Friends continue to bond over Bunko nights

Friends continue to bond over Bunko nights

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Traditions often serve as the centerpiece for laughter and cherished memories, and for a group of 12 ladies, their monthly bunko night is no exception.

The original bunko group was started nearly 30 years ago by Frances Lewis and her friend, the late Brenda Bobo.

Over time, the group has seen members come and go, but Lewis has been its heart. When several participants began dropping out for various reasons, Lewis took over organizing the gatherings 15 years ago.

“We are a very Christian-oriented group,” Lewis said. “We start with prayer, then we eat and get caught up on what’s happened in the month. We are a very close-knit group.”

Her niece, Teri Killens, described Lewis as the “glue of the group” that includes church friends and several women Lewis helped raise, all of whom are considered family.

“I try to keep them straight,” Lewis said with a laugh.

“She’s been my friend for a long time,” Connie Spence added. “When her daughter was a little girl, my husband took her family’s pictures. We’ve just been friends forever—ever since she had Copper Penny in town.”

The group gathers on the first Tuesday of each month, rotating between members’ homes or local spots like Ronnie’s Steak N Grill, where they’re graciously allowed to use the back room. For the next gathering, Killens plans to host and serve her popular bread pudding, a favorite among the ladies.

Each game night begins with a meal and prayer, followed by an hour of bunko and dessert. Winners receive prizes for categories such as most bunkos, high game, low game, the door prize, and “the hat.”

The hat tradition began in memory of Mrs. Bobo, who wore a baseball cap during her cancer treatments. After her passing, the group kept the cap, and it’s now awarded at each game night as a prize.

Lewis’s daughter, Lynda Gayle Robertson, who is affectionately dubbed the “bunko patrol,” keeps the games organized, ensuring everyone’s scores are tallied and prizes are awarded.

Bunko is a dice game for 12 or more players divided into groups of four. Players take turns rolling three dice over six rounds, aiming to score points. A “bunko” occurs when someone rolls three-of-a-kind matching the round number.

“Everybody gives ten dollars each month,” Killens said. “I’ll use the money collected in December to buy prizes for January.”

The top prize for most bunkos is typically a $30 gift, gift card, or cash. The December game night is always memorable for the ladies, as it includes a Dirty Santa gift exchange, adding an extra layer of competition.

“Our competitiveness really comes out,” Spence said, describing the spirited exchanges both during Dirty Santa and the last round of each game, when players vie for a final bunko or to win a tiebreaker roll-off.

Sometimes, the ladies are joined by younger guests when a mom can’t find a sitter. On several occasions, Lewis’s great-grandson and Melanie McNair’s granddaughter have attended, pretending to play along.

“They know that yelling ‘bunko’ means you win,” Killens said. “They’ll roll the dice with us or just shout ‘bunko’ like they’ve won. It’s funny but sweet.”

Beyond the fun, the group’s bond deepens through shared laughter and support during difficult times by donating their collected funds to those in need.

“We are like family,” Lewis said. “If one person hurts, we all hurt.”

The women attribute the group’s longevity to prayer, love, and friendship. Some even take annual beach trips together.

Popular dishes at bunko nights include Lewis’s sweet potato dumplings, Killens’s bread pudding, McNair’s bacon pudding, and Kim Trapp’s chicken enchiladas.

Killens and Spence both said that camaraderie is what keeps them coming back.

“If it weren’t for church, then bunko would be the only time I see her [Aunt Frances],” Killens said. “Same for the rest of the ladies. It’s the only time a month we really see each other.”

Now 80, Lewis treasures the game nights as her primary social outing since the passing of her husband, Gary Lewis.

“I feel like I’m their age when I’m playing bunko with them,” Lewis said. “I feel like a mother to them.”

Killens teased that her aunt’s competitive streak shows during the games as she often gives the stink eye when someone bunko’s and she doesn’t.

Spence echoed her sentiment. “I look forward to visiting with them, because we don’t always get to see each other,” she said. “I love to be with them, because they are fun.”

The ladies know all about each other’s families, and they even stay connected through a group text and use it as a prayer chain when needed.

Bunko nights have shown these women the beauty of lifelong friendships built on laughter, love, and a touch of friendly competition.






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