Good Life Magazine Marshall County Fall 2023 by The Good Life Magazine

MARSHALL COUNTY

The Brickey home plucked straight from the coast of Cape Cod

Pastor Steven Swords always keeps an eye out for his flock FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

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Welcome

ime flies when you’re having fun, and I found plenty of fun to be had around Marshall County this summer. First and foremost, when the mercury on the thermometer reads as the hottest summer on record, a county sitting on a 69,100 acre body of fresh water is a wonderful place to call home. As the summer heat subsides (fingers crossed) and the cooler air moves in to stay for a while, we will get a new opportunity to witness the beauty that surrounds us in Marshall County. At the end of this issue, you’ll see a quick guide to spots to catch some of the most breathtaking shots of fall foliage found anywhere in the state. You’ll also notice an abundance of fall activities on the horizon as families gear up for an actionpacked Holiday season ahead. Each story written and picture taken, is another opportunity to get to know an interesting character that you never would have known otherwise. In this issue, I found myself sipping wine in Albertville, trekking deep into the underworld outside of Grant,

and reading a novel about a famed pastor taking on the Third Reich. I probed to get to the bottom of what it is exactly that keeps a smile on a local pastor’s face at all times of the day, and the curious ingredients people are transfusing together to make a living. I find myself, like so many others nowadays with cell phones, wasting hours away glued to a screen. I rarely ever feel fulfilled by this screentime, and find that more often than not it leaves me feeling sloppy and worthless. After every new adventure, however, I come away with a sense of pride and appreciation for the natural world around us that is seldom felt from inside the comfort of my home. I keep a poem folded up in my wallet that was penned by the American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, titled “A Psalm of Life.” I have condensed it here from its full version, but the lines below reflect his message: “Tell me not, in mournful numbers, life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers,

and things are not what they seem. Life is real, life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, is our destined end or way; But to act, that each tomorrow find us farther than today. In the world’s broad field of battle, in the bivouac of life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.” After reading this issue of GLM, I hope you can find some inspiration to put your phones down, even for just a few hours, and leave behind your own footprints “on the sands of time.”

Hudson Shelton Publisher

Contributors Rishon Hanners

Rishon is looking forward to some cooler weather because cooler weather for her typically means hot dishes and soups galore. Check out her story on Epicurious Infusion’s motherdaughter duo.

Steve Maze

Steve tells a story of a man he remembers fondly, whose voice over the radio waves had a major impact on local listeners. Country Boy Eddy; the man, the myth, the legend.

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Deb escapes the heat by opening up a book on her back porch and enjoying the natural breeze. She might even get a breeze from turning the pages, considering she goes through them so fast.

Hudson Shelton

More memories made during a fantastic summer. Looking forward to the season changing, fall colors, and Alabama football.

Hudson B. Shelton Publisher/editor | 256-345-2968 Hudson.goodlifemagazine@gmail.com

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Inside 12 | Good Fun

Bring on the cooler weather and seasonal fun this fall

18 | Good People

Pastor Steven Swords simply cannot stop smiling

24 | Good Reads

Deb Laslie reviews two novels that she had a hard time putting down

27 | Good Cooking

Rishon is back in her stomping ground highlighting a local favorite

36 | Good Getaway

Cathedral Caverns State Park is everything you can ask for and a stone’s throw away

40 | Good Living

Mark and Jeannie Brickey reeled in their dream Cape Cod home on the lake

48 | Good Eats

Jules J. Berta winery in Albertville continues to do what it does best

50 | Country Boy Eddy

Steve Maze writes about Country Boy Eddy and what made him so unique as a person

53 | Fall Foliage Guide Be sure to check out one of the many tree gazing spots across the county

54 | Marshall County/ Guntersville prior to 1848 Take a step back in time to a land before time

56 | The legend of Simp McKee. McGhee?

A local Tennessee River steamboat captain’s legend grows

58 | Out and About

Photos showcasing some of the beauty that can be found across Marshall County On the cover | A grape vine hangs in the sun at the Jules J. Berta Winery in Albertville. Photo by Hudson Shelton This page | A photo of a swing in the Brickey’s backyard. Name a better spot to swing. Photo by Hudson Shelton 10 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

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Good Fun

Marshall County Events down Gunter Ave and then wrap back up Blount Ave on the return back. Registration for this event is $30. For additional information please call Stach and Co. at 256486-2080. • October 19th Shepard’s Cove Tailgate Together with the Albertville Chamber and co-hosts Local Joe’s, Shepard’s Cove is hosting a “Tailgate Taster” business after hours event in its community room at 408 Martling Road in Albertville on October 19th from 5:30-7:30 PM. This event serves as a wonderful networking opportunity for local businesses and a great way for new businesses to get their foot in the door. For more information about this event please contact esims@shepardscove.org

• October 1-31st Gretchen McKee MVAC Exhibit Specializing in oils and cold wax landscapes, Gretchen McKee’s artwork and water colored notecards will be on display the entire month of October at the Mountain Valley Arts Council located at 440 Gunter Avenue. Her artwork is described as abstract and ethereal in appearance, with the wax medium giving a whisper of mystery to her landscapes. For more information you can visit the MVAC website at mvacarts.org. • October 14th Guntersville Witches Ride Hosted by Stach and Co. Mercantile, this event is a fundraiser for Guntersville City Schools and 12 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

encourages all participants to wear whimsical witch costumes and to decorate their brooms (rides) to match the theme. Participants are encouraged to throw candy along the route and are reminded to BYOC! The ride will follow a route

• October 19th MVAC Fall Concert Series From 6:30-8:30PM the MVAC will continue its fall concert series in Errol Allan Park located at 390 Gunter Avenue in Guntersville. Liz and the Grand Tour will be playing in the park and attendance is free, so be sure to bring a refreshment. More information can be found by calling 256-571-7199 or by emailing info@mvacarts.org

• October 24th Albertville 2023 State of the City Address The Albertville Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual State of the City address at the Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheatre at 1325 SMPA Blvd. The event will be held from 8-10AM and has an admission cost of $15, which includes a breakfast. Mayor Honea will provide an update on the past year, as well as an outlook for the year ahead. For more information contact Emily Bozarth at the Chamber at Emily@ albertvillechamberofcommerce.com

• October 21st 2023 Pink Pumpkin Run The Foundation for Marshall Medical Centers presents the 14th annual Pink Pumpkin Run: Pink on Parade to benefit mammography and cancer services at Marshall Medical Centers. The race will begin and end at Guntersville’s Civitan Park at 1130 Sunset Drive, and will include the traditional in-person 5k, 10k and 1-mile runs. The pink theme this year looks to evoke scenes from the Rose Bowl, Macy’s Day parade or a cheer squad, so turn up in all the pink in your closet! Registration fees to run vary depending on race length, but everyone is reminded that they do not have to run to participate. More information can be found on the Pink Pumpkin Run website at raceroster.com

• October 21st Arab Fall Family Fest For the third year running, downtown Arab will hold a Fall Family Fest that is free for all attendees. People are encouraged to show up in their Halloween costumes, on North Main Street and will be met with live music, a bike parade, a costume contest and, if you’re brave enough, a mechanical bull! This event will take place from 4-8PM and is sure to be a fun time for the entire family.

