Bedford d Life Featuring... • Mule Power
Tony Hutson farms the old fashioned way
• A veteran’s story
Vietnam veteran TJ Frazier recalls his life of service
• Garden art
Annie Rooney’s Bell Buckle garden
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Contents • Summer 2020
Bedford Life Mule Power
Tony Hutson farms the old fashioned way • 10
Focused on her future
Molly Ralston’s plans for a life in agriculture • 17
Disc golf takes off
A sport anyone can afford to play • 18
Garden art
Annie Rooney’s Bell Buckle garden • 20
A veteran’s story
Vietnam veteran TJ Frazier recalls his life of service • 26
Anchors aweigh
Cascade girls ship out for the Navy • 30
Riding high
Brooklyn Fuss rises in the horse training world • 32
Miracle twins
Modern medicine helps Bell Buckle couple beat the odds • 34
Summer is The Season of Love Picture perfect
Chloe Thomas focuses on a future in photography • 37
Faith, family, farming Isaac and Keely McGee unite in a marriage based on shared values • 42
Down on the farm
Bedford County’s farm wedding venues • 44
About the cover: “The Smokin' Gunn J” and Brooklyn Fuss of Wartrace have experienced some great horse shows together. She’s ridden several horse breeds throughout her young life, but by far, Brooklyn says her favorite will always be the smooth-gaited Tennessee Walking Horse. Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Editor Terence Corrigan Writers Terence Corrigan Dawn Hankins Chris Siers Advertising Diandra Womble, Advertising Director/ General Manager Hannah Parkerson, Advertising Executive Yolanda Flick, Advertising Executive Jenifer Spence, Advertising Executive Bedford Life is published semi-annually by the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, a thrice weekly newspaper in Shelbyville, Tennessee. For questions or comments about Bedford Life contact the Shelbyville Times-Gazette at (931) 684-1200. © 2020 Shelbyville Times-Gazette. All rights reserved. Executive, editorial and advertising offices are located at 323 E. Depot Street, Shelbyville, TN 37160
People are the best medicine I
n March, as we started to plan for this summer edition of Bedford Life, the coronavirus slithered into Tennessee and soon slinked its way into Bedford County. While our neighboring brothers and sisters to the north experienced heavy infection rates and, sadly, many deaths, so far Bedford County has been spared the worst of it. We anxiously watched the daily reports from the Tennessee Health Department. Every day at 2 p.m., the state reports are posted online and, for awhile as the pandemic grew we reported in almost every newspaper the latest numbers. How many new cases in the last 24 hours? How many tests? How many hospitalized? How many recovered? How many died? By mid-June, we were sure our readers must be tired of it (we sure were) and we thought we were over-reporting on it. Maybe we should stop doing what you might call the daily “body count” stories, we thought. In the reckless world of social media, the trolls screamed their strident — mostly fact free — venomous messages: “it’s not that bad,” “not that many people are dying,” it’s a media campaign to spike fear,” or “It’s a government conspiracy.” For a week or so, not wanting to fan false flames, we stopped the daily stories but we had misjudged our readers’ interest. We got a flood of emails and phone calls from readers who wanted us to continue with the regular reports on the pandemic. When we started doing the interviews and taking the photos for Bedford Life we found relief from the stress induced condition I’ve dubbed Pandemic Trauma Stress Disorder — PTSD. Bedford Life is devoted to celebrating the people and places of our community that make us unique. Telling their stories took us away from the COVID condition. One story I wrote is a profile of Tony Hutson, a mule skinner. I had heard about him from people who’ve seen him driving his mules and sickle bar mower cutting hay in the Deason area. Reporter Dawn Hankins had a phone number for Tony but he wasn’t immediately returning our calls. I was impatient; deadline was approaching.
How to find him? My next step was to call County Extension Agent John Teague. (For any story involving Bedford County agriculture, John is the one to check with.) John told me he had just recently met Tony mowing some hay. John told me where Tony lives. Being a “seasoned” (a kind way to say “old”) journalist, I employed the old way of getting the story. I drove in Hutson’s driveway. I found him in the driveway holding his granddaughter. Hutson was friendly right out of the gate and agreed to meet with me to do a story about his mule powered farming. After the interview, Tony also suggested that sometime he might harness his mules to a wagon and come over to my home in Christiana to take me and my wife for ride. Tony is not an exception. People in Bedford County are friendly and trusting. Doing the stories for this magazine, talking to the regular folks in Middle Tennessee, was exactly the medicine needed to get some relief from pandemic stress. —Terence Corrigan, editor
Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Making hay with mule power
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
A
rhythmic clatter synchs nicely with the pace of the mules, Alice and Amos, as they pull a 115-year-old sickle bar mower guided by Tony Hutson. Most people would call Tony a muleskinner but he refers to himself as a horseman. “People try to make a big difference between the two — horseman or mule skinner,” he said, “but really the only thing different is when you cross a mare (horse) with a jack (male donkey) they get the long ears. Everything else about the animal is horse.” As Tony and his mule team “hit a lick” in the field in back of his home, Honcho, a red heeler, circles wide around them, his attention glued to Hutson. “He’s pretty much my full time companion,” Tony said. “They call these dogs Velcro dogs.” When asked if being a red heeler means Honcho favors the Republican party, Tony laughed and said “Yes, if he’s going to hang around here he has to be. He’s certainly not tearing down statues, I can tell you that.” Honcho is possessive about three things: Hutson’s vehicles, the barn and Hutson himself. It’s a privilege to gain Honcho’s acceptance. As Tony pauses from cutting, a rooster crows incessantly, and Old Bob, an 8-year-old donkey, brays, enticed by a mare. Inside the barn is Old Freddie, a 2-year-old, who is rivaling Old Bob for a chance to get with a mare that’s coming into season. “Old Bob, he’s been breedin’ mares a long time. This young Jack (Old Freddie) is a lot bigger,” Tony said. “I’m anxious to see what kind of foals he’s going to throw.” The old ways Tony is passionate about traditions — “the old ways.” Thirty years ago, he sat down in a living room with a handful of people and founded the Middle Tennessee Baptist Church. Hutson was the founding pastor. The church has grown from the 11 or so who worshiped on Sundays in the early days to a congregation of 300 or more. His ministry is “Rooted and grounded in the fundamentals of the faith and following the ‘old paths…’ is how it’s put on the church’s website. “In my younger years, when we started the church, there was no income. I didn’t expect it,” he said. “I never really expected to be employed by a church. It’s a calling.” But pastoring has become a full time career for Tony. Farming, especially working with mules, is his second career. As he talks, you realize he draws no distinction between his work and his life. “Through the years I would say I’ve been multi vocational but my priority is the church,” he said. Tony compares working with mules to others’ passion for playing golf. “The mules/horses lifestyle has become my golf game,” he said. “This is my outlet. To walk 18 holes swinging clubs and having to pay to do it? I can’t see that. I’d Tony Hutson talks about a horse drawn disc. Behind Hutson, is his constant companion, a heeler named Honcho.
