try-cured and city-cured ham and 35 pounds of grits,
according to Victoria Patrick, co-chair of the event.
One of the culinary highlights is Dr. Robert
Stansell’s famous red-eye gravy, a recipe that’s re
mained a cherished tradition at the supper.
“Watching the ladies making biscuits, men grill
ing ham, washing grit pot after grit pot, the line of
people meeting and greeting as they awaited their
turn, the smell of country ham and the taste of bis
cuits slathered with butter and muscadine jelly,”
said Stansell, “is in sum the fellowship of working
and dining together.”
For years, gallons of muscadine jelly were pre
pared by Reyno Petree, who passed away in 2018.
This year, Todd McCain will make homemade jelly
as he has for several years.
The supper returns this year after a three-year hia
tus following the pandemic.
“This was one of the things I remember as a child
and we wanted this to come back in full force and
bring the community together,” said event co-chair
Karen Garren.
“The sole purpose is not just the food, it’s the fel
lowship,” she said.
“Ham and Egg has been a historic reach into our
community. Good food, good fellowship and a sense
of pulling together for such a great event brings life
to this congregation. I’m proud of our church la
ity and their work to bring Ham and Egg back to
Winder FUMC and Barrow County,” said Dr. Rev.
Geoffrey Murphy.
In the past, United Methodist Men and United
Methodist Women groups split the proceeds from
the event to fund scholarships for local kids. To re
inforce the event’s commitment to the community,
the church will give all of the event proceeds to the
Boys and Girls Club of Winder-Barrow County this
year.
“Winder FUMC has always aspired to be a com
munity church, and the Ham & Egg Supper is a
testament to that vision,” said church member Tina
Murphy.
The supper will be held at the Fellowship Hall at
Winder FUMC on Nov. 1. There’s an option for ear
ly birds to get takeout between 4:30-7 p.m. Those
who prefer to dine in may do so from 5-7 p.m.
The late Rev. Hubert Flanigan came to Winder FUMC from
Hartwell in 1964 and brought with him the idea of a Ham and
Egg Supper.
United Methodist Church of Winder men cooking grits for the
supper.
United Methodist Church of Winder men grilling ham for the supper, which is held each year The j ate Lily Dyer and j enny Barron,
on the first Wednesday of November.
The Imogene Kilpatrick, Mary Benton and Jean Stancil.
The late Mrs. Sara Tuck, wife of Mr. Claude
Tuck, a long time member of Winder FUMC.
October 11, 2023
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