Western Tidewater Living Spring 2015

Western Tidewater

Living

Framing a local artist

Franklin resident Nancy Stutts talks about her artwork.

Just like Grandma’s ‘Mr. D’ talks about cooking, his favorite foods and the restaurant business.

240 years of praise One of the area’s oldest churches recently celebrated a big milestone.

SPRING 2015 • vol. 6, no. 1

western tidewater living

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Western Tidewater

Living

Many of our neighbors live in homes built by their grandparents or great-grandparents.

Many of them work farms that have been in their families for generations. Grandchildren tend to businesses started long ago by their predecessors.

Yes, Western Tidewater is indeed a community with deep, deep roots. But perhaps there are no places more evident of that fact than the churches many of us attend. And I would guess that there are few churches in our community with deeper roots than those firmly in

letter from the publisher place below South Quay Baptist Church, which recently celebrated its 240th anniversary. Though the congregation no longer worships in the same one-room church established by David Barrow in 1775, it has, according to former pastor Rev. Clyde Alderman, “A very rich history of being loyal to the Word of God.” And it would appear, after 240 years, that God himself has remained loyal to the members of South Quay Baptist Church. We are happy to profile the church’s history in this edition of Western Tidewater Living.

Tony Clark Publisher Tidewater Publications

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contents spring 2015

Cover photograph

by Cain Madden ON THE COVER: Nancy Stutts, who designs her own frames, leads the Blackwater Artists League.

Western Tidewater

Living

Tony Clark Publisher Cain Madden Managing Editor Stephen Cowles Staff Writer Andrew Lind Staff Writer

INSIDE THIS EDITION

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PARTY PIX

Michelle Butt

Franklin resident Nancy Stutts talks about her artwork.

W

hen Michelle Butt first transferred from Virginia Tech to Old Dominion University, she majored in communications, but she didn’t really know what she was going to do with it. That all changed when she got an internship with WAVY TV’s sports department.

Since then, the mother of two has spent every work day possible at a television station, just recently taking the role of general manager in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Butt is excited to lead every operation of the Piedmont Triad’s NBC affiliate.

“I oversee all of the different folds of content at the station — the newsroom, sales, marketing, production, engineering, technical, IT and our digital platform,” she said. “I work with all of the people involved with those areas to make sure we are delivering a quality product to our viewers.”

She didn’t know it at the time, but her

path to television started at Southampton Academy.

“It was a remarkable school,” Butt said.

“We got to do anything and everything. I worked for the newspaper club, cheerleading, oratory things and forensics. We got to do everything that we wanted to do.

“That’s a lot about what a television station is. I may not be an expert in anything, but I can talk about most things.”

Growing up in Southampton County was also nice. Butt said she lived in the area not too far from Southampton Memorial Hospital. Her father worked in Franklin for the Union Camp Paper Mill.

“I grew up in a time when the community was very robust. The paper mill employed thousands of people,” she said. “We rode up to Main street on Friday nights.

We hung out at Dairy Queen, and I remember when they opened the Hardee’s.

“I remember Christmas parades on

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Main Street, and being in them. It was such a safe time, a remarkable time — I could walk all the way downtown to Parker’s Drug Store if I wanted to and charge it to my parent’s account.

“It was a quintessential small town. You left your doors unlocked, went to Friday night football games, and if the community needed to, it would rally behind a cause.

It was a great place to grow up.”

The people were amongst the best part.

Butt said she was grateful that at Southampton Academy it was considered cool to be a cheerleader and a journalism geek, and to all the teachers, coaches and mentors that helped prepare her for college.

By the time Butt got there, she knew how to juggle extra-curricular activities and school, which helped her excel in her sports internship.

So much so, that when she graduated, her first job was with WAVY. As the sports

western tidewater living 39

where am I?

Noel Lewis Columnist In each edition, our magazine staff

Ryan Outlaw Designer Loretta Lomax Editorial Assistant Mitzi Lusk Advertising Director Ginnie Spivey Advertising Representative

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provides a challenge of sorts for readers, testing how much of Western Tidewater

JUST LIKE GRANDMA’S COOKING

Advertising rates and information available upon request to ads@tidewaternews.com. Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state, $24 annually out of state and $30 annually overseas.

they really know. We photograph a scene in Western Tidewater that is visible to motorists or pedestrians.

Whoever can identify the location pictured above will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers.

For the winter edition, the photo was taken of a mural at Southampton High School in Courtland. Photo by Cain Madden.

So, if you know where this issue’s photo was taken, let us know. If you’re right, you

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Tell us where our photographer took this photo and get a chance to win a gift certificate.

could be a winner. E-mail your answers to magazine@tidewaternews.com Go out and enjoy Western Tidewater!

Douglas Sumblin turns passion for food and customer service into a successful restaurant.

Michelle Gray Office Manager Western Tidewater Living is published four times a year by Tidewater Publications, LLC P.O. Box 497, Franklin, VA 23851 757-562-3187

Catching up with Michelle Butt

story by Cain Madden

Western Tidewater residents were spotted at everything from Fat Friday at Fred’s to the Ivor Gun Bash to the MEAC Basketball Tournament this past season.

A PORTRAIT OF WESTERN TIDEWATER

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‘IT’S MEANT THE WORLD TO ME’

South Quay Baptist Church celebrated its 240th anniversary on March 1. Several of the faithful speak about growing up with the church.

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Columnist Noel Lewis

Southern Belle column by Noel Lewis photo by Leah Lewis

She was used to being looked at, a southern belle from a long line of southern belles.

A natural beauty if ever there was one, her hair was the envy of the town, and her figure was often enough the discourse at local watering holes. There had been parades and pageants for as long as she could remember; all of them with her taking center stage and oohed and aahed all over the county. In the pageant circuit she had worked her way up since she was barely a year old winning locals, districts and regionals; and there were whispers of her trying for state next. Everyone assumed she would win in a landslide, advance to the national level, and then, who knows? The sky was the limit. She was still fairly young and had risen so high and accomplished so much that everyone was certain that she would go all the way to the top and beyond, wherever that may be. Her beauty, like a fine barrel aged wine, only got better with age.

Those in the pageant circles are used to being judged. She was no different. She

had been poked, prodded and inspected from one end of the state to the other, it seemed. Were her teeth white enough?

Were they set the correct distance apart?

