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Category: Cooleemee People

ABC Store Dedication Honors Legacy of Grimes “Bimmy” Parker

Posted on October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 by KC Smith

The Grimes Parker family: (L to R) Lauren Brooks, Cameron Brooks, Parker Brooks, Greg Brooks, Blakely Brooks, Fran Parker, Alicia Johnson, Bodie Parker, Steven Parker, Dana Parker, Brooks Johnson with Catherine, Owen Parker, Crosby Parker. Not pictured are Drue Parker and Somer Johnson

Cooleemee’s First ABC Store Rededicated in Honor of Longtime Board Member and Community Leader

On Saturday, October 4th, Kris Howell, general manager of the Mocksville–Cooleemee ABC Store, officially dedicated the first store in Cooleemee in memory of the late Grimes “Bimmy” Parker. Parker served on the ABC Board for 24 years and played a key role in shaping the local ABC system.

A Legacy of Service and Leadership

The Cooleemee ABC store, established in 1987, sold its first bottle in 1988. Grimes Parker was instrumental in hiring Kris Howell, who remembers his mentorship fondly:

“I worked every day like it was my first day and like my life depended on it,” she said.

Parker and Howell shared a vision of expanding services to Mocksville. With Parker’s encouragement, Howell proposed the idea to town leaders. That vision came to life in 2018 when the ABC store relocated to Mocksville, a milestone both were proud of.

“I kept my promise,” Howell stated, referring to her commitment to ensure Cooleemee would continue to be well-served.

*Employees of the Cooleemee ABC Store (L to R) Cooper Wall (store manager), Cathy Belluchi, Gina Smith, Bodie Parker, Kris Howell, Kathy Short, John Bivins*

Community Events and Giving Back

Today, the Cooleemee store is managed by Cooper Wall and remains an active part of the community. One of its hallmark events is the annual liquor lottery held on the second Saturday of December, drawing nearly 400 attendees last year. The event offers rare and hard-to-find bottles, along with specially designed T-shirts.

Proceeds from the event support local causes dear to Parker’s heart, including the Grimes Parker Basketball Camp, the Vernon Thompson Scholarship Fund, and the Dragonfly House.

*Cooleemee Mayor Jeff Smith and Fran Parker*

A Lasting Tribute

The dedication event drew a large and heartfelt crowd—friends, family, and community members who shared personal stories and paid tribute to Parker’s life and legacy.

The commemorative plaque reads:

Grimes “Bimmy” Parker
A lifelong resident of Cooleemee, North Carolina.
He was an educator, athletics coach in Davie County for over 40 years,
as well as a member of the ABC Board for over 20 years.
He was instrumental in bringing ABC stores to both Cooleemee and Mocksville.
Above all, he was a beloved member of the community, a friend and mentor to all.

Feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com or call at 336.250.1133.

Cooleemee Welcomes New Fire Chief Velvet Hackett

Posted on September 25, 2025September 25, 2025 by KC Smith

A Decade of Dedication to Fire Service

We have a new fire chief in town, and her name is Velvet Hackett.
Hackett has been involved in the fire service for ten years in Davidson County. Four years ago, she joined the Cooleemee Fire Department and advanced to Captain; this past February, she was promoted to Chief.

Learning the Ropes of Leadership

The ins and outs of Fire Chief presented a learning curve that included budgets and grants, and making sure the firefighters have top-of-the-line equipment. The drive behind that focus is always for the benefit of the citizens.

Building a Strong Leadership Team

Captain Ryan Hall, after serving ten years in Iredell County, came to Davie County, where it felt like a large family right away. Hall started serving Cooleemee earlier this year and was recently promoted to captain. His job is focusing on personnel and training to provide the best for the citizens of Cooleemee and the surrounding areas.

Lieutenant Ryan Hepler has served in the fire department for 15 years, with the last four years serving part-time in Cooleemee. His focus is on making sure the building and trucks are in good working order.

