LC Chastain and Tipper, Gospel Singing Martins Creek Community Center 2008
A few years ago I did a series of videos about the need for volunteers at Martins Creek Community Center. Getting the word out about the center’s needs worked and today it is still open and supporting the community of Martins Creek in various ways.
I grew up going to the community center for 4H, monthly gospel singings and other events. In fact I conducted my very first mountain folk interview at the center back in 2008 with LC Chastain.
He was one of Pap’s closest friends and his wife Frankie and all their children were like family when I was growing up. Those who are left still feel like family.
LC was born in 1930 in Blue Ridge, Georgia. There were 16 children in his family—seven girls and nine boys. There were two sets of twins. LC was part of one set, but sadly his brother JB died at the age of 22 from a brain tumor.
He served in the Army during the Korean War. Afterwards he worked as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator until he retired. He and his dear wife Frankie raised six children.
I’ve heard so many stories about LC over my life. One that stands out is the time him and Pap were following each other on a long haul trucking trip up the eastern seaboard. LC had a toothache and was miserable. When they stopped for fuel LC bought a bottle of Listerine to use as a disinfectant for a pair of pliers so that he could pull his own tooth.
Pap’s mother died suddenly in the night of a heart attack when she was 67. I was in fifth grade. When I awoke that morning and went to the kitchen like usual LC and Frankie were already there sitting with Pap and Granny trying to comfort them.
LC was a huge part of the community center. So was his wife. And if anyone in the tri-state area was having a benefit to help someone in need LC would pitch in to help—from collecting auction items to selling chances he was willing to do anything that was needed.
He was the chewing gum man to all the kids. LC always had a pocket full of gum for the children and was even willing to share it with the grownups.
When I interviewed him back in 2008 I asked him if he had anything to say about Appalachia. His reply: “If I didn’t live here, I’d be getting here as fast as I could.”
Tonight, May 24, 2025, Martins Creek Community Center (4605 Martins Creek Road, Murphy, NC 28906) will host its first gospel singing of the year. Our church choir will be there as will the Hogsed Brothers from Hiwasssee GA and Hickory Stand (Paul Wilson, Caleb Dykes, Jamie Shook, and Perry Stalcup.) The singing gets started at 6:00 p.m. and admission is free. Food can be purchased, usually hotdogs and hamburgers. Proceeds help the center pay for its power bill and other needs.
Last night’s video: The Family History and Stories of Opal Corn Myers 20.
Tipper
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That is so nice that you have such a close community to have events like this. Hope it went well! I wish I could have been there.
Hope you all have a good time tonight. Hope you raise a lot of money for the community center
I remember reading one of your blogs years back where you wrote a funny story Pap had told you about one of his friends who pulled his tooth or had one pulled and while stopped a man came up to him to ask directions until he saw blood dripping from his mouth. He said something like; Jerry I think he thought I was one of them vampeers:) Don’t know if it was Chastain or another friend but I could certainly see that play out in my mind’s eye. lol
If I was closer, I would shur nough be there tonight for that Gospel Sing. I pray a lot of people show up and buy something to eat or just donate for the Martins Creek Community Center.
Oh I wish I were there! Pattie B and K. Teens took me once. It as wonderful.
Sing pretty!
I MISS THOSE GOSPEL SINGS IN ALABAMA!
Hopefully this will be a big fund raising event for the center! I only live two hours away, but late night driving for this little acorn would be rough! Maybe the next one will be on a Friday night. I’d love to see you all again!
Everyone have a fun evening.
Tipper, I noticed one of the group with Paul has the last name Stalcup. Do you know where he is from? When my husband was in the US Air Force and stationed in Orlando, FL, I worked at a dentist’s office whose last name was Stalcup. That’s not a name you hear often.
Lucy, he is from here 🙂 Stalcup is a very common name in our area.
What an uplifting story!
