| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 28 Dec 2002.
Ruth Rector Hance obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 24 Dec 2006.
This Santa Claus loves to deliver a smile
(c)2006 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL An angel is perched on the top of the Christmas tree inside the Don and Lucille Rector home off Old Sevierville Highway.
By: DAVID POPIEL
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
Winter arrived with a mild drizzle but not enough cold to slow down the shoppers and those anxious to celebrate another Christmas on Monday making for a long holiday in our hometown.
If you were browsing and shopping in Newport recently, you may have seen Santa Claus. I stopped and talked with him to be sure to get my gift list in the pipeline. Maybe it was a Santa look-alike. Who can say, but Don Rector Sr. admits he does pretend to be Santa for his grandchildren. Don is one of those familiar faces and friendly voices that you suspect you've known a long time. Some of you may have worked with him either at Stokely Van Camp or Union Camp (International Paper) in Hamblen County. A few of his co-worker friends included Donnie Butler, Wayne Gilland, the late J.F. Taylor and Willie Jackson. On November 18, Don turned 64 and has been retired since 2002 so he can spend more time visiting family and friends. "Did you spend all your money at Wal-Mart," I asked? He said, "I can remember when you couldn't carry out $20 worth of groceries."
After meeting Don at Wal-Mart-you may have seen him out and about with his red cap-I drove over to their home off Old Sevierville Highway. The small frame house has been in the family many years and was the home of his mother. When I walked through the door onto the porch, a small talking Christmas tree greeted me. It reflects Don's great sense of humor-like Santa with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
He was born in Mannings Chapel, home to our late Plain Talk correspondent Mack Suggs, and one of 11 children. Some of the siblings still living that you know are Jack, Dallas of Baneberry, James of Knoxville, and Carlon of Delaware, and sister Helen Coggins. Helen and Jack live near Don off Old Sevierville Hwy. They are the children of George Washington Rector and wife, Ruth Holt, of Muddy Hollow.
Our visit on a warm sunny afternoon gave me a chance to talk to Mrs. Rector-the former Lucille Hance, of Gastonia. Her parents lived in Dandridge near Muddy Hollow and were the former Ida Barnes and Wylie "Bee" Hance. Ida's grandparents, Redmond McMahan and Annie Sims McMahan, traveled to Texas by covered wagon about two centuries ago. Lucille said there was a story about them in the Plain Talk's 1976 Bicentennial edition. Lucille was one of five children. Her brother, Paul, lives in Bessemer City, NC, and the others are deceased. Her parents eventually moved to Asheville to seek jobs. I was interested in how she and Don met and found out one of those family peculiarities of interest. Lucille's mother had died and her Dad then met Don's mother, a widow at the time, and married. Naturally, it brought Don and Lucille together and they've stayed for 37 years. "The God Lord sent her to me-he sent me an angel," said Don. They've lived back at the homeplace now for about five years moving back from White Pine. It was there they got acquainted with pastor Paul Lamb and still attend Talbott Christian Assembly. Don and Lucille also have nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren-hence, he has plenty of opportunity to assist Santa during Christmas holidays.
"If I can show anybody love and a smile, it's better than having a million dollars in my pocket," he said. This Santa has found the value of giving the gift of himself in good words and deeds. "Parents can put a $100 bill in their child's pocket but they can't give them a hug or say, 'I love you,'" Growing up in a big family, poor, he appreciates what his parents did, what family means, and the old ways of farm and mountain families in Cocke County-working at Stokely's, the Tannery, or Bush Brothers. "The majority of people are living the best life today and don't appreciate it. I was born with love and display it to everyone," he said.
After Lucille raised their children, at age 40, she attended Morristown Vocational School and earned her LPN degree and was a nurse for many years. She still enjoys working, especially helping others and works part time for Senior Citizens Assistance of Jefferson City. Their children are David, an electrician; Patti Hopkins, of White Pine and working at Nashua; Gary, of Morristown with International Paper; Don Jr., of Knoxville, a Food City manager; and Brian, who works for the former TRW.
Don and Lucille hope to join other family members on Christmas day at Brian's home in White Pine. Perhaps, Don will dig out his Santa outfit to surprise the children. While everyone will have presents, Don will be giving a special gift, "A smile to brighten a day." For them Christmas is complete with a big family-"truly a blessing."
In plain talk, when Don Rector wears his Santa cap about town it just makes people feel good to see and talk with him. It's a small thing that brings big smiles and evokes wonderful memories.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name Geo Rector
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 04 Nov 1929
Event Place Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Gender Male
Spouse's Name Ruth Holt
Spouse's Gender Female
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1942 - (83 years)
, d. 4 Jul 1958, Washington County, Tennessee