PAGE 8C · Newport Plain Talk, Sunday, September 11, 2005
Georgia Kennedy: an authentic mountain woman
Georgia was born and raised in Cosby Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in the mid 1920's until the early 1940's. She worked in Sutton's market, a grocery store which was owned by her father, and eventually ran it for 11 years. After she married, she went away for around 20 years as she traveled 22 northern states with her husband and children. Her husband was a drywall finisher, and he traveled around following the jobs until 1960, when they moved back here.
Georgia's husband was killed in an automobile accident in 1979. She purchased a restaurant
on Hwy 321 near Gatlinburg and ran it as Georgia's Restaurant for five years. Today it is still in operation though it's now known as Big Wally's.
She sold the restaurant after deciding to marry Ken Kennedy. They met by chance at a restaurant in North Carolina. Ken was an over the road truck driver,
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Georgia had always been good at an assortment of hand crafts, including sewing. She has to be, because so few ready made goods were available then. "I made Ken a Teddy bear to take in his truck. It rode in the truck with him everywhere, and he still has it today!"
At age 66, Georgia was out driving around with Ken one afternoon. Moved by the beauty of the Smokies she commented, "Boy, I sure wish I could paint that mountain so others could see it like that."
Ken replied, "Well, then you should take a class. You're talented, I'm sure you'd catch on quick."
And she did. She took one series of classes from a Bob Ross certified instructor in Morristown and is self taught from there. After she had been painting for 6 months, she entered a contest sponsored by the art school and won 2nd place. The man who took 1st place had been taking classes for 3 years.
Later she won 1st place and Best of Show at an art fair in Parrottsville.
Georgia's hallmark are her hand painted saw blades. But she also paints on canvas as well as assorted antiques and making bonnets, aprons, quilts, Teddy bears, coats, and authentic lye soap. She also makes scrumptious fried pies, jams and jellies just to name a few things.
Ken has taken up woodworking and sandblasts Georgia's saw blades before she paints them.
Their work is available at Wood-N-Stuff and Ledford's Grocery in Sevierville, The Country Store and Treasures of Appalachia, Inc. in Cosby, and the many flea markets and craft shows where they set up in spite of the fact that Georgia celebrated her 80th birthday. Georgia also has a web site at http://www.smokymountainpictures.50megs.com . In addition, the Wal-Mart in Newport occasionally has her set-up an artistic painting demonstration to advertise their paints and art supplies.
She became involved with Treasures of
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Georgia Kennedy demonstrates her artist ability at a local Wal-Mart
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she was on a trip. Both thought they were stopping just for a bite to eat.
"He just came over to where I was, sat down and started talking to me." A whirlwind romance ensued and they were married 3 months later. Georgia sold her business and traveled with Ken on his 'Big Truck' for over 3 years before deciding to establish a home in Cosby where Georgia could be close to her family.
Having been born and raised in the mountains,
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Appalachia a couple of years ago. "I thought it would be a good thing to do. I thought they could sell my stuff and they're very nice people to deal with." Says Georgia.
Treasures of Appalachia, Inc is a non-profit quality Art & Fine Craft Gallery that offers the works of 40 Cocke County artisans. Everything in the store is locally made and hand crafted. They also host Art & Craft Gatherings that are open to all artists, crafters, performers and food vendors. You may reach the gallery at (423) 487-3111 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM every day except Sunday. Or you may contact Len and Varena Landrum at (423) 487-5448 or Doug & Marie Bittinger at (423) 623-9692 or log onto www.TreasuresOfAppalachia.com for more information.
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