Working with a two-mule team, Alice and Amos, Tony Hutson demonstrates the operation of a sickle bar cutter. Photos by Terence Corrigan
Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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son said. “The wealthier men in our area used him a lot. He had wisdom, country wisdom by the volumes in his mind.” Tony went to visit his granddaddy a month before he died and his granddaddy passed along the tools of tradition giving him his blacksmith equipment: hammers and anvil. Tony’s father, Curtis Hutson, was also “multi vocational.” He hauled produce and worked as a postman before he “answered the call to preach” as a Missionary Baptist. Curtis brought his family north to Tennessee when Tony was a teen. When he got to Tennessee there was no looking back. Tony Hutson’s tack room is filled with tools from the old Tony knew immediately he was a Tennessean. “From the days, including an anvil and hammers his grandfather day I crossed over Monteagle and dropped into Coffee gave to him right before he died. County I never looked back,” he said. “I’m a Tennessean. Everything I growed up around — coon hunting, the rather be mowing hay or raking or plowing a garden or mules, the horses — it was on steroids up here. I felt very at something productive.” home.” Growing up in the old ways As the Hutson family established themselves in Middle Tony was born and raised up to his teen years in Tucker, Tennessee, they owned several farms. His father’s first farm Georgia, then a small farm town outside Atlanta. His parents first named him Ken Curtis, after the actor who played was Ransom Hill, 200 acres in Deason. Tony later bought a farm in the Liberty Gap in Bell Buckle, the site of the June Festus on the television show “Gunsmoke.” (Tony’s father 1863 Civil War Battle of Liberty Gap. was named Curtis.) But the name Ken Curtis didn’t stick. “He was a good man,” Tony said about his father. “He “Every time she’d change my diaper she said ‘he’s not a ken’ was a horseman.” But as his father started to develop his so they changed my name to Tony Curtis. reputation as a good preacher he gladly set aside his skill (Realizing that some questions are better left unanworking mules. “I heard him say ‘I never want to look at swered, I did not ask Tony to explain how his mother the back end of mule anymore,’” Tony said. According to determined that he wasn’t a Ken.) Tony, his father, like his grandfather, also had much wis“In the early ’70s, just about all Southerners raised dom but he was more inclined to give advice than physical tobacco on a two-to-three acre allotment,” he said. “That’s where the mules come in. My grandfather worked for other labor. “He knew how to stack hay but he wasn’t going to stack it,” Tony said. people…they were horsemen, by necessity. They had no Tony’s father traveled quite a bit and preached at the tractors. Most people would keep a horse or a mule to work Victory Baptist Church in Shelbyville. He also had some the tobacco patches. Everyone had one.” successes raising champion Tennessee Walking Horses. Mules were intertwined with tobacco. Mad about mules And, whenever and wherever men would gather, the When asked why he got into mules, Tony’s first word conversations were about horses and mules. “At the country store, at the feed store, at church, at a ballgame,” Tony said, was “respect.” “I’ve always had respect for the elderly. I guess it was “it was a constant conversation.” driven into us as children,” he said. “When grownups Tony’s “granddaddy” was not a wealthy man, he died in talked we didn’t. I listened a lot and watched. I watched my a sharecropper’s shack on a tobacco farm. He did not have grandparents’ enthusiasm for it. It was like a young man money but he was revered. “Even though he never owned any ground he was a craftsman, he was looked up to,” Hut- with a muscle car or a young man about his football team. It was a constant conversation. They weren’t as Traditional & Contemporary interested in the color of the team as they were Custom Cabinets in the pace, like Amos and Alice, whether they Mantels • Bookcases would step right together. That was a big deal, Granite • Marble Laminated & Solid Surface how broke the mule was.” Counter Tops Tony talks enthusiastically about the qualities of a well broke mule. “A one-line mule,” Henry Wilhoite he said is greatly revered. A one-line mule can be worked with just one rein, not two. A well trained mule will respond to voice commands. As he harnessed Alice and Amos, in a calm low pitch tone, Tony convinced them: “Back up. 515 Blue Ribbon Pkwy. Back up. Back up.” When you want mules to
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
turn left, say “haw,” he explained. When you want them to go right, say “yee” or “gee.” In Middle and eastern Tennessee, Tony explained, horsemen say “yee.” “Northerners say ‘gee’ southerners say ‘yee,’ he explained. How hard does a mule kick? There’s an old saying applied to things that have a strong physical effect: Kick like a mule. When asked if a mule’s kick is particularly painful, Tony had an extensive answer readily at hand. “Some of the old timers would say a mule will work for you for 30 years just to get to kick you once,” he said, chuckling. “Kick like a mule means the punch behind it. They don’t constantly kick but if they do “You know Southerners love music,” Tony Hutson says as your grandmother’s going to feel it in the kitchen washing he strums his Gibson Bill Monroe replica. Music, he says, dishes.” relaxes him “and it’s better than a pack of cigarettes.” Tony recalls one instance when a mule kicked him, but, he claims, the mule didn’t mean it. “I was drilling’ wheat, working four abreast,” he said, “and I had a trace chain come undone. The mule did not mean to kick me. One mule kept nipping’ at this mule and when I reached down there she thought I was that mule and kicked, hit me right in the thigh. It liked to paralyze me for five minutes. I got kicked in the thigh and it knocked the wind out of me.” Noting the power behind the mule kick, he said Serving Bedford County Since 1995 It’s a long way from your thigh to your lungs.” Mule marketing Eddie & Regina Newsom • 931-294-2339 • newsomhvac@gmail.com Over the years, Tony has made a name for himself in the world of mules. Most his clients are either Amish or Mennonite. “They buy ‘em as fast as we can produce them,” he said. “They have to have them.” A team of yearling mules will sell for over $6,000 at auction. Could you make a living breeding mules? “Probably,” he said. “I do good.” The mule business, he said, works out good for his family. The big sale in this region, he said, comes around Christmas time in Trenton, Kentucky. “It’s good FIND OUT for my wife,” he said. • Story by Terence CorrigYOUR... an, tgnews@t-g.com BODY FAT
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Bedford Life photos On the farm For the love of animals
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
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A girl who knows where she wants to go
A
t age 15, Molly Ralston knows exactly what she wants to do in life and where she wants to do it. She has no uncertainty about it. She plans to be a veterinarian, raise cattle, show horses and live the farm lifestyle in Middle Tennessee. Molly is taking the right steps to get where she wants to go. She’s a straight-A student, she owns two horses (one of which she shows regularly), she’s actively involved in her family’s cattle farm in Unionville (the family has around 500 “momma cows” in a cow/calf operation and another 500 feeders), and has been actively involved in 4H since for 10 years. Molly’s early 4H involvement was showing goats and cows at the Bedford County Fair. “I started participating in (4H) Pee Wee shows at age 5,” Molly said. “They would carry me into the ring.” Molly, who’s going into her sophomore year of high school this year, plans to earn her undergraduate degree and go through veterinary school at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. There’s no wavering on her choice for college. As soon as she was old enough (8th grade), she got involved in the Future Farmers of America program at school. Molly is focused on her path and is not easily diverted. “I tried sports,” she said, “but I didn’t really get into it.” Molly has a collection of animals. She has three dogs: Tex, a German shorthaired pointer; Phoebe, a teacup Schnauzer and Isabella, a Weimaraner. Add to her personal herd two horses. She’s involved in showing her Spotted Walking Horse, Jackson’s Liberty Bell. This year the horse showing season has been largely interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. All 4H shows have been canceled. But, Molly and Bell are planning to enter the half-dozen shows that will be on in Middle Tennessee this season. Two weeks ago, in their first show of the season, Molly and Bell, collected two blue ribbons, two red ribbons and one ribbon for third place. In addition to being one of the top-rated veterinary schools in county, Molly is also attracted to UT because
