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- [S84] E-Mail, Carroll McMahan [cmcmahan@scoc.org], 9 Mar 2012.
On a cold, blustery day in 1919, twelve year old Lela Gibson was walking home from Mortar Branch School when she was stricken with paralysis. Her 9 year old brother, Marshall, wrapped his coat around Lela and instructed their 6 year old sister, Irene, to remain with her until he returned with their father. Lela eventually recovered but the condition resulted in a paralytic left arm. Born April 10, 1907, Lela Rosetta Gibson was the oldest child of John Pleas Gibson and Margaret Ellen England Gibson.
On October 6, 1931, Lela married William Charles “Charlie” Sims who had been married twice previously. He had four children with his first wife and one with the second. Lela’s step-daughter, Nina Sims Williams, developed phlebitis after giving birth to a baby girl, named Ada Louise, on February 25, 1933. Conscious that the inflammation could be fatal, Nina requested a promise from Lela to care for her baby. Nina died on March 29, 1933 when Louise was five weeks old. Almost five years later, Lela’s husband, Charlie Sims, died on January 26, 1938. As a single mother she was responsible for both Louise and June, her husband’s youngest daughter who was only six years old.
In order to provide for her household, Lela utilized her culinary skills to obtain employment at the Central Hotel and rented rooms to boarders. Ruth Lowe lived an entire school term with Lela. Heath problems required that, Ruth live near the high school and her family resided several miles out of town. Ruth became a life long friend of the family. When June was twelve, her mother came to take her away. Lela did not want to relinquish the girl but had no recourse but to allow June to depart with her biological mother.
When Louise married Clyde McMahan in 1949, Lela moved to Gatlinburg and embarked on a career as pastry chef at the New Riverside Hotel. She was renowned for her delicious pastries and breads. Louise and Clyde had six children: Carroll, Janice, Nina, Terry, Debbie and Gary McMahan. Lela was devoted to her grandchildren and they adored her. For ten years, Lela was the caregiver for her invalid mother. She never allowed her impairment to restrain activities. Due to failing health, she retired in 1975. Lela died on October 5, 1979.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 2 Jun 2013.
Upland Chronicles: Riverside Hotel has reached its final days
- [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 5 Oct 1979.
Sims, Lela Gibson 72 b. 4-10-07 TN d. 10-5-79 Knoxv Convalescent res R12 1232 East Gate Homes Sev restaurant cook f. John Pleas Gibson m. Margaret England Shiloh Cem Survivors: 1 dau Mrs Louise McMahan 245 Henderson St Sev son-in-law Clyde McMahan 6 gc Carroll McMahan Mrs Janice Hatcher Nina Reagan Terry Montgomery Debbie Widmer Gary McMahan 4 ggc Nathan Widmer Jasmine Hatcher Jedediah Reagan Nancy Ellen Hatcher 1 bro Marshall Gibson 1 sis Mrs Irene Ricketts.
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 370.
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