• October 26th The Soak House and Soapery Business Happy Hour The next Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce business after hours event will be hosted by The Soak House & Soapery from 5-7PM and will serve as an opportunity for current and prospective members of the Chamber to eat, drink and expand their networks. The theme of the event is Grease Lightning and costumes are encouraged but not required. COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

• October 31st Main Street Trunk or Treat The Albertville Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual Halloween Trunk or Treat on Main Street in downtown Albertville from 5-8PM. This event is a fun way for children to experience the fun of Halloween in a safe environment. Trunks are free to set up but must be registered by

emailing the Chamber at emily@ albertvillechamberofcommerce.org or by calling 256-878-3821. • November 16 Albertville Thanksgiving/ Christmas Parade The Albertville Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Holiday parade on Thursday November 16th from noon-10PM. This event also kicks off the city’s

downtown open house for the Christmas season. There is a $10 entry fee. More information can be found by calling the Chamber at 256-582-3612 • November 7 - December 30 Holiday Art Market, Holiday Cheer Quilts, and Children’s Christmas Card Contest The MVAC kicks off the Holiday season this year with over 32

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area artists participating in the Holiday Art Market. Artists will have the first week of November to set up their booths, and an opening reception will be held on November 14th, 5:30 - 7 PM. In addition, the Holiday Art Market will be open especially for the Night Before Christmas Festival in Downtown Guntersville when they will host the Photo Booth for fun holiday photos. For additional information, reach out to the MVAC at 256-571-7199, or online atmvacarts.org.

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Good People

5 questions

Pastor Steven Swords

Story and photos by Hudson Shelton

but his love for Alabama football is evident from the time you walk through the door. He was a star on the football field at Guntersville High School, and has been an ardent supporter of the Tide longer than he can remember. Newspaper clippings and Daniel Moore artwork depicting scenes of glory from decades past line almost every inch of wall in his office. I jokingly ask if he ever weaves football anecdotes into his Sunday sermons. “Football resonates with people around here, and if that’s what gets folks to listen to the Word of the Lord, then football it is.” Steven married his high school sweetheart, Lenora, and began making a living in the business world selling real estate, as well as becoming a proficient gemologist analyzing precious stones. He says he was first called to the pulpit when he was 17 years old, and several years later he was the pastor of Gerod Baptist Church in central Tennessee. After 15 years preaching in Tennessee, Steven says he had an epiphany that pushed him to move his family back to his childhood home in Guntersville to start a Baptist mis The family had not been in Guntersville long before a crisis hit that required “all hands on deck.” Steven was only able to tidy up his newly bought building for a couple weeks in 2005 before a flood of refugees came pouring into Marshall County escaping the brutal aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He always knew part of a pastor’s job was to provide and console those in need. Not until that point however had he realized how much this work would profoundly impact him. Almost every month since 2005, Victory Baptist holds a food giveaway

hen poking around for some suggestions for the next Good People person to feature, there was one name that kept coming up. I was told that if you follow the trail that leads you to Pastor Steven Swords, a good story and boundless amounts of energy are sure to follow. This couldn’t be more spot on. The trail began with a phone call to his office at Victory Baptist Church at 1644 Obrig Avenue in Guntersville. He picked up on the first ring, I introduced myself and told him the reason behind my call and who the people were who had name-dropped him. Before I could finish my sentence he was telling stories about those people, and recalling fond memories he had during their encounters. Maybe it is the pastor in him, but it did not take long to realize that Steven sees the good in everybody and everything. We wrapped up the conversation and I asked him when a good time to come see him would be. “Come on by tomorrow morning, my door is always open!” I was not sure what side of the church his office was on when I arrived, but it didn’t matter, because he was standing outside waving his arms as if I was a plane pulling into its gate. “How are you brother? How was the drive? What a day!”, he spouted out as he walked over to greet me with a smile from ear to ear. It was semi-early in the morning and I was still moving slowly, but his positive attitude was infectious and immediately put a pep in my step as we walked toward his office. Steven is quick to prove that he puts God and his family first and foremost, 18 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

is here to spread the Word that draws people in from miles away. Earlier this year he calculated that the church had dispensed nearly 61,000 pounds of chicken in the last three years, a total that is now surely over 70,000. “Community is so important, and our food drives provide a space for those who need a meal or a new pair of pants to find a community that they would not have access to otherwise.” Victory Baptist Church was organized from a mission into a church on April 2, 2006. Going on 18 years as pastor, Steven has laughed, cried, listened to, shared the Word, and broken bread with thousands of people across Marshall county and beyond. Toward the end of our conversation, Steven started to divulge about the current state of church participation and spiritual life in America. He mentioned that even at Victory, the participation numbers have not rebounded since Covid. It was the first time in nearly two hours of talking with him that his beaming smile had uncharacteristically vanished from his face, and he looked down at the ground. In the time it took him to lift his head back up, the smile reappeared on his face and he said positively, “They’ll be back because Victory Baptist is where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord of all!”

How long had you considered moving back to Guntersville to start a mission before you and Lorena decided to finally in 2005? “We always talked about one day moving back and raising our children in the same place we were brought

COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

up as children. I was a very poor kid growing up in Marshall County. I graduated from Guntersville High School in 1982 and never had inside facilities in my life. My mother never went to school a day in her life and couldn’t tell you the first letter of your name. My dad dropped out of school when he was in the third grade. My mother worked in a basket factory as a young girl, and we essentially lived in what we called the ghetto of Guntersville at the time. Those times were tough, but I was always proud of where I came from and always try to remind myself of the lifelong lessons I learned as a kid here. I was called back to help some of those people that may be in the same situation as I was in.

What are you proud of when it comes to your work? I, of course, always enjoy when people who have lived without God for their entire lives or a good portion of it, see the Light and accept Jesus as their Savior. This does not have to necessarily do with my work, but as a father I am always proud when my children do something I did not expect. Both of my biological daughters have chosen to be teachers, and share their love for learning with kids in schools across the county that may not be as fortunate as they are. Almost everybody in my family has a job that helps others in some way and that makes me proud. 20 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

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Historical markers detail the important dates since Victory’s inception. Steven’s favorite line, “where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord of all,” is also etched in stone

What are some of your fondest memories in your 18 years back in Guntersville as pastor? Although it was devastating to the livelihoods of millions of people, Katrina happening right after we opened our doors in 2005 was a very important moment for me. We were presented with an opportunity to help thousands of people who desperately needed it in that moment. We were able to accommodate people sleeping in our building for weeks, and created lasting relationships that are stronger now than ever before. The most special thing to me about all 22 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

that is that some folks chose to stay in Marshall County and become members at Victory after the others returned home. That was special. (He got emotional for the first time when recalling this time period.)

Do you ever have thoughts about what would have been if you hadn’t made the decision to become a pastor? I do not care about being rich. I used to think I cared, but I don’t think about it very much anymore. I never doubted my calling to become a pastor, and would not trade this life experience for any other. I get to wake up every day and talk to people

about the Word of the Lord. What is better than that? Nothing. Nothing is better than that.

What does the future hold for you and for Victory Baptist Church? I am going to keep on keeping on until the Lord calls me home. As long as I am physically and mentally able, I will continue sharing the Word of the Lord. With a lot of help, we have been able to nurture a thriving community over the years here at Victory that I am sure will continue long after me and everyone else here now is long gone.