Molly Ralston stands with Jackson’s Liberty Bell at her home in Unionville. Photo by Terence Corrigan they have a top shelf equestrian team where she can polish her show skills. When asked what instilled her with her passion to become a veterinarian, Molly said 4H programs were a leading cause. While still in middle school, she said, she attended academic conferences at UT in Knoxville. In her first year attending the program she chose veterinary science. “I had the opportunity to dissect a pony’s digestive tract, from the tongue all the way to the end,” she said. Molly was not squeamish about it. The experience fed her desire to become a veterinarian. In her second year attending an academic conference in Knoxville, Molly chose the dairy program where she learned to milk cows and take sample cultures of milk. “It was fun,” she said. When asked if she had concerns about the farming industry, Molly got serious and took on the demeanor of a much more mature person. “The packers are making substantial amounts of money during all this coronvirus and none of it is coming back to the farmer,” she said. “You know where you’re going, don’t you?” a journalist said to Molly. Molly’s answer was simple and direct. “Yes.” When asked if she planned to live in Middle Tennessee, Molly also was certain. “It would be fun to maybe do something out West for a little while,” she said, “but I’ll come back here.” • Story by Terence Corrigan, tgnews@t-g.com
Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Disc golf takes off in Coronavirus pandemic 18
Bedford Life • Summer 2020
B
edford County boasts some of the most popular recreational sports sweeping outdoors enthusiasts across the globe. One of the most popular recreational sports is disc golf—a game that mimics traditional golf, but comes without the lofty price tag associated with buying new golf balls, clubs and course costs. Locally, Bedford County residents play on the course at the H.V. Griffin Park. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, sports enthusiasts have turned to recreational sports in record numbers. In Shelbyville, disc golf has grown enough in popularity to meet the demands of a club that meets regularly. Club vice president, Zach Smith, has been playing disc golf for over a decade now. “I got started in 2009 when a buddy of mine invited me to come play. I didn’t have many discs at the time, but after that I was hooked,” Smith said. Smith joins other club member and plays mostly at the course at H.V. Griffin Park. While the ability to maintain social distancing and practice safety measures is a major draw for some, the cost-effectiveness of the sport is another huge draw, which is a major reason the club has seen significant growth, locally. “It is always great to see more people taking up the sport. Its really one of the cheapest sports to take up. I’ve seen a ton of families playing lately,” Smith said. Used discs can begin as low as $10 and are a great cost-effective entry into the sport, according to Smith. For the beginners, Smith has some advice for anyone interested in picking up some discs. “I would say go to your local sports store that sells discs and I would start out by getting a fairway driver, a mid-range and putter to start out,” he said. “I would also tell them to just go out to the course and practice. The only way to get better is to just go out there and play.” In addition to the course located at H.V. Griffin Park, there are additional parks located just a short drive from centrally-located Shelbyville. “I usually play at H.V. Griffin Park, but will play other local courses like Henry Horton (Chapel Hill), Tullahoma, Barfield (Murfreesboro) and Winchester,” Smith said. For those who participate in the club, there is a tournament held on the third Saturday of every month at H.V. Griffin Park. While Smith picked up his first disc just over a decade ago, Jeremy Bryant has been playing the sport for nearly 20 years.
“I started playing disc golf with my father when I was around 16-17 years old,” Bryant said. “I started out using discs my dad wasn’t using, but now I’ve got my own. It took me until I had played for about ten years to really figure out my game—the kind of throws I was good at, what discs worked for me. It’s not really a science for me, more of a loose set of guidelines.” With the shutdown of traditional sports due to the on-going pandemic, Bryant has had an opportunity to play more. “I got away from over the last couple of years because I got my job as a history teacher at Shelbyville Central and that became my focus. But the virus has given me the opportunity to get back out there,” Bryant said. “Of course I’d rather be teaching, but having the time to throw has been great.” For any prospective players, Bryant says it's a simple enough game with all the pros of traditional golf, but without any of the pressure. “Here’s what I love about disc golf: it’s really easy to pick up a disc and play. It’s a good, low-impact exercise. Everyone I’ve ever met on a course has always been cool and easy to get along with. There’s kinda an unspoken camaraderie between players. No one judges your skills. In fact, everyone I played with when I was just starting tried to help me get better at it,” he said. Whether prospective players have been on the fence, or are simply looking for a new form of exercise, both Smith and Bryant agree that it's best to just find the nearest course and give it a shot. “I would encourage anyone who just wants to have an excuse to get outside to give it a shot and to not get discouraged when you hit a tree, because it’s going to happen,” Bryant said. “Whenever we see new people playing we tell them about the club and about our monthly tournaments. We hope that encourages them to want to join the club,” Smith added. For prospective club members, the club can be reached via Facebook on the “Shelbyville Disc Golf Club” page. • By Chris Siers, sports@t-g.com
Save the Date
Jeremy Bryant first got his start playing disc golf with his father during his teenage years. Photo by Chris Siers
A Hometown Tradition Shelbyville, TN
July 19-24, 2021
Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Art in Annie Rooney’s garden Annie Rooney enjoys sitting on her front porch swing enjoying her garden. Photos by Terence Corrigan
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nnie Rooney is a visual artist. Her most noticeable artistic creation is her home in Bell Buckle. Her Victorian home, built in 1887, is amply adorned with gingerbread trim that Rooney’s painted in the multi-colored style of a painted lady. But the color splash of Rooney’s home is almost lost in a riot of color each summer as her flower gardens erupt in reds, pinks, yellows, oranges and blues, all set against bold dark green foliage. The best time to see Rooney’s gardens is mid June through mid July. Annie was born and raised in Chattanooga but it was to be many years later before she found her way home to Bell Buckle. The seed that was planted in Annie that would eventually germinate and cause her to settle in Bell Buckle came from a facilitator of a seminar she attended in Seattle. When the facilitator learned Annie was from Tennessee she mentioned knowing an artist who lived in Bell Buckle, Ann Scruggs, an art teacher and potter.