*(L to R) Chief Velvet Hackett, Captain Ryan Hall, Captain Michael Galliher Jr., Lieutenant Ryan Hepler, Safety Officer Josh Lyles, Senior Fire Fighter Hunter Cochran, Senior Firefighter* *Dylan Hewkey, Senior Fire Fighter Austin Doby*

A Rigorous Promotional Process

Hackett explained that the department has a promotional process in effect. Each firefighter takes a written exam covering policies and procedures, as well as knowledge of the fire service. A panel interview is held by Hackett and the deputy chief. An outsider from the county is included to guard against favoritism.

Hands-on assessments measure practical skills at the training grounds in Mocksville. Running various scenarios tests how they operate on the fire ground.

Hackett chooses her officers based on how well they function. “Officers handle more than just putting out fires,” says Hackett, so the layers of interviewing help her determine who is fit to hold which office.

A Department on the Rise

Thirty people are currently on the roster. Comments from several officers stated that the culture of the department changed greatly when Hackett was promoted to Chief.

Her forward and progressive mindset, how we train in-house, and how we operate on the scene allow us to better ourselves for the benefit of our citizens.

Hackett’s presence at the firehouse—helping with training, handling grants, purchasing equipment, and responding to calls—makes a significant difference.

A Tireless Commitment

Hackett has a full-time job with the EMS Emergency Call Center. She spends about two hours at her home and the rest at the fire department. Her presence has created a high level of respect.

Hackett explains that structural calls get five departments. Statistics show that if a firefighter is trapped, it takes 12 to 21 people to rescue them from the building. Mutual aid partners are very important, and that’s vital for all departments to succeed.

Firehouse Family

They have a saying at their department, “If you work at a fire station, I’m sorry, but if you work at the firehouse, congratulations.” This is their home away from home. They take care of each other and spend a lot of time together.

Congratulations, Chief Hackett, we are happy to have you here serving our citizens.

Feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com, or call at 336.250.1133.

Serving Up Smiles and Pickleball Court Upgrades in Cooleemee

Posted on September 24, 2025September 24, 2025 by KC Smith

(L to R) Anapaula Iturralde from Ecuador, lives in Clemmons; Michelle Cameron, Cooleemee; Kienan Beasley, Mocksville; Tina Boughton from Colorado; Brian Boughton from Colorado; Cecil Cameron, Cooleemee

While walking one morning, enjoying the cool crisp air, I decided to walk over and meet the people who were playing pickleball. As I got closer, they stopped playing and I said, “We have an ordinance in this town that prohibits playing pickleball on Sundays.”

Even though we were outside, you could still hear a pin drop.

I quickly told them I was joking, and I was so happy to see them taking advantage of what we have to offer our community. Thank goodness we all laughed.

They were happy to hear that the old, outdated fence will soon be replaced with a new black one, and the borders for the pickleball perimeters will be painted properly.

Pickleball is known as the number one growing sport, and most communities are including these courts for exercise of all ages. We are proud to announce our new addition on our website and encourage all visitors to share it with friends and family.

Feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com or call at 336.250.1133.

Judy Webb Shines as Grand Marshal of a Memorable July 4th

Posted on July 11, 2025July 11, 2025 by KC Smith

July 4th was on a Friday this year and having Judy Webb as our Grand Marshall made it one of the best. Judy is very well known in this little town of ours. Not only has she spent many hours raising money by selling fundraiser tickets for good causes, but she has also consistently taken care of the elderly on a regular schedule by going to their home to do whatever was needed.

Judy started the Senior Christmas Party in memory of her parents and had been organizing it for 32 years until her recent retirement. When I think of Judy, said Mayor Jeff Smith, I think of her hands. She’s always ready to serve, she’s simply the face of our town and that’s a good thing.”

Judy is someone you can’t turn down, she’s a short ball of energy, with a sweet voice and a great smile to complete the package. Every town needs a Judy like we have and we so appreciate her selfless nature.