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Good Reads

All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani

ust as a blank page is eventually filled with letters in blue ink, those letters become words, which become sentences, which become the scene, which becomes the story that carries the truth.” When was the last time you saw a great movie? If you’re like me, that movie was likely black and white. Adriana Trigiani brings the golden age of Hollywood alive in All the Stars in the Heavens. The story begins with Alda, a young girl assisting other young girls “in For a girl like Alda trouble” at a convent who had been in the near San Francisco. convent, who was When the time comes for trained to look within her to take her vows, the for all gratification Mother Superior decides that Alda’s future lies and understanding, not within walls, but Hollywood with its in the greater world. devotion to the veneer Securing her a position was practically a sin. as secretary to Loretta Young (yup, that Loretta Young), Alda is whisked into the frenetic world of moving pictures and everything surrounding that surreal world. Everything is true in the eyes of the camera. Through Alda’s eyes, however, we see not only behind the scenes but into the lives and hearts of some very familiar personalities: Spencer Tracy, David Niven, Myrna Loy and yes, Clark Gable. As you would expect, there is high drama, great acting (and not only by the paid actors) and perfect scenes. I know you’ll enjoy this book as much as I have. Get your jammies on and settle in for a real treat. 24 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas

onhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. A Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich by Eric Metaxas. At over 500 pages this is not a quick read, but it is most thought provoking and timely. We are never too old to learn and we are never too young to learn from the past, so this biography is highly recommended for all ages who are fascinated by the back stories and events surrounding pivotal moments in history. Bonhoeffer is not merely a biography of the famed pastor, this is an exposé of “We have been silent the political and religious witnesses of evil deeds; world just prior to and we have been drenched through World War II. by many storms; we Masterfully written, I have learnt the arts was captivated at the first page. Bonhoeffer’s of equivocation and thoughtful insights are pretense; experience has brought to life. His made us suspicious of views on the church, the others and kept us from Christian community, being truthful and open. and the larger more . . Will our inward power political world that he inhabited are on display of resistance be strong via his own words and the enough and our honesty words and actions of his with ourselves remorseless friends, his colleagues, his enough, for us to find our family, and, of course, his way back to simplicity and enemies. Eric Metaxas has straightforwardness?” made Dietrich Bonhoeffer a real person to me – not just an historical figure. I am deeply humbled by this man and am a better, certainly more educated, person for having read this book.

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26 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

Good Cooking

Mother & Daughter Duo turning Culinary Concoctions into a Soul Satisfying Business Story and photos by Rishon Hanners

other and daughter, Tracy Downs and Sarah Thomas, are partners in business with their company Epicurious Infusions, making 100% extracts, spice and dried herb mixtures, infused salts, sugars, vinegars, and Spirit infusions. Living and working out of Guntersville, AL, their retail products can be found locally at Jones Discount Pharmacy in Arab, AL, and Shon Taylor Salon in Boaz, AL. All of their seasonal, locally sourced, and homemade products can also be purchased from their Etsy site, or in person at the Farmers Market at Pepper Place in Birmingham; open Saturdays year around. In addition, Crystal’s Bakery in Altoona, AL, uses their vanilla extract in all of their baked goods. Follow them on social media for updates on appearances at local markets, festivals, information on new releases, and more. So how did Epicurious Infusions come into existence? Sarah - “It started on a cruise to Mexico. Mom and Dad found pure Mexican Vanilla and Mom came home raving about how good it was. We just started cooking with it, baking with it, and it was delicious. It elevated every single thing that we put it in, We put it in pancake mix, muffin mix, molé, even just the premade mixes. Well, we ran out because of course we used it all, so we went out to the store and got a name brand and an off brand vanilla. We came back and tried it in the same mix, so nothing was different except for the vanilla, and it tasted like plastic. We looked at it, and one of them was ‘imitation.’ Even the pure vanilla had water in it. Why were there fillers in there? Why is there more than the vanilla bean and the alcohol that you

Etsy site: Etsy.com/shop/epicuriousinfusions Facebook & instagram: @epicuriousinfusions Email: epicuriousinfusion@gmail.com COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

CHEESE BALL • 1 8 oz block of cream cheese, softened • 1 cup of shredded cheddar • 1 Epicurious Infusions’ Savory Cheese Ball Kit • Salt & Pepper to taste Combine ingredients in a bowl. Shape mixture into a ball. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready served. Serve with crackers, chips, and veggies for dipping.

28 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

SPIRIT INFUSION KITS OR COCKTAIL/MOCKTAIL KITS • Epicurious Infusions Spirit Infusion Kit • 14 oz Alcohol of choice or other liquid of your choice such as tea, juice, or water Remove the freshness packet from the jar. Fill the jar with preferred liquid. Infuse for 3 days on counter top. Strain into a glass, over ice, and enjoy. Mix with other mixers, club soda or tonic water, or sip as is. To speed up the infusion process, heat up liquid and infuse until cooled. The kit can be infused two times for a total of 12-14 servings. Store in the refrigerator after the first infusion.

need to extract it? So we looked up how to make our own. We thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I bet our friends would want some of this. I bet everyone would want some of this.’ And we started with Mexican vanilla beans because it was just so good. It just grew from there. We thought, what else could we infuse?” Tracy - “Sarah was about 11-yearold, so that was probably about 20 years ago. That’s just how the idea started. We were making the vanilla as Christmas presents and making our own. There is just something about making homemade gifts that really means something.” Sarah - “We kept buying seasonings that were good but we just want to make it our own; add this, it needs a

little more garlic, it just needs a little more paprika, a little more rosemary, it needs something. We would always just tweak our own seasonings we would buy. We were like, we need to make this ourselves. So we started doing that, and that’s how the seasonings came in.” Tracey - “Once Sarah got older we started talking about it again. It just kind of grew like a little seed.” Sarah - “We got the email, the domain, the name, trademark, and all these things before we ever really started making anything in 2017.” Tracy - “It was the dream of ‘What if?’, and Sarah had the thought, if we are ever going to do this we need to go ahead and do these things.” COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

SEARED STEAK WITH TUSCAN SEASONING • ¼ cup Olive Oil • 2 tsp Epicurious Infusions’ Tuscan Seasoning • Steak cut of choice (Ribeye is recommended) • Salt & Pepper to taste Make a marinade of olive oil and Epicurious Infusions’ Tuscan Seasoning. Let steak marinate for 30 mins or up to 2 hours. Let steak come to room temperature in the marinade before cooking. Sear on med-high for 3 minutes on each side or until preferred doneness. Season with salt and pepper as desired.

Sarah - “We went to our first market, the Fall Festival in Guntersville, and launched the Etsy site, in the Fall of 2021.” Tracy - “Between 2017 and 2021, Sarah got married, then got pregnant, and then Covid happened, but the seed was still there and we wanted to do it. Then when they decided to move home it was on! Guntersville was our first market. We wanted to start local because we are local.” You branched out to Birmingham and joined Pepper Place Market in 2022 as vendors. What has that experience been like for ya’ll as a small, fairly new to the scene, local business going to such a large market? 30 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

Tracy - “We are at Pepper Place all year around, and gosh, that has been such a blessing. Not only just honing our skills of understanding our product and selling it to them, but also connecting with the people and seeing what they want and what they like.” Sarah - “And what they want to know about the products. We have six different vanilla extracts from six different countries and they want to know, ‘What’s the difference?’ So we had to research. If you bake a lot with stone fruit like peaches, cherries, anything with a pit, go with Ecuadorian vanilla, it just brings out all those flavors. And no one would know that unless they researched it so we do that for them. All the little nuances and

differences. They are all great vanilla but they have little subtleties that are different and it is just so cool.” Tracy - “I think it’s really amazing that there are so many people that are foodies. People that love food that don’t work with it professionally. Especially coming out of COVID, everyone was locked down, a lot of people got into food, got into doing things with food, and realized that they could create. And now they care so much more about ‘What is this?’ and ‘What is that?’.” Sarah - “What does it have in it? What doesn’t it have in it?” Tracy - “Doesn’t. That’s as important as what is in it. So it’s been fun to be a part of their families and their lives. We have really found that out over the last year and a half.” “A couple of weeks ago, this lady bee lined straight to our tent. We have this vanilla infused sugar with cinnamon. She grabs the jar, sets it down, and says, ‘I’m out of this.’. Her kids were with her, and she said, ‘Our kids call these magic sprinkles.’, and they came up and told us, ‘We’re out of magic sprinkles.’. She made it known that she could not be out of magic sprinkles and bought two jars. That was so profound for us. We are a part of their family culture, we are a part of their memories. Food is memories. We all know when you smell or eat something that takes you back. These kids are

