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PAGE 8B
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021
O
o
Silas Harris, the faithful employee
It’s been 25 years or so since I first stayed
at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Pro
claimed as the South’s Grand Hotel, I have
since stayed a couple of dozen times, at
least.
It was there in an enormous room, almost
a suite, that I watched a pre-taped show I
had recorded in New York a few days ear
lier which, at the time, featured renowned
journalist Barbara Walters. For
my part, I was a wide-eyed, naive
country girl who took a couple of
floggings from Walters but man
aged, somehow, to hold my own.
Moments after the interview
ended, my distinguished, courtly
New York agent called and said,
“On behalf of New Englanders, I
apologize for how you were treat
ed.” His dander was up.
Mama called a bit later and, as
usual, pulled no punches. “I’m so
mad that I’m spittin’ nails. How
dare someone treat my little girl
like that!” After a tirade, she paused and
said, “But you looked real pretty and I was
proud of how good you did. If I ever see her,
though, I’m liable to pinch her head off.”
I remember my first stay at the Peabody a
couple of years before that. The lobby was
grand and the building itself, like much of
downtown Memphis, is beautiful and state
ly. Old Memphis has good bones. All of its
older buildings are strong, tasteful and art
fully designed.
The room, during my first stay, was a dis
appointment with old bedspreads and car
pet. It reminded me of the depressing rooms
we often had in the woods of Pocono, Penn
sylvania, when I was on the stock car cir
cuit. The track owners and people were cor
dial and eager to have us visit twice a year
but there were few restaurants and no nice
hotels... or heart-shaped bathtubs.
Pocono was so rural that. once. Neil Bon-
nett was qualifying his race car when he
throttled the gas to around 175 mph. Just as
he hit top speed, an unsuspecting deer leapt
over the wall and into the path of the Bud-
weiser Number 12. It is a wonder that Neil
was not badly injured though the deer did
not fare as well.
The Peabody is one of our favorites. In
evitably, people will ask if we have seen
the ducks that march down from their pent
house suite each morning at 11 to the hotel
fountain before quitting work at 5 p.m.
Tink was once an honorary Duckmaster.
I believe that Tink is prouder of that honor
than he is of his primetime Emmy
award for best drama writing.
Since my first stay, the rooms
have been completely renovated
no fewer than three times. And I
have often been there for some of
the banging, nailing, and sawing.
On our last trip, during Christ
mas. I noted a gold plate attached
to the wood-paneled wall inside
one of the elevators. It read:
“Dedicated to Silas Harris for his
50 years of service to the Pea
body.”
It has always been evident to
me that the Peabody appreciates loyalty
and often makes gestures like this. You have
only to hear the chief Duckmaster proclaim
the names of those responsible for creating
the much beloved legacy of the ducks, to
know that.
But who, I wondered was Silas Harris?
I did an online search and found only one
brief mention: an obituary that stated sim
ply. “Silas Harris, April 21, 1941 to No
vember 21, 2019.”
I was disappointed not to learn more but I
am most impressed to know that Mr. Harris
was a dedicated employee to the Peabody
for 50 years so, thus, he has been remem
bered with a plaque that will be viewed by
thousands each year in that elevator.
This, I thought too: I will never have such
a plaque anywhere to honor me.
That’s a big deal for Mr. Silas Harris. And
it says a lot for the loyalty of the folks at the
Peabody Hotel.
Ronda Rich is a best-selling Southern
author. Visit www.rondarich.com to sign up
for her free weekly newsletter.
ronda
Food distribution day set for Aug. 26
The Barrow County Food
Pantry, in partnership with
the Food Bank of North
east Georgia, will hold its
monthly outdoor food dis
tribution for qualifying res
idents Aug. 26.
The event will be held
starting at 8 a.m. (rain or
shine) at Holly Hill Mall,
across from Hill’s Ace
Hardware, on West Athens
Street in Winder.
This month’s distribu
tion day is sponsored by
The Church at Winder. It is
open to all Barrow County
residents who meet USDA
income-eligibility require
ments.
The distribution day is
held the fourth Thursday
of every month January
through October and the
third Thursday in November
and December.
Voices of North Georgia has openings
Voices of North Georgia, a Gaines- cently.
ville-based, 50-voice community chorus Check out the group’s website at www.
presenting concerts from the Beatles to voicesofnorthgeorgia.com for details and
Beethoven, will be resuming in-person re- more information.
hearsals this fall and has positions available You can also contact membership chair
for all vocal parts, leaders announced re- Betsy Hopkins at 770-680-0993.
Have
questions
about
Medicare?
Turning 65?
Worried about prescription costs?
Concerned about out-of-pocket expenses?
Local assistance is available for
health insurance related issues
including Medicare, Medicaid,
prescription drug assistance
programs, financial assistance
programs and long-term care
insurance.
GeorgiaCares
counselors can help you
find the right plan.
ACCA
ATHENS COMMUNITY COUNCIL ON AGING
Age Well. Live Well.
135 Hoyt Street ~ Athens, GA 30601
706-549-4850
www.accaging.org
GeorgiaCares
Local help for people with Medicare
866-552-4464 (Option 4)
www.mygeorgiacares.org
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