Elsie Greear is one of the finest ladies that any community would be proud to call one of their own. She is a very caring, loving, honest and humble woman who always has a smile and kind word for everyone she meets. Throughout her life she has been an example to all and a prominent figure in Dungannon. She still resides in the Hunters Valley section of the nearby area.

     Elsie Page Cox was born in the Long Hollow section of Nickelsville on August 31, 1925. She met and later married her sweetheart, Ray Greear at Valley View Baptist Church which she attended with her foster parents, Reverend H.H. Cox and his wife.

     The young couple moved from the Hunters Valley section to the town of Dungannon shortly after the birth of their daughter, Mary. There they co-owned and operated F&G General Store. It was near where the present day SI Osborne Hardware now sits. Elsie began work as a postal clerk during this time. The family later moved back to the old Greear home place and farm in Hunters Valley. They no longer were in the store business but Elsie remained a familiar face as she continued her career with the postal service. Ray became the Forestry Warden for Scott County while Elsie later became the Dungannon Postmistress. She ran the post office at its old location next to Gill’s General Store. While here she ran a post office in a building with no running water, any bathroom or little heat. She continued to be the postmistress when it was moved to the current site in the new bank building. She was a friendly face to all postal patrons until she retired in 1989.

     Elsie has served on many community organizations while in Dungannon. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Clinch River Health Services; Treasurer of Valley View Baptist Church. Her daughter, Mary, has served the community by teaching for over 30 years at Dungannon Elementary and Intermediate school. Mary is now retired and living near the family farm but the education she shared with so many young people still remains.

     In addition to her daughter Mary, Elsie has been blessed with Four grand children: Pam Stidham, Angel Hughes, Tashina McCarty and Jeremy McCarty. She has four great grand children also: Aneshia Stidham, Takoda Martin, Connor and Kaylee Hughes. She has one precious great grand daughter, Arabella Gillenwater.

     Elsie would like to