| Sources |
- [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 19 Aug 1978.
Charles Alexander Lee obituary
- [S75] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume II, 1955-1973, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 6 Jun 1968.
James Edward Walker obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 25 Jul 2006.
Former Metcalf Bottoms residents return to Park for annual homecoming
By: JOEL DAVIS, Staff Writer July 25, 2006
NATIONAL PARK - For a handful of people, the trek to the Little Greenbrier School in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park isn't a trip just for the sake of sight seeing. It's a journey to something dearer - home.
Sunday marked the annual homecoming celebration for the families who lived near the Metcalf Bottoms area before the Park was established in 1934. The Little Greenbrier School is the focal point of the homecoming because of its importance to the area families. It served as both a church and a school from 1882 until the Park's creation.
The festivities started with a religious service. Afterwards, the families laid out a truly stupendous feast of home cooking.
"I told you the table would be something else," said Glenda Abbott Savage, her eyes twinkling.
"If you leave here hungry, it's your own fault," Mark Whaley, who was also attending the reunion, said.
The homecoming has the feeling of a big family reunion or a church social - wander the grassy lawn and you'll see old men talking of the past, smell the sweet fragrance of pipe tobacco, or hear some children playing in the creek.
"My dad's family went to school and church here back in the day," Savage said. "I've been coming (to the annual event) since I was 5. I don't think I've missed a year since."
Gladys Trentham is another of the descendants of the area families.
"My dad went to school here," she said. "He is a nephew of the Walker Sisters up the road."
The Walker Sisters were the last individuals to live in the Park. The last sister, Louise, died in 1964.
Robert Walker, 88, is Trentham's father.
"This is the only place I went to school," he said "I was born and raised just a couple miles up here near the Walker Sisters home."
Walker started school in 1924. Out of 16 siblings, he and two brothers are the only still living.
"I had a pretty good life here, he said. "It was home."
Although, he moved away, Walker still loves the place.
"It's still home to me," he said. "I never get so far away that I won't come back."
Hugh and Nancy Singleton came from Claiborne County to attend the homecoming.
"We've been coming here 41 years," she said. "I've been coming here for a lot longer than that. It's just home," she said. "You come back up here and see the people you don't get to see on a regular basis."
- [S74] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume IV, 1987-1999, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 3 Nov 1995.
James Luther Walker obituary
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 10 May 1983.
Ida Ann Walker obituary
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 30 Jan 2011.
Robert A. Walker
November 07, 1918 - January 30, 2011
Birthplace: Sevier County, Tennessee
Resided In: Sevierville Tennessee USA
Visitation: February 02, 2011
Service: February 02, 2011
Cemetery: Headrick's Chapel Cemetery
Robert A. Walker, age 92 of Sevierville, passed away Sunday, January 30, 2011. He was born November 7, 1918 in Little Greenbriar and was raised there.
Mr. Walker was a member, Pastor and Deacon of Headrick’s Chapel Baptist Church for several years and currently a member of Henderson Chapel Baptist Church. He was retired from ALCOA and a member of the 25 year club. He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Mary Walker; son, James Edward Walker; infant daughter Edna Ellen Walker; granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Hodges; great-great-granddaughter, Kaylee Taylor; mother, Ida Ann Stinnett Walker; father, James Thomas Walker; brothers, Luther, Thomas, Bill and Richard Walker; sisters, Mamie Blalock, Nora Grant, Ellen Kirkland and several infant brothers and sisters; friend and brother-in-law Vernon Fain; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harold and Ina Lee.
Mr. Walker is survived by his wife of 25 years, Margaret Walker; sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Walker, Jr. and wife Reetha, Charles Ray Walker, Donald O. Walker and wife Linda;
daughters, Gada Sutton and husband Claude D. “Pat” Sutton, Shirley Dixon and husband Gary, Gladys Trentham and husband Claude; daughter-in-law, Margaret Whaley and husband Jim; step-sons, David Dowling and Richard Dowling; grandchildren, Mark Whaley, Betsy Jones, Shala Floyd, Tina Sosbee, Chucky Walker, Kim Fox, Bobby Walker, Scott Sutton, David Sutton, Denise Hayes, Paul Dixon, Jason Trentham, Amanda Walker and Donnie Walker; 21 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Lewis Walker and Harold Walker;
sisters-in-law, Becky Harris and husband Tom, Dorothy Fain, Emalene Dobson and husband Ralph; brothers-in-law, Richard Kopp and wife Sandra, David Kopp and wife Kris;
many nieces, nephews and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Henderson Chapel Baptist Church (designate for land purchase), 407 Henderson Road, Pigeon Forge, TN, 37863.
The family will receive friends 5-7 PM Wednesday with funeral service to follow at 7 PM in the Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home. Rev. Tom Compton and Rev. Ernest Condee will officiate. A eulogy will be given by Mark Whaley. Interment 11 AM Thursday in Headrick’s Chapel Cemetery. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 150955564).
|
Search | Advanced Search
1918 - 2011 (92 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
= Link to Google Maps