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Zachary House, 131 Church Street, Cooleemee, NC 27014

Town of Cooleemee

News

Cooleemee Celebrates the Season with a Joyous Christmas Parade and Old-Time Christmas

Posted on by Jeanna White

The streets of Cooleemee will come alive with holiday spirit on Saturday, November 29, 2025, during the annual Cooleemee Christmas Parade and Old-Time Christmas Celebration! This beloved hometown tradition brings together friends, families, and neighbors to share in the joy and wonder of the season.

A Parade Full of Holiday Cheer

The fun begins at 4 p.m. as the parade steps off from Cooleemee Elementary School, featuring community groups, festive floats, classic cars, and cheerful participants spreading Christmas joy all along the route. The procession winds its way to the historic Zachary House, where the celebration continues. (If you would like to be part of the magic, plan to be at Cooleemee Elementary at 3 p.m. to join the parade lineup.)  

Old-Time Christmas at the Zachary House

Following the parade, head over to the Zachary House for the Old-Time Christmas Celebration, hosted by the Cooleemee Historical Association (CHA), the Town of Cooleemee, and The Bridge Church. Enjoy an afternoon filled with holiday nostalgia, delicious treats, and activities for all ages.

Guests can look forward to:

  • A visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus
  • Readings of the Christmas Story and ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
  • Hot chocolate, cider, and desserts to keep everyone warm and merry

The Sweet Return of the Fudge Contest

Back by popular demand — the Cooleemee Fudge Contest! Originally introduced by retired Cooleemee Mayor John Chandler in the early 2000s, this tasty competition was revived last year and quickly became a crowd favorite once again.

Think your fudge is the best in town? All types and flavors are welcome!

Bring your entry to the Zachary House by 3 p.m. on November 29th to be part of the contest. Samples will be shared at the dessert table, and the winner will be announced during the Old-Time Christmas festivities. The champion will earn bragging rights and their name engraved on the official trophy!

For more information about the fudge contest, contact John Chandler at (336) 940-0848.

Experience the charm of an old-fashioned Cooleemee Christmas and make memories that will last a lifetime. These festive community events promise to fill your holiday season with warmth, joy, and hometown pride. Don’t miss out — mark your calendars and follow the Town of Cooleemee on Facebook for event updates!

Relive last year’s magic with these fabulous photos by KC Smith. 


Faith Community Nurse Expands Health and Wellness Support in Cooleemee

Posted on by Jeanna White

Residents in Cooleemee and the surrounding area have a new faith-based resource for health, wellness, and community care. Kristi McCray, BSN, RN, now serves as a Faith Community Nurse (FCN) at The Bridge, located at 197 Main Street in Cooleemee. Through this ministry, McCray is helping connect healthcare and faith to promote whole-person wellness — body, mind, and spirit.

Bridging Faith and Health

Faith Community Nursing is a growing partnership model that unites healthcare and local faith communities. It offers education, preventive resources, and compassionate support to help individuals and families live healthier, more balanced lives.

“Our services are designed to complement what community partners are already offering,” said McCray. “Together, we can make sure residents have access to information and care that supports their overall well-being.

Community leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, and advocates are encouraged to help spread the word and connect residents with the Faith Community Health Ministry at The Bridge.

Free October Wellness Event Open to All

To celebrate this new ministry, McCray and her partners will host a free community wellness event focused on preventive health, early detection, and wellness education.

  • Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
  • Time: 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
  • Location: The Bridge, 197 Main Street, Cooleemee, NC 27014

This event is open to the entire community and will feature a variety of free resources, screenings, and health education opportunities. Jay Patel from Davie Discount Drugs will be on-site, administering flu vaccines (including high-dose options for individuals aged 65 and above) and COVID-19 vaccines.

Participants can also take advantage of:

  • Blood pressure checks and education
  • Free sign-ups for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer screenings
  • COVID-19 and flu immunizations
  • Free food distribution and connection to community resources
  • And much more!

Registration is not required, but all screenings will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Promoting Health and Hope in Davie County

The event is hosted by the Atrium Health Faith Community Health Ministry, a collaboration between Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and local community partners dedicated to promoting health and wholeness.

“This program is about more than just healthcare — it’s about building relationships and strengthening our community,” McCray explained.