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STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC REDUCTION • 1 cup Epicurious Infusions’ Strawberry Infused Balsamic Vinegar Add vinegar to a pot on the stove and bring to a simmer on medium heat until thick and glossy about 8 to 12 mins. Try it drizzled on vanilla ice cream and topped with fresh strawberries (recommended). Drizzle over caprese salads, grilled vegetables, chicken, pork, steak, or salmon. Also try it over mixed fresh berries and on thin crust pizza or flatbreads. going to remember sprinkles and we were a part of that. It is so humbling.” It sounds like one of your greatest benefits of being at the Market and other local markets is your face-to face connection with your customers. Do you have any other customer testimonies about your products that they have shared with you? Sarah - “We have not had a bad review on Etsy, which is so hopeful for us. We think, okay, people are liking us, not just here in North Alabama. We are all over the country, which is wild. We only have a few states that haven’t ordered from us yet, and that is our goal to get in all 50 states. We have people in New York that only buy our Ranch seasoning mix because they can’t have Hidden Valley and they tried it as a 32 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

BURRATA SALAD WITH PEACH AND LIME VINAIGRETTE • 1 cup salad mix • 1 ball of Burrata • 1 tomato, sliced • ½ cup strawberries, sliced • ¼ cup glazed nuts, such as pecans • Salt and pepper to taste Peach and Lime Vinaigrette • ¼ cup Epicurious Infusions’ Peach White Wine Vinegar • ¼ cup Olive Oil • ¼ cup lime juice • 1 lime, zested • ¼ cup honey • Salt and pepper to taste • Epicurious Infusions’ Strawberry Infused Balsamic Vinegar Combine all the ingredients for the vinaigrette and mix well. Set aside. Build the salad with all of the ingredients. Top with the vinaigrette.

sample from another order. That’s just wild to us. They’re all the way in New York and buying from us in Sweet Home Alabama.” Tracy - “The connection with the people and the things that they say has almost become part of our mantra. One woman told us, ‘You give us the gift of time. We want to cook better, but I don’t have time to make homemade seasoning mixes or homemade marinara sauce. So I take tomatoes and your Tuscan [Spice Mix] and then all of a sudden… wow!’. We want to help people take whatever they do just to the next level.” Sarah - “Yes, it’s not just another order on Etsy. We get to see them and hear their stories about trying this product on this and marinating with this other product, and we get so surprised because we’ve never even thought about that. So then the next person comes up and they ask, ‘What can we do with this?’, and we say well, ‘You can do this, this, and this.’.” Tracy - “It’s definitely not us thinking that we are the end-all-be-all and we understand what everything

is and this is how you should use it. We have our Spirit Infusion Kits or Cocktail/Mocktail Kits, and there is one of them with dried peaches in it. We had someone tell us that they took that, added oil to it, and marinated pork in it. We were like, ‘What?!’. We would have never thought about that. Seriously, we learn more from them than they do from us. It’s just joy.” Sarah - “We just talk the whole time. We just get so excited!” Tracy - “It’s super fun and we do get really excited. I think the first couple of times we went to the market we lost our voices. We are so passionate about it and we are so excited about it, and we all know if you do something you love you’ll never burnout. We just have such fun. And we’re doing it together. So many people say, ‘Awww, you get to do this together.’, and we’re like, ‘Yea!’.” Tracy, tell me a little about what life was like for you growing up? Tracy - “I grew up extremely poor. Six kids and a single mother. We had God and good food, and I’m sure a lot of people had the same. I’ll never forget my grandmother living with us, and her sitting me on a metal pan. She’d turn it upside down and sit me on a chair, actually very close to the stove which I’m surprised by now, but letting me watch them and letting me throw salt. I will never forget those memories. That’s where I fell in love with food. We didn’t have a lot of money, we didn’t have a lot of stuff, but we had love, we had God, and we had food. So those were the things we wanted to make sure Sarah had. Sarah - “Growing up I felt like I didn’t need for anything, because of the environment that my parents kindled. The living room was not the heart or the core of the house for us, it was definitely the kitchen. I know that sounds cliche, but everything happened in the kitchen. The good, the bad, and the ugly.” Have you always cooked together? What was cooking in your household like when Sarah was growing up? What are some memories that you two have? Tracy - “Oh yea, Sarah was always up on a stool helping us cook. I mean from little, itty bitty.” COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

HONEY BUN CAKE • Cake: • 1 box cake mix • ½ cup sugar • ⅔ cup of oil • 8 oz sour cream • 4 Tbsp Epicurious Infusions’ Vanilla Extract (Tahaittian recommended) Topping: • ½ cup of brown sugar, packed • 4 Tbsp ground cinnamon Glaze: • 1 cup confectioners sugar • 3 Tbsp milk • 1 Tbsp Epicurious Infusions’ Vanilla Extract (Tahaittian recommended) Icing: • 8 oz cream cheese, softened • ½ cup confectioner’s sugar • 2 Tbsp Epicurious Infusions’ Vanilla Extract Sarah - “Like three-years-old, I would be like, ‘What are y’all doing in this pot?’.” Tracy - “And I would say, ‘Don’t touch that pot!’. Sarah has always been creative. She draws and paints and always has creative streaks. It was a very natural progression.” Sarah - “Every year we make an Easter Bunny cake. We get two round pans, and you cut it in a way that it has a face, two ears and either a bow tie for a boy bunny or a bow for a girl bunny. We do it with my daughter now. [Mom] would let me put so many sprinkles on that cake, even though it tasted awful afterwards.” Tracy - “We just wanted her to feel joy. Just like my mother created so much joy and love in the kitchen for me with very little, but it was time spent, and it tasted good. I wanted Sarah to feel that same freedom in the kitchen to create.” Sarah - “And to make mistakes. I remember making a whole cake with salt instead of sugar, but I didn’t get in trouble, it was just like, now you know. And it was so gross. That was the first cake I had made by myself. I cut 34 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

everyone a piece and we all took a big bite. Yuck.” Tracy - “We just laughed. It was her first official big cake, but it was freedom.” Sarah - “The heart of it all, the love, was in the kitchen. So when I brought people over to the house I didn’t want to hang out in my room, I wanted to hang out in the kitchen. I remember doing a 12-foot banana split that we made in a gutter for my birthday. It was a clean gutter, brand new, and we wrapped it in aluminum foil. We just filled it all the way up, and it was so funny and so much fun.” Tracy - “I just bought the groceries and bought the stuff and I said, ‘Here it is. My house is your house. Go.’, and then just step back and see what happens. I would just check in and make sure everything was ok. ‘Don’t kill yourselves. Don’t burn the house down.’. It’s memories for them and memories for me just to watch them do it.” Sarah - “Yea, when you’re a teen you don’t want your mom’s help. Now we would rather do things together than separate.”

Mix cake batter for three minutes and pour half of the mixture in a 9x13 greased baking dish. Sprinkle ½ topping then pour the rest of the cake batter to cover. Then sprinkle the rest of the topping on the top. Bake in a 350 preheated oven for 40 minutes or until done. Poke holes in warm cake and drizzle on glaze. Once cooled, top with icing. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Tracy - “Isn’t it funny how food takes on memory. Food evokes emotion. I know Sarah is watching my eyes, because it is so emotional. In the day and age we live in today with technology, which is amazing, but it does separate us and rushes us. We don’t take the time, because we can do things faster now. We don’t have to cook, but cooking takes us back to a very basic thing that brings emotion. It’s connection.” Sarah - “And let’s be honest, it tastes better. We all have to eat. Why not eat well and eat together.” Good Life Magazine

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COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

Good Getaways

The supernatural underworld of

Cathedral Caverns

Story and photos by Hudson Shelton

n the age of social media, we oftentimes get caught up fantasizing about being on that cruise your friend is on in the Gulf, or that beach another friend is sipping a cocktail on while vacationing in the panhandle. While we waste away on the couch day dreaming about what could be, fascinating attractions right outside our doorstep 36 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

await that, if appreciated, can transcend all imagination and leave a lasting impression in your mind. For me, Cathedral Caverns State Park went above and beyond my wildest expectations. As far back as I can remember, I recall seeing the signs for Cathedral Caverns lining highways 72 and 431, but never took the time to investigate what it was all about. I can now check it off my state parks list, but can guarantee a return trip in the future.