Tipper, I would have so loved to attend this tonight. I am so anxious to get to Cherokee and Haywood counties to meet and see all the places my family lived and walked and worked. And just lived there every day life. I would love to see Paul and his group play and the rest of the people you mentioned. Meet you in person and the rest of your family. My family spent most of our lives doing fundraisers and anything to help our church community. It was a very rewarding part of our lives. I hope everyone has a wonderful time and it’s a complete success. I need to plan better, I have to make a trip to Florida, to take care of a family member that is in desperate need, if I planned it out I probably could’ve been driving straight through North Carolina. And could have been able to make a stop, but unfortunately memorial weekend is not safe for traveling. I would be very fearful driving, but know I’m there in spirit. God bless each and every one of you. Happy Memorial Day to all who have served our beautiful country!! Warmly, Esme’❤️
What a beautiful legacy you have written about LC. He and his wife made wonderful memories with your family and the community. If my husband and I lived on your side of the state we would be happy to attend the singing event tonight to help support it. We both enjoy good gospel music and good food. Have fun and hope the event raises more than enough money to keep the community center running strong.
I enjoyed the piece and all the comments. I would be there if I could. Do you have the Centers mailing address?
Linda, the center gets mail in care of Nina here: Nina Chastain
582 Chastain Road
Murphy, NC 28906
Thank you!
I wish yall an enjoyable time, but being about 6 1/2 hours away I don’t think I’ll make it.
LC and Frankie sound like alot of people I’ve known. The type of people that make this country great and make God smile.
I recognize LC in folks I have known. Your short biography of him speaks volumes about down home Appalachian character without once naming the traits being illustrated by example. Guess the short version would be good people showing it by their manner of living. So glad for Martin’s Creek that the community came together and have stayed together. May it continue till the Lord comes. It is looking more every day like that won’t be long. On another note, does Hickory Stand travel and do singing or only local?
Hope everyone has a wonderful time and the fund raising efforts are successful.
Tipper, you’ve had a very interesting life and met some very interesting and wonderful people along the way! A feller who pulled his own tooth with Listerine is a force to be reckoned with indeed and as strong willed as he is physically. Here’s to all the unsung, infamous hero’s we all know and love. They are fewer and far between nowadays, but the hero’s are still amongst us. Hero’s are the ones who do what has to be done fast after day, takes care of their family and treats every living thing with respect regardless of who’s looking or not. Here’s to all the LC’s out there who’s made our lives enriched and more joyful by just existing!!!! Here’s calling all good people and thanking you for it too!!! You sweeten the days. PS I now have a complete driveway. After a roof, my life may be “normal” again… Helene was 8 months ago and there’s still aplenty of us in the process of repair… it’s been painful, slow, agonizing and I met a hustler who took 7500$ and is giving me the runaround about a roof since December. Come June 1, I’m taking his low down sorry stealing tail to court… can’t put my roof on and eats door dash 3 times a day…. Lazy and expensive if you ask me…
It sounds like there’s gonna be a good time at the community center this evening. If I lived anywhere near there, I would come and enjoy listening to the singing—and maybe have a hotdog too.
memorial Day,, my hats off to anybody that served, my Uncle Carl he served, and he lived to come home, My great Uncle John he served and he lived to come home, they have both passed away since, God bless you friends, God bless your family in jesus’ name
I also remember the good old days like that when mom and dad would take us to the new river in Narrows va we would hear great gospel music and then some local preacher would preach. A lot of times one of dad’s friends of the c b radio friends would bring there guitar s and base fiddle home with us and dad would play gospel music with them till early the next day. I dint realize at the time how much it would influence me in my older age. But it sure did planting seeds of faith so there could be a harvest no seeds planted no harvest. If we buy seeds and never put them in the earth they cannot grow to harvest. In church or else where as Christian people were carrying around seeds of faith for other people let us plant the seed of faith in Jesus the fields are white and it’s harvest time.
If my wife was still living I would have her up and be on our way. I am no longer able to go this far by myself.