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Four years later, after an art show in Tampa, Florida, Annie took a side trip to Bell Buckle on her way home in Michigan. “There was a man sitting out in front of a little store and I asked him if he knew Ann Scruggs,” Annie said. “He said, ‘that’s my wife, she’s inside the store.’ They invited me to spend the night and I stayed two or three days.” After that first few days in Bell Buckle, Annie was hooked and was determined to make it her home. A Bell Buckle friend, Maggie Bond, knew Annie was searching for a home here and knew that the long closed up Victorian at Maple Street and Webb Road, which had been languishing for many years, was up for sale. She couldn’t get into to thoroughly inspect the house but Annie followed her muse. “I left a check for earnest money and told him ‘I’ll take it,’” she said. “The house was all locked up. I never saw the inside. It had been closed up for years. It had been used to store lumber, and the roof leaked….” “I went back to Michigan and sold my house. I moved all my stuff down here and here I was.” The original owner of Annie’s home was the proprietor of one of the three banks in Bell Buckle in the late 1800s. By the time Annie took possession of the home it was in sore condition. Much of the exterior “gingerbread” trim had been taken or simply rotted away. She found local craftsmanBill Garton who was able to duplicate it.
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Summer’s blooms in Annie Ronney’s extensive garden almost overwhelms her colorful home. Garton also took on the challenge of creating a garden folly, a whimsical structure common in European gardens. Garden follies generally have no practical purpose, but in Annie’s garden it was designed for a specific aesthetic purpose – to hide the large propane tank in her yard. “The gas tank was such an eyesore,” Annie said. The lattice she had installed around the tank just didn’t accomplish the task of hiding it. “I said ‘Bill, this has got to go.” Thus came the folly. The folly was so effective at concealing the propane tank, Annie said, the next time the propane delivery driver came around he couldn’t find it. “You have to have a sense of humor to live in Bell Buckle,” Annie says. “It’s kind of like having 400 people in your family.” • Story by Terence Corrigan, tgnews@t-g.com
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
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No regrets Vietnam Veteran T.J. Frazier tells his story
T
homas J. “T.J.” Frazier has lived all his life in Bedford County, with the exception of two years spent overseas during the Vietnam War. Now, at age 72, the American veteran says, looking back, that he can’t complain about how his life turned out. “Now, I wouldn’t take anything for the experience. I was 19, when I got drafted. I kind of grew up in the Army. I think they made a man out of me.” Frazier was in the last class to graduate from the former Harris High School. He jests that his “senior trip” was a lot different than that of most graduates. After graduating in 1966, he went to work here at the American aviation company, Lockheed. Life was looking pretty good, he says, for a young black man in the mid1960s. Then in 1968, Uncle Sam changed all his plans. Frazier received his draft notice at age 19. After basic training, he was stationed stateside at Fort Dix, New Jersey It was soon time for him to board an
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
airplane for Germany, where he would spent the next eight months. He shoots it straight; he didn’t want to go. The 1960s were a tumultuous and divisive particularly for a black man traveling abroad. “Yes, the times were tough. Shelbyville, though, was better than most, I think.” Now with his 34-year-old grandson, Tyler Campbell, flanking his side, Frazier explains that the military didn’t seem segregated. “I had a good job,” he says. “I worked in communication …people guarding us all the time.” His detail was with the aviation unit of the 4th Aviation Battalion. He tuned radios and conducted other forms of communication. “I was never in combat. But, I had guard duty about every two weeks. That’s where I saw my action.” He vaguely recalls the camp mess hall, where American food was cooked for the U.S. soldiers. Frazier says with
a laugh that Asian food wasn’t this Bedford County boy’s cup of tea. Then again, being that far away from Shelbyville wasn’t either. “When I left Shelbyville, I had never been out of Tennessee. When I went to Germany, I had never been out of the United States.” He was the youngest boy in a family of four girls and three boys. His brother, who was two years older, was also drafted, but never served in Vietnam. Frazier says personally, he never contemplated being a draft dodger. Still, the news of his enlistment- right at the outset of one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. history-greatly devastated his close-knit family. “My mother; she didn’t like it much. But she encouraged me to do the right thing. That was her attitude. My father had already passed at the time.” Frazier heeded his mother’s advice. In two years, which he says really didn’t seem that short, he was back home. Frazier realizes he was one of the lucky ones, that is, coming back, uninjured, after nine months in Vietnam. The United States committed some 550,000 troops to the Vietnam front at the height of the conflict, suffered more than 58,000 deaths, and engaged in battle after battle with communist forces in the region until its withdrawal in 1973. “I had some friends who weren’t so lucky. I had two friends who I saw that didn’t make it.” Upon his return to civilian life, Frazier put all his war experiences behind him; he doesn’t even have pictures to share. Sadly, and more often than not, a soldier’s wounds become enough of a reminder, he says. A few years ago, Frazier was declared by the military as having been exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange while overseas. He recalls how his guard duty throughout Vietnam exposed him to the tactical use of the herbicide; he has since received compensation. “I got 100 percent disability for being exposed to Agent Orange,” said Frazier, pointing out that he’s now diabetic, in addition to suffering from chronic heart problems. Reflecting on the time his boots returned to Bedford County soil, Frazier recalls one of the first things he noticed was how all the trees had grown. There was a certain culture shock to a soldiers’ return home, he recalls. “All of your friends and acquaintances were grown up…had gone on about their lives.”
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Politically, the Vietnam era was a troubling time, he remembers. He will never forget, he says, how people treated Vietnam veterans; his own landing at Fort Lewis in Washington, D.C., counts as a bad memory. “Those people out there were protesting…throwing rocks at us. They [military] advised us before we got to the United States to ‘take off your uniform as you won’t be received well.’ They [people protesting] weren’t going to confront you. Most of them were cowards.” Frazier doesn’t like to talk about such experiences, but he witnessed first-hand that 1970s Counter Culture. Still, he was able to move on with his life, though some soldiers weren’t as fortunate. When Frazier returned to his hometown he went back to work at Lockheed, which would permanently shut down six months later. At age 25, he married his sweetheart, JoAnn; they have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. “We’ve been married 47 years…been through some hard times.” Frazier would secure other local jobs, including 33 years with Eaton Corporation, which closed its Shelbyville plant in 2003. He says he secured other jobs until he finally reached his full retirement age.
