Lucille Bell worked as a sales clerk at Nichols Store for many years.
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When you grow up in a small town you always have special people who shapes your life in some way or another. One of many in my life was Lucille Bell. I worked with her at Nichols Department Store starting in high school when I worked during the Christmas holidays. Then, after I graduated, I worked full time at the store for a while, before going to work for Dr. James Vollmer.
Faye Sherrill worked
at Nichols on the weekends, and she worked for Dr. Ezzell, who had the dental practice that Dr. Vollmer took over when he moved here in the 1970s. So, like Faye, I worked at the dentist office and worked at Nichols store on the weekends until it closed, after Lee B. Nichols retired.
Lucille Bell worked at Nichols, along with Ruth Roper, Kate Hogsed, Alma Gray, Kate Conley, Beth Wishon and Martha Johnston. I have always loved Christmas, and I cannot tell you how festive the Christmas season was at Nichols Store.
Everyone in town would come through those doors many times before Christmas. I loved to wrap presents, so I spent most of my time at the wrapping counter. In addition to several beautiful patterns of wrapping paper and ribbon, Lee would have boxes of adornments like sprigs of pine needles, pine cones and holly leaves to stick under the bows on the presents, giving them a professional look.
Lucille took me under her wing and with the sweetest instructions she showed me how to correctly wrap a present. I thought I was a pretty good wrapper, but Lucille was a stickler for precision when it came to wrapping a present. The corners had to be tight and even with no extra slack in the paper. And there was a certain way to fold the ends of the package which made it faster.
I always think of Lucille when I wrap a Christmas present, and I still make sure it is exactly like she taught me. And I never fail to thank God that she was placed in my path. She was the kindest and most humble person I have ever known.
Christmas has a way of reminding us all the special people who have passed away that made a difference in our life. It is also the promise of peace and love to those we hold dear as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
In the 1970s, I wrote this poem about Nichols Store:
“Christmas time at Nichols store puts a warm place in your heart, with the windows all decorated as the holiday season starts. Laughter fills all three stories, the Christmas songs ring clear, with some of the nicest shoppers make you glad that you are near.
The gifts are wrapped so pretty in paper and bows so bright, it gives you the season spirit, that we need on Christmas night. The clatter, the chats and the hurry, are something to behold, for they add to merry memories, that is joyful to the soul. The clerks are there to help you, and I love them everyone, for what would be a Christmas if at Nichols not begun? While mothers are buying presents, the children want to play, so they hunt Mr. Nichols, who always makes their day. We look forward to this time each year, and our shoppers are the reason, so thanks again for making this a beautiful Christmas season.”
Kandy Barnard is a columnist for the Cherokee Scout. To talk about the Andrews Valley, call her at 828-361-3268 or email kandybarnard@gmail.com.