Courtin’ in the Mountains

Te Love Stories of a Great Generation –Courtin’ in the Mountains by Tracy McCoy

“I had just put one guy ‘on the road’ when two fellas pulled up to talk to me and my cousin. I didn’t know that this would be the love of my life. He asked if we wanted to ride around and I told him that I didn’t ride around with strangers. He said his name was Wayne and he just wanted to talk to me. I told him I was headed to Main Street and I’d park in front of Belk’s and he could come up there and talk to me. He was from Franklin and I didn’t know him. He followed us up town and we parked and talked awhile. I had to be home by midnight, but I reckon he liked me ‘cause he asked if he could come back the next night to see me. I told him ‘If you want to see me, you’ll have to come to my house and meet my mother.’ He asked me if he could follow me home so he’d know where I lived. I told him that’d be ok. I didn’t know if he would show up but I got ready anyway. He came and he met my mama and they started talking and fgured out they knew a lot of the same people. They talked and talked and I decided I better get him out of there before we ended up kin!” This was the beginning of what would go on to be a wonderful marriage between Marilyn Mitchell and Wayne Ballew. They married in Walhalla, South Carolina at the court house like many couples. The Ballews went on to raise two children, Russell and Deborah. “We were married for 43 years. When I lost Wayne I lost the greatest love I’ve ever known.” Marilyn said.

Dating today is very different than it was in those days. There were hoops to jump through and parents to meet. Intentions had to be stated before a young lady was permitted to get into your car and go anywhere. Curfews were strict and parents waited up to be sure they were met. Relationships may begin with a glance across a full sanctuary or by carrying her books from class to class. The frst kiss was never given on the frst date and holding hands was a big

deal. In Rabun County one of the best places to meet a girl was the Mountain City Playhouse. On Friday and Saturday nights young and old would go to dance and mingle. It was there that Albert Thrasher frst saw Peggy Pleasants.

Albert was home from Georgia Tech and he and a friend came to the popular Playhouse. It was there that he saw her, “She was tanned and beautiful with those long legs. I mean she was a real looker!” Albert said with a grin. When he inquired about who she was his friend said, “She is not your type, you are wasting your time.” Well, Albert was so taken with Peggy that he struck up a conversation, they talked and danced. Weeks later when the night ended he asked “Can I take you home?” and she agreed. He carried her to her mother’s house and walked her to the door. “I hoped for a peck on the cheek but didn’t get it. She stood on the doorstep till I left.” The rest of the story was that Peggy’s mother was out of town, she didn’t want Albert to know that her mother was not home so she didn’t invite him in. In fact she was to stay with her grandparents, so in the dark she walked to their home. Albert didn’t give up, he courted Peggy Pleasants and found her to be “fearless”. He fnally got some “sugar” on the porch of Ma Clyde’s (Peggy’s mother) house. Feeling quite accomplished he leaned up against the porch post which gave way, sending him into the bushes where the chickens had roosted. It was an eventful night for sure. Peggy could cook, she wasn’t afraid of anything, she was and still is the most beautiful girl Albert has ever seen. The couple celebrated 60 years in September of 2019. They have a son, Albert (Al) Thrasher, III and a daughter, Julielynn Stuckey.

three children, Sonya, Shelia and Les. For twelve years Bev worked and raised her children. Marilyn’s husband Wayne came to her and told her he had a guy she should meet. She declined and continued to do so for six to eight months. Wayne was insistent about what a great guy this fellow was and how he’d be perfect for Bev. There was a singing planned at the Shirt Factory park and Wayne brought his friend to meet Bev. She arrived and walked down into the park and met Lewis Mason, the man who would steal her heart. The couple hit it off even better than Wayne thought they would and began dating. “He never once raised his voice to me. He loved me and I did him and my kids loved him.” Bev told me. “We decided to get married but didn’t want to do it close to Lewis’ birthday which was April 9 th . Our friends Lane and Paula told us if we’d get married on April 9 th we could go with them on a trip to the Amish Country for a “honeymoon”. Lewis and Bev got married in the park where they met in a sweet but simple ceremony with family. The twins and their spouses traveled together over the years. Lewis and Bev had been married for 15 years when he passed away. Today Bev and Marilyn spend their time together and stay close. The Mountain City Playhouse was the perfect place for dancing and Courtin’.