The parade had a special energy, so many smiling faces, more entries than we have ever had and it was all around a great day. Feel free to contact KC at cooleemeenews@gmail.com or call me at (336) 250-1133.

Simple Pleasures: Tooling Around the Neighborhood on an Electric Bike

Posted on June 24, 2024June 24, 2024 by KC Smith

Hey, who is that guy? Here he comes again. This time I hollered at him, and he turned around. I’ve been seeing this man riding down the sidewalk in front of my house on Marginal Street almost daily.

He rides one of those electric bikes. He doesn’t go by real fast, and guess what? He doesn’t ride alone. Standing on the middle bar right up against him is a 4-year-old girl with blonde curly hair. She holds onto the handlebars, and there is always a small bag hanging on it, too.

I told him who I was and I asked if he was from Cooleemee. He said, “Yes ma’am, right down here on Davie Street.”The man’s name is Drew Cline, and the cute little girl who rides along is Bristol, his granddaughter.

You’re probably thinking, well I see people riding bikes all day every day. But this ride is different. Not only is the ride consistent, but there’s always a quiet and sweet conversation between the two. The grandfather comes across as attentive and has a soft voice, one that you would expect from a grandfather. Cline said she loved riding the bike; “It’s what she likes to do. She probably really likes stopping to get a few things, too, at the store.”

I thought, surely sometime later in life, she was going to reflect on those sweet, hot summer bike rides down Marginal Street with her grandfather and how happy she was. Picking Bristol a small bouquet of daisies from my floral garden was a given because she makes me stop and say, “Ahhh” every week.

Please feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com, or call at 336.250.1133, I’d love to hear from you.

Cooleemee Elementary Students Experience Cooleemee in the Past

Posted on May 6, 2024May 6, 2024 by Cooleemee Admin

A chilly morning at RiverPark set the scene for students from Cooleemee Elementary School to learn about 17th-century Indians, 18th-century life and the grist mill, and kids working in the textile mill in the 19th century.

John Chandler presented the children with a warm welcome and a layout of the morning’s journey. Joey Shore led each group to each station and stop along the way.

*Johnny Brown demonstrates how to grind corn using a pestle and concave rock*

The Indian’s learning center was set up right by the South Yadkin, with the dam spilling water over its rocky edge. Students saw handmade drills, bows and arrows, a deer antler shortened into a knife, and a grinding rock for grain.

After climbing the hill from the dam to a clearing, Sandra Ferrell taught the kids about growing corn and taking it to the gristmill. They each received a tiny canvas bag filled with cornmeal. Later, each student got a paper bag with either two apples or a bag of peanuts. Bartering took place, and each student ended up with one apple and some peanuts.

*Sandra Ferrell shows pictures of the gristmill*

Shore pulled a sassafras twig from the ground, pulled the bark back, and told the children he used to chew on the stalk when he was little. The stalk could also be boiled in water for sassafras tea, which was good for allergies.

When the students arrived at the 19th-century stop, they learned that children worked in the mill. Girls earned 55 cents, and boys earned $2.75 a week. Mama was there with her field hat and apron, and she promptly came around and collected all the money earned by each boy and girl. They all got to keep just a quarter.

*Sandra Ferrell gave each student a small bag of cornmeal*

All went to the company store, where they bought a pickle, cheese, crackers, and a peppermint stick. They had to pay their last 25 cents.

I asked some of the students: Out of all the information you learned, what stands out the most?

Air”yana Braswell – “What they used to make houses and all the equipment they used.”
Jaxon Herbiest – “ How they made the clothing, weapons, and tools to catch fish.”
Jayke Neighbors – “Why do kids work? Why is it happening in the past? They shouldn’t be able to. Kids need to learn and go to school.”
Max Hall. – “How to make tea out of plants.”

Egg Drop in Cooleemee a Huge Success!