‘I tried to take care of my family and obey all the rules. As far as the military, I did what I had to do’ “Grandaddy,” as he’s now most affectionately known, tells how he’s living on borrowed time. He says the hospital reports show that he’s apparently got one foot in the grave. “I’m on the heart transplant list. They’re kind of holding out on me.” While he probably could be, Frazier is not bitter. Instead, his prayer is that Americans will continue to respect veterans. “Now you get a lot more respect…people thanking you for your service. It wasn’t like that in the 1970s. I would just like people to remember that I was a hard-working young man. I
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tried to take care of my family and obey all the rules. As far as the military, I did what I had to do.” Frazier gallantly added 16 more years military service to his record by serving with the Tennessee National Guard. When it comes right down to it, yes, he’s pretty proud of what he’s accomplished for his country; he humbly accepts any recognition given and is a part of the DAV and VFW. While proudly sporting his “U.S. Army Veteran” hat, the aging soldier says with confidence, “I think I’ll be remembered as one of the good guys.” • By Dawn Hankins, dhankins@t-g.com
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Cascade classmates ship out for the Navy
M
iranda Smith and Nadiana Jesch were among the handful of Cascade High graduates who opted to walk early to get their diplomas. For good reason, as they both belong to Uncle Sam now. Nadiana has a tentative date for her departure. Miranda recently left for Great Lakes, Illinois and should go on to Texas for basic training. There is a possibility the two of them will meet again through the military, according to their Navy recruiter. Least case, they’ll only be a free flight away from one another at their respective bases. Nadiana notes, “When they call me, I’ll ship to Great Lakes. Fortunately, I know that much.” But for now, they’re saying goodbye to a long, heart-felt friendship. It’s been bittersweet, they say. Nadiana, who made Cascade’s top 10 academic list, says as far as being a 2020 senior, she has some thoughts. The year certainly did not end the way she forecasted that it would. “Personally, I haven’t always been attached to school. I focus more on my education, than friends, but this kind of set me back in the friend department during this pandemic.
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
For this year, I got really close with people and wanted to actually graduate with them. But I didn’t get to. It was a little heart-breaking. As all things, you have to learn to deal with change. I learned that being in the class of 2020.” While at Cascade High, she was a part of the national honor society and the Cascade Marching Band. That’s likely how she got through school, she says. This year, she made drum major of the marching band, which won state, division 1. Nadiana admits she’s one of the “weird ones” who loves band. She played baritone saxophone, which is expensive, so she doesn’t know yet if she’ll play with the Navy. Still state-side, her thoughts are on to her future, which is possibly cyber security for U.S. Navy Intelligence for Real-time strategy.” “I’m just thinking of graduating basic training,” she says with a giggle. Miranda says while she was in the top 25 academically, she’s really more of a “social butterfly,” that is, someone who likes being around people 24-7. “When this whole thing happened, just being stuck at home was a complete game-changer for me. I’m use to being
around people all the time. The whole graduation thing upset me, because that’s what I was looking forward to, before I left.” Miranda, served as manager for the Cascade wrestling and was on the track team. She joined the drama club, just to get out of her comfort zone, and participated in a school play. Both Champions assume they’re physically fit to withstand basic training. Miranda is finding out, right now. The odds, they say, are more and more in their favor or being less of a minority in the military. While they predict the percentage of U.S. Navy women continues to increase, the Navy Times data shows around 16 percent of its fleet is currently female. “Personally, I’m a person who really doesn’t care what people think of me,” says Miranda. “If someone is wanting to talk crap about me, I say, go ahead, it’s not really benefitting me, or you.” She’s tough, no doubt. The two friends laugh, admitting they’re both “two peas in a pod.” So much so, that Nadiana encouraged Miranda toward her military career. She had put the idea aside, then buckled down and made the decision late in high school. “At first, I didn’t really tell my parents about it, because I didn’t know how they were going to feel.” In her favor, or not, fact is that most of her paternal side has military involvement, so Miranda says she’s gotten insight. The two have military family backgrounds in common as well. Nadiana’s grandfather was in the U.S. Marines; she’s been helping him with the Marine Corps League, since he moved here. Technically, the U.S. Marines are a component of the U.S. Navy, so grandpa was OK with her decision. Nadiana’s great-great uncle just happened to be Naval captain. Nadiana says she always told her parents she wasn’t going into the military. Her grandfather, a Vietnam veteran, experienced enough to last them a lifetime. Miranda says before she even made the decision to enlist, she asked her dad’s opinion of her joining the military. He told his only little girl that he didn’t think she would make it. “So, that took a jab at me, because it was coming from my own father. If my Dad doesn’t believe in me . . . . I want to prove to him that I can do it. It took a lot of passive-aggressive discussion. All through middle school, he was like I want you to go to this college . . . this and that.” Soon, she says, it was time for her to make a “big girl decision” and move on with her life. “I told my Dad, and I think it hurt him a little bit, I’m still going to be your little daughter, but I’m going to have to grow up soon. You’re not going to be able to hold my hand the whole time.” Rather than hold his hand, the day in June she left for the military, it was a full-on embrace between them. Luck-
ily, with today’s technology, they can communicate, she hopes. Bryan said he hasn’t heard anything from Miranda, who is now about a month out of her training. So, how did Nadiana and Miranda meet? Fairly simple, they say. Nadiana hails from Nevada and her family moved when she was young to Smyrna, then to Bedford County; she attended Eakin Elementary two years, then Cascade Elementary, Harris Middle and finally, Cascade High. The teen’s parents, siblings and paternal grandparents live here now. With family all over the country, she says she’s likely while in the military to be able to visit with many located across the pond. Miranda attended Cascade Elementary in kindergarten through second, then transferred to Eakin Elementary, where she attended through fifth grade. She chose to move back to Cascade High for her high school years. A Bedford County native, she advises, “I like Cascade; they’re like my family.” The Navy women may be tough, intelligent, forthright and beautiful, but they’re just 18. Yes, they’re scared.