Were her nails filed just so? Was her hair the right shine and color and brushed the right way? Was her nose too long?

Too short? Were her lips the right complexion? The list went on and on, a veritable gauntlet of judgment. Yet, everywhere she went, again and again, the more scrutiny she got, the more praise and admiration was showered upon her. She was met with adoration everywhere, and not just in pageant circles. In her own home town, there wasn’t a whisper of negative gossip about her. She was always met with smiles and hugs from children and grownups alike.

Through all the parades and pageantry,

the pokes and the prods, there had come to be one person whom she tried hardest to please. A man, a boy, really, whom she had great hopes for. She dreamed of a long relationship with him, sharing everything, growing old together. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for him. All the parades and pageants had been for him. Out of all the accolades and adorations, his was the praise and affections she desired most.

She was used to being looked at. But not like this. What was this look he was giving her? Was there a hint of sadness there?

Disappointment even? What had she done to deserve this sudden condemnation? She moved closer to his side, tried to get closer to maybe snuggle with him. Maybe this look was a momentary lapse. Maybe he was in a bad mood.

He moved away from her, that same look twisting his face so that she couldn’t bear to look at it.

“Bad dog!” He murmured, then turned and walked away. 

party pix

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Community Leadership Breakfast Top: From left, Franklin residents Jean Bullock, Barbara Barnes, Nellie Boone and Mary Belton attend the Community Leadership Breakfast. Center: Members of the 757 Divas Social Club, front row, from left, Latoria Whitfield of Boykins, Shane Lewis of Suffolk and Cassaundra Lewis of Franklin; back, Karen Stith of Boykins and Nikita Banks of Courtland. Bottom: Ladies of the Franklin Tri-County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Front center are Angela Artis, chapter president and JoeAnn Faulk, chapter vice president; second row, from left, Kim Walker-Lee, Wynndolynn Copeland, Lillian Davis, Deborah Falk, Dorothy Blunt, Orris Lane and MeChelle Blunt; third row, Lori Boone-Lawrence, Kisha Watford and Dorothy Jones; back, Lynnette Jones, Natasha Preau and Stephanie Olds.

PHOTOS BY CAIN MADDEN

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Bowl-A-Thon From left: College President Paul Wm. Conco, Ph.D., Paul D. Camp Community College alum Jenn Sulin; assistant professor of electronics, mechatronics and robotics David Lorenz; student Allie Best; Jacob Bradshaw, part-time graphic designer at PDCCC and recent student who will graduate May; Felicia Blow, vice president for Institutional Advancement, Renee Felts, dean of Occupational/ Technical Programs on Franklin Campus and professor of Information Systems Technology; Christel Archer, administrative assistant in Nursing; and Randy Betz, vice president of Workforce Development at the Annual Bowl-A-Thon presented

by PDCCC & The Workforce Development Center & Rotary Club of Franklin PHOTOS BY BILL BILLINGS

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party pix

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Franklin Fat Friday Mother Nature was determined to stop the Downtown Franklin Association’s Mardi Gras celebration — Fat Friday at Fred’s — but the party finally took place on March 13, after the February snows had melted. Left: The winner of the King’s Gold, Annette Myers, along with The King, Jim Councill. Below: The crowd gathered for the Fat Friday event at Fred’s Restaurant, which is decorated from front to back.

PHOTOS BY KEN PANISSIDI AND IRENE SISSON

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party pix

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Franklin Fat Friday Left: Prince Galavantz (AKA “Downtown” Dan Howe) reads the Fat Friday Royal Decree. “Here Ye! Here Ye! Lords & Ladies of the Kingdom of Franklin! The King has set forth the Royal Decree proclaiming Friday, March 13, in the year of our Lord 2015 as Fat Friday!

Please pay heed as I recognize the members of the King’s Court!” Bottom: The King’s Court, in no particular order: Jim Councill of Councill Financials and a DFA board member was The King; while his wife, Bambi, who is on the city’s beautification committee, played The Queen. The Jester is DFA Board President Beverly Myers. Tara Thomalla a volunteer and DFA college intern is the Countess of Chowan. Nancy Parrish, the manager of the Franklin Business Incubator, is Lady Egg-cellent. Pam Ellis, DFA promotions co-chair, is Princess Pours-a-Lot. David Price, of David Price Income Tax, is the Keeper of the King’s Accounts. Juanita Richards, of Richwood Graphics and DFA vice president, is the Dutchess of Design. Kathy Worrell, of Manry-Rawls and the DFA board secretary, is The Good Lady Assuredly. Sandy Holloman, the DFA office manager, is the Keeper of the Kingdom’s Scrolls.

Jackie Newsome, of Jack Jr.’s Towing and Auto Repair, is Lady Repairz All; Gayle Schmitz, owner of Franklin Art and Frameworks, is the Court’s Artist. Dan Howe, the DFA executive director, is The Good Prince Galavantz. Cheryl Stepp of Highground Services is the Princess of Highground.

PHOTOS BY KEN PANISSIDI

western tidewater living

Ivor Gun Bash Top left: Fred and Beth Crawford of Ivor at the annual Ivor Volunteer Fire Department “Gun Bash” Fundraiser. Top right: From left, Owen Foster, 3, Kaylee KIng and Linda King. Bottom: From left, Charles and Judy Stallard, Lisa Edwards, Whitney Burgess and Bryan Edwards.

PHOTOS BY MERLE MONAHAN

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Ivor Gun Bash Top: Mike Casto of Ivor and Angela Murphy of Portsmouth attend the annual Ivor Volunteer Department “Gun Bash” Fundraiser. Bottom: From left, Terry Hedspeth, Hunter Billups and Debbie Hedspeth of Zuni.

PHOTOS BY MERLE MONAHAN

party pix

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MEAC Basketball Tournament The 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament was held from March 9-14 at the Norfolk Scope Arena. A host of area residents were present during the tournament serving in roles ranging from tournament administrators to spectators.

Leading the distinguished group was Larry Rose of Courtland, who serves as the coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials for the conference. Rose has a dream team of staff who assist him in overseeing the observance of game official’s duties during the calling of all games during the season and at the tournament. Locally, on his team is former CIAA official Herman Charity and retired coach Littleton Parker. Other staff comes from Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

For the record, many of the local spectators were divided between Norfolk State and Hampton.

