Page 8 - Harnett Life Spring 2021

and engraved wooden wall décor. Ziady’s niche is in wild-
life, patriotic and religious art ― displays featuring ducks and
deer, the U.S. flag and American symbols and text from scrip-
ture and Christian hymns ― but he also enjoys making pieces
to celebrate local heroes — firefighters, police officers and
sheriff’s deputies. Sometimes these items are hung on dis-
play around the store and office, but not for long. Customers
express interest, make offers or put in requests for a similar
thing to be made on commission. But sometimes the person
has something special in mind.

Such was the case for Miller’s Lawn & Landscaping employ-
ee, Joan McElroy, whose husband, Perry, died Jan. 4 after
contracting COVID-19 in early December.

“Mark made me a shadow box to put the funeral flag in,” she
said. “It is made of cedar and has a glass front and is just beau-
tiful. I also put the four magnetic emblems from his casket in
the box: two American eagles and two U.S. Army symbols
to commemorate his time in the service. We received a let-
ter from the president that I also put in there, along with his
glasses, favorite pocket knife and the silver dollar he always
carried in his pocket. This keepsake box is very special to me;
I display it on a marble table in my living room.”

May 20, 2019, the cross is set into place at the Miller’s
Landscaping Supply lot.
full of wood. At home in my shop, I took 6x6 posts and built
a cross frame. Next came the pre-drilling of the driftwood and
screwing the pieces in place on the cross. With my son-in-law’s
help, affixing the wood took three to four days. I chose not to
stain or paint it but to leave it natural. Once here at the office,
I hollowed out a stump to put the cross in so it appears to be
growing out of a tree.”

Since its placement, the response to Ziady’s handiwork has
been tremendous. People stop to look and take photos, and
many ask Ziady if he is for hire.

“Several people, including a few ministers, have asked me to
build crosses for them, but I have turned them down,” he said.
The craftsman does commission work of other types, though,
such as making custom items for others and occasionally build-
ing and refinishing furniture for himself.

“Anything can be done,” he said. “I am not scared to try any-
thing.”

Anything includes creating ornamental items, shadow boxes

Page 8 Finishing touches. Filling in the base to support the cross.