| Sources |
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 8 Sep 2003.
John E. Hodges obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 24 Jul 2005.
Local woman receives Statesman of the Year honor
By: CRAIG MINTZ, Staff Writer July 24, 2005
U.S. Rep. Bill Jenkins presents Geraldine Smelcer, of Sevierville, with the Tennessee Statesman of the Year Award for the First Congressional District.
SEVIERVILLE - U.S. Rep. Bill Jenkins recently chose Sevier County native Geraldine Smelcer as the Tennessee Statesman of the Year for the First U.S. Congressional District.
"I had no idea he was going to do that," said Smelcer on Friday at the Sevier County Planning office, where she has served as administrative assistant since 1996. "Never in my wildest dreams did I dream I would receive this."
Jenkins, R-Tenn., presented Smelcer with the glass award at the Statesman Dinner in Nashville with her husband, Larry, son Neal, sister Maxine Hodges, and Elizabeth Gillespie looking on.
"This is a tremendous honor, and it makes me very proud," said Smelcer in a statement about the award. "I've always had a great love and interest in our nation's political system and feel such activities help me become a better citizen and a more informed American."
Smelcer, an avid community volunteer and worker in the Republican Party, said she is anxious and ready to take on new challenges to help the people of Sevier County.
"I guess I was just born to be a volunteer, but I love doing it," she said.
She currently serves on the Sevier County Republican Executive Committee and is treasurer of the Republican Women, chairwoman of the Lincoln Day Dinner, and treasurer of the Sevier County Farm School Day.
She is past president of the Republican Women, served eight years on the Health Care Facilities Board of Directors, and was Sevier County Farm Bureau Women's co-chairwoman.
Smelcer has also twice received the Sevier County Republican Volunteer of the Year award.
She says that in spite of all her volunteer work, being a wife and mother come first.
Smelcer grew up in the Millican Grove community and is a member of Millican Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
* cmintz@themountainpress.com
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 24 Dec 2007.
Life is just a
box of cherries ...
Geraldine Smelcer, an employee in the County Planning Office, enjoyed munching on her mother's annual gift of chocolate-covered cherries.
"They started getting my sister and me a box of cherries each year because we used to sneak after they had gone to bed and eat the candy they bought at the little country store," Smelcer said. "My mother kept that up for years. We'd joke that we always knew what one gift would be."
Smelcer says one of her best Christmas memories involves a bit of deception.
"Each year our parents would get our gifts and wrap them, then hide them," Smelcer says. "Any time they had to go to town, we'd beg to stay home, then we'd search around until we found our presents. We'd very carefully unwrap them and then wrap them back up and you couldn't even tell we'd been into them. Of course, we always acted really surprised on Christmas morning."
It took Smelcer's parents two years to figure the game out, though she believes they may have suspected it.
"We get together with my sister's family just before Christmas every year," Smelcer says. "This year we're going over to see them on Sunday evening, but you can bet I won't let her get near my presents until it's time for her to open them."
-DEREK HODGES
Area residents recall their most memorable Christmas gift
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