GATLINBURG – On Thursday, October 29, 2009, nestled in a majestic array of Fall splendor, the beautiful mountain-top home of Mrs. Wilma Maples and late husband Rel Maples became the setting for the Gatlinburg Garden Club’s very first scholarship benefit concert.

The Gatlinburg Garden Club was first organized by Miss Winogene B. Redding and The Weavers Guild at The Pi Beta Phi School on May 4, 1937.

Mrs. Wilma Maples proudly shows off her beautiful red roses presented to her at The Gatlinburg Inn by The Nashville Suzuki Players after the scholarship benefit concert which took place in her home "Wilmarel." Photo by Angie Jones.

According to the club’s mission statement, “The object of the club shall be to promote interest in gardens, their design, management and culture, to encourage the preservation of wildflowers, native plants and trees; and also the conservation of other natural resources; to study and to protect birds; to promote and to cooperate in movements for civic beautification; and to encourage education in the natural sciences.”

The club works diligently to fulfill all objectives by offering related programs, recognizing best landscape designs for local businesses yearly, and promoting the Wildflower Pilgrimage each Spring.

Gatlinburg Garden Club president Teri Pizza stated, “The Gatlinburg Garden Club awards a $1,500 scholarship each year to a deserving Sevier County high school graduate who plans to attend college to study any of the Natural Sciences.”

Gatlinburg Garden Club president Teri Pizza tells all, “We are so grateful to Mrs. Maples, all our extremely talented musicians, Step Above Limousine Service of Gatlinburg for providing ‘parking lot to terrace’ service, Carver’s Orchard and Apple House Restaurant of Cosby for delicious apple cider, Sevier County’s Garlands of Grace Ministries, The Spice House of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and of course to our club members and all those wonderful people who offered advice, support, and practical know-how to make this concert a reality.”

For many years, the scholarship was funded by events from The Festival of Trees. Due to complications and time limitations, President Teri Pizza stated, “We are no longer able to get our funding through The Festival of Trees. Together with the loving assistance of many of our members and community leaders, we have had to find new venues for fundraising. We give much credit to Mrs.Wilma Maples. She has welcomed us with open arms and brought all of us into her beautiful home here at Wilmarel. Even the dishes we are serving with belong to Mrs. Maples. The Gatlinburg Garden Club has made her a lifetime member as of this year. She is one of the kindest and sharing persons I have ever known.”

Wilma and her husband Rel Maples moved into the home in 1976 after having lived at the Gatlinburg Inn for 25 years. Engaging Reginald Perry of Knoxville, who had designed many homes and local churches in this area and Knoxville, the home took 2 and one half years to construct.

Mrs. Maples states, “Many of the decorative items in the house were gifts from friends. The crocheted pillows in the Blue Room were made from doilies given to me by Zettie Dodgen, a mountain woman and grandmother of Vern Hippensteal, the artist. Many of my quilts are also from guests of the Inn and made by me and my sisters.”

Guests for the elegant affair began arriving by Step Above Limousine Service around 4:00 P. M. to be greeted on the terrace with overflowing trays of appetizers and beverages, served by Garden Club members. As guests ate, they listened to the heavenly music of The Nashville Suzuki Players under the direction of internationally renowned composer, musician, and teacher Thornton Cline.

The ages of these young musicians range from as young as seven years old. After making numerous television appearances and having opened for the Nashville Symphony and the Country Music Hall of Fame, the group performed masterly with guitarist and arranger Ken Morrell and Blue Grass Hall of Fame banjo player Haskell McCormick.

All guests gave a joyous round of applause at the end of the performance when the Nashville Suzuki Players performed the well-known hit “Rocky Top” which was originally written in Wilma and Rel Maples’ hotel The Gatlinburg Inn by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant.

Around 5:00 P.M., all guests were ushered into the home’s Grand Living Room to be entertained by pianist Peggy Smith and clarinetist John E. Celestin, Jr.

For years, Peggy Smith has performed concerts throughout the Southeast, at colleges, churches, and music festivals with her mountain dulcimer. She is currently serving as music and choir director at Gatlinburg First United Methodist Church. Peggy and her husband Newman can be found at their shop on Glades Road doing scrimshaw, custom knife-making and silversmith trade.

The Nashville Suzuki Players under the direction of internationally known musician, song writer, and teacher Thornton Cline with Hall of Fame banjo player Haskell McCormick and music arranger and guitarist Ken Morrell take a few minutes to give God thanks for this beautiful season and scholarship benefit. Photo by Angie Jones.

A musician of 72 years, John Celestin served as a member of the 39th Infantry Division band and the U.S. Air Force band. Performing as clarinetist, tenor and baritone saxophonist, he has performed in England and throughout Europe. He is presently retired with his wife, Lynn, internationally known pianist and teacher. They now reside in Gatlinburg.
Together, these two gifted musicians entertained guests with classical pieces by such composers as Mozart, Haydn, Massenet, Schumann, Bach, and Saint Saens.

Around 5:45 P.M. and after a short acknowledgement and thanks for all the performers and sponsors, guests were further entertained with Jazz selections by Peggy and John. “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” “Basin Street Blues,” and “Star Dust” were some of the crowd’s favorites.

For the grand finale, beaming guests were moved into the Grand Dining Room for a bountiful table of decadent desserts served with endless coffee and teas. While they feasted, National Mountain Dulcimer Champion Tim Simek along with well-known musician and craftsman Mark Edelman performed to the festive crowd.

Awarded First Place at the 1993 National Mountain Dulcimer Championship in Winfield, Kansas, Tim Simek can be heard performing at events all around the area. He also performs at weddings, gives lessons, and operates his mountain studio in Seymour, Tennessee.

Mark Edelman is a long-time local favorite. Audiences from around the world have listened to his musical instrument performances and watched him hard at work at Smoky Mountain Dulcimers on 601 Glades Road in Gatlinburg.
Gatlinburg Garden Club members attending this elegant affair were Jane Dean, Wanna Mae Davis, Jeanne Ford, Lorraine Hendricks, Dot Egli, Joann Jordan, JoAn Trentham, Lyn Celestin, Patrycia Brown, B.J. Byars, Jean Ann Chase, Jan Lapides, Pam McMillan, Dorothy Middleton, Pam Baker, Janet Gullo, Marty Fairbanks, Judy Schwartz, Tressie Pascal, Gail Valentine, Gloria Wolff-Sprague, Mary Summitt, and George Hawkins.

Gatlinburg Garden Club volunteers Sandi Moersdorf; the Ways and Means chair, and Annette Caldwell; the Secretary and Food Coordinator, worked with many of the members who baked and helped serve for the benefit.

“A First Scholarship Benefit” at the magnificent home of Wilma Maples was an honor and night to remember by ALL in attendance, including myself. President Teri Pizza says, “We most humbly thank all who attended or gave in any way.”

–Angie Jones

At concert’s end, wife Lynn Celestin, John Celestin, Peggy Smith, and loving daughter Chantel Celestin say goodbye to each other after a masterful performance for the very first scholarship benefit of the Gatlinburg Garden Club. Photo by Angie Jones.