It became very evident that many were for Norfolk State as many of them were missing at the finals game on Saturday between Hampton and Delaware State in which Hampton won by a score of 82-61. Below; Larry Rose’s Dream team of MEAC Observers of Officials, from left, Larry Rose, Russell Ward, Willie Brown, Littleton Parker and Herman Charity PHOTO BY FRANK A. DAVIS

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MEAC Basketball Tournament Top: With the Hampton University Pirate after Hamptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s semi-final victory are, Almeta Davis, Rose Parker and Yvonne Rose. Bottom: Watching the semi-final game between Norfolk State University and Hampton University are, from left, Charles and Ida Williams, Theodore (Southampton Indian) Hayes and Lee Hawks.

PHOTOS BY FRANK A. DAVIS

western tidewater living

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Kindred-Norris Wedding Newlyweds Sha’Terra Lavon Kindred of Franklin and Raymond Edward Norris walk through Shockoe Slip in downtown Richmond on their way to the wedding reception at the C’est le Vin Art & Wine Gallery along with maid of honor, Ashley Hardy and best man, Darien May. PHOTO BY FRANK DAVIS

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what to do WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

open from 5 to 10 p.m., and on Saturday, April 11, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, contact organizer David Stizligz, Fire Chief Hank Fuller at 654-6660, or Serena White at 919-618-0136.

Cover 3 Youth Football and Cheer League:

Registration opens on Wednesday, April 1; assistant coaches must be registered and background checks completed by Monday, June 1; all players and teams must be registered by Tuesday, June 30; practices begin on Saturday, Aug. 8; and games begin on Saturday, Sept. 12. For more information, visit www.cover3foundation.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2

Suffolk Quilters Guild: A meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 213 N. Main St., Suffolk. For more information, call 484-6688.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8

Oyster roast: The Chuckatuck Ruritan Club

will have its 39th annual oyster roast from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Kirk Farm on Everets Road. Tickets cost $35 in advance, and available from Pretlow and Pretlow, 200 N. Main St., Suffolk; Saunders Supply Co., Chuckatuck; or any club member.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9

Free movie night: Paul D. Camp Community College’s Student Government Association will sponsor a showing of the movie, “Selma,” at 4 p.m. in room 105 at the Hobbs Suffolk Campus, 271 Kenyon Road, and at 7 p.m. in the Technology Theater at the Regional Workforce Development Center, 100 N. College Dr., Franklin. No tickets required.

Movie, popcorn and sodas are free. The film is rated PG-13 and runs 128 minutes. For more information, contact Eric Benton at ebenton@pdc.edu.

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 Boykins Spring Carnival: The Boykins Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department will host the Boykins Spring Carnival in the area around the station on North Railroad Avenue from April 10-11. Entry for people under age 16 will be free, while entry is $3 for those 16 and older. The carnival will feature midway activities and rides at an additional cost. There will also be firefighter challenges, games, a petting zoo and a duck race.

Vendors will also be present selling food and other goods. On Friday, April 10, it is

FAFSA Friday: Paul D. Camp Community

College’s Financial Aid Office is hosting FAFSA Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the computer labs at Franklin and Hobbs Suffolk campuses. The purpose of the event is to provide free assistance with filing the 2015-16 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For more information, call the PDCCC Financial Aid Office at 757-569-6715 in Franklin and 757925-6346 in Suffolk.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11

Pancake breakfast: The Courtland Masonic Lodge 85 will have a pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the lodge building at 22142 Main St., Courtland. The breakfast is $6 and all you can eat. Tickets are available at the door. Kids 5 and under is free. For tickets or more information, call Clayton Gaskins at 434-658-0613.

Elvis concert: Elvis (aka A.J. Outlaw) is com-

ing to the Wakefield Foundation, 100 Wilson Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and are available for purchase from Kids Korner, Britt’s Service Center, Wakefield Pharmacy, Waverly Drugs, Windsor Drugs, Peanut Patch and Drake Tire. For tickets or more information, call 899-2365 or visit facebook.com/wakefieldfoundation.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Down Home Day: The Southampton Heri-

tage Village and the Ag & Forestry Museum will have Down Home Day from noon to 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

Antique sale: The Antique Appraisal Fair

and Sale, hosted by the Surry County Historical Society, will be at the Surry County Community and Recreation Center from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appraisers will offer evaluation for $10 an item, three items for $25, and five items for $40. SCHS members will receive a discount of $7 per item. Antique vendors will have items for sale, and a café will be available for lunch, refreshments, and baked goods. Payment may be made in cash or check only. Pro-

ceeds benefit the historical society.

FRIDAY, MAY 1

Scholarship application deadline: Boykins Lodge No. 287 AF&AM has announced the first Right Worshipful George C. Scott, Jr., Memorial Scholarship to a worthy high school senior residing in the greater Boykins area. The announcement, criteria and application are available at http://goo. gl/8SAM4F. The applications must be postmarked by May 1. For questions or more information go to scholarship@boykinslodge287.org or call 354-ASK1 (2751).

Veteran reunion: The Mid-Atlantic Branch

of the Second Indianhead Division Association will have its annual reunion in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on from May 1-3, at the Continental Inn. All veterans of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division are invited, in particular those in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. For more information, call Harry Roye at (804) 5260828 or send an email to Hkroye@comcast.net.

SATURDAY, MAY 9

Beef BBQ dinner: The Ag & Forestry Museum will have beef barbecue dinners for sale from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Courtland Ruritan Building. Tickets are available from any museum members. Heritage Day will be Sept.

12.

Pastel Techniques: Advance your knowl-

edge of pastel painting in this technique class from 1 to 4 p.m. Artist Mary Christie will demonstrate then provide a good deal of individualized attention as each student paints a landscape working from their own photos. Cost is $80 per student.

Call for list of minimal supplies. Reserve your space by April 27 by calling 3577707 or visit the Arts Center at 319 Main St., in Historic Downtown Smithfield (www.SmithfieldArts.org).

MONDAY, MAY 18

Summer classes: Register now for summer

2015 classes at Paul D. Camp Community College. Classes begin May 18. For more information, visit www.pdc.edu/faqs or call the Franklin Campus at 569-6700; the Hobbs Suffolk Campus at 925-6300; or PDCCC at Smithfield at 925-6340.

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The Barn, where high school seniors used to paint the logos of the college they were attending every spring.

