Sneads Ferry Blessing of the Fleet & Fishermans Blessing Fund

05/07/2026

$20 a month may not seem like much…but to a local family facing hardship, it can mean groceries on the table, fuel to get back to work, help with emergency bills, and hope during difficult seasons.

When a community comes together through small monthly gifts, BIG things happen.

As a community, we have witnessed firsthand, many times, the need for emergency assistance. The commercial fishing industry is always hesitant to reach out, and it is often hard to find the resources that are needed. We are preparing for that time by placing a call to action to our community to help us "build the fund."

By becoming a monthly supporter of the Fisherman’s Blessing Foundation of Sneads Ferry, you are helping keep local fishing families afloat all year long. ⚓

Join us in making a lasting impact:
https://www.fishermansblessingfundofsneadsferry.org/donate

04/17/2026

You can now pick up your shirts at Coastal Charm Marketplace!

04/09/2026

The website has been updated with available colors, and we have added hoodies and children's t-shirts to the mix! The purpose, simple. To raise awareness of the cause and build the fund so we can be prepared to help when needed.
Get yours here:
https://www.fishermansblessingfundofsneadsferry.org/store

If you desire to help and don't want a shirt, you can set up tax-deductible donations on the website at this link: https://www.fishermansblessingfundofsneadsferry.org/donate

If you would like to buy the shirts in person, you can visit Coastal Charm Marketplace beginning next week (4/14) and get yours there!

Thank you!

Shop the Collection Support your local Sneads Ferry Fishermen and their families by helping build the fund! Get your shirt today! Store Clear Apparel | Filters Categories Clear Fisherman's Blessing Hooded Sweatshirt $45.00 View Options Children's Fishermans Blessing Fund T-shirt $15.00 View Options....

04/08/2026

T-shirts are in!
Any size, white or grey.
Local pick up or shipping.
$25
All proceeds go to the fund to support our local fishermen, women, and their families should the need arise.

Get yours here:

https://www.fishermansblessingfundofsneadsferry.org/store/p/the-solace-vessel-hcns2

03/22/2026

Attention!!
We would love to have some photos of Fishermen from the past.
Most of you know, during the blessing each year, each name of the local fishermen and Captains who have passed in our area is read as a means to honor their life and their legacy.
If you have photos, you can message them here or you can send them to [email protected]

Thanks!

01/29/2026

This week, we lost a good man and a true waterman. Mr. Freddie Midgett. Freddie was one of those people you just assumed would always be around.

Freddie loved the water, and the water loved him back. He didn’t make a big show of anything. He was a hard worker, fishing, working, and living life the way he always had, overcoming much in the process. If you talked with him or saw him out and about, it was always a pleasure to catch up with him and hear one of his many great stories.

Stories that could make you laugh, shake your head, or just sit and listen. And even when he didn’t say much, his presence said plenty. Freddie was a big part of the heart of our fishing community, hardworking, humble, and real.

It’s hard to imagine Sneads Ferry without him. He leaves behind more than memories; he leaves a legacy of tradition, friendship, and a life tied to the tides.

We’re keeping his family in our prayers and holding close the memories we shared with him. Rest easy, Freddie. You will be missed.

Below is a poem that was shared by his family, a great read and a very sweet way to remember Mr. Freddie. ⚓️

01/27/2026

The website is live, and the t-shirts are up for sale. Hoodies coming soon!

Support Fishermen and community in Sneads Ferry with donations, services, and involvement opportunities. Join us in making a difference today.

01/27/2026

Update:
Accounts are OPEN. Huge thank you to First Citizens Bank for walking us through the process. If you are local and would like to make a donation, you can visit the Sneads Ferry branch and do so. “Fisherman’s Blessing Fund” is listed as a non profit 501c3 at First Citizens Bank. It is listed under “William Davis Jr” as President.
We also set up Venmo for donations AND to accept funds for tshirts which will be posted here in just a bit. The shirts have been ordered and will be here next week.
We also realize the need for a website, that’s coming soon. We are trying to keep the cost low so the funds we raise can be used to assist local families when the time comes.
We will be posting info on how to apply for assistance soon as well as any updates from meetings.
As it stands, funds are minimal. This is where the good people of Sneads Ferry and surrounding areas come in. Even $5 monthly adds up and helps out when someone is in need. So please consider helping in that way if you are able.
Let’s not wait until another tragedy happens to be prepared.

01/17/2026

Meet Board Member, Capt. Randy Batts!

Randy Batts is the son of Katie and Sonny Batts, originally from Sneads Ferry, who later settled in Surf City. Randy spent much of his early life in Surf City and Wilmington before returning home to Sneads Ferry in 2006.

Capt. Batts has been a fisherman for over 45 years. His spearfishing journey began at just 15 years old, using a two-band Boyt speargun to shoot sheepshead off the end of Barnacle Bill’s Pier. Throughout his life, oystering, clamming, gill netting, shrimp trawling, channel netting, and spearfishing all supplemented his income and deepened his connection to the sea.

After retiring in 2011, Randy fully embraced his lifelong passions: the ocean and spearfishing, becoming a full-time commercial fisherman. His love for adventure and the water continues to define his life and work.

Capt. Randy is also the co-founder of Spearit, an organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting veterans and their families through inshore and offshore fishing and diving excursions. Known for his kind words, steady leadership, and servant’s heart, Randy has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to helping others and strengthening his community.

The Fisherman’s Blessing Foundation is proud to welcome Capt. Randy Batts to its Board of Directors. Randy brings with him decades of hands-on commercial fishing experience, a profound respect for the sea, and a proven dedication to service and mentorship. His knowledge of coastal life, passion for supporting fishermen and veterans, and genuine love for the Sneads Ferry community make him a valuable voice and trusted leader as the Foundation continues its mission of honoring, supporting, and uplifting those who make their living on the water.

01/09/2026

Meet the Founder and President, Capt. Billy Davis

With more than 45 years in the commercial fishing industry, William Theron “Capt. Billy” Davis, Jr. is a proud fifth-generation Sneads Ferry fisherman whose life has been shaped by the tides, traditions, and tight-knit community of coastal North Carolina.

Owner and captain of the Capt. Davis, Billy has devoted his life to the waters that have sustained his family for generations. Fishing has never been just a livelihood for him, it is a heritage rooted in faith, grit, and service. Like many fishermen, he has weathered seasons of hardship, including serious health challenges that once left him in need of help. In those moments, he experienced firsthand the power of community stepping in when it mattered most.

Those who have witnessed this community rally together know there is something truly special about the people and the place we are blessed to call home.

Grateful for the support he received, Capt. Billy made a commitment to pay it forward. That promise became the foundation of the Fisherman’s Blessing Fund.

More than 26 years ago, he also founded the Sneads Ferry Blessing of the Fleet, a beloved annual tradition that brings the community together to pray over the boats, crews, and families who depend on the sea for their livelihood.

As Founder and President of the Fisherman’s Blessing Fund, his mission is simple but powerful: to ensure that commercial fishermen and their families never face life’s storms alone. Through financial assistance, resource connections, and prayerful support, Capt. Billy is dedicated to honoring the men and women who work the waters and preserving a way of life that defines Sneads Ferry.

His leadership is guided by compassion, humility, and a deep belief that every blessing is meant to be shared.