Articles Book III - Pg 1300-1479 (Reunions etc) - triadoption

3Me Just Wants 1 b See
Theonly pkturr ofS(rrlc tL) and kmyc.
by Steve Peel
S W Reporter
The search has becn long. hard
and fruitless for Lorrinc Brewer. M.
or Todd.
Her quest seems simple enough.
Shejust wants to see her brother and
sister. Out N.C, adoption laws have
made it virtually impossible far Mn.
Brewer to fJe step one.
There were $wen children in the
Eldreth clzn when Lorrinc's parents
separated. Mrs. Brewer, the oldest.
was 12. When her father reiused to
give the Wiikes County Coun cus.
tody of the children, the mun tonir
anion to take custody, and left the
child& in the hands of Wilkcs
County Social Scrviccs. The usual
lo51er humc existence ensued. with
the children spending time in a var.
icty of hamcs.but they remained
close. They ~ltendcd school logether.
When Lorrinc was I?. she re.
turned to Ashc Cuunt), where she
Her Brother & Slster
Adoption Laws Bog Down Todd Woman's Search For SibIings
was born. and she never saw her that requires* written motion hcfore Ms. Giddens has '.lrcady followyoungest
bmthe: and sister again. the Clerk of Superior Coun, and ap- ed up on rtne lead which reportedly
She has managed to locate her other proval from a Superior Coun Judge. placcd Rnyc in thecoastal city of Wilfour
siblings: scattered as far as Dc. According to Wayne Roopc. Clerk minglon. So far it ir still just a lead. t
troit and Asheville. and as near as uf Coun for Wilkes County. the For Stcvic, it is rumored that he
~Yilkesboro. But the kafion of Ste- chnnccz of the books {or was rdop~ed by 1 preacher who
ven Graham Eldreth. now 23.. and M,. arc, w...very. very moved to Virginia. But that. tm. has
Raye Darlene Eldreth. 25, slill eludes slim." )el to be substantiated. So, with no
her.
concrete lends to go on. Ms. Giddcns'
It is known that Loth children wert Mrs. Brewer has sought the help of agenry must search.
adoptrJout ~f Wiltcs County around 1.ynn Giddcns founder of N.C. Adop- bnine Brewer's case is unique.
the year 1V68. though the eran year tion lnfomati~n hchan%e. .. She is not an adoptec looking for par.
is sketchy since adoption rmrds :re An adopter herself Ms. Giddens, ents which nlay not exist. Or waitnot
available for public perusal. 30:of Chapcl Hill, was successful in ing to experience the trauma to tind
-1 have 1"ed going through '!he [waling her :birth parenls. She out she wlu abandoned, or born out
Wilkes County Social Services to try formed the argal~izatlon 10 help ofwedlock. The Nonh Carolinz adopand
find my information that would others like herself. who are trapped tion laws rre designed to pmten
help me find Stevic md Rase, but in their search by the binding N.C. pmple like (hut.
the~muldn't help me." hmne says. lawslf
(he sariai senice, had ,,pmcd Th" are Inore rllin 140 volun- For Lonine, the true incquiricr of
tllr adonlion rcalrds. :I, vrve ME. tccrs. representing every County in the laws untold. She knows that her
r~.-~. .~ -
Rrewcr a lead, it would kc r mis- the state, in her organizati~~n. And tmthcr and sister exist. she just
dcmcanor in viulalion uf N.C. adop. Ihc numbers are i(n*u.ing. I! is wants to know where.
tion laws. through these ruluntccrc that Ms. "I'd give anything to find out
Rcre hate becn iniranes whcrc C'iddens h~~pcr ro lctcate Lorrine's u.hcre Stcne and R~ye arc." hrrine
the records l~ave been opened. but brother and sisler. sighs. "Anything."