| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 19 Mar 2008.
Zura and Holly - a team ready to welcome their customers
NEWPORT-When Holly Miller turned 16 and readied herself to look for a job, she didn't have far to go. Nor did she have to worry about references. Holly's first job waited for her at the Newport Cracker Barrel where she has now worked for a year as a hostess. Her favorite working partner, Zura Huff, has greeted thousands upon thousands of hungry customers in her 11 years on the job. When not greeting and seating, Zura, 62, and Holly, now 17, have plenty to chat about. After all, Zura is Holly's grandmother. "I just love working here," said Zura recently. "I've always done the hostess bit. I like meeting people." Huff, who earlier worked in Greeneville at Hurd Lock, making ignitions for Ford Motor Company, came to Cracker Barrel after the Greeneville firm closed. "Someone referred me for the job," recalled Zura. "I had never done anything like this, but I enjoy it. I like the challenge of making people happy." Even when business booms and customers are lined up to the door, waiting for a seat? "I only see the next name on the wait list," answered Zura. "It doesn't bother me. We have floor plans and each server is assigned certain tables. It isn't too hard." While Zura and Holly answered questions for this interview, first one and then the other quietly stepped aside to greet the steady stream of customers arriving for breakfast on Saturday morning. Zura, a Jennings prior to her marriage to Junior Huff, grew up in Parrottsville where she attended school. Junior is a retired contractor. The couple have one daughter, Sheila Huff Miller, who works at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County in the ER department. Holly, a CCHS junior, is their only child. "My job is pretty much what I expected it would be," said Holly. When not on the job at Cracker Barrel, the pretty brunette teenager can be seen marching with the CCHS band's color guard. She also likes to drive and wash her car. As she nears graduation, Holly looks forward to entering Walters State Community College. After two years there, she plans to transfer to UTK for four additional years of study on her way to earning an OB nursing degree. Holly's love of cleaning is clearly inherited from her grandmother, who admits that cleaning her house is one of her life's joys. "She cleans it even when it isn't dirty," laughed Holly. Zura's cleaning sprees slowed down a little last month when congestive heart failure sent her to BHCC for a four-day day. "I'm better now," Zura insisted, "and glad to be back at work." The best part about her job? "I'll have to say the managers here," said Zura. "They've been wonderful to me." These people include Robert Kirkpatrick, general manager; and four associate managers: Bruce Celino, David McGaha, Douglas Federico, and JoAnn Sheele. Celino stopped by during the interview and praised the three-generational team. "They're great!" he said. And, from the many smiles sent their way by first hungry and then satisfied diners entering and leaving the homey dining area, Celino's assessment is right on target.
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Abt 1991 - (~ 35 years)