“Personally, I’m a person who really doesn’t care what people think of me,” says Miranda. “Yeah, but I’m really excited,” says Nadiana. “With the Navy at least, you’re put into this group where people are constantly leaving, called death group, delayed entry program. I’ve had a group of friends go through it.” Miranda says picking her career plan was fairly easy, because she’s always kind of had an idea of what she wanted to do in life — a master-at-arms, which is part of the military police. She wants to study criminal psychology and later work in law enforcement. “I think I’m really headed for a U.S. Navy career. “That’s all I can think about. We will see how the first four years go.” Nadiana says she interested in computer work, particularly, coding; she can work from a ship to a base and even in an aircraft carrier with her military training. The girls admit they’re leaving behind high school loves, at least Nadiana, who is in a pretty serious relationship. Miranda on the other hand says she is “flying solo.” “I’m a realist,” adds Nadiana. “It’s not difficult for him. It could happen that I change during basic. I might not want a long distance relationship.” The two Cascade High classmates, smiling at one another, believe they have a maturity, which will carry them through their military training. Least off, they both agree their futures will be interesting, to say the least. • By Dawn Hankins, dhankins@t-g.com Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Brooklyn Fuss riding high to a future as horse trainer
"Deion is in the Stride" is a dark beauty in the TWHNC spotlight.
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
She’s ridden several horse breeds throughout her young life, but by far, she says her favorite will always be the smooth-gaited Tennessee Walking Horse. Whether the gait or the head nod that is so widely popular with the breed, she’s hooked on the show ring and all that’s encompassed, she says. Brooklyn loves to hear the words, “Let ‘em walk on.” So much so, she’s completed that running walk toward blues already in her young life. “My first year showing there, I was a two-time Reserve World Champion and a Reserve World Grand Champion. I love the show ring and can’t think of anything else I would rather do with my time.” Brooklyn recently graduated from Heritage Covenant School-a church-related umbrella school with a 33-year history in Tennessee. She explains in hindsight how her parents decided to homeschool her because they believed this would afford her, along with her younger brother, “the best education.” “As far as my plans, since I was a child, the only thing I have ever wanted more than anything was to be a horse trainer. So I have decide to become a performance walking horse trainer.” • By Dawn Hankins, dhankins@t-g.com
B
rooklyn Fuss says she lives to show Tennessee Walking Horses, but this spring, she’s been like many graduating high school seniors and witnessed the cancellation of her favorite extracurricular activities, due to the pandemic. “The COVID-19 has really affected my last year in the youth division,” the Wartrace teen says. “I’m used to going to shows every weekend.”
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‘Miracle twins’ thriving L
ast November, the Times-Gazette featured an article on Walt and Brooke Sanders who had undergone several events involving In vitro fertilization. Brooke and Walt's journey to parenthood is one shared through pain, tears, and finally, the happy birth of twins, Shepard and Maverick.
As surrogate parent, and friend, Dawn Crawley, helped the Sanders fulfill their dream of having children. The Sanders household has changed as they know it. They’re amazed, they say, how the babies are changing each day. Brooke continues her mission of explaining how she has Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, which affects just over 4,000 women worldwide, according to the National Organization of Rare Diseases. Surviving the recent pandemic on their Bell Buckle farm, Brooke and Walt are learning like many parents and taking one day at a time. After all she’s been through emotionally and physically, Brooke says she’s embracing motherhood, along with her duties as a wife and farmer. • By Dawn Hankins, dhankins@t-g.com
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
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shelbyville bedford county chamber
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
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Summer is the season of
Love
Chloe Thomas, a recent graduate of Shelbyville Central High School, has already secured a freelance photography career and is now working on a real estate license.
Chloe Thomas eyes a photo future
“I
find great joy in photographing unique moments in time, but the most exciting part is seeing my clients’ reactions when the images are released to them,” says teen photographer Chloe Thomas. It’s a really good feeling as a photographer to capture a special moment that will live forever in print, Chloe said. While the local teen has been working within a myriad of scenes and backdrops since she was 15, outdoor photography sessions have become her absolute favorite. Chloe’s a self-taught photographer. Her love for capturing just the right light and all things encompassed is credited to her mother, Tina Corley, she said. It all started when she bought Chloe a beginner’s photography kit, complete with all the things she needed to start her business venture: ChloePhotography. “I was very blessed to have clients that allowed me to photograph them as I was learning more and more about the ins and outs of capturing the perfect shot…all of the editing programs used by professional pho-
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
tographers.” The teen admits of all the people who can be critical of her work, she’s actually her own worst critic. “I can assure that I always see room for improvement after every appointment. It is my goal to continue to perfect my craft, which ensures that my clients will always get the very best version of me as their chosen photographer.” Though she just graduated from Shelbyville Central, her portfolio is already indicative of how her business has continued to grow by leaps and bounds during her high school years. She is quite proud of the client base she’s built, but even prouder of her repeat business and what she deems a plethora of referrals. “Beyond graduation, I will have the time to focus even more on growing my business. My client base has already expanded to surrounding counties. I see that as something I will continue to drive.” In addition to ChloePhotography, she is currently pursuing a real estate license. The teen says now, in addition
to her photography, she can serve the real estate needs within Bedford County. “The possibilities are endless and I am excited for the future,” she said. Despite weddings being one of the most stressful and sometimes unpredictable (especially if held outside) events to capture on camera, Chloe takes it all in stride. But, she has a few pointers for novice wedding photographers, which have proven helpful to her over the years. “First and foremost is having an assistant to ensure that we remain on task for the day and it’s imperative to have the assistant when gathering large groups for posing with the bridal party. I am lucky that my mom often accompanies me to weddings; she lets me work my magic and she does whatever I need her to do to ensure that the day goes off without a hitch. We make a great team. Chloe said she also finds it super important to meet with the bride and groom leading up to the big day. It’s important to know exactly what is expected of her, she said, so that the wedding party can just enjoy the moment. As with most photographers, she already has a lot of “favorite” photos in her gallery. One thing about photography, she says, there is always going to be some special emotion you didn’t expect which works its way behind the scenes. “I must admit that often times the meaning behind the photo is what is truly moving for me. Whether it’s a dad seeing his daughter for the first time in her wedding gown or an unsuspecting young lady about to receive a proposal that is coming as a complete surprise, it’s all so moving and emotional. But if I had to choose
one photo that was most meaningful to me, it would have to be a surprise shoot we did of my grandparents, Lawrence and Jean Brown of Shelbyville, married 70 years.” Now, that’s inspiration, she said. Who or what is currently on her bucket list to photograph? She said, that would have to be the American soldier. “I’d love nothing more than to spend some time with someone fighting for our country in some of the most tumultuous times that we’ve ever experienced as a nation. Capturing photos along the way and journaling a “day in the life.” I think it would be eye-opening for so many that truly have no idea what these men and women are doing for us day in and day out. We are blessed to live in this great country and we owe it all to the American soldier. In my book, these men and women are famous.” • By Dawn Hankins, dhankins@t-g.com Email Chloe Thomas Photography at chloeisabellathomas@gmail.com or call 931-580-5466. To view samples of Chloe’s work, go to her Facebook page “ChloeThomasPhotography and Instagram: Chloe Thomas@chloephotographyy_ (Editor’s note: That’s 2 “y”s and an underscore for her Instagram page.)