Stutts painted this on location.

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A portrait of Western Tidewater A

fter more than half way through her career as a home economics teacher, the landscape changed for her — it was a gradual change of heart.

As a child Nancy Stutts had dabbled with art, but by her own admission she was not a prodigy. She had taken classes whenever she could, though it never seemed like something practical to make a career of until Stutts hit her 30s. That’s when she became dissatisfied teaching home economics.

There was no moment that stands out; no epiphany. One day, Stutts just found herself working as a long-term substitute teacher in the Franklin system whenever possible, and taking art classes at Old Dominion University to get her certification to teach that subject.

“I enjoy art, and I wanted to pass on my knowledge and love of art,” she said.

“I enjoy working with students who are already good young artists and develop them and encourage them in general,

story and photos by Cain Madden

not just in art.

“They are young and eager — they love trying new things. I like to give them to exposure to things they might not have had the opportunity to get otherwise.”

So Stutts landed a job at Franklin High School, where she taught art for 11 years. After retiring in the ‘90s, she started working part time at Riverdale and Nottoway elementary schools.

While working with gifted art students, the teacher finally had time to do what she really had a passion for: create art herself.

“I worked at it some before,” Stutts said, adding that she retired from the Southampton County system this past year. “But there wasn’t much time to paint except for during the summer.

Now I try to spend as much time as I can painting. I’m not trying to make a living at it, but I do it because I love to paint.”

Her favorite style of painting is the landscape, partially because she likes spending time outdoors.

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26 western tidewater living “I love nature, so, that’s what I want to paint,” Stutts said. “I love birds, and sometimes they will be in my paintings.”

There is no better subject for her canvass than Western Tidewater.

“People enjoy seeing paintings of local scenery,” she said. “There is a lot of beauty here in Franklin and Southampton County.”

Plus, it’s immediately accessible, such as the Bronco Club, Johnsons Mill and the Country Club. There is more to it than convenience, though.

“If you have no connectivity to a subject, it’s more difficult to do,” Stutts said.

“It’s always better to paint something you are more familiar with, something that you are connected to.”

Stutts said she’s originally from upstate New York, but that she’s been here since the 1970s, having been drawn to Franklin by — what else — the call of the Union Camp Corporation’s paper mill, where her first husband, David Breed, worked.

Since then, she has married Joe Stutts, the father of Sheriff Jack Stutts.

“He enjoys it as much as I do,” she said about art, adding that he is a writer and also does woodworking. “We travel, and he loves to go to art museums. We’ve been to Italy twice, and France and London.

“Joe is very supportive of my art.”

The top painting was one Stutts painted in at the Rawls Museum Arts.

She said the scene is not painted exactly as it appears, as she focused on the water and tree. The middle painting is a grouping of birch trees Stutts took while canoeing in the Adirondacks. The bottom field featuring a flock of sheep was painted out in Southampton County. On the right page is a pastel that Stutts recently did from still life.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I get excited when there is a problem to solve, and I struggle with what to do, but then I solve it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and it goes well.â&#x20AC;?

Stutts painting a pastel piece. To visit her studio, call her at 757-562-7939.

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They also stay local to enjoy the opera and the Chrysler Museum, as well as the Rawls Museum Arts and the Virginia Museum.

Now, Stutts can safely say that her life does revolve around art, and her local connections deepened when she got involved in the Blackwater Artists League through the Rawls Museum. She is now serving as the president and invites people to visit them on Monday mornings.

“I enjoy working with other artists — we’ll often have a group outing to paint a local scene,” she said. “They are a good group of people. The members are from the whole area, not just Courtland and Franklin.”

The act of painting is almost as good as the feeling she gets when she sees the finished product.

“I enjoy the creative process,” Stutts said. “I enjoy the doing of it; the creation of it; the working on it. It’s not just about the end result, though that is obviously part of it.”

Her creative process varies.

Sometimes she will go out, walk around and take photographs of scenes that she would like to consider painting back at her studio.

Other times, she’ll set up outdoors and paint a scene right there, brining it back for finishing touches.

On occasion, she’ll pull a scene directly out of her head, as well.

There are a number of reasons why she enjoys painting so much.

“I love seeing the painting develop, and working with colors,” Stutts said. “I love colors, which is one of the nice things about oil painting.

“I also like how the painting evolves — it may change as you are working on it. You can redo things, or work on things as new

ideas come along.”

Pastels and mixed-medium pieces are another aspect of art she enjoys. Drawing is always a good practice to keep up, as well.

“I basically stick to those,” she said. “Pastels and oil-based painting complement each other well.”

Sometimes, the artwork comes together easily. Other times, it is a complete challenge. The challenging ones are the best.

“I get excited when there is a problem to solve, and I struggle with what to do, but then I solve it — and it goes well,” Stutts said.

“I like to keep painting until it feels really good, it feels right. I do not frame a painting until I am happy with it.

“Of course, sometimes I will take one out of the frame and rework it, but I don’t do that as much as I used to.”

Early on, when she was happy with it — it was hard to let them go. Now, that’s a lot easier.

“There’s some I’m still attached to, that I can’t let go,” Stutts said.

“But if they bring someone else joy, I don’t mind.

“I’m not very business-minded, and I’m not trying to guess what the market wants. I really have the luxury of painting what I want to paint. If someone else likes and wants what I do, there’s hardly a better feeling.” 

Top, “Primeval Marsh” is one of Stutts favorite paintings, a mixed-media piece. The middle image, “Pastorial Night,” is worked entirely from her imagination after pouring acrylics on a surface with some gold powder. Below, “Old Stone Wall” was done en plein aire near where Stutts’ parents lived in upstate New York.

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30 western tidewater living

Michelle Butt story by Cain Madden

W

hen Michelle Butt first transferred from Virginia Tech to Old Dominion University, she majored in communications, but she didn’t really know what she was going to do with it. That all changed when she got an internship with WAVY TV’s sports department.

Since then, the mother of two has spent every work day possible at a television station, just recently taking the role of general manager in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Butt is excited to lead every operation of the Piedmont Triad’s NBC affiliate.

“I oversee all of the different folds of content at the station — the newsroom, sales, marketing, production, engineering, technical, IT and our digital platform,” she said. “I work with all of the people involved with those areas to make sure we are delivering a quality product to our viewers.”