Originally called Bat Cave, Cathedral Caverns was first made accessible to the public by a man named Jacob Gurley in the 1950s. It was bought by the state of Alabama in 1987 and converted into a state park in the year 2000. Upon entering the cave, the first thing you notice is the imposing size of the cave’s entrance itself. Measuring 126 feet wide and 25 feet high, it is believed that this cave opening is a record for commercial

caves worldwide. After the property was purchased by the state, extensive archeological digs took place around the opening hoping to find evidence of Native American activity in the cave. An 8-inch long spear tip was uncovered and sent to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. for exhibition, but little else was found to support evidence of large-scale usage of the cave. The caverns are only accessible with a tour guide, and once you enter from

the mouth of the cave, it becomes obvious why. Our guide for the afternoon was Hailey Jackson of Grant, which is just 5 miles up the road from the entrance to the state park. Shortly after entering the cave you cross a bridge that spans over a small stream named Mystery River. During times of heavy rain, Mystery River is known to flood the caverns, and even stranded Jacob Gurley for a night in the cave during one of his early exploratory expeditions. With every turn deeper into the cave, something new appears that somehow overshadows the magnificence of the one before it. A ginormous stalagmite called Goliath achieved just that. Measuring 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference, Goliath is one of the largest stalagmites in the world. Its size alone baffles the mind, and makes it difficult to comprehend the natural processes that combined to form it over millions of years. The temperature of the cave is 60 degrees year around, which was a perfect respite from the 95 degree day just a couple hundred feet above. The name Cathedral Caverns originated from Jacob’s wife, who

said, “If I go in there you have to take me to the most beautiful room of the cave. If I like it, you can keep it, if I don’t, you have to sell it,” according to our guide Hailey, who showed us the wedding bell shaped formation on the wall and the stalagmites and stalactites that were reminiscent of organ pipes, giving it its name. The tour lasts about an hour and a half and winds around about 2 miles of paths throughout the cave. More experienced cavers can obtain permits allowing access to even deeper parts of the cave, but when we hit the spot where the less experienced cavers stop, that was good enough for me. As you lean against the railing at the end of the path staring into what looks like an endless expanse of darkness, a sense of smallness creeps in. “Wait for it,” Hailey said with a grin, “three, two, one!” and the lights were cut. Total darkness for what seemed like an eternity, but was realistically closer to 30 seconds. Naturally, your eyes will then try to adjust to the darkness, but it seems hopeless. The lights reilluminate the pathway, and the long journey back out begins. COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

The chatter that seemed to consume the group as we entered the cave was nearly silent on the way out. All eyes were gazing up at the towering limestone ceilings above, hoping to catch one last glimpse of these otherworldly formations. As we approached the exit to the cave, the space around us started to brighten with each step. A misty haze had settled over the entrance to the cave. Did we just enter and then return from the underworld? Cathedral Caverns was an experience unlike any other I have had in quite some time. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and answered all questions the group had. The group, I should mention, included a family from Michigan, a couple from Utah, and the other from Kentucky. Access to the cave costs $20 per person, while tours are scheduled throughout the day and can be booked online or in-person when you arrive. Quit day dreaming about that unrealistic vacation, and go adventure in Marshall County’s very own back yard! You will not be disappointed. Good Life Magazine 38 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

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MARSHALL COUNTY COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

Good Living

THE BRICKEY’S

bring a taste of Cape Cod to the shores of Lake Guntersville 40 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

The Brickey family from left to right: Jackson, Austin, Jeffrey, Jeannie and Mark Brickey Story and photos by Hudson Shelton

ark and Jeannie Brickey always knew what they wanted in a house. Since before they married 29 years ago, the pair has traveled annually to visit Jeannie’s mother in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. As they strolled neighborhoods and walked the beaches on these trips, they plucked a design feature or two from the uniquely characteristic homes strewn across the Cape’s shores in order to keep an inventory of what they might want to include in their future forever home. Before making the move south to Guntersville, the Brickeys called Knoxville, Tennessee home, and were able to settle in a Cape Cod house to start their family and begin to plan their new life together. In 2006, Mark got the opportunity to purchase Sand Mountain Toyota in 42 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

Albertville from its previous owner and in an instant, the family loaded up their Toyotas and were Guntersville bound. “Everything happened so quickly that we ended up only having one day to find a house when we originally moved in 2006,” Mark explained. “We were of course looking for another white house hopefully on the lake, but out of the five houses the realtor showed us that day, none were what we were looking for.” With little time to make their decision, they knew they had not found their dream home, but knew they were in their preferred neighborhood on Spring Creek Drive. “We had three toddlers at the time and there were thirteen other boys on our street for them to run with. Plus, you can’t beat a 10-minute drive up the mountain to the dealership,” Mark added. Ironically, the Brickeys caught a glimpse of their current home on that one-day tour

of available properties and kept it on their radar. Following a six year stint on Gunter’s Landing, the home back on Spring Creek Drive went on the market in 2016 and Mark and Jeannie pounced at the rare chance to call it their own. They quickly got to work on turning the years of dreaming about their Cape Cod house on the lake into a reality. Driving around a curve on Spring Creek Drive, the Brickeys white house is not hard to spot. The first thing you notice is the sheer size of the property. “I always wanted a white picket fence like the ones in Cape Cod out in front of our house,” Jeannie says, “but when I started to try to make it work, it just

never looked right, so we moved it to the side of the house by the flower bed.” When you have a passion for flowers the way Jeannie does, a yard of this size is like Disneyland. “Jeannie has always had a green thumb, and has designed flower beds and planted flowers at every home we ever owned. She works full time in the yard during the spring and summer months to get these flowers looking as good as they do,” Mark said braggingly about his wife. Mark might enjoy looking at the final product, but Jeannie is sure to keep him away from messing any of her flowers up. “You would think watering the plants would COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

The Brickeys spend most of their time outdoors, but the kitchen gets lively around meal-time with a house full of boys be simple enough, but he just gets too easily distracted,” Jeannie says with a grin. The family may spend most of its time and energy enjoying the outdoors, but the Brickeys have paid as much attention to details on the indoors as they do the out. In the kitchen, a new island was added and the cabinets were updated to give them a more modern look. The dining room connects to the kitchen, which Mark says is nice because it helps to avoid chaos by getting the kids out of the way during holiday meals. The spot where the family spends the most time inside is in the family room, and it does not take long to figure out why. With unobstructed views of the lake, this room is a perfect place to sip coffee and watch a sunrise, or sip a bourbon and watch it set. A fireplace comes to life in the 44 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

winter months, making it a perfect spot for a cozy college football Saturday. With three sports obsessed boys, Jeffrey, Austin and Jackson, the Brickeys could not have picked a better back yard for physical activities. Stretching for 186 yards from the patio to the lake shore and bisected by a lone walkway leading to the dock, the back yard serves as a prime spot for pick up football games, large-scale capture the flag battles, and just about anything else a kid can imagine. “We would have a 7 vs 7 football game over here, and at the same time there would be another game going on over there,” Jeannie says as she pans her pointer finger from one side of the yard to the other. “One of our sons always had a group of friends over at any given time.” There are four swings in the backyard. One on the back porch, one halfway down the

yard towards the water, and two hanging from a tree down by the edge of the lake. It is down by the two swings on the lake where they spend the most time outdoors. “When the weather is good, this is where we cook out, hold Bible studies, watch the sunset, and enjoy the view of the lake,” Mark says. “No matter how hot it gets, there is always a breeze under this tree.” What would a lake house be without a boathouse? Buttressed by two more flower beds of Jeannie’s design, and dotted with pots of colorful flowers, the white boathouse continues the Cape Cod theme of the rest of the home. A boat sits on a lift ready for its next cruise, and a ladder extends to the roof of the boat house for only the most daring to do front flips and gainers into the water below. The house does not lose any of its grandeur as you peer back at it nearly 200 yards behind, draped by crepe myrtle trees, azaleas, and shaded by

