| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 138, 170.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 13 May 2007.
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Some weeks ago when traveling along Greeneville/Newport Highway in Parrottsville I got photos of the old Cureton store being torn down. When we published the photo, I reported that Keith Keller owned the property. After the photo ran, Charlene Cureton called and corrected me, noting the family still owns the property. Keller just helped get a fellow to remove the block-and-wood store. She is the daughter of Charles and Ailene Cureton-wonderful folks who lived most of their lives in town and operated the popular store. Students and teachers from the pre-1970s high school frequented the store for their favorite hot dogs and hamburgers. Apparently, the store had been in operation since the 1950s by the Curetons, but it existed before they owned it. The condition of the store had deteriorated after the Curetons' deaths and so the family decided to have it removed to create some more green space in Parrottsville. By the way, when calling around I found the other Charlene Cureton, who is from Illinois. She has lived across the highway from the late Doyle Barger's home for about 30 years and is originally from Campbell County. Her father was Arlis McNeeley, if you happened to have known him.
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Just Plain Talk
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 4 Nov 2007.
And suddenly there is a familiar face
(c)2007 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL At the Mary Keller home last week from left are Brenda Crum, Betty McMillan, Mary Keller, Charlene Cureton, Vickie Mason, and Sharon Bryant. My seat was at the far left.
By: David Popiel
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
11-04-2007
November eased in after what seemed like a forever and drying October, and fall finally flung some frost and cool days at our hometown. We got to stay in bed longer, if you remembered to set your clocks back one hour.
Pumpkins seem to be impervious to the weather, except when growing and weather reduced the family of fat orange globes. Although I prefer mine in the form of pies, I did see many uses, including one at Newport Federal Bank. Nancy Bryant was talking to fellow employees when Janice Styles brought in a small one with the top cut out for a fall flower display. At the bank teller counter I saw Barbara Ball and had not realized she had been working there for several months. The last time we chatted she was stocking greeting cards. Now she works full time at the bank and enjoys meeting customers. She told me that five years ago she worked for a short time at US Bank.
On several recent trips to Newport Printing & Office Supplies, I have gotten to know an employee who has returned to work after an absence of some years. You are apt to see Saundra Lunsford in the small office on the right near the front door or waiting on customers when Robin and Willie Greene are busy. Since 2001, she has lived in Newport but is originally from Waynesville NC. The former Saundra Burrell married Andy Lunsford, who was her hometown boyfriend. They have been married 17 years, have no children, but do enjoy their beagle and five cats. One of the reasons she moved into Tennessee was when her father, James "Red" Burrell was suffering from lung cancer. At the time, he was living in Dandridge so Saundra moved there to be a caregiver. Andy took a job transfer from Asheville and is now working for A-Plus Office as an Internet marketing technician.
In 2003, Saundra dropped into Newport Printing. She had worked in the printing business in NC for many years. Willie recognized her experience and hired her. She later left and worked in Sevierville as a real estate office manager. It so happened in August she happened by the office supply and Robin was in dire need of assistance. "It was like coming home," said Saundra. In fact, on Sept. 13, all the employees helped her celebrate her birthday. There is a local connection, too. Her great grandmother, Maggie Morris Stiles Clontz was from here. Her granddaughter, Robbie Fore, of Dandridge, is Saundra's mother. James and Robbie Burrell had moved to Dandridge in the late 1980s because he was a building contractor. The family has endured some tragedy. Saundra's grandmother, Minnie Bolden, of Dandridge, was almost killed in a vehicle accident. That same year, 2000, James Burrell was diagnosed with cancer. He also had suffered a broken back, overcame it and cancer and for the past three years has been living self sufficiently.
Why did Saundra choose to stay in Newport? "I love the community and the way people work together for a common cause. She and Andy have a good view of town from their home off Mountainview and have some good neighbors, including Pat and Susan Mason, Tip and Jodi Ellison. "It's the way I grew up, with good neighbors." She is proud to be a country girl who has found like-minded and neighborly folks in Newport. You will enjoy meeting her along with all the sweet folks at the office supply, which by the way was the 1950s home of the Newport Plain Talk. Willie said that when he acquired the building from John M Jones Sr., who acquired the newspaper and moved it to its current building, the pigeons could fly in through the roof. During the years, Willie added the upstairs apartment, the office that is now The Closing Place, and a side enclosed garage.
Perhaps I have met John A Williams during the years-many years as he is 94. He was one of several hundred people at the Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District's 50th anniversary on Thursday. He was with his son, Ronnie Williams. The next day, at National Bank west branch I bumped into Ronnie and discovered he had just retired after 31 years with Norfolk-Southern Railway. Now, Ronnie plans to help Veterans by transporting them to Johnson City VA Hospital. He wants to give back to the community, he told me. I hope to chat with his father soon.
It was a good week because I got free food first at Mary Keller's new old house, the former Liston Davis home in Parrottsville. Then cake and hot dogs at the gas utility celebration. There I renewed acquaintances with current and former employees such as Dale Fox, Tommy Vick, and Tommy Young, who is managing the Hawkins County gas utility. WNPC News Director Ray Snader also updated my on his wife, Sylvia. You recall she had hernia surgery about 6 months ago with complications. Now she is back at work but in a different job with the intensive care unit at Baptist Hospital. I also saw my friend Jim "Chopper" Phillips, who said he has been having some gallbladder problems. It was great to see so many people at the Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District celebration. Earlier in the week a group of us from the Plain Talk visited Mary Keller. She and neighbor Charlene Cureton prepared a lunch fit to showcase in Southern Living with soup, salad, chicken parmesan, and ginger break cake. Brenda Crum, Betty McMillan, Vicki Mason, and Sharon Bryant agree with me that they are great cooks. I chatted some with Charlene and hope to talk about the early days with her parents, Charles and Aileen Cureton at the Cureton store. That was Tuesday and that night Vicki got word her husband, Terry Mason, had suffered a heart attack. He and a friend were returning with an 18-wheeler and were in Wyoming. He was hospitalized for stents and rest.
In plain talk, hot soup can sustain us in cooler weather if we have the fellowship of friends in familiar surroundings.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 3 Aug 2010.
Civil War Trails site designated in Parrottsville
The first official site for one of Cocke County's Civil War Trails signs was announced Thursday. One of two signs sponsored by the Parrottsville Ruritan Club will be placed on the lot where the late Charles and Aileen Cureton once operated a store in downtown Parrottsville. The Cureton's daughters, Charlene and Barbara, volunteered to have the sign placed there within sight of where Peter Reece was hanged during the Civil War. The hanging occurred across the street and up the hill from where the sign will be located. From left are Charlene Cureton, club president Thad Balch, club Citizenship and Patriotism Committee chair Fred Lee, club treasurer Carl Moller, club committee members Billy Park and Tyler Boyd, club secretary Don Erts, Cocke County Tourism Director Linda Lewanski, and club committee member Derrick Woods. The sign is expected to be erected in time for next year's sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.
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