She didn’t know it at the time, but her

path to television started at Southampton Academy.

“It was a remarkable school,” Butt said.

“We got to do anything and everything. I worked for the newspaper club, cheerleading, oratory things and forensics. We got to do everything that we wanted to do.

“That’s a lot about what a television station is. I may not be an expert in anything, but I can talk about most things.”

Growing up in Southampton County was also nice. Butt said she lived in the area not too far from Southampton Memorial Hospital. Her father worked in Franklin for the Union Camp Paper Mill.

“I grew up in a time when the community was very robust. The paper mill employed thousands of people,” she said. “We rode up to Main street on Friday nights.

We hung out at Dairy Queen, and I remember when they opened the Hardee’s.

“I remember Christmas parades on

Main Street, and being in them. It was such a safe time, a remarkable time — I could walk all the way downtown to Parker’s Drug Store if I wanted to and charge it to my parent’s account.

“It was a quintessential small town. You left your doors unlocked, went to Friday night football games, and if the community needed to, it would rally behind a cause.

It was a great place to grow up.”

The people were amongst the best part.

Butt said she was grateful that at Southampton Academy it was considered cool to be a cheerleader and a journalism geek, and to all the teachers, coaches and mentors that helped prepare her for college.

By the time Butt got there, she knew how to juggle extra-curricular activities and school, which helped her excel in her sports internship.

So much so, that when she graduated, her first job was with WAVY. As the sports

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producer, her job was shooting, writing and editing a lot of the sports content.

She was part time, though, and that allowed her to work a little in news.

“They were like, ‘You are a pretty smart girl. We are going to teach you how to produce a news cast.’ I learned how, and when left, I was producing the 5 p.m. news.”

From there, she made her way to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she worked for WRAL, a CBS affiliate that has a reputation for excellence. There, she was an executive producer.

“It was an entry-level management job, and was the first one I had,” Butt said. “I absolutely loved it.”

She loved it so much that from there, she only took management jobs. But she had to move around a little to do it. She went back to Norfolk, to Pittsburgh, and then to Winston-Salem for the first time.

“In my business, you have to move around to move up,” she said. “But I’ve worked for the same company since Pittsburgh, Hearst. I’ve moved around a bit, but I’ve been fortunate to work at some really great TV stations.”

After Winston-Salem, she took a job as a news director in Baltimore, which was the job previous to her current job.

“You learn something new at every spot,” Butt said. “That’s the great thing about a career in journalism, no two days are ever the same.”

While days are rarely similar, the goals for each day are.

“It’s about urgency, accuracy and building relationships with the viewer,” Butt said. “But that is one of the reasons why I think it is a wonderful career — the day is never dull. You get to do something unique and original every day.”

Her children and husband, Richard, are still in Baltimore while her 17-year-old daughter, Peyton, graduates from high school. In the meantime, she will commute back to Baltimore or they come down, with the goal of not missing much time together until graduation.

Richard and their son, Jackson, will join them in North Carolina once Peyton goes off to college. Richard, who is an engineer that she met while she was working at WAVY, went to the universities of Wake

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Forest and North Carolina State, so he’ll be glad to be back and have season tickets for the Demon Deacons, she said.

“It was a priority for her dad and I for her to graduate in Maryland with her friends,” Butt said.

“I started thinking about this opportunity several years ago, and I’m grateful that the company has allowed us to get into the home stretch.”

Thanks to the wonders of social media, Butt said her Southampton County roots still follow her.

“I could not get over the number of people from Southampton County who reached out to say congrats,” she said. “I am eternally grateful for those friendships and connections that growing up in a small community gave me.

“That’s the great thing about growing up in a small town, the people you meet along way. In a big city, you meet lots of people, but you don’t take them with you on life’s journey. If you grow up in a place like Southampton County, it’s remarkable the number of people you take with you in life.” 

“It’s about urgency, accuracy and building relationships with the viewer. But that is one of the reasons why I think it is a wonderful career — the day is never dull. You get to do something unique and original every day.”

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W

Just Like Grandma’s Cooking

hen he was only 5-years-old, Douglas Sumblin would sleepwalk and rummage through his mother’s cabinets, looking for pots and pans to act as if he were cooking.

“I don’t remember it,” the owner of Mr. D’s Southern Kitchen and Catering said, “but that’s what she would tell me all the time.”

story by Andrew Lind, photos by Cain Madden

Believe it or not, the now 46-year-old said that his mother did not like him cooking at all. He’s still not sure why.

“One day, I changed all of that,” he said.

“One Friday, while she was at work, I got out of school and fixed a whole meal for her. We had fried fish, applesauce, cornbread, baked beans and coleslaw.

“When she got home, the table was set,

and I’ve been cooking ever since.”

Without a doubt, though, Sumblin credits his mom and two grandmothers for his cooking prowess.

“They were excellent cooks, and it just got passed down to me. I was in the kitchen with them all the time.”

Owning his own restaurant wasn’t always in the cards for Sumblin, however.

western tidewater living

Mr. D turns passion for food, customer service into a successful restaurant

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34 western tidewater living A graduate of Franklin High School, Sumblin earned a degree in business administration from Virginia Union University in Richmond in 1992.

“Honestly, running a restaurant was not what I wanted to do. My career path was initially

Top is a strawberry cake, middle is a plate of southern fried chicken and bottom are some green beans fresh out of the steamer. See recipes on page 38.

hotel management.”

Starting as a front desk agent at the Holiday Inn in Suffolk shortly after graduation, Sumblin then moved to a managerial position for a Motel 6 in Maryland.

“From there, it just illuminated my mind into the hotel industry. The training was so intense, but it was so wonderful, and I just soared,” he said. “After going through the training, I was selected out of seven people to run the hotel while the owners went on vacation. It was a great honor.”

In 1998, Sumblin’s youngest sister invited him to stay in Atlanta for a period of time. He thought he’d only stay for one year and return to Franklin, but that wasn’t the case.

“I was perfectly fine right here, but they told me I needed to come,” he said. “So, I went to Atlanta and ended up staying there for 13 years.”

In Georgia, Sumblin continued to work in hotel management positions for places such as Hilton and Microtel Inn and Suites. The only thing that compelled Sumblin to return to Virginia was his ailing father, Freddie.

“I came back to help my momma. Of course, he eventually passed in December 2010 and that’s why I’m here.”

