Lost Wedding Ring Reunited After 15 Years of Hope

Quick Smiles:

• A wedding ring lost 15 years ago on a Christmas tree farm was miraculously reunited with its owner.
• The diligent efforts of Darren and Samantha Gilreath made this incredible reunion possible.
• Wayne Corprew was overwhelmed with gratitude for the farm’s enduring kindness and care.

In a tale that could have taken many different turns, a wedding ring lost on a Virginia Christmas tree farm found its way back to its owner after 15 long years.

Thanks to the extraordinary dedication of Darren Gilreath and his wife Samantha, this “needle in a haystack” moment became a reality.

The couple took over a Christmas tree farm in 2018 from Darren’s aunt, inheriting a collection of notes from customers who had lost items over the years.

“She kept notes of anything that was lost, and we always put them on the bulletin board for a couple of years. As the years went on, we’d gather them and put them in a stack, just hoping one day that we’d find a needle in a haystack,” shared Gilreath.

This meticulous approach paved the way for a reunion that was years in the making.

In 2010, Wayne Corprew visited the farm to select a Christmas tree with his family.

After cutting down a tree, he realized his wedding band—a unique piece with golden waves and mill-marked ringlets—was missing.

Despite returning the next day with a metal detector and searching tirelessly, the ring remained elusive.

Corprew left a note with the farm’s management, hoping for a future discovery.

Sue, the farm’s previous owner, wisely kept the note, advising the new owners to do the same.

When Samantha and Darren were planting corn near their pumpkin patch, they stumbled upon the ring just inches away from where they were tilling.

Darren recounted, “I called my aunt and told her about finding the wedding band. She was just so tickled to know that we had found the ring after 15 years because she had told us when we bought the farm that that ring had been lost 15 years ago.”

“She said, ‘Don’t get rid of this note, because if you ever find the ring, this guy came back looking for it, and he would love to have it back.’ So we just wanted to make sure it got back into the right hands.”

Darren reached out to Corprew, who was initially unsuspecting when he heard it was the farm on the line.

Upon learning about the ring, Corprew confirmed it was indeed the place where he had lost it.

“This is a great bunch of people up here. We love coming up here and getting a tree. I’m just thankful for them that they kept that note for 15 years and that they thought to call me,” Corprew expressed.

“It goes to show that there are good people out there, and this is a great place. If anybody needs a Christmas tree or a family outing, this is the place to come. These are great people.”

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