The Gourd Retreat-Southern Style was held at Ebenezer Retreat Center on March 26-29. The retreat sponsored an auction to benefit the Low Country Down Syndrome Society at its Saturday night banquet. Gourd artists from all over the country came together at the retreat sponsored by Charlotte Durrence to take classes with other gourd friends.  These artists donated many pieces of gourd art to be auctioned.  They had artists from as far away as Arizona and Connecticut and many from North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and other states. The total raised for LCDSS was $2,500. The auction was in memory of Faye Davis, a former gourder, who passed away recently.