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enormous pines. The Brickey’s dog, Killer, also seems to enjoy the wide open space as he devotes boundless energy to sprints across the yard followed by a dive into the lake to cool down. “You’re looking at the main culprit if I have damaged flowers. Him or the boys driving over them on the golf cart,” Jeannie jokes. Not only does the Brickey’s home satisfy their dream of living in a house reminiscent of the style of those on Cape Cod, but it is also a dream home for a kid of any age looking to blow off some steam. Jeannie’s flower beds are simply the cherry on top. I am sure that while on their many walks down the beaches of Cape Cod, Jeannie and Mark never imagined they could duplicate the style of home they had dreamed about for so long. It is not crazy to say that not only have they duplicated the style, but with a view like theirs’, they may have possibly surpassed the beauty of the original right here on Lake Guntersville. Good Life Magazine 46 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

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Jules J. Berta Winery

A Mountaintop Oasis Story by David Myers Photos by Hudson Shelton

ose Rose and I have visited Jules J. Berta Vineyards in Albertville more than a few times, especially since our return from Tuscany. The place is a rare jewel on Sand Mountain, conceived when the late Jules Berta Sr., a Hungarian immigrant, made an astounding proclamation to his son two decades ago. “This is wine country.” Flash forward to 2023 and to the vineyard that has become the Alabama Winery of the Year – again. Jules Berta, Jr., and his wife Becky have created a brand that brings the fruit of their vines to our county in a quality, yet downhome way. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down to talk about wine with Becky Berta, Jules’ wife and the operational manager of the vineyard’s customer-related operations. We spoke of ‘rootstock’ and higher elevations. “At eleven hundred feet, we consider ourselves to be at a high enough elevation. I’d like to be a little higher, but this is where we are.” 48 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

Above: Enter hungry; leave happy. Below: A flight of colorful slushies is a fun way to drink an adult beverage

As for the rootstock, the original vines imported from Europe have been elevated and improved in partnership with UC Davis. Amazingly the effort was able to develop stocks so hearty they are expected to produce for one hundred years.

The vintages produced and served here are one hundred percent produced from Berta vines. The order selections are excellent – traditional wines, fruit flavored and superb Sangria options.

TIP: Think about a charcuterie board or cheesy bread to nibble while you wait for your pie, especially on crowded days or evenings.

As surprising as it is to find a successful winery atop Sand Mountain, it is just as unexpected to drive in on a weekend night and find the place crowded with people enjoying an alfresco dinner of pizza and wine surrounded by grape vines. Frequently nowadays the drink option may be a wine slushie, available in several flavors. Made using the various Berta wines, they are ideal for a warm day and are also available in four-sample flights. We highly recommend the sangria. Wine pairing recommendations are available or you can try a flight for that too.

The mainstay centers around an Italian wood-fired, stone pizza oven. Once we discovered the delicious crust with no grease, topped with a robust sauce and fresh ingredients, we do not want a pizza baked any other way. Our favorite is the Farm to Table, scattered with meats and veggies. Others include the Pepperoni Honea, the Buzz Kill with spinach, feta cheese and no sauce, the Three Little Pigs with a lot of meat, City Slickers with Philly Beef Steak, and Chicken Buffalo. Or you can build your own from a list of meat and veggie toppings and special offerings such as sundried tomatoes, pesto and pineapple. Two sizes to choose from: 8-inch and 12-inch. A 10-inch cauliflower crust also is on the menu. Wine pairing recommendations are available or you can go with a four-sample flight. That’s our next plan. Good Life Magazine

ANOTHER TIP: Order a flight to sip while awaiting your pizza - wine or slushie (or both). The vineyard’s customer reception and ordering model is unique and works like this: 1. A hostess will greet you and assign a table. Many tables are sheltered and some are in the open. Either way, the setting is beautiful. 2. Go inside and place your order. The menu options are on display. Even if the line seems a little long, it moves quickly. And when you order, don’t feel rushed. Ask questions if you need to. While you’re at it open a tab and order your drinks. The tab will be automatically closed either when you ask or at 10 o’clock. 3. Take your seat. The drinks will be brought right out and servers are moving around in case you need something. If you order a charcuterie board or cheesy bread, it’ll get to you before your pizza is ready. We like this idea, especially on a busy night. 4. Relax. Sip. Nibble. Enjoy the lowpressure atmosphere. Winery hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:00- 2:00; Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10-00 – 8:00ish Pizza hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 11:00 – 8:00ish. Information regarding menu, events, specials, etc. is at the winery’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ julesbertawinery COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

COUNTRY BOY EDDY

Country Boy Eddie is flanked by his bandmates ahead of a show back in the band’s heyday Story by Steve Maze Photos from author’s collection

he three most well-known people in Alabama during the last half of the 20th century were Bear Bryant, George Wallace and Gordon Edward Burns … better known as “Country Boy” Eddy. Instead of waking up to a crowing rooster, most television viewers in Alabama and neighboring states woke up each morning to the sound of a braying mule and a cow bell. For 38 years, Country Boy Eddy entertained his television audiences with a song and a smile as a wakeup call at 5am. A forerunner to “The Tonight Show’ and “American Idol”, the Country Boy 50 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

Eddy Show entertained viewers with a down-home style of music supplied by local singers and musicians. So just how successful was the Country Boy Eddy Show? At one point, his show was drawing a 72-percent share of the ratings. In other words, 72-percent of the people who owned a television were watching his show when it aired. Most current television shows would now be ecstatic to receive a 15-percent share. Why was he so successful? There was not a fake bone in Eddy’s body. What you saw on television was what you got. He gave local people the ability to show off their talent, or lack of it, for several decades.

He also knew his audience. “Just remember this,” Eddy once told me, “there’s a lot more regular people out there than rich people.”