Even from afar, Sumblin has always been willing to help out his mother, Earva. In fact, he’d often fly back from Atlanta just to cater receptions for her travel agency — GRUP Opportunity Travel Services Inc. of Franklin.

“No matter where I was, I flew back in to do those receptions for her,” he said, noting that during his stay in Atlanta, he had started a catering company called Catering by Douglas.

When his father fell ill, Sumblin felt a higher being at work in his life.

“God just worked it out that the restaurant became available on Armory Drive, and even though I enjoyed the catering part more so than the restaurant part, it all worked out.”

Although he does have thoughts about returning to Atlanta and to the hotel business on occasion, Sumblin said that owning his own restaurant and providing services to others brings the same amount of joy to his life.

“I’ve fallen a little more in love with the business because of the satisfaction I get when I see the smiles on people’s faces that eat here. I can just see them eat the food and say, ‘Oh my God.’” Sumblin recalls the first experience he had with a customer who was more than thrilled with his or her meal at Mr. D’s.

“Three or four weeks after we opened on Armory Drive, there was this one lady that hollered in the restaurant and started

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“I’ve fallen a little more in love with the business because of the satisfaction I get when I see the smiles on people’s faces that eat here.”

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36 western tidewater living crying because she said our food is exactly what her grandmom cooked. I came running out of the back because I thought someone got sick or hurt themselves.”

It still happens at the current location at 102 N. Main St. in downtown Franklin, where Sumblin relocated in August 2014.

He admits that not everyone will have the same experience when eating at his restaurant, and Sumblin said he knows that you can’t please every customer.

“I’ve stopped trying,” he said. “I tell my staff all the time that when we go home and we lay our heads down, if you know without a shadow of a doubt that you’ve done all you know you can do, that is satisfaction.

Stephen Parrish checks a ticket order at lunch. Parrish is a cook at Mr. D’s.

“As long as we’re giving 100 percent, we present it to the guest and hope for the best. Everyone’s palette is different, but if you’re really true to yourself, honestly, we’re confident that you’ll thoroughly enjoy our food.”

In order to accommodate every customer’s taste buds, Mr. D’s doesn’t just cook with lard and grease, as “Southern cooking” would suggest.

“We’re going back to your basic foods, the foods we all grew up on,” Sumblin said. “And while we do fry most of our menu, we also have grilled chicken and salads if you want something light. These things are available so that people don’t say, ‘Oh, I can’t eat there because they

don’t have anything I like.’”

Sumblin expects the comfort food to attract his customers, but says that he hopes the atmosphere is what brings them back again and again.

“We feel we have a wonderful product, but it’s not just about the food, it’s about having a wonderful experience as soon as you hit the door. I tell [my staff ] all the time that it doesn’t matter who comes through that door, it’s all about service.

“Whether you’re black, white, poor, rich, straight, gay or whatever, our goal is to serve you so that you have a wonderful dining experience. Our mission pledge is that we provide quality food with excellent customer service.”

“I tell my staff all the time that when we go home and we lay our heads down, if you know without a shadow of a doubt that you’ve done all you know you can do, that is satisfaction.”

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Douglas Sumblin works with cook, Stephen Parrish on prepping for lunch service.

Just don’t look forward to Sumblin recommending one specific dish next time you’re in his restaurant.

“To be honest, all of our dishes are great. I’m not being vain, but I tell people that if you do something, you put your all into it.

“Our deserts are excellent — the banana pudding is a signature of Mr. D’s.

Our macaroni and cheese is a signature of Mr. D’s; our meatloaf is a signature of Mr. D’s; and our fried liver and onions is a signature of Mr. D’s.”

For those strictly on the meat and potatoes diet (like this reporter), Sumblin finally proposed fried or smothered pork

chops.

“If you don’t try new things, you’ll never know what you like,” he said jokingly.

Settled into his Main Street locale, which seats nearly 125 people at capacity, Sumblin ultimately hopes that Mr. D’s can help bring back the aura of downtown Franklin.

“We want people to come back downtown. We appreciate all of the business and support over the years, and we do not take it for granted because we do understand there are many choices of where to dine. After 5 p.m., though, the city shuts down. We just want people to know that they don’t have to go to Chesapeake, Suf-

folk or Virginia Beach to eat well.”

Each evening, you’ll likely see Sumblin roaming through the dining room and making sure that each customer is satisfied. What you don’t see, however, is Sumblin thinking of ways that he can expand his business even further, which includes a return to the hotel business.

“To buy a hotel with a restaurant attached would be my ultimate goal. I would love to have that (in Franklin), because this is where I was born and raised, and that would be something momentous to do. Either here or Atlanta.

“We could call it Mr. D’s Hotel and Restaurant,” he said with a chuckle.

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D’s Southern Fried Chicken

SouthernStyle Green Beans

Mr. D's Strawberry Surprise Cake

8 pieces of cut-up chicken seasoned salt cooking oil black pepper little salt flour Wash chicken and put in strainer.

Add spices on chicken and let stand (covered) in refrigerator for about 10 minutes.

Add chicken to flour or breaded chicken mix. Make sure to shake off extra flour.

Place in cooking oil and cook for about 20 minutes until chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Drain on paper towel.

Enjoy. It’s all about the love!

1 can of green beans (cut) salt butter pepper sugar vinegar Strain beans and wash well with cold, running water.

Let drain.

Season pot to taste and add green beans.

Cook on medium heat for about 1 hour. *It’s all about the love!

1 cup of butter (softened) 2 cups of sugar 4 eggs ½ teaspoon of strawberry and vanilla extract ½ pint of strawberries (mushed) 3 cups of cake four (sifted) 3 teaspoons of baking powder ½ teaspoons of salt *all the love you can have Heat oven to 350 degrees Butter and flour three cake pans (you can uses baker spray) Cream butter in mixing bowl and add sugar gradually Add eggs one at a time to assure that no shells get in the mixture, beating after each addition.

In another bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt.

Add flour fixture alternately with milk and flavoring to creamed mixture, beating after each addition.

Pour batter into cake pans.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

When toothpick comes out clear, take the cake out of pan and put on cooling racks.

Put your favorite icing or eat plain.

western tidewater living

where am I?

In each edition, our magazine staff provides a challenge of sorts for readers, testing how much of Western Tidewater they really know. We photograph a scene in Western Tidewater that is visible to motorists or pedestrians.