Posted on April 15, 2024April 15, 2024 by KC Smith

On Saturday, March 30th, The Bridge Church, located at 191 Main Street in Cooleemee, sponsored an egg drop at the Cooleemee Fire Department.

Josh Ijames provided hayrides, while the Bridge donated free hotdogs, cotton candy, flavored ice, popcorn, and water.

A food truck served free ice cream until they ran out.

Wristbands divided the children’s age groups so the egg drop could be fair and safe.

a person with their arms up in the air at an easter egg hunt event — *Pastor Justin Blue of The Bridge Church*

Pastor Justin Blue wore a mic, which helped him to manage the large groups. He certainly had a way to get everyone’s attention; this event was definitely not his first rodeo!

The candy-filled eggs were dropped from firetruck #13’s bucket while the crowd gave a resounding countdown.

a person holding a bucket of colored eggs

three children are standing in front of a building holding baskets

Faith Ann was walking toward her mother with a bucket of eggs, with a nice dome on top that was about to flow over the edge.

She happened to pass a younger girl who had a very small amount of eggs in her basket. Faith Ann turned around and put eggs in the little girl’s basket. Her kindness and compassion weren’t overlooked. How about Faith leading by example?

The energy surrounding the event was happiness, and by far, the event exceeded any and all expectations.

a fire truck is dropping colorful easter eggs from the extension ladder

two men cooking hot dogs on a grill outside

A big thank you to all the volunteers of the Bridge Church. This egg drop event was a huge success! Feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com or 336-250-1133. I would love to hear from you.

My Friend Grimes “Bimmy” Parker

Posted on March 21, 2024March 22, 2024 by KC Smith

My friend, Grimes “Bimmy” Parker, passed away recently, and I can’t bring him back.

Early Monday morning, before I was about to jump in the shower before leaving to care for our granddaughter, my husband said my name in a way I knew something was wrong.

“Bimmy passed away last night,”

It was like a silver magnet pulled me to Jeff’s chest quickly, and I held him tight. “I thought they were working on removing the fluid from his heart, and then they will treat his kidneys and wake them up?” That was what I was praying for, but it didn’t work out that way.

Wait a minute. He didn’t teach me how to plant peanuts!

Planting and harvesting peanuts, I thought, would be the coolest thing to learn how to do, and he did it every year. Every time I saw a bag of peanuts still in the hull, I would smile because I knew someone in my town who planted these things. I’m sure he would have taught me if only I had asked.

Duke Street isn’t a street I drive down often, but several times when I would, he would be sitting in a chair in front of his garage in the driveway with his legs crossed. I can imagine the conversations we would have had if only I had stopped by for a visit. Regret can send you into a whirlwind of thoughts when someone close to you passes away.

“But wait, I was going to, I could have, I should have.” Those thoughts sure don’t fill the void. The memories lift me up though, and I saturate my mind with them.

I was so honored when he called and asked me to be on the basketball camp board.

The first Grimes Parker Basketball Camp Invictus stands out most in my mind. All the dreams, hopes, ideas, and plans that he and Steve Fleming had came to fruition that day, and I’m so happy I was there, along with so many other volunteers, to see the magic happen.

“So what do you think, KC?”

“I thought it was fantastic, Bimmy, and I can’t wait for the next one.”

So many great ideas come to us, and then we think, “Whew, it would take a lot to make that happen,” and then we put them in our back pockets or, worse, throw them away. If only we had held on to that thought, that dream, that idea. How many lives would have been richer if we had pursued it further?

There is never a good time to lose a friend or loved one. No matter how prepared we try, it’s out of our control. Writing a letter to Bimmy and telling him how much he has enriched my life is a very healthy thing to do. Putting thoughts down on paper clears the mind and heals the soul.

I hope his chair will be sitting where he used to sit in that driveway so I can drive by, stop, and leave a note or two. Grimes “Bimmy” Parker, a Master of Cooleemee, will never be forgotten. Feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com or 336-250-1133. I would love to hear from you.