NEWPORT-One of Cocke County's oldest citizens, Charles Holland "Charlie" Gregg, died Sunday. He was 99.
He was born April 11, 1910, in Bybee, a son of Wade and Dessie (Green) Gregg, and was one of seven children. His siblings, all of whom preceded him in death, were brothers Edgar Gregg, Joe Gregg, Sydney Gregg, Wade Gregg, Jr., Edith Gregg Webb, and Isa B. Gregg Wilson.
In 1916, his family moved to Old Town. The children attended the one-room O'Dell School, which stood on a hill above the Warren Denton place off Hwy. 160. On his 98th birthday, he recalled, "There were more Greggs than anyone there."
His first job was farm work. "I worked many a day for 50 cents a day," he remembered. I picked beans for Stokely's for that. I crawled through those river bottoms on my knees."
He also remembered that Stokely's provided transportation for the workers. "They'd come by in a wagon," he said, "before daylight and haul us to Dutch Bottoms or Rankin-wherever they needed us. And we'd work until dark."
Among the early pleasures he remembered from his childhood was going to the old Appalachian Fair, which was held on the site of today's Newport City Park. He was there when the first airplane landed in Cocke County in 1918.
After working for Stokely's in their fields, he transferred to their can shop. "I did a little of everything," he said. "I'd feed a corn shucker, case cans, whatever they told me to do."
Later he worked for Unaka Tannery for ten years, operating a machine which took the flesh off animal hides brought in for tanning.
As a young man, he met Louie Barger, a Parrottsville girl from the Harned Chapel community. After a courtship, the two married and remained together for 74 years until her death.
In the 1940s, he and his wife moved to Cleveland, Ohio in search of better-paying jobs. He found work with U. S. Aluminum and Raydex Wire. They stayed until World War II ended, then returned to Cocke County in 1949 and settled permanently in Old Town.
Although the Greggs had no children of their own, they were very close to their numerous nieces and nephews. Following Mrs. Gregg's death after 74 years of marriage, Charlie remained at home until a fall necessitated his move to Wellington Place a couple of years ago.
He continued to enjoy visits from family and friends and reminisce about Newport's early history.
Family and friends will meet Wednesday morning, May 13, at Resthaven Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel for an 11:00 o'clock graveside service. Chaplain Mike Sledge will officiate.
Costner-Maloy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.