| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 16.
- [S9] Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, Vol. XXVI, Issue 1, page 61-64, 2000.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 12 Apr 2006.
Greenway path to be named Eva Babb Sexton Memorial River Walk
By: GARY BUTLER
NEWPORT-Although funding for the proposed Greenways path along the Pigeon River in Newport has yet to be formally "nailed down," with grant application deadlines looming on the horizon, the Newport Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Tuesday to name the project the Eva Babb Sexton Memorial River Walk.
The board noted during its regular meeting-held for the first time in the newly refurbished former Newport Utilities building and now the Newport City Hall complex-that Ms. Sexton "lived her life on the banks of the Pigeon River, helped establish the local Chamber of Commerce, raised money to build the Stokely Memorial Library, and volunteered numerous hours devoted to beautification projects in the City of Newport." According to Newport City Administrator Brad Moffitt, Newport Parks and Recreation Director Tim Dockery was asked to present the naming of the walk to the Downtown Merchant's Association for a recommendation for an official name. Moffitt said the association recommended Sexton's name for the honor, and the board voted unanimously to do so.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 5 Oct 2004.
Newport community leader Eva Babb Sexton, 95, died Tuesday morning at Mariner Health Care Center where she had been a resident for several weeks.
Born in Eastport “right on the Pigeon River” on July 18, 1909, Mrs. Sexton was the youngest child of Carl M. and Fannie Sheets Babb. Sexton was always proud to say that her life had been lived in Newport, with the exception of two years during World War II.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church with the distinction of the longest membership, having joined in 1919.
She was a teacher of the Mary-Martha Sunday school class. For 25 years, she was responsible for the Sunday altar flowers. In recent years, she was instrumental in spearheading several of the church’s redecorating projects.
Following her education at Newport Grammar School and Central High School, Eva began her working career in the grocery business. First, with Henry Alexander, later with Sexton and Holder, followed by a stint with A & P. At other times, she did custom sewing, particularly draperies and slip covers.
She was married to Trent Sexton. In 1942, they joined the movement of many Americans from the small towns and farms to the cities to industrial war work. The Sextons went to Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked at Fisher Body bucking rivets on the nose cone of the B-29 bombers. Mr. Sexton died in 1967.
In 1958, she went to work for the Newport Chamber of Commerce. This was during a time when industries were coming to Newport.
Mrs. Sexton worked with these people in her practical, straightforward manner, all the time boosting Newport and seeking no recognition for herself. She was in this position for 20 years.
Sexton was chair of the Cocke County Library Board in 1964 when there was a possibility that Newport and Cocke County might lose their library facilities. She went to work to correct the situation and soon W.B. Stokely Jr. donated funds to build the present Stokely Memorial Library. She considered this her best accomplishment for the community.
After her work with the Chamber ended, she worked with beautification projects around Newport. She decorated the lobby of Merchants and Planters Bank and tended the flowers around Memorial Hospital, Newport City Hall, in the sidewalk planters and at Newport City Park.
She planned and oversaw the planting of the Dogwood Grove, restoration of the Pisgah Cemetery, and establishment of the local history park.
Although she preferred working as a “committee of one,” when she needed help, she relied on her men in the street department.
In 2002, Mrs. Sexton was honored as the Newport/Cocke County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.
Mrs. Sexton will be remembered as one who did not hesitate to express her opinion, particularly on any issue relating to Newport and Cocke County. She always hoped for greater cooperation between city and county.
Survivors include her son, Carl Trent “Rick” Sexton, of Oak Ridge. She has three granddaughters, Eva Marie, Judith Ann, and Diana Jean, and seven great-grandchildren, Zachary, Devany, Brandon, Tyler, Kurt, Josh, and Dakota.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Freddrick Long officiating.
Burial will be in Union Cemetery.
The family will receive friends in the chapel from 10 a.m. until noon before the service in the sanctuary.
Manes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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