Teel records memories for 50 years


Thursday, March 13, 2008
Community \| Obits \| Editorial & Columnists \| Society \| Sports \| Education \| Classified Ads \| Calendar of Events \| Features \| Newsbriefs \| Legals \| Archives \| Subscriptions \| Photo Gallery

Teel records memories for 50 years

By Linda Jones
Staff Writer

Allene Teel holds her dining room table arrangement which is filled with more than flowers. The “bowl” is Allene’s mother’s biscuit tray, which had been hewn out and given to her mother Vida when she and Allene’s father married; about 100 years ago. “Daddy was 89 when he passed away.” (Her mother died when Allene was 6 years old.) “Daddy always wanted me to have it; he knew I’d take care of it,” Allene said. The rolling pin, which centers the arrangement, was Campbell Teel’s mother’s -- Mattie Teel. She also has a platter that was Mattie Teel’s and the drinking glasses her father gave her for her hope chest when she was 16 years old.

Allene Teel, a longtime community correspondent for The South Reporter, began writing the Carey Chapel-Mt. Pleasant news 50 years ago.

“Mrs. Lottie Todd wrote the Cothern news. She passed away in 1958 and I started with the Carey Chapel news and then added Mt. Pleasant’s news.

Teel recently retired from writing community news.

“Technology is just taking over. I thought and prayed about it until I got peace of mind. I knew it was time. I’m 82 now and will be 83 on Sept. 28,” she said.

“I still have my garden and flowers. A lot of people around here call me the flower lady,” she said laughing.

Teel was born in Mt. Pleasant (really Wild Cat) to C.D. (Gib) and Vida Gardner.

“My mother died when I was six years old. I lived with my grandmother for a year and my dad married again to my stepmother Aurealia.

“I went to Slayden High School – the ag school. Then I went to Memphis, Tenn., in 1942 and worked about two years, during the war. I worked at Roy Good’s grocery store. I took orders and would see that the delivery boy would carry the order to the right place. I always had to remind them to get the customer’s sugar stamps and bring them back,” she said.

The photo of Campbell Teel when he was in the military during World War II is surrounded by the medals he received.

“I came home when I got married. I married Campbell Teel in 1946, when he got out of service.

“He was my idol when I was 12 or 13. I don’t know why, I just liked him,” she said laughing.

“I was 20 and he was 25 when we got married.”

The Teels had four children, Ivy Wayne Teel of Mt. Pleasant; Martha Fant of Holly Springs, Kathy Goode of Sweet Springs, Mo., and Madge Winburn of Hickory Flat. Allene has 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren – only four are girls, the rest are boys.

Teel always worked at home. They lived in the house with Campbell’s mother, Mattie Teel, until she passed away.

“I took care of her and raised my family also,” Teel said.

“Campbell could do anything! He worked with the county superintendent and was a part-time electrician. When we first married, we farmed and raised cattle until he went to work with the school. We kept cows all the time though.”

Teel has become almost a family member to many in Marshall County. Her memories of a simpler time have graced the pages of The South Reporter and have become, in a way, our memories. Those times and those memories are going to be greatly missed by all.

Report News: (662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
Questions, comments, corrections: south@dixie-net.com
©2004, The South Reporter, All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced in any way without permission.
The South Reporter is a member of the Mississippi Press Association.

Web Site managed and maintained by
South Reporter webmasters Linda Jones, Kristian Jones
Web Site Design - The South Reporter

Back | Top of Page