In other words, he knew the average blue-collar person who got up and watched his show would enjoy it more than others. And they did … and there were a lot more of them than the “rich” people. He was genuinely surprised when people wanted his autograph or to have their picture taken with him. And even though Eddy never thought of himself as a star, stars wanted to be on his show. Starlets such as Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield visited Eddy’s show to promote their movies. “The only time I was ever nervous on my own show was when Marilyn came on,” Eddy once told me. “She was a superstar and had a lot of people with her. She was also prettier than a speckled pup with a pearl necklace, but she was very nice and thanked me several times for having her on.” Other actors who made appearances on the show included western stars Sunset Carson, Lash Larue, Smiley Burnette, Pat Buttram and Eric Fleming – trial boss Gil Favor from the television series “Rawhide.” Of course, many professional singers and musicians such as Chet Atkins, Roger Miller, Boxcar Willie, Emmy Lou Harris and Charlie Louvin made appearances on the show. Even baseball great Dizzy Dean stopped in one morning, and he and Eddy sang the “Wabash Cannonball.” As much as Eddy enjoyed his association with celebrities who were on his show, nothing brought a smile to his face more than the live shows he and his Country Cousins band performed while perched atop the back of a flatbed trailer throughout various cities. “I spent half of my life on the back of a flat bed,” Eddy laughed during one of our many conversations. Not all the stars on the show came from Nashville. In fact, Eddy was responsible for sending several of his local performers to “Music City.” One of those was a local hairdresser who became a regular

Country Boy Eddy and Steve Maze pose together following a conversation about the good ol’ days on his show in the early ‘60s. With Eddy’s help, Tammy Wynette used the show as a stepping stone to Nashville where she became a country music legend. “Tammy was complaining how cold it was one day when we were doing a show on the back of a trailer,” Eddy told me. “I looked at her and said, ‘Tammy, you’ll never get off that flatbed as long as you stay in country music.’” Tammy passed away in 1998. “I had already gone to bed when the phone rang,” Eddy told me. “A newspaper reporter told me she had just passed away and wanted my reaction to her death. I was half asleep and told him to call me back in five minutes. He was very cordial when he called back, but I was so upset I couldn’t go back to sleep.” “I was very sad and shocked to hear of her death. I knew she had been sick, but didn’t know her condition was so serious. I felt like I had lost a close friend. My wife, Edwina, and I attended a memorial service for her at the Ryman Auditorium.” Another energetic young lady also began her music career on Eddy’s show. She was a pigtailed

banjo player from Alabaster by the name of Wendy Holcombe. Wendy performed on the show for several years and later went on to appear on “Hee Haw” and the Grand Ole Opry. Unfortunately, Holcombe’s career was cut short when she passed away from a heart condition. “She was wonderful,” Eddy said with sadness in his voice. “Wendy was one of the greatest talents I ever saw. She was very personable and everyone loved her. It was a sad day when my wife and I attended her funeral. I thought of Wendy as my own daughter.” Eddy also had television shows in other cities. Most people were not aware of that since they could not pick up the stations, which were out of state. Eddy would drive up to Nashville in the early 60s and tape five shows in one day to air the following week. A young lady trying to break into country music made one of her earliest appearances on his Nashville show. Her name was Dolly Parton. Needless to say, Dolly became not just a music icon, but has gone on to numerous television and movie roles. COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

Eddy got up at 2:30 am to do his show that began each day at 5 am. He only missed one day in 38 years because he got iced-in at his home. Music legend George once asked Eddy if he didn’t need a vacation. Eddy told George he was on vacation every day. The show wasn’t work to him. He loved it. Still, Eddy decided to retire in 1995. “My old mule, Fodder Fossil, had gotten too old to work, so I thought I better quit myself,” Eddy laughed. Eddy still made personal appearances, but mostly worked around his 200-acre farm raising cattle and bush hogging. The Country Boy “Eddie” set used on his show was constructed by the same gentleman who made the set for “Hee Haw.” The maker misspelled Eddy’s name as Eddie, but the set was already installed, so the misspelling remained. After Eddy’s retirement, the set was moved to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia where it is on permanent display. On February 9, 2016, an event happened that would be life altering for Eddy. His wife, Edwina, dropped dead in front of him of a massive heart attack inside their home. “He was lost without her,” says their son, Doyle Burns. “He never took care of himself. My mother had always taken care of him, handled his prescription medicine, and that sort of thing.” Eddy passed away the first part of this year. To be exact, it was on January 13. That day also happened to be Edwina’s birthday. “Edwina was the backbone of my career,” Eddy told me after he retired. “She supported and encouraged me throughout the years, but I know she went through a lot since I was gone a lot. She was not only a great wife, but a great mother.” Eddy knew he was dying the last time we spoke a month before he passed. But he didn’t tell me, I suspect, because he didn’t want me to worry about him. Eddy never mentioned he was sick, just that he was feeling as good as he could for being 92 years old. I was shocked and 52 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

Maze and Eddy pose shortly before or after Country Boy’s melodies had the entire room on their feet broken hearted when I heard he had passed away. “Dad wanted to go on be with my mother and the Lord,” says Doyle. “He would say, ‘I’m ready to go’, but he kept hanging on. Maybe it was because he had a great-grandson on the way.” One thing more important to Eddy than his show was his family. He always bragged to me about his only child, Doyle, and his grandson and two granddaughters. My dad was a self-made man,” Doyle says. “Everything he accomplished, he did on his own with no help. He only went to the third grade and my mother taught him to do math. But dad was smart business wise. He had a lot of motivation and was self-driven.” I got to know Eddy Burns well before he passed. I have interviewed many “stars” over the years – television and movie stars, professional athletes, musicians and singers. But the biggest “star” I ever met was Country Boy Eddy. Eddy was the most genuine and down-to-earth I have ever met. He was also a happy person and always in a good mood whenever I spoke with him. And I was always happier and in a better mood when we finished talking.

Eddy would have loved his funeral. Several of his guest and regular performers from his show strummed guitars, tickled the ivories of a keyboard, and plucked fiddles and banjos as they sang beautiful songs in his memory. The testimonials of his friends and acquaintances, most of whom I had never met, spoke about the same Eddy Burns I had come to know over the years. How he would gladly help anyone in need, whether in the entertainment business or not. Eddy was quick-witted, unassuming, modest of his success, and proud to be a Christian. Like many said, he was just a regular ole country boy. I could feel Eddy’s spirit when I attended his funeral. It may seem strange to some, but I think Eddy had a great time at his own funeral. The people he knew and loved were there for him. I know he was singing along with the performers as they played and sang. He probably gave them four rings on his cowbell … the highest rating one could earn on his show. Eddy Burns will always hold a special place in my heart, and I was fortunate to have known him … and so was anyone else who met or knew him. Good Life Magazine

A GUIDE TO FALL FOLIAGE IN MARSHALL COUNTY

t’s just about time to take that drive through the country to see Marshall County’s fall colors. Trees are starting to color up, and our peak is usually late October or early November. “It gets later and later every year it seems,” said Linda Reynolds, the retired State Park naturalist and longtime member of the Guntersville City Tree Commission. She kept up with the time of peak color throughout her career as naturalist and then beyond. “It was the last week of October for years and years.” She’s not entirely sure how the color show is going to be this year. We had a long dry spell in September. That usually

subdues the colors somewhat. “It is pretty in spots already,” Reynolds said. “Some poplars and hickories are beginning to get some color pops.” Reynolds has noticed one other thing associated with a slow start to fall this year. There aren’t a lot of ducks on the lake just yet. She’s seeing a few coots, but no ducks to speak of. People making a fall drive through Lake Guntersville State Park will also want to keep an eye out for the deer. They get particularly active in the fall and add to the enjoyment of a fall drive in the countryside.

PLACES YOU CAN TAKE A DRIVING TOUR TO SEE THE FALL COLORS INCLUDE: Lake Guntersville State Park Bucks Pocket State Park Monte Sano State Park in Madison County Grant, looking off the overlook at DAR School and down into Kennamer Cove The overlook on Highway 35 at Section in Jackson County DeSoto State Park in DeKalb County COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

175 YEARS:

Guntersville and Marshall County prior to 1848 Story and photos by Hudson Shelton

he city of Guntersville turns 175 years old this year. A lot has changed since John Gunter, the first white man to settle in the area and for whom the city is named, first took root here in 1785. Gunter married Catherine, the daughter of the local Cherokee chief, and when word started to spread of his successful enterprises and the abundance of easily accessible natural resources in the area, pioneers of European descent began to settle the land in droves. These early settlers found themselves in the middle of a burgeoning trade route, and everyone wanted in on the newfound riches. This time period is welldocumented, but the people who roamed this land were, before the European settlers came, and how they utilized the land to the benefit of their people, is not. Thanks to extensive archeological surveys carried out by TVA and other 54 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

An 1800 map details the vast number of Indian trade routes that traversed the states of Alabama and Georgia

federal programs in the 1930s, much has been learned about who the area’s inhabitants. Spear tips and other artefacts have been uncovered that date back nearly 12,000 years to the time of the Paleo-Indians, but the more well-known inhabitants of this area were Native Americans who identified as part of the Mississippian culture. They are more well-known because of the mounds they left behind long after they were gone. These are also the cultures that many Indian tribes such as the Creeks, Choctaws, and Cherokees trace their own lineage back too. The first written record of contact with Native Americans in present day Marshall County was from the legendary expedition of Hernando de Soto, who famously trekked the Southeastern United States in search of gold for the Spanish crown. The now submerged Indian villages of Tali and Coste, which was located on Pine Island in the Tennessee River, were resting places for de Soto and his men.

Many of the Native American trading posts and cultural sites that we are familiar with today are associated with the Cherokee and Creek tribes of Indians. This is partly due to their less abrasive attitudes towards, and ability to work alongside, the white settlers, but also due to their late arrival in the area in the mid-1700s. These tribes were forced from their ancestral lands in both North Carolina and parts of Eastern Tennessee.

Gunter’s Village, whose name was changed to Gunter’s Landing by John Gunter’s son Edward in 1818, was a thriving crossroad for trade. Several trade paths converged within a few miles of each other there. Also, prior to their forced removal from Alabama, Gunter’s Landing was a popular spot for Cherokees to find employment and goods they could not find anywhere else. Ironically, this spot would also serve a more grim purpose. It was one of the

rendezvous points for Cherokees before they embarked on another forced removal to the territory of Oklahoma, now known as the Trail of Tears. The town of Creek Path, known for its Creek Path Mission school, was another location for the Cherokees. At its height, Creek Path would have been home to 400500 Cherokees, nearly one-third of the entire Cherokee population of Alabama at that time. The Cherokees in this area were instrumental in the early 1800s in assisting the United States government and General Andrew Jackson’s removal of the Creeks further south at Horseshoe Bend. The Cherokees assisted with the hope that they would not face the same fate as the Creek Indians. Inevitably, they experienced their own fate just a few years later, much sooner than anticipated. Due to inundation by the rising waters of the Tennessee River, many of those prehistoric sites have not been studied and will remain that way. The study of traditions and rituals passed down for millennia may be lost forever, but we know we have one thing in common. We have tilled the same soil as those before us and it is up to us to preserve that land for generations to come. Good Life Magazine COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

The Legend of Simp McKee. McGhee? Story by Hudson Shelton

tanding in an unassuming spot among the rows of tombstones in Taylor Cemetery on Buck Island, an almost completely weathered slab of stone reads, “W.S. McKee, Dec. 15, 1859 – Jun. 16, 1917.” This name might not evoke a reaction from most in Marshall County, but it is sure to draw the attention of the citizens of Decatur. In 1986, a restaurant opened

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on Bank Street in downtown Decatur by the name of Simp McGhee’s, an homage to this previously forgotten character. The first thing to clarify is the clear misspelling of his name by the restaurant compared to the name on his headstone. “Yes, his name was William Simpson McKee, not McGhee,” Squee Bailey, who leads historical walking tours around Bank Street said. “We tend to slur in the

South, so I think over the years, his name got slurred and we’ve known him as Simp McGhee ever since.” Since that is out of the way, who exactly was Simp McKee? Born in Claysville, Alabama, an unincorporated community right outside of Guntersville in 1859, McKee’s legend grew from his early days. Those who knew him as a young man heard stories of how he was born an orphan, while others were led to believe that he was born into a fortune. One thing we do know is that he was born just a couple hundred yards from the Tennessee River, and did not venture more than a couple hundred yards from that river until his death nearly 60 years later. Simp McKee was a steamboat captain on the Tennessee River from the time he turned 13, primarily operating on the stretch of river that weaves from Chattanooga through the Sequatchie Valley and into the Tennessee River Valley towards the daunting Muscle Shoals. Because he was constantly on the water, McKee never had a conventional place to call home. In fact, McKee is known to have said, “my mama was the Tennessee River,” and one of his only

concerns in life was whether or not he would be buried on its shores. A desire that, of course, was granted. Long before the wild river was dammed, captains tasked with carrying goods from one place to another faced the difficulty of navigating rapids and obstacles in the water, both seen and unseen. It was because of this that captains on the river were typically revered by the people of the towns they frequented, and developed reputations that usually inflated their actual accomplishments. McKee had a reputation from his time on the River, but he had an even bigger reputation for his shenanigans off of it. In Decatur there was a woman known as Miss Kate, who reportedly owned a saloon that served as a makeshift brothel at times. McKee, naturally, would have known all about the activities happening behind closed doors, but he had his sights set only on Miss Kate. Legend has it that Miss Kate, who was married to a local jeweler with whom she shared a child, divorced and started a new life with the captain. The bells and whistles from his steamboat were said

to be heard from miles away by the people of Decatur as McKee would approach the city to alert Miss Kate of his impending arrival. Miss Kate was not alone in admiring the captain. One resident was quoted as saying of McKee, “He was a debauchee but with a heart as big as all outdoors.” There is no photograph evidence, but he was also known for having a pig accompany him to the saloon and share a pint of his favorite brew. Wouldn’t that be a sight? McKee’s rambunctious way of life caught up to him though, when the Feds busted him for shooting rapids too recklessly south of Chattanooga, risking the safety of his boat and crew, and stripped him of his license to operate on the river. This was the only life he had ever known, and taking McKee off the Tennessee was like ripping the heart straight out of his body. He died three months later at Miss Kate’s saloon at the age of 57, and was buried on Buck Island, in accordance with his wishes.

Life on the Tennessee River in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is difficult to comprehend now. TVA’s dams have created massive lakes and easier routes of navigation that do not require the bravado of captains past. Many of the spots where McKee disembarked for an evening on the town are completely submerged today. Although it is difficult to track down anecdotes from McKee’s time in Marshall County, he would have naturally spent many years of his life on the docks along the river in and around Guntersville. I imagine his debauchery followed him everywhere he traveled on the Tennessee, and it is not hard to picture him bellied up with his pig at some great spot at City Harbor today. Who knows, maybe he had another “Miss Kate” in Marshall County he blew his bells and whistles for, once he was a safe distance up the river from Decatur that is. Good Life Magazine

The sign above the entrance to the Decatur restaurant reads Simp McGhee’s instead of McKee COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

A flower bloom soaks up the final rays of summer sun before the first frost of fall

Arab’s Historic Village is full of interesting collectibles from the bygone days 58 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

Tony Triolo, former chief photographer at the Huntsville Times, snapped this photo from his back porch on the Reserve

Arab’s Historic Village is full of interesting collectibles from the bygone days

Lola Boyd lived in her farmhouse in the Village for all 99 years of her life. Lola, you’ve got mail! COMPLIMENTARY | FALL 2023

For information on supporting local cancer care please visit The Foundation For Marshall Medical at foundationformmc.org or call (256) 571-8026.

Celebrating ten years of excellent cancer care closer to home. Marshall Cancer Care Center opened in 2013 following tremendous local support of the Closer To Home capital campaign. In reflecting on our 10-year anniversary, we are especially grateful for the warm community embrace that continues to make excellent local cancer care a reality. Thanks to your generous spirit, convenience and compassion are working together in a big way for Marshall county and surrounding areas. 60 FALL 2023 | COMPLIMENTARY

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