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
5 simple ways to cut reception cost WEDDINGS CAN BE EXPENSIVE. According to The Knot’s 2018 Real Weddings Study, the national average cost of a wedding is $33,931. Nearly half of that ($15,439) is spent on the reception venue alone. While wedding receptions can be costly, there are many ways to save money and still enjoy a memorable event. As expensive as wedding receptions can be, couples should know that there are many ways to reduce reception costs without sacrificing fun. • CHOOSE FOODS WISELY Pour over the details of catering costs. The Knot says the average price for catering will be $68 per person. If you opt for an appetizers and cocktails reception, you may be able to shave several dollars off the bill. Look closely at the pricing for buffet versus plated meals. Buffet service often means having a greater quantity of food on hand, which could drive up the cost. Find out if the catering hall can work with your budget to provide cost-conscious options, like familiar comfort foods instead of gourmet fare. • SERVE A CUSTOM-MADE COCKTAIL A themed drink, such as punch or a classic spirit with a reimagined, wedding-friendly name, can be less expensive
than offering full open bar service. Some couples also opt to pay for only wine and beer rather than a full open bar that includes liquor and mixed drinks. • BOOK A WEEKNIGHT Weekend weddings are easier on guests’ schedules, but not on couples’ budgets. Couples can save thousands of dollars by hosting weeknight weddings instead of weekend affairs. Book the venue from Monday through Friday, as even Sunday prices have escalated. The further away from the weekend, the lower the prices tend to be. • FAKE THE CAKE The Knot indicates a wedding cake runs roughly $530. Consider displaying a mock cake for photos and then serve a sheet cake during dessert hour. Decorating foam tiers to look like an extravagant cake can save a few hundred dollars, and guests won’t know the difference when they’re biting into a delicious, less costly dessert. • SKIP THE EXTRAS Reception venues may upcharge for all the little details, such as linens in custom colors or chair covers. If you can live without these extras, do so. Ask for a list of itemized extras so you can assess what you want to pay for and what you’d prefer to avoid. Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Living the 3F's: Faith, Family, Farming 42
Bedford Life • Summer 2020
Newlyweds Isaac and Keely McGee
“T
hey love each other so much,” Jeffrey McGee recently said of his son and daughter-in-law, Isaac and Keely McGee. “It is exactly what we prayed for since Isaac was born; he would find a Christian woman that will love him and share his interests.” Isaac and Keely married Oct. 26 at First Presbyterian Church in Shelbyville before a large company of guests. Laura Keely is the daughter of Cliff and Allison Smith and granddaughter of Billy and the late Bobbie Richardson and Shirley Smith, all of Shelbyville. Isaac Marion is the son of Jeffrey McGee of Shelbyville and Laura Parker of Belvidere and grandson of Hugh Parker and the late Frances Parker and Bobby and Joyce McGee of Shelbyville. Since tying the knot, Keely is working as a vet assistant at North Side Animal Hospital in Shelbyville and Isaac farms in addition to owning C and M Lawn Service. “Our life really is about faith, family and farming,” the new bride says. Putting the icing on the wedding cake was how their families were connected long before the newlyweds were born. Grandfathers Bobby McGee and Billy Richardson attended school together and coached girls softball as competitors in the Hilliard Gardner Softball League. The Parkers and the Richardsons raised their Christian families at First Presbyterian. Jeffrey and Allison have known each other since they were children. Pastor Bobby even coached Allison at one time. Keely's family was involved in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry; she would put on a horse show as a fundraiser for her Lady Azules Bedford County soccer team. Isaac also showed Tennessee Walking Horses, winning in 2009, the Lady Azules Youth 11 and Under class. Keely presented him his trophy; they would meet again 7 years later and marry in 10. Their first meeting In September 2016, Keely’s grandmother, Bobbie Richardson, passed away. The family asked long-time friend, Bobby, to perform the service. In November, the Smith and Richardson families decided to visit Grace Baptist Church, where Issac’s grandfather, Bobby, is pastor and dad, Jeffrey, is music director. The story gets even sweeter . . . Isaac sat up front that particular Sunday with his dad and brothers, Caleb and Jared. Keely sat close to the back with her family. One day, in casual conversation, Isaac’s dad mentioned casually how he should “ask out Keely Smith from church.” The young man’s reply, "I'm working on it." So the two sent texts, talked and then went on their first date the following May, shortly before Keely's high school graduation. The first date between this red-haired Bedford County native and his dark-haired beauty was a simple dinner and a movie.
Soon after, Keely and Isaac could be found sitting on the same church pew. They smile when noting how families knew something great was in the works. All in God’s timing The families were right! Keely and Isaac became engaged in May 2019. The two believe their union was all part of God’s plan. Soon after that engagement, grandfather, Hugh, due to health reasons, had to move in with Isaac’s mom, Laura. It was then the fair-haired Isaac decided the time was right to purchase Papa's Flat Creek farm. Isaac said from that point forward, he would envision his home there with Keely. But first, he had to propose and the farm served as the perfect backdrop for that special moment. Keely recalls how Isaac asked her to ride with him on the four-wheeler to the barn to see the baby goats. Isaac stopped in a field amidst cows, goats and sheep; he then eloquently asked Keely to become his bride. Of course the rest is history. Isaac had planned ahead to have their two families together for the announcement. So needless-to-say, all reveled in great joy as the big announcement was officially made. Nuptials predate virus Originally planned as a 2020 spring wedding, the original date was changed, due to Isaac’s hectic mowing schedule. A fall wedding was planned with First Presbyterian. There was also another reason to postpone the ceremony, but it was OK, as it was something the couple agreed upon. “We both love hunting, so we planned the date around hunting season,” explains Isaac with a smile. “We were very fortunate the wedding was moved up, because COVID-19 would have interfered.” The two say they are thankful for their lives together. Keely works and Isaac continues his lawn business and farms cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, horses, pigs, rabbits and breeds beagles for hunting purposes. The young Bedford County couple attend Grace Baptist Church. Isaac and Keely say they’re looking forward in the future to raising the next generation on their Flat Creek homestead. • By Dawn Hankins, dhankins@t-g.com
220 Water Street Lewisburg, Tennessee (931) 359-1902 Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Down on the farm wedding venue highlights
Wedding memories are made at Flat Rock Farms 44
Bedford Life • Summer 2020
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lat Rock Farms of Lewisburg is a world-famous Tennessee Walking Horse farm renovated into a rustic and elegant special destination venue by the talents of Brandon R “Randy” Belote III and son, Brandon J “Brady James” Belote. After a successful and rewarding 40-year career in the defense industry, Randy retired as a corporate vice president. With his son, Brady, they put together a team to convert the legendary walking horse facility at 1190 West Ellington Parkway into a grand social event venue. Brady is often referred to as one of the most creative and talented people in the industry; he serves as chief of operations at Flat Rock Farms. Brady also has a musical background. The Events Center at Flat Rock Farms is an exclusive facility situated on the grounds of a gated 115-acres in Marshall County. The spectacular views and beautiful rolling hills of Flat Rock Farms offer an unmatched setting and the Belote family believes it will undoubtedly become one of Middle Tennessee’s most sought-after event venues. The farm has several locations for weddings and special events. Wedding ceremonies will enjoy the advantage of the farm’s natural beauty and take place outdoors in several locations. Flat Rock Farms can handle groups as few as 30 and up to 500. The events center holds up to 299 people and seats 180 people, comfortably.
