CCHAC'S
2024-2025
MEDIA FUNDING

This season's media funding provided by:

CCHAC greatly appreciates all of the support in providing these grant funds to increase our media outreach.

OUR MISSION

STATEMENT

According to our By-Laws, the mission of the Clay County Historical & Arts Council (CCHAC) is to sponsor and encourage educational activities in Clay County Schools, the Community and surrounding areas, with particular emphasis on the Historical and Cultural Heritage, and Visual, Performing and Literary Arts.

In recognition of the need to preserve the local History and Native Arts and Crafts of Western North Carolina, the Clay County Historical and Arts Council was established through the efforts of the Clay County beautification Committee in January 1974. By the end of February 1974, the Council had gained enough support from Clay County residents to be incorporated. Mrs. Gertrue Price was elected as the first president. It was under her direction that the Clay County Historical and Arts Council began operations. Out of the early community theater founded by the council in June 1974, the Licklog Players emerged. The Mountain Community Chorus was also a direct result of early Council activity in September 1974.

It is important that every viable Arts Council has a home out of which to operate. Through the efforts of the then county commissioners, the old Clay County Jail building was secured for the purpose of housing both a History and Arts museum. The building has also served as a center for cultural events in the county throughout the years. Several additions to the building such as the Gertrue Price room and Dr. Killian’s office have been added over the years so that what now functions as the Historical and Arts Council Museum truly represents early life in the Carolina mountains.

How We Began

Edgar & Gertrue Price

Clay County Historical & Arts Council's 50th Birthday Celebration at The Beal Event Center

Listen in as CCHAC celebrates 50 years of supporting Arts & Preserving History in Clay County, recognizing our former and current board members and talks about just a few of the many projects and events over the past 50 years. Feel free to browse the photo gallery of the entire evening.

CCHAC's 50th Birthday Celebration
at
The Beal event Center
April 18, 2024

WE'RE TURNING 50!

Please read the recent write up in
Lake Chatuge Living Magazine

REBA BECK

CO-PRESIDENT

During the years I have served on the board of the Clay County Historical & Arts Council, I have experienced some of the most enjoyable, fulfilling, challenging, tiring, stressful, delightful, and wonderful times of my life. There is always work to do somewhere and having wonderful, dedicated, talented people willing to contribute their time keeps moving our mission and vision in the right direction. As a former art teacher, I appreciate our consistent focus of promoting the arts and artists of our community, making programs available to students and adults, and joining with other non-profit organizations to promote cultural and historical awareness in our area. I especially appreciate all those who have served as board members, volunteers and in leadership in past years who have been such an inspiration to me giving me an example of the servant leader and a servant's heart for making our county a more joyous place in which to live.

MARSHA CHRISTY

CO-PRESIDENT

MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS

PATRICIA MOORE

TREASURER

I grew up on a farm in Southern Maryland on the banks of the Potomac River opposite George

Washington’s Mount Vernon. I moved to the area in the late 90’s. I taught French and Spanish

for over 30 years, twenty-one of them in Clay County High School. I have a B.A. in French and

Linguistics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a B.S. in Spanish and

Education from Western Carolina University. I taught as a teaching assistant at the University of

Maryland, College Park, while doing master’s work in French classic literature. I have taken

students on educational travel tours to Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Haiti. I love history,

arts, travel, cooking, gardening, cultural studies, singing in church, and spending time with

family. I have been a board member of Clay County Historical and Arts Council for over fourteen

years. I live in Clay County with my husband Dennis Barber. We have two sons and two

daughters and two beautiful grandchildren. We own and operate two restaurants in Clay County,

The Copper Door and Carlotta’s New Orleans’ Kitchen.

PAM ROMAN
BOARD MEMBER

Contact info
Email: pr33567@aol.com
Phone # 828-332-1211

SARA JARRETT SMITH

BOARD MEMBER

I was born and grew up in Hayesville. After finishing college, getting married, raising a family, and teaching for 30 years in North Carolina school systems, my husband Wayne and I retired in 1998 and moved back to Clay County.
Since my aunt was the founder of the Historical & Arts Council and played a prominent role in the development of the museum, she made sure that all family members were enlisted to help. It just seemed natural that I would become a member of the board and work with the museum as soon as I returned to Hayesville. I am interested in preserving the history of Clay County and helping others understand our history.
I also have worked with the CCHAC Botanic Garden since its development and continue to be a part of it as we change our focus from wildflowers to shrubs.