For more information about faith-based wellness services or the October Wellness Event, contact Kristi McCray, BSN, RN, at Kristi.mccray@advocatehealth.org.

October WellnessDownload

ABC Store Dedication Honors Legacy of Grimes “Bimmy” Parker

Posted on 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
Fran Parker and Kris Howell

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 Celebrates Back-to-School with Fun, Food, and Community Spirit

Posted on by KC Smith

The Cooleemee Historical Association and Bridge Church team up to host a lively event featuring games, treats, school supplies, and a special introduction to new health ministry services.

By KC Smith 

When the Cooleemee Historical Association joins with the Bridge Church in Cooleemee, you know something good is going to happen, like a back-to-school party.

A bouncy house, water slide, watermelon contests, games, popcorn, grilled hot dogs, flavored ices, and cotton candy were free to everyone present, young and old.

Kristi McCray was a special guest from Charlotte, NC. Our community is very excited to have a registered nurse located at the Bridge Church, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Faith Community Health Ministry is a collaboration between Atrium Health and faith communities. McCray’s unique role in health ministry is a diverse service of caring for body, mind, and spirit. For more information, call 704-631-0718 or email AtriumHealth.org/faith.

A big thank you to the CHA and the Bridge Church for providing a great day for our school kids to have fun, scream, bounce, win backpacks full of school supplies, and eat until their bellies were full. What a great day in our little town called Cooleemee.

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

Cooleemee Welcomes New Fire Chief Velvet Hackett

Posted on 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 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.

Staffing and Town Hall Hours Update

Posted on by Cooleemee Admin

We are pleased to announce we have hired Stacy Gilbert to the position of part-time Town Clerk. Stacy is from Cooleemee and is looking forward to helping out her hometown. Stacy will work several days a week to help us through the transition to fill the vacant Town Clerk and Finance Officer position. Please join me in welcoming Stacy to her new role with the town. Town Hall will be open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for the next two weeks. Thank you for your patience as we work through the transition.

I can be reached when Town Hall is closed at:

(336) 250-1135 or jsmith@cooleemee.org

Jeff Smith
Mayor of Cooleemee

Staffing and Town Hall Hours Update

Posted on by Cooleemee Admin

We are pleased to announce we have hired Shirley Jacobs to the position of part time Town Clerk. Shirley brings a wealth of experience having served in the role in the past. Shirley will work several days a week to help us through the transition to fill the vacant Town Clerk and Finance Officer position. We are also in the process of hiring additional part time help and over the next two weeks Town Hall will have restricted hours.

Town Hall will be closed on Monday 8/4 and the next two Friday’s 8/8 and 8/15. The other days Town Hall will be open 9-1. Thank you for your patience as we work to get people in place.

Next Two Weeks Town Hall Hours of Operation

8-4       Closed 
8-5       9:00 – 1:00
8-6       9:00 – 1:00 
8-7       9:00 – 1:00
8-8       Closed
8-11     9:00 – 1:00
8-12     9:00 – 1:00
8-13     9:00 – 1:00
8-14     9:00 – 1:00

I can be reached when Town Hall is closed at: (336) 250-1135 or jsmith@cooleemee.org.

Jeff Smith
Mayor of Cooleemee

Organizational Announcement

Posted on by Cooleemee Admin

It is with both sadness and congratulations that I am announcing Steve Corriher will be resigning his position of Town Clerk and Finance Officer to accept a new opportunity with Lowe’s effective August 4, 2025. Sadness in that we are losing a tremendous asset to the town with Steve’s departure, and congratulations that he will be moving to a great opportunity for him and his family.

Steve has always had a great love for the Town of Cooleemee. In addition to his current role as Town Clerk and Finance officer, he has served terms as the Mayor of Cooleemee. In those roles he has served on many boards and worked with the other municipalities, the county, and the state. Steve’s experience in all these areas has helped the town work through some difficult times. Steve will be working part-time as we go through the process of replacing him.

On a personal note, Steve has been a tremendous help to me in my role as mayor. His knowledge and experience along with his willingness to share those with me and the commissioners has helped make things run much smoother for our town.

Please join me in thanking Steve for all he has done and continues to do for Cooleemee, and wish him well in his new opportunity.

Jeff Smith
Mayor of Cooleemee