Whoever can identify the location pictured above will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers.

For the winter edition, the photo was taken of a mural at Southampton High School in Courtland. Photo by Cain Madden.

So, if you know where this issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photo was taken, let us know. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you could be a winner. E-mail your answers to magazine@tidewaternews.com Go out and enjoy Western Tidewater!

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40 western tidewater living

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

the

to

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41

meant”

world

me’

South Quay Baptist Church celebrated its 240th anniversary on March 1. The building's not that old — it's the third structure, to be precise — but there's been a continual chain of members since the church was started in 1775. Before and after the celebration, several of the faithful spoke about growing up in or coming to what's become a second home for them. 

42 western tidewater living

Though born at Lakeview Hospital in Suffolk, Eva Williams identifies with the community where she’s lived for 74 years. From a comfortable chair in her home on South Quay Road, Williams looks over a shoulder and points to the outside.

“I was raised in this community,” she said while waving a finger to and fro. It’s a statement she makes a few times more in conversation to emphasize her bond with the area. One prong of the U-shaped magnet that keeps Williams here is her immediate family. The daughter of Elizabeth B. and James E. “Snook” Jones, she remained with her father, who had an ancestor — J.E. Jones — who pastored South Quay Baptist Church from 18791912. Incidentally, she said that her grandfather, Bill Jones, was a charter member of the Ruritans, which was started down the road in Holland.

“I stayed here,” Williams said, adding that even after marrying she’s been on South Quay Road all her life.

The other prong is her church family. While still

quite a young girl, Williams became a member. The ceremony details escape her memory, but she’s quite clear about what the church has meant to her in all those decades of service to the Lord and His Son, Jesus Christ.

For the anniversary, Williams served on the HomeEVA WILLIAMS coming Committee, which decided on what to eat during the reception, how things were to go, and get things together. In past decades, of course, she’s been involved in different activities such as the trustees, the Missionary Society and Sunday School.

Being that South Quay Baptist is a “country church,” Williams said, “People out here...everybody helps everybody. They helped me to get through difficult times and good times, too.”

PAM BARDEN Pam Barden came from Church of God in Franklin to South Quay Baptist through her husband, Roger Jr. “We got married and just started going to his church,” she said, adding that he was raised there by his parents, the late Mary Eilene and Clyde Barden.

Roger Jr.’s involved with the building grounds committee with his dad. For herself, Barden has been active in Bible School, Shoeboxes, Samaritans, the nurs-

ery and the Food Bank.

“We all work together at the church,” she said. “I feel like we’re all family.”

It’s a family that Barden, 56, would like to see expand even beyond its 40 active members.

“We want our church to grow and bring more people to Christ. That’s the mission of our church,” she said. “We’re a loving church. Give us time to come and learn about Christ.”

A drawing of the original structure of the South Quay Baptist Church, which was started in 1775.

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ALDINE DUCK Aldine Duck, 85, has been a member since 1956. Previous to joining, she and her late husband, Benjamin C. Duck, lived in Carrsville.

“We just decided to move over this way,” Duck said for an explanation.

With that, the couple and their sons, David and Glen, went from Bethel Friends Church to South Quay Baptist Church.

“I’ve always had faith in God and continue to have [faith],” she said.

Like most, if not all members, Duck has been involved in one way or another.

“I’ve helped with Bible School. I’ve kept the nursery for years,” she said, adding Ruritan dinners and social committees to the list.

South Quay Baptist is very supportive of her, and being there “feels like they’re all family,” said Duck.

BILLY JOHNSON Billy Johnson of Gates Road can trace his family tree back and back and back to the 1700s. He can also remember joining South Quay Baptist when he was about 11 or 12 years old.

“I was a young ‘un running around,” he said.

Since then, Johnson, 79, has truly grown up in the church both physically and spiritually. He was ordained a deacon in 1963, became a Sunday School secretary in 1975, and then a trustee in 1986...you get the idea.

“I used to be more involved, but age kind of takes

care of that,” he added philosophically.

But through it all there’s been his faith and the congregation.

“It’s helped me in a lot of ways. I go to church regularly. I give to the church regularly,” Johnson said.

Along the way, he married his wife, Bobbie, and they had two sons. He’s experienced an auto accident, seen the 58 bypass created, and watched the congregation grow and shrink.

“I have seen 70 to 80 people here several years ago,” Johnson said. “I’m still here.”

James Williams, who led the commission to look into the history of the church, gives a testimonial on the process of finding the approximate location of where South Quay Baptist Church began.

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44 western tidewater living ANNE ADAMS Formerly of Chesapeake, Anne Adams came to South Quay Baptist while visiting around with Billy, her late husband. Raised in the Baptist faith all her life, the connection to the congregation was immediate.

“We found this place and it felt like we belonged,” she said of their support then and now. “The people were just very friendly. I haven’t felt the need to leave.”

In her 20 years as a member, Adams, 77, has kept the nursery and crocheted prayer shawls for shut-ins and nursing home residents. Her granddaughter, Holly Carter, helps out by playing the piano.

Though she’s not as active, her faith remains fulfilling.

“Jesus is a big part of my life. He’s what sustains me,” said Adams.

Formerly of Franklin Baptist Church, Jane Watson switched when she and husband, the late Lee Watson, moved to South Quay Road in 1982.

“I think you should go to church in the neighborhood where you live,” said Watson, 93.

Like all the other members interviewed, she’s also been acJANE WATSON tive in her way, such as Bible Study and the Friendship Club.

“I really just get a lot of comfort from the people in it and the preachers,” Watson said. She speaks fondly of those leaders she’s known since coming to South Quay Baptist: The Rev. Clyde Alderman, the Rev. Louis Venable — a particular favorite — the Rev. Donald Trump and, currently, the Rev. John Watson; she’s also really good friends with his wife, Joyce.

“A lot of pastors come and go, but I’ve always tried to support them,” Watson said.

What’s needed now in the church, though, is young people. She recalled David and Tammy Matthews who were youth leaders in the church many years ago.

“There were so many young people then,” Watson added.

She’s not alone in that observation. Several other members have made similar comments, and also want to see the church nourished by their presence and activity.

Nonetheless, she’s quite content there.

“I love all parts of the church,” Watson said, smiling broadly. “I love everybody.”

