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Our 33rd Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers ISSUE NO. 32 • August 7, 2025 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
Adopted at birth 70 years ago, twins found each other and became fast friends Article by Jean Gordon. About 90 minutes later, Karen received On a crisp fall day, October 13, 1955, another text from Shanna who told her she a baby girl named Molly at birth was was one of Karen’s half-sisters, and Sue is adopted by Charles and Margie Andrews of another half-sister, and that BB was her twin Rutherfordton when her name was changed sister, all related through their dad. to Karen. She was born January 31, 1955, Karen Andrews is a woman of many to a 20-year-old single mother. Just eighteen words, she readily admits. She held several days later, on October 31, 1955 another baby public jobs that required a lot of talking, girl named Polly at birth, born January 31, including being the Town Manager for 1955, to that same 20-year-old single mother Rutherfordton. As a political science major was adopted by Gaither and Mary Lou Beam from Gardner-Webb University, she would of Louisburg, NC, when her name was later spend time in Washington, DC working changed to Barbara. Molly/Karen and Polly/ on Capitol Hill. She is always ready to strike Barbara were fraternal twins, spending their up a conversation. But March 4, 2025, first eight months together in a children’s when Karen was told she had a twin sister, home outside Greensboro. Because of the “I was speechless,” Karen said recently in attending pediatrician’s recommendation, Rutherfordton sitting with her sister Barb, as they were separated and adopted by different they told their story. families, who didn’t know their daughters “Shanna had talked to Barb during those were twins. Seven decades later those two 90 minutes telling Barb they had found me,” girls were able to find each other thanks to Karen continued. At that time, Karen was Ancestry. given Barb’s phone number from Shanna. Their biological mother, Frances Horner, of Barb asked that Karen text first. She did Alamance County choose not to tell anyone and the rest is history. They talked on the about her pregnancy except her brother and telephone for a long time on March 4. Three Karen Andrews (left) with Barb Beam in Rutherfordton recently. (Jean Gordon photo) mother and she lived in a maternity home days later on March 7 Karen, Dan (Karen’s from December 1954 until their birth January 31, 1955. her biological parents and that she had a twin sister and husband), Barb and Jennifer met at a restaurant where According to birth records from the Department of Social two half-sisters from their dad’s side; Shanna and Sue who they talked 4 ½ hours. Services in Burlington, the mother didn’t see the babies live in Washington State. Barb and the half-sisters have not The sisters have since met up several times, including a after their delivery. When she entered the hospital to give met in person but started talking in 2020. Barb pulled out of couple weeks ago in Rutherfordton where Barb spent the birth, she did not know she was carrying twins. The twins’ Ancestry in 2020 thinking she would never find her sister. weekend with Karen and Dan in McDowell County. They Fast forward to 2025, Karen decided to check into talk or text every night. They have the same smile and biological father, Robert Merriman, never knew anything about the twins as he was serving in the military at the Ancestry to find out if she was Scottish. She had no idea Karen’s husband Dan says they have an identical laugh. time, but did find out when they were adults and chose not where visiting Ancestry would lead. On February 22, 2025 While at the restaurant, he said he could close his eyes to look for them to avoid the possibility of disrupting their Karen learned from Ancestry that she had a “full sibling”, and didn’t know who was laughing. and yes, she is Scottish as well. families. Although there are many similarities between Karen “I received my results from Ancestry and saw that and Barb, there are also differences. Barb says Karen was Karen and Barb’s parents both shared they were adopted but Barb’s parents were not as open with her someone listed as BB was a full sibling,” Karen began. “I “the classy one”, the renaissance woman and loved all texted BB and heard nothing,” said Karen. Barb was no things musical and crafty, and Barb was the athlete playing about other aspects of the adoption. “They just didn’t want to talk about it,” Barb said. They longer on Ancestry, Karen said. several high school sports, including golf, swimming, and “I saw where Shanna was listed as a ‘close relative”, basketball. When they met at the restaurant and ordered never suggested Barb try to find her biological parents. Karen’s parents were open with her about the adoption but I didn’t reach out to her,” Karen said. On the morning of beverages, Karen ordered “water no ice.” Then twin sister, to the point they told Karen if she ever wanted to find March 4 Karen received a “text” from Shanna asking, “Did Barb, “water no ice.” Both are active in their churches and her biological parents, they would help her, but not until I know how we might be related?” Karen said. “I texted always have been. They enjoy baking and cooking. Barb back that I had no idea,” Karen said. February 2025 did Karen begin to research her said she traveled past the children’s home “thousands ancestry. of times” over the years and wondered about her Frances Horner Curtis, their biological mother, died beginning. Karen said while a student at Gardnerat 81 in 2015 after suffering a stroke. Their biological Webb she was in the touring choir and traveled to the father, Bob Merriman, died in 1997 of Agent Orange at children’s home to give a concert. “I cried” Karen said, 61 after a career in the Army. thinking of the place she lived for a while. Karen’s daddy Barb lives in Monroe, a little more than two hours told her she cried a lot at night when they first brought away from Karen, who now lives in McDowell County. her home to Rutherfordton. Karen now figures she was It was Barb’s daughter Jennifer who started the search missing her sister. for her mother’s biological parents, starting with the “This is something you see in the movies,” they DNA test. agreed. The four sisters have connected with each “Jennifer is the one that had really started the other and Shanna summed it up nicely by saying, “we search,” Barb said. Through the search Jennifer are complete now”. learned about Barb’s half-sisters and tried to find out With their forever smiles, the twins said more about her family. Jennifer was able to get the goodbye to each other after spending the weekend in non-identifying medical and family history from the Rutherfordton, waiting for another visit and their nightly Department of Social Services in Burlington. From that phone calls. “We have a lot of catching up to do,” they letter Barb received in July 2016, she found out about Barb Beam on her first birthday. Karen Andrews at 10 months old. said, sharing the same smiles.
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