1404 N. Main St. Shelbyville, TN 37160 (o) 931-680-1680 / (f) 931-684-5000
www.THEHASTYS.com
Darin E. Hasty Real Estate Broker, GRI Cell: (931) 224-4400 darinhasty@gmail.com
Michelle Hasty Real Estate Broker, GRI Cell: (931) 703-6900 michellecrowellhasty@gmail.com
Beautiful
Wedding Chapel NEW HOPE CHAPEL Bookings Available
Please Contact
Mary Jane Ashley
931-684-4910 Picture your dream wedding here at New Hope Chapel.
295 NEW HOPE RD.
www.newhopechapeltn.com Summer 2020 • Bedford Life 45
Unique wedding options at Grace Valley Farm
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race Valley Farm, 399 Knight Campground Road, offers 10 unique options and backdrops for a wedding or other special events. The Barn is equipped with cool temperatures, which is just right for summer or early fall Bedford County weddings. “Each setting is carefully set out to give you ‘Your Day, Your Way,” said owner Jennifer Jarrell. “We have been hosting events since May, 2014, and have lived on the farm since 1998. All who we have had the privilege of serving have left precious footprints at Grace Valley Farm.” By maintaining Southern hospitality at its best, Grace Valley Farm strives to make guests feel at home. Hiking trails and rolling open fields offer a leisurely stroll or a brisk walk through the countryside. To serve your needs for an event, the venue is available for all inclusive or ala carte. Grace Valley offers an on site coordinator for wedding assistance as well as a wonderful menu for breakfast, brunch, lunch served at the house, the bunkhouse or facility of one’s choice. “Our vendor list is available, for your review, as a courtesy in case you need suggestions. You may bring your own vendors.” Accommodations for an overnight stay or retreat include the main house which accommodates up to 14 upstairs and one downstairs with three restrooms along with the bunkhouse, accommodating up to 10 with two restrooms.
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Bedford Life • Summer 2020
Of course off limits to everyone but the newlyweds is the “honeymoon cabin” which naturally only accommodates two.
KINCAID SERVICE COMPANY & HOME FuRNISHINgS In Business Since 1934
Come visit our HugE 14,000 sq. foot showroom! 400 Madison St., Shelbyville • (931) 684-5662 • kincaidservice.com Monday - Saturday • 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Nestled on a hillside, the White Dove Barn
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or brides looking a one-of-a-kind chic and sophisticated barn backdrop for their wedding venue, check out The White Dove Barn, 7235 Highway 64 E. in Beech Grove. Washed in white and nestled among the hillside scenery, The White Barn offers several affordable wedding packages. The venue seats up to 200 guests (although some social distancing rules may still apply.) The venue consists of a 6,000 square-foot ceremony/reception area, which can be delicately decorated, The White Dove Barn owners note. There are available 10 wrought iron chandeliers and 25-foot ceilings featuring lit cupolas. The barn has all the amenities for comfort, such as air conditioning and well-appointed and spacious restrooms. All wedding photos can be made at the venue as well, given that there’s 10 private acres of rolling pastureland surrounding the venue. Brides receive lots of pampering on their special day with an elegantly decorated bridal suite-one complete with plenty of floor-length mirrors, makeup vanity and dress hangers for the wedding party.
There is also an outside facility doorway — one made just for that private exit in gown before the ceremony. White Dove has not forgotten the groom. There’s a flat-screen TV with cable service and an additional sports package. There are also bar choices available for weddings.
A push for private vows Weddings are very special occasions for two people who are in love. That’s why many couples want close family and friends nearby when they tie the knot. But even the happiest couples may express some nervousness about one particular part of traditional wedding ceremonies. Wedding vows are a way for couples to profess their love for each other. However, many couples who want to write their own vows are hesitant to say them aloud in front of an audience. If couples are intimidated by a heartfelt recital of their vows in front of a crowd, then exchanging vows in private may be for them. Wedding planners and industry experts say that private vows have
become very popular. While the vows do not replace the public exchange that seals the marriage from a legal standpoint, they can be words shared in a private moment before the actual ceremony itself. A quiet moment alone allows couples to shed private tears and share a special moment before they make haste for the altar. The Knot, a premier wedding planning resource, notes that there are many reasons to share private vows. • You do not like being in the spotlight or become shy in front of crowds. • There are words you would like to share with your future spouse that are deeply private, and you don’t want to express those feelings to every person at the wedding. • You do not want to censor your thoughts or words. • You desire an intimately private and personal moment together before all of the fanfare and rush of the wedding. • You’d like to recite loving words in a native language that some guests may not understand. • You desire the potential for some very great candid photos if you invite the photographer to be there at a distance. • You want to create a lasting memory that is only yours as a couple to share. The popularity of private vows exchanged before a wedding ceremony is growing. This growing trend provides yet another way for couples to personalize their weddings.
A friEnd whEn you nEEd onE. We’re here for you. frEE PrEgnAncy TEsTs frEE ulTrAsounds hEArT To hEArT AborTion rEcovEry wEEkEnd AdoPTion rEfErrAl sErvicE PrEgnAncy And PArEnTing clAssEs
1102 Madison St., Shelbyville 680-0066
www.firstchoicepregnancy.com
Summer 2020 • Bedford Life
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Middle Tennessee Hearth & Home, LLC Gas fireplaces, grills, outdoor kitchens, and more!
206 Deery St Shelbyville,TN 37160 (931) 492-5115 Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm www.middletennesseeshearthandhome.com