240

years

and counting At the same time that South Quay Baptist Church celebrated its 240th anniversary on Sunday, March 1, the Homecoming service featured a face familiar to most everyone there — the Rev. Clyde Alderman, who served as pastor from 19821987. Though now a resident of western Virginia, he’s pastoring Nehemiah Baptist Church in West Virginia.

“South Quay has a very rich history of being loyal to the Word of God,” the Rev. Alderman said during his sermon.

That loyalty began with David Barrow, who at age 21 founded the one-room church in 1775. The building was reportedly the only structure in the South Quay village that survived the British during the Revolutionary War. Barrow, who is said to have fought for American Independence, went to Kentucky in 1798 because of his preaching against slavery.

In 1835, the congregation built a new temple of worship where the current building now stands.

That place was built in 1889 after the second chapel was destroyed by fire.

Not incidentally, the church that was standing in 1864 served as courthouse for Nansemond County during the Civil War. Confederate Gen. George E. Pickett’s troops are reported to have used the old church grounds for a campsite. Over the past 150 years, the cemetery was completed and a parsonage, fellowship hall and Sunday school rooms were built. Homecoming was established in 1912 to celebrate the church’s heritage.

During the 20th century is when much of the the physical growth and renovations took place: •Sunday School room were added in June 1935; •The parsonage was built in 1953;

western tidewater living

•The Fellowship Hall added in 1964; •The garage for the parsonage added in 1969; •The church’s front entrance was redone in 1971, the same year the church was bricked; •Air conditioning was installed in 1974; •Stained-glass windows were put in during 1993; •The sanctuary was painted in 1997, the same year that carpet and new pews were installed; •The parsonage got a new bedroom and bath added in June 1998; •A sound system was put in 1999; •Amplifiers for the sanctuary were added in 2000; •A new heat pump was set in August 2000; •In 2004, the church’s new oil-fired boiler was installed, the same year that a new roof was put over all the church that April; a shed was built that July, and a steeple was also created; •To make a more joyful noise to the Lord, a new piano was bought in October 2007; • In 2009, a concrete patio and new handrails were up in October 2009.

Interestingly, it was not until 2014 that research was formally done to locate the site of the first church.

James Williams, a church member who’s taken a strong interest in South Quay Baptist’s history, got help with this from friends.

One of those people was Donald Sadler, who said the church’s original site was within five miles of the existing one. An archeologist in Williamsburg and Yorktown, his expertise was sought last year in locating evidence for the first chapel. Williams later said it was on Bethany Church Road.

In addition to using maps, deeds and a picture of that church, evidence was found in the form of bits of what was likely the chimney.

“You could just see brick bits,” Sadler said, adding that he even employed a rarely used metal detector in small 2 foot-by-2 foot units. These and some broken particles of window glass helped the archeologist and other interested persons in drawing the conclusion of the approximate church site.

“We’re hoping to find a well,” he added. “But that’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.” 

Myrtle Eason recalls her baptism with a smile.

One summer when the Nansemond County native was about 12 years old, she and several other future members joined South Quay Baptist Church. Eason said she wore a yellow organdy dress that ballooned in the water when she was immersed.

Since then, the 90-year-old has remained immersed with MYRTLE EASON other members in activities and duties that cultivated spiritual and church growth.

“There were good people who were good examples when I was young,” she said.

In the wintertime, a pot-bellied stove kept the congregation from freezing. But in the warmer months, afternoon revivals were a regular. Eason remembered that windows would be raised to let in any breeze, and hand-held fans were flapping rapidly to cool people all the while their spirits were being ignited. Then the congregation would return that evening for more worship.

Her parents, Bessie and Grady Gardner, would also host fellow congregants.

“When I was younger, we used to have meetings at the house,” Eason said. “You brought out the best dishes. There was some good eating back then.”

When she was a young lady, she married James Lee Eason, who came from North Carolina, and they had one child, Hubert Grady Eason. When James died, he was buried in the church cemetery where she also will be one day.

Above all, her relationship with Christ — and His church — is one she treasures.

“It’s meant the world to me,” Eason said fondly. “It made me a better person.”  The Rev. John Watsom, pastor at South Quay Baptist Church, leads the choir in a hymn.

45

46 western tidewater living

Southern Belle column by Noel Lewis photo by Leah Lewis

She was used to being looked at, a southern belle from a long line of southern belles.

A natural beauty if ever there was one, her hair was the envy of the town, and her figure was often enough the discourse at local watering holes. There had been parades and pageants for as long as she could remember; all of them with her taking center stage and oohed and aahed all over the county. In the pageant circuit she had worked her way up since she was barely a year old winning locals, districts and regionals; and there were whispers of her trying for state next. Everyone assumed she would win in a landslide, advance to the national level, and then, who knows? The sky was the limit. She was still fairly young and had risen so high and accomplished so much that everyone was certain that she would go all the way to the top and beyond, wherever that may be. Her beauty, like a fine barrel aged wine, only got better with age.

Those in the pageant circles are used to being judged. She was no different. She

had been poked, prodded and inspected from one end of the state to the other, it seemed. Were her teeth white enough?

Were they set the correct distance apart?

Were her nails filed just so? Was her hair the right shine and color and brushed the right way? Was her nose too long?

Too short? Were her lips the right complexion? The list went on and on, a veritable gauntlet of judgment. Yet, everywhere she went, again and again, the more scrutiny she got, the more praise and admiration was showered upon her. She was met with adoration everywhere, and not just in pageant circles. In her own home town, there wasn’t a whisper of negative gossip about her. She was always met with smiles and hugs from children and grownups alike.

Through all the parades and pageantry,

the pokes and the prods, there had come to be one person whom she tried hardest to please. A man, a boy, really, whom she had great hopes for. She dreamed of a long relationship with him, sharing everything, growing old together. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for him. All the parades and pageants had been for him. Out of all the accolades and adorations, his was the praise and affections she desired most.

She was used to being looked at. But not like this. What was this look he was giving her? Was there a hint of sadness there?

Disappointment even? What had she done to deserve this sudden condemnation? She moved closer to his side, tried to get closer to maybe snuggle with him. Maybe this look was a momentary lapse. Maybe he was in a bad mood.

He moved away from her, that same look twisting his face so that she couldn’t bear to look at it.

“Bad dog!” He murmured, then turned and walked away. 

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