Excitement and Anticipation describes the atmosphere in Henderson County this weekend. Most particularly, in and around the little community of Doe Creek, just outside of Scotts Hill in the southern most part of the county. Its seems that all roads led to Doe Creek this week-end. People began pouring into the county early Saturday on July 14th. They were all coming for the Dedication Ceremony to be held on Sunday July 15tth. Most of the people who came to visit our county this weekend are directly related (through blood or marriage) to the Kennedy & Eason family, the founders of the Doe Creek Community.

As the County Co-Ordinator of Henderson County TN , for Genealogy Trails, I have had the opportunity to be a part of this project. It has been an experience I will not soon forget. As I created, and began to build this website, it seemed to take on a life of its own. It wasn't my ideas coming out here on these pages, it was, and still is, the spirits of the past who guide me every day, and continue to lead me to people whose families lived here over 150 years ago. The story of Doe Creek wants to be told. I hope I can present it this website the way it happened. I was never able to figure out just "why" I moved to Henderson County about four years ago. I have no family here, had never been through this part of Tennessee, and had no earthly reason to retire here. Doe Creek must have been "calling" me all the time. We never know where God will lead us, we just follow.

When you look around the crowd thats shown here in these photos you see generations of history all coming back to their roots. The old folks look back in time and remember how their lives were when they lived here. Somehow these memories are almost always "good memories" in spite of the fact that their was hardship, sacrifice and heartache in those memories as well. When you looked at the faces of the folks gathered here - you saw only happiness. You saw only smiles. Some of the ladies dressed in period costumes and just watching them walk around would take you back in time - to another place. They take you back to a Sunday at the little church here at Doe Creek. Where they came to worship and to catch up on the news.

Saturday dawned bright and clear, the temperature was in the 90's (the favorite number for Tennessee Summers). I began my day by anxiously awaiting the arrival of Laura Stricklen and her parents, George & Abbie Stricklen from Arkansas. The night before I had also heard that Kathy Gautney would also be coming up from Alabama. Kathy and Laura are two of the special people that I've worked with in helping to co-ordinate the Kennedy family, of which all these folks belong to. A few weeks ago Laura barely knew who her ancestors were.. she found this website, contacted me and I in turn, put her in touch with Kathy.

Edith Taylor and her family were here at the Registration table most of the afternoon. Their smiling faces welcomed everyone who came. She is pictured here with her grandson.

It was the Taylor's that put together the Program booklets and handed them out to everyone. I've been told there were 300 of them printed. Although I have no true idea of the number of people here today -- I have to guess between two and three hundred.

Jerry and Edith Taylor have served faithfully on the Doe Creek Restoration Committee from the beginning, and will continue to, in the years ahead as we see what the future holds for the Doe Creek Church & School. Their kind of dedication, and that of all the others who are involved in this project, is typical of the character of this community.