Members of a club that uses metal detectors to help with historical surveys recently located a 1954 Farmville High School ring, tracked down its owner and returned it to her at the field near Falkland where she lost it years ago.
Members of the Historical Recovery Association of North Carolina were conducting research on land of the former Spencer-Harris plantation off of N.C. 43 to uncover historical evidence related to the Civil War raid of Union Gen. Edward Potter from New Bern to Rocky Mount and back.
While the club was looking for Civil War artifacts, member Randy Cobb of Pinetops discovered the ring with the initials JRF engraved on the inside, embarking him and his wife, Christie, on a cyber-digging mission.
After discovering an online version of the 1954 Farmville High School yearbook, to their surprise, they discovered that only one individual shared the same initials as JRF — Janie Ruth Fulford.
Determined to find information, they continued to scour the internet and found an obituary for Janie’s late husband. The obituary contained Janie’s full married name, Janie Ruth Fulford Langley, along with the names of her children and grandchildren. Among her granddaughters, they discovered one named Amber Norman.
As they continued their investigation, the Cobbs stumbled upon Amber’s Facebook page. Without hesitation, they decided to send her a private message.
Curious about the strange message, Amber reached out to her mother, Terry Liles. After looking at pictures and having a conversation with Randy, they realized that it wasn’t a scam but rather their matriarch’s long-lost ring.
Excitement filled the air as a meeting was scheduled for March 16 to reunite the ring with its rightful owner, now a Siler City resident, in the exact field where it had slipped off her finger 70 years ago.
This loss had been heartbreaking for her, her family said, especially considering she was the daughter of a sharecropper and one of eight siblings. She had been working with the family in the field when she lost it.
Now, Janie is her family’s only survivor from that time.
As she rode along the dirt road toward the meeting location, memories began to flood back into her mind. Softly, she whispered, “I think I remember this area!” Everything was slowly coming back to her, and she couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions as she prepared to finally be reunited with that long-lost symbol of her past. “It is all coming back to me!” she exclaimed.
Joining her were her daughter, granddaughter, son, daughter-in-law, and great-granddaughters, all eagerly gathered together, anxiously awaiting the return of the precious ring.
As she glanced at her loved ones surrounding her, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. She truly wished that her beloved husband, Ernest Langley, could have been alive to share this moment with them. It would have made this reunion even more perfect, completing their family circle. His absence was deeply felt, but his memory lived on in their hearts, reminding them of his love and presence even in his physical absence.
Randy and Christy Cobb accompanied Janie and her relatives. The current property owner and his wife were also present, along with his sister. For the next half hour, time seemed to revert to a more peaceful era as stories were shared about the past and how much has changed in the span of 70 years.
Memories once thought lost resurfaced, from mule races around a barn to fishing in an old pond and hitting home runs by landing the ball in the ditch. It was a nostalgic moment, where the present and the past intertwined, capturing the essence of a simpler way of life.
As Randy gently placed the ring back on Janie’s finger, Robert Gaynor, the current property owner, jokingly remarked, “You know, in other cultures, you are now legally married,” prompting a burst of laughter.
Reflecting on the events, Randy realized that something had guided him to that field, and now he understood why. Returning the lost ring to the 89-year-old not only reunited her with a cherished keepsake but also brought back precious memories that she can now pass down to her family.
It is truly remarkable how God works in mysterious ways, and this experience is a reminder what unexpected discoveries can be made while searching.
If you are interested in learning more about our club and helping uncover North Carolina’s lost history, please visit us on hranc.net.
Most Popular
Comments / 0