LORRIE ROSS

BOARD MEMBER

I work full time as a substance misuse preventionist for Mountain Projects and write for the Clay County Progress part time. My prevention office is in Clay County where I have lived for 22 years. Even though I was not born in western North Carolina, I have always felt this was my home because my ancestors settled far western Cherokee County over two hundred years ago. I grew up hearing stories about walking barefoot in creeks, eating poke salad, and farm life from my Grandma Hattie who was raised in the Candy Mountain area. That same grandmother taught me how to paint with oils, write long letters, and bake peanut butter cookies. Mostly she taught me to appreciate the Appalachian culture.

I am married to Gary Ross, and we have two daughters and one grandchild. I have a BA in Radio Television-Journalism and am a trainer/facilitator for various resilience curriculums, building trauma-informed communities, Youth 2 Youth, Prime for Life, and substance misuse prevention. I have previously worked in retail, hospital administration, and various media. I am a member of Oak Forest United Methodist Church, where I sing in the choir and teach children's church. I enjoy writing, learning, traveling, drawing, singing, and making a difference wherever I can.

LAURA THOMAS

BOARD MEMBER

Hello. I moved here with my family in 2015 from Georgia, where I spent the last 10 years as a realtor and an office manager. Since I’ve been here in Hayesville, I have gotten certified in herbal medicine and have gotten more in tune with my artistic abilities, which is what led me to The Festival on the Square. I graciously accepted a seat on the Council in April 2022. I also enjoy volunteering my time in the Botanical Garden. My life is full and blessed with my wonderful husband by my side. We have two children and 4 grandchildren that bring us great joy.

DIANNE BURD

BOARD MEMBER

Here is a toast to being in Hayesville for half of every year! I have been a CCHAC Board member for over a decade and enjoy the Festival on the Square, the Museum, and our Botanic Garden. I live in one of the oldest houses in the county and love the value our group places on Clay County's history.

RON WALLACE

BOARD MEMBER

When my wife Fran and I retired to the North Georgia mountains 19 years ago, I never thought I would be taking so many photos of the beautiful landscape scenery in the local and surrounding areas. As an architect with the CDC for 32 years, I was familiar with using a camera to document the construction and inspection of all of my architectural projects. So after retirement, and with the advent of the new digital camera technology, it became possible for me to pursue a hobby in landscape and aerial photography.

I have been a board member with CCHAC for approximately ten years, still helping as needed with my photography and archtiectural expertise. I now work as the zoning administrator for the town of Hayesville.

JOAN JOPPIE

BOARD MEMBER & FESTIVAL COORDINATOR

I grew up as an Air Force brat. My father was a fighter pilot. My parents retired to St Petersburg Florida, and I lived there from 1962 until 2003. I graduated from Eckerd College then taught in Pinellas County for 30 years. My husband, Clay, and I had a small farm there where we had all types of animals. In 2003 when I retired, we moved to Clay County permanently although we have owned our place here since 1992.

ANNIE LLOYD

BOARD MEMBER

I moved here in 1975 and worked in the Clay County School System in the cafeteria for 21 years, and as a bus driver for 27 years. I became a board member three years ago and enjoy working on the Festival on the Square. I have been blessed with seven children, twenty-seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, ensuring that my life is filled with a lot of joy.

STEVE & KATHY MELLING

BOARD MEMBERS

We were both born and raised in Indiana and were working for the same company in Indianapolis when we met. Steve’s maternal side was from Hayesville and he visited there often and being desk mates, I heard wonderful things about Hayesville. I moved to Florida and Steve was still in Indianapolis but our relationship had changed so when we decided to get married we knew we wanted to live in Hayesville. In 2019 we married there and then shortly moved there- we were fortunate to purchase Steve’s Great Grandparents farmhouse that they built 100 years ago. As we joined many cousins who all still live on ancestral lands we knew we would have to do our part to help carry on the tradition of helping the Historical and Arts Council as Steve’s Great Aunt Gertrue Price was the first president and under her direction it began its operation.

ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS
NOT PICTURED:

PAM STORRING
PAT STAMEY

MOLLY SELLERS SEAVER

MUSEUM DOCENT & HISTORICAL INTERPRETER

I was raised in Young Harris. Georgia. I lived in Warne, NC for 22 years and now live in Murphy, NC. As a docent and historical interpreter at the Clay County Historical and Arts Council Old Jail Museum, I give tours and help visitors learn about the history of Clay County, a county where some of my family has lived since the 1850s.

TESS THOMAS

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE

I moved to Hayesville in 2019 and was hired by the Council in 2022. I am their media representative and really enjoy meeting new people through our Artist Spotlight, One on One with Clay County, and Let's Go To Jail interviews.

If you are interested in participating, please email me (below) and I will happily set up a convenient time for us to meet. This will be shared across our four social media platforms (see footer) and also here on our website, on the corresponding website tab.

I enjoy crafting in different mediums, from wood and leather, to beads and feathers.

MEET OUR STAFF