| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 36.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 20 May 2008.
Bethel Baptist honors past, present veterans
JONES COVE - Pastor Melvin Carr served in World War II. His son died in battle in Vietnam.
So he was proud to return to Bethel Baptist Church Sunday to assist in the dedication of a memorial for veterans from the church.
"I'm not a hero, but my son was," said Carr. "He was cut down twice but he went back a third time."
Nothing he went through serving on the battleship Pennsylvania compared with the pain of losing his son, he said.
"Somebody said the worst peace is better than the best war, and I kind of go along with that, you know," he said.
Regardless of the feelings anyone had about the current conflicts the United States is involved in, he said, people need to honor the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for their nation.
That was the thinking of Lynn Loveday, who spearheaded the efforts to build a memorial at the church.
"I was in the service myself and I just thought we need something like this," he said. "Our veterans get neglected."
Dozens of church members and other folks stood through the rain Sunday for the ceremony, which also featured replacement of the church's old U.S. flag by an honor guard from American Legion Post 104.
Now, they'll have a permanent marker to remember those from their church who have been lost to war. There is, sadly, room left for more names to be added. Christians don't seek war, Pastor Ken Stansberry noted, but they can't avoid the conflicts of the world either.
"This stone is in honor of those who served and who are buried here," he said.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 24 May 2008.
Service will lead local Memorial Day
A World War II veteran who lost his father and son in battle will be the guest speaker for Monday's community Memorial Day ceremony.
The annual event will be held at 11 a.m. at the veterans memorial in front of the Sevier County Courthouse.
The Rev. Melvin Carr will be guest speaker. The Jones Cove resident served in the Navy during World War II aboard the USS Pennsylvania, according to Paul Whaley, the county's veterans service officer. Carr's father died from wounds suffered during World War I, and his son Danny was a casualty of the Vietnam conflict, Whaley said.
The Monday ceremony, which should last 45 minutes to an hour, will include music from the newly formed Sevier County Community Band, directed by Betty Smelcer, assistant band director at Sevier County High.
The Marine Corps League will post the colors. Members of American Legion Post 202 will read the list of veterans lost in the past year. Post 104 will provide the Honor Guard and 21-gun salute.
Members of Disabled American Veterans Post 94 will give the invocation. Representatives of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10025 will conduct a killed in action/,missing in action ceremony.
Whaley said the Warbirds, a Sevierville-based group of pilots of vintage aircraft, plan a flyover.
"We hope it will be a great turnout," Whaley said. "We need to honor our fallen veterans for the sacrifices they made for our freedom."
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 7 Jul 2009.
CCC's Carr is still running; WWII vet in Fourth of July parade
By JEFF FARRELL
GATLINBURG - Melvin Carr knows the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as just about anybody.
He lived there before there was a park, he helped the Civilian Conservation Corps in building it, and he's continued to live in the area for most of his life.
So it was only right that Saturday he took his place among other surviving members of the Civilian Conservation Corps - the "Three C Boys" - as they rode in the Fourth of July Midnight Parade.
"I haven't seen that many people in a long time," Carr said. "I never saw anything out of the way. That's pretty good with that many people."
Carr enjoyed the parade - especially the antique cars that were used in the recreation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's motorcade from the dedication of the park.
He also recalled his summer in the CCC. The corps built the park, doing everything from building trails to stocking fish. He worked in the field at first, but he spent most of the summer providing first aid.
"We had a doctor that looked after Sugarlands, Tremont and Cades Cove," he recalled. "With just ordinary things, he'd tell us what to do."
"If it was something he hadn't showed me how to do and I thought it was necessary I'd call him."
They didn't lose anybody that summer, but Carr recalled one occasion where they came close. One of the guys fell asleep on a hot day, and wound up suffering a heat stroke. "Back then, they treated them different. He said give him hot coffee and we did and he came along."
Like a lot of the corps members, Carr went on to serve in World War II. He saw action on the battleship Pennsylvania.
"I got to see every amphibious operation in the Pacific except Iwo (Jima)," he said.
Being in the Corps was a lot like being in a military camp of that time, he said, including the chance for members to get training in fields such as carpentry and mechanics while they were working.
"They were well organized, and I have often thought why doesn't the government do something like that to get youths off the street," he said.
While the creation of the park forced his family to move, Carr said he's proud of the park and of his part in helping create it.
"Even though we lived in the park and had to move, I think it was a real good thing they got it done because just think what a mess it would be if they hadn't gotten it done," he said. "There'd be houses under every rock, wouldn't there?"
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 19 Apr 2014.
Upland Chronicles: Melvin Carr sustained by his strong faith
In 1969, a double tragedy hit the Jones Chapel community and especially the pastor of Jones Chapel Baptist Church, Rev. Melvin Carr and his family. After having received word on Saturday evening, July 5, that their only son, Dannie, had been killed in action in the Vietnam War, lightning struck their church on Sunday night, July 6, burning it to the ground.
While dealing with the loss of his only son, Rev. Carr ably led his flock as they held services in New Center School while a new building was under construction. On Dec. 1, 1969, the determined congregation held its first service in the new, 300-seat church.
Melvin David Carr has lived in Sevier County most of his life. He was born on March 7, 1925, in Virginia. His father, Lee Carr, was a patient at Mountain Home VA Medical Center, where he was being treated for tuberculosis. His mother, Pearl, temporarily moved with her three older children to the home of her parents, Joshua and Elizabeth Reagan, who were residing at that time in Virginia.
The family moved back to the Sugarlands while Melvin was an infant, and they lived there until he was 7. When the national park was established, they bought a farm in the King Hollow, near Pittman Center, and moved there. Melvin was only 8 when his father died at age 37 the following year. He attended Laurel School and Pittman Center School.
Carr dropped out of Pi Beta Phi High School to go to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps as an assistant to the physician assigned to the Sugarlands, Tremont and Cades Cove companies.
At age 17, Carr volunteered for the Naval Air Force. He served on the battleship USS Pennsylvania, which was the command ship for the seventh fleet of the Pacific campaign during much of World War II. His brother, Jess, also served in the war; their father was a soldier in World War l.
Despite serving in every battle in the Pacific except Iwo Jima, the fleet of the USS Pennsylvania didn’t suffer a hit from the moment it was repaired after the attack on Pearl Harbor, until the final day of the war in the Pacific. Carr oversaw the operation of an aircraft battery on the battleship.
After the war, he returned to Sevier County and married Eunice Watson, daughter of Arthur Watson and Mary Lillie Smelcer Watson. The couple had three children: Dannie, Ruth and Mary Ann. Carr worked for a few years as a security guard in Oak Ridge, but quit the job and returned to Sevier County because the position required that he work on Sundays, which went against his religious convictions. He turned down a job offer with the national park service for the same reason. That led him into the commercial construction trade, in which he worked as a carpenter for many years.
He was ordained a Baptist minister on Oct. 17, 1953, at Laurel Branch Baptist Church. Since that time, Reverend Carr has served as pastor of 10 Baptist churches: Laurel Branch, New Salem, Bethel, Jones Chapel, Richardson’s Cove, Roaring Fork, Zion Grove, Shady Grove and Shiloh in Sevier County; and Cave Hill in Newport.
Rev. Collie O ‘Shields, Rev. Melvin Watson, and Rev. O.C. Craig signed as witnesses of Carr’s ordination. The four dedicated ministers met frequently for several years afterwards studying the scriptures.
Throughout six decades Reverend Carr has managed to work full-time, attend to church duties, look after his family, and still find time to enjoy his favorite pastimes such as trout fishing, mountain grouse hunting, and hiking. In fact, he hiked the entire 71 miles of the Appalachian Trial that that runs through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park carrying a forty-pound backpack when he was 55 years old, with a young couple from his church.
As a member and president of the Sevier County Sportsmen Club, Rev. Carr and Winston McCarter have facilitated numerous fish fries using both fish he caught and fish from their hatchery. Many of the popular fish fries were held as fund raisers for projects such as Camp Smoky.
Rev. Carr has officiated at an enormous number of funerals. Despite his personal tragedies, he possesses an innate ability to comfort other families in their time of grief.
While other pastors and laymen served in administrative capacities, Rev.Carr volunteered his time and carpenter skills to help build the new buildings at Smoky Mountain Academy property, when Camp Smoky was established there by the Sevier County Association of Baptists in 1964. For the first few years, his wife Eunice volunteered as a cook for the campers as well.
The tragic news of the death of their son Dannie Arthur Carr was delivered late Saturday night, July 5, 1969. Specialist Carr, 22, had been serving in the U.S. Army for 13 months, and had served in Vietnam for eight months with the First Air Cavalry. Specialist Carr had been wounded three times previously. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on Jan. 18, 1969, and a second Purple Heart (First Oak Cluster) for wounds received in action on March 11 of that year.
The third time he was wounded, he was blown from a tank in May. He was released from the hospital at Cam Ranh Bay on June 21 to return to his company. He was killed 13 days later.
According to his daughter Ruth Miller, Reverend Carr, 89, has curtailed his activities due to his age and failing health. “Undoubtedly, he would say his proudest attainment is the souls who have been saved during his ministry,” she said. “His unshakable faith has sustained him throughout every adversity of his life.”
Carroll McMahan is the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and serves as Sevier County historian.
The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column or have comments; please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or cmcmahan@scoc.org.
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name: Melven Carr
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1930
Event Place: District 11, Sevier, Tennessee, United States
District: 0014
Gender: Male
Age: 5
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son
Birth Year (Estimated): 1925
Birthplace: Virginia
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Sheet Number and Letter: 7A
Household ID: 119
Line Number: 39
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T626
Affiliate Film Number: 2271
GS Film number: 2342005
Digital Folder Number: 004547919
Image Number: 00890
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Lee Carr M 34 Tennessee
Wife Pearl Carr F 28 Tennessee
Daughter Bessie Carr F 11 Tennessee
Daughter Evelyn Carr F 9 Tennessee
Son Jass E Carr M 7 Tennessee
Son Melven Carr M 5 Virginia
Daughter Dorthy E Carr F 3 Tennessee
Son Forest Carr M 1 Tennessee
Brother Orlie Carr M 21 Tennessee
Brother Goifield Carr M 19 Tennessee
- [S112] Census, 1940.
Name: Melvin D Carr
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Civil District 2, Sevier, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Marital Status: Single
Race (Original): W
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Stepson
Relationship to Head of Household: Stepson
Birthplace: Tennessee
Birth Year (Estimated): 1925
Last Place of Residence: Same House
District: 78-2
Family Number: 58
Sheet Number and Letter: 4B
Line Number: 52
Affiliate Publication Number: T627
Affiliate Film Number: 3933
Digital Folder Number: 005461375
Image Number: 00056
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Wirley N King M 44 Tennessee
Wife Pearl M King F 38 Tennessee
Stepdaughter Evelyn E Carr F 17 Tennessee
Stepson Jess E Carr M 17 Tennessee
Stepson Melvin D Carr M 15 Tennessee
Stepdaughter Dorothy A Carr F 13 Tennessee
Stepson Forrest J Carr M 11 Tennessee
Stepdaughter Carressie Carr F 9 Tennessee
Daughter Beaula M King F 5 Tennessee
Son Jimmie D King M 4 Tennessee
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 10 Aug 2014.
March 7, 1925 - August 10, 2014
Resided in Sevierville, TN
Reverend Melvin David Carr age 89, Pittman Center went home to be with his Lord, on Sunday, August 10, 2014. Melvin Carr grew up in the Sugarlands that of what is now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park until 1932. He loved the mountains and after having to leave he returned often to fish and hike and witness God's handiwork.
At the age of 16 he went to work for the CCC's in the Sugarland Camp assisting the doctor as a First Aid Boy. At age 17, he joined the United States Navy serving on the U.S.S. Pennsylvania as a gunner. He was proud of his service during World War II. He fought in 10 major battles in the Pacific. During this time he always prayed that God would allow him to come home to the Smokies to witness to his brothers and sisters. He was ordained as a Baptist minister in Sevier County in October of 1953.
He pastored ten different churches during his lifetime ministry and led many revivals across our country. A person never encountered Melvin Carr without receiving a witness about the Lord he served.
Many people will remember Melvin Carr as the man with the big warm smile and how much he loved to trout fish; grouse hunt and hike in the Smokies. But all will remember him as a Faithful Christian Man who loved the Lord. Melvin Carr supported his family as a farmer and a carpenter on commercial buildings and bridges.
His daughters have memories of all the people he brought home with him. It did not matter who you were or what station in life you held, he would always say, "I bet Eunice (mom) will have something good to eat." And she always did. What a great father he was to our brother, us and his two grandsons, his nephews and all their friends. God gave him a special fishing talent to enable him to be a witness to many.
On June 2, 2014 Eunice Watson Carr his beloved wife of 68 years preceded him in death. His only son Danny Arthur Carr was killed in Vietnam, July 3, 1969. His parents were Lee and Pearl Reagan Carr, his sisters: Bess King, Evelyn Myers, and Dorothy Smelcer preceded him in death. His brothers: Jess Carr and Jim King also preceded him in death.
Survivors:
Daughters: Ruth Carr Miller and Mary Ann Carr Hines and husband Charles
Grandsons: Daniel Arthur Lindbert and Nicholas Allen Linderbert
Great granddaughter: Adyson Reese Lindbert
Sisters: Caressie Marcum and Beulah King
Brother: Forrest Carr
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zion Grove Baptist Church, 3319 Camp Smoky Lane, Sevierville, TN.
Funeral services will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Richardson Cove Baptist Church with Reverend David Ray and Reverend Lee Carr. A eulogy will be given by special friend Ken Jenkins. Music will be provided by Ray Ball trio, Courtney Burris and Charlie Rowe. Interment will follow at 10:30 on Friday morning in Zion Grove Cemetery with military honors provided by American Legion Post # 104. Reverend David Ayers will officiate at the graveside service. The family will receive friends at the church from 3:00 until 6:45 p.m. on Thursday. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
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