Lillian Darnell was a beautiful young lady raised in the Betty’s Creek community. She attended Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School where she played basketball. Jack Smith was a young serviceman who had just came back from serving in Korea. Stationed in Valdosta, Georgia, Jack had come home for the weekend to see his folks. He was in Clayton and saw a girl he had met a year earlier and he asked her to dinner and she agreed. The couple went to Twin Lakes in Tiger for dinner. Jack still has the toothpick holder from that night. He went back to Valdosta and each weekend he came home he would see Lillian. A favorite spot was the Mountain City Playhouse. When it came time to meet the parents Jack remembers pulling up to the house, walking across the bridge under the trees where the chickens roosted. He walked around to the front door and saw her Granny Norton sitting in the corner by the window. He went in and met her mother and sister, Jackie, and then got to talking to her granny. She had been raised in a stillhouse at the head of Betty’s Creek and they hit it off real well. They talked about making liquor and dogs. He dated Lillian and married her six months later. Jack and Lillian’s car, decorated by friends.

After Jack and Lillian got married she moved with him to a trailer in South Georgia. One night he caught an alligator that was crossing the road and put it in the trunk of the car to bring home. “She liked to have left me,” he said with a chuckle. “I had a lot of friends in the park and we liked to hunt. Well, I brought a couple of baby coons home one night that were on their own. Lillian got an eye-dropper and fed those baby coons. We decided to move home, so I packed up the Ford Coupe and put the alligator in the trunk and the coons up front. We tied the ironing board across the back bumper and hit the road. We warmed milk on the heater and pulled off to continued on page 12

feed the coons,” he said. When Jack and Lillian came back to Rabun County they moved in with his parents until they could set up housekeeping. He put the alligator in an old trough and gave the coons to his daddy. The alligator didn’t make it and the coons wandered off.

Jack attended North Georgia Technical school, studying both plumbing and to be an electrician. He was the only one in the county who could do both and he stayed busy! Lillian and Jack had two beautiful girls Gail and Tina. Lillian worked many years at the telephone company. The couple was married for 61 1/2 years.

Rodney Coleman and June Grist grew up together. They both graduated from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School a year apart. Rodney volunteered for the Korean War; he was in the Airborne. He came home on the weekends and went to see June each time. He was six months away from being discharged and June asked Rodney to marry her. He asked to think about it overnight and the next day he said, “Yes.” They got married on Sept 11 th of 1949. She moved with her Army husband to North Carolina. Rodney applied to the University of Georgia through the GI Bill. He was accepted and earned a degree as an Entomologist. June attended LaGrange college. She enjoyed buck dancing and was a talented pianist. After graduation, Rodney went on to teach Entomology at UGA. Rodney and June were married for 50 years before she passed away. The couple had three daughters and a son.

Bob and Jean Dennis were both born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. Bob had a buddy named Butch who was Jean’s cousin and Bob met her when she was 14 years old. Jean and Bob were sweet on each other and began “courtin”. Two years few by and when Jean turned 16, Bob asked her to marry him. The couple went to her mother and she agreed to sign for Jean to get married. They lived and raised their two children in the Greenville area. They now make their home in Mountain City. They’ve been together for 63 years and are the proud grandparents of fve grandchildren.

Each of these couples went into their marriages with a forever mindset. They worked through hard times, alligators, raising children and coons, earning degrees and roosting chickens. They spent a lifetime or as long as the good Lord gave them being faithful, respecting and loving their spouses. Their memories sustain them and while they miss their husbands and wives, they are thankful to have known such great love. There is much that could be learned from those who opened doors and asked permission.