The Smoky Mountain Years
In the early 1940s, my grandparents, Edward and Hazel Coker, found themselves separated by miles of mountain roads and the responsibilities of a young family. Edward left their Cullman County home to work in the Great Smoky Mountains, while Hazel remained behind caring for their children and tending to life at home.
During their time apart, they wrote letters.
Those letters are filled with love, worry, questions about the crops, news of the children, money tucked inside, and the ordinary details of everyday life survived for more than eighty years. Today, they give us a glimpse into not only a young marriage, but also a way of life that has almost disappeared.
This is their story of the Smoky Mountain years.
All Text and Photos - © 2026 Anita Whitlock. All rights reserved. Lots of Love, Grandma Coker.
Strawberry Preserves and the Smoky Mountain Roads is a heartfelt journey into the lives of my grandparents through their authentic letters, treasured family photographs, and cherished memories from the early 1940s.
While Edward worked in the Great Smoky Mountains helping build mountain roads, Hazel remained home in rural Alabama, faithfully caring for their young family. Their letters reveal enduring love, unwavering faith, and the quiet strength that carried them through months of separation.
Filled with Southern history, family stories, and timeless inspiration, this book is perfect for readers who enjoy genealogy, Appalachian history, World War II-era family life, and true stories that celebrate love, resilience, and home.
A meaningful keepsake for history lovers, families, and anyone who believes the greatest stories are often found in ordinary lives.
