Rock Hill Herald Logo

It's never too early for 'Happy Birthday' | Rock Hill Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
  • Customer Service
  • Mobile & Apps
  • Newsletters
  • Archives

    • All News
    • Local News
    • Local Traffic Cam
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Business
    • Education
    • NIE
    • Crime
    • More News
    • Andrew Dys
    • Nation/World
    • Politics/Government
    • Weird News
    • Databases
    • Down Home Magazine
    • Physicians Directory
    • Fort Mill Times
    • Fort Mill Times Sports
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Submit a Letter to the Editor
    • All Sports
    • Panthers
    • College
    • Winthrop
    • High School
    • High School Football
    • Auto Racing
    • Politics
    • Elections
  • Obituaries
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Submit a Letter
    • To the Contrary
    • James Werrell
    • Palmetto Opinion
    • All Living
    • Community
    • Weddings
    • Engagements
    • Anniversaries
    • Births
    • Religion
    • Family
    • Home & Garden
    • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Books
    • Calendar
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Rewards
    • Horoscopes

  • Legals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Virtual Career Fair
  • Homes
  • Classifieds

Andrew Dys

It's never too early for 'Happy Birthday'

By Andrew Dys - Andrew Dys

    ORDER REPRINT →

August 02, 2006 12:00 AM

Darkness is split by the ringing telephone. On the other end, a few minutes after 5 a.m., is probably the only person who would call so early and sing "Happy Birthday."

Yvonne Cherry starts another day.

"I get up and sing to somebody," Cherry said. "God gets the glory. I just make the calls."

She has no phone list. No address book. No computer.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Every number is stored in her head.

Cherry has made countless birthday calls over the years. She calls people from her home church, Mount Do-Well Baptist Church, or people from other churches she has attended over the years. But she also calls anybody she's met in the past 30 years whose birthday she has found out about. Preachers, teachers and insurance agents like Rock Hill's Bill Berry.

"Sunday was my turn," said the Rev. Archie Stover, who came to Rock Hill 23 years ago.

Every year on July 30, 5 a.m., Stover's phone rings. It is Cherry.

"She loves to do it. It's her way of giving someone a lift," he said.

Cherry calls many in her extended family, too.

"She called my father until he died 14 years ago," said Jackie Neal, a cousin. "Now, she calls me."

Later this month, the Rev. A.J. Rollinson, Cherry's pastor at Mount Do-Well, will get his song for the fifth straight year.

"Five o'clock in the morning," Rollinson said. "If it is your birthday you come to expect the call. Not just me, but so many in the church. Others, too. It makes you feel like somebody is thinking about you. That someone wants your birthday to be special. "

When the call is over, there is no small talk.

"She finishes the song and hangs up," Rollinson said. "It's not as if she would need to say who it was. Couldn't be anybody else."

Cherry has had a few tearful calls over the years from people who didn't get a birthday call. Even the birthday lady gets sidetracked once in a blue moon getting ready for work or church.

"One lady was crying, asking what she had done to me to make me mad," Cherry said. "I just hadn't gotten around to it that day."

Cherry sang so often on the intercom at her Charlotte job that she had to be barred from singing over the loudspeakers.

"I just sing individual to them now," Cherry said. "Black or white, young or old. I don't care. I know the birthday, they get the song."

Her only child, Dreama, now 27, has had an alarm clock of hearing "Happy Birthday" sung to somebody almost every day of her life. One time, Cherry even went to Dreama's job at Family Trust Credit Union and sang.

"I was working at the drive-through window and someone told me there was a lady out in the lobby who wanted to see me," Dreama said. "Then I heard the song. Who else could it be? I turned right back around, and she kept right on singing."

One predawn morning many years ago, the phone rang at the house of Betty Jo Rhea, the Rock Hill mayor at the time. "Happy Birthday" flowed out of the earpiece. Yvonne Cherry, of course.

"I've had people sing me happy birthday before and since, but never a total stranger on the phone," Rhea recalled. "A precious gift. I still remember like it was yesterday."

Back in the late 1990s Cherry wanted to call then-President Bill Clinton to wish him a happy birthday.

"His birthday is August 19th," Cherry said.

But because she couldn't get Clinton on the phone, Cherry sent birthday cards two years running. Afterward in her mail, there was a manila envelope with a return address of "The White House. Washington."

Inside was picture of Clinton and a signed letter thanking her for thinking of Clinton on his birthday.

"He may have needed that birthday wish," Cherry said. "We all need a happy birthday."

Today, Yvonne Cherry tuns 49 years old. Her phone number is 328-8370.

Call her before the sunrise. The "Happy Birthday" lady can't call herself.

  Comments  

Videos

Strangers who worked together to try and save Rock Hill crash victim reunite

Defendant who shot and killed friend in Rock Hill apologizes in court

View More Video

Trending Stories

7 York County Council defendants tossed as money piles up in Fort Mill lawsuit

February 20, 2019 02:58 PM

York County mom charged after baby tests for drugs; 10th parent arrested in 6 months

February 20, 2019 03:51 PM

Here are 12 local wrestlers who could win individual state titles. And 1 who won’t

February 20, 2019 01:14 PM

York County suspect rams cop car, flushes ‘dangerous’ drugs next to kids, police say

February 21, 2019 09:28 AM

‘Fallen and can’t get up’ in real life: Rock Hill cops break down door to save woman

February 20, 2019 11:58 AM

Read Next

York County officers who limped, were wheeled to free throw line scored with the crowd
Video media Created with Sketch.

Andrew Dys

York County officers who limped, were wheeled to free throw line scored with the crowd

By Andrew Dys

adys@heraldonline.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 18, 2018 05:03 PM

York County, South Carolina police officers who were shot and wounded in an ambush in January, met with the Winthrop University mens’ basketball team before their game with Longwood and were honored during First Responders Day.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE ANDREW DYS

‘All in’ for York Co. police officers shot on duty - Clemson’s Dabo sends footballs

Andrew Dys

‘All in’ for York Co. police officers shot on duty - Clemson’s Dabo sends footballs

February 06, 2018 05:31 PM
‘Tribute to Mikey’: Rock Hill cop mourns killing of two police friends in 11 years

Andrew Dys

‘Tribute to Mikey’: Rock Hill cop mourns killing of two police friends in 11 years

January 23, 2018 02:40 PM
‘Our hero is home’: Procession brings slain deputy Mike Doty back to York County

Andrew Dys

‘Our hero is home’: Procession brings slain deputy Mike Doty back to York County

January 18, 2018 12:00 PM
Is it scarier facing emu, felon or cancer? Rock Hill cop says cancer, ‘it’s got you’

Andrew Dys

Is it scarier facing emu, felon or cancer? Rock Hill cop says cancer, ‘it’s got you’

January 12, 2018 02:45 PM
‘Mayor of Main Street’: The Men’s Shop in York closing Saturday after 70 years

Andrew Dys

‘Mayor of Main Street’: The Men’s Shop in York closing Saturday after 70 years

January 10, 2018 04:55 PM
Family of Fort Mill mom, shot 14 times on a 911 call, hopes to prevent awful loss

Andrew Dys

Family of Fort Mill mom, shot 14 times on a 911 call, hopes to prevent awful loss

January 05, 2018 03:21 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Rock Hill Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Advertising Information
  • Place Obituary, Celebration
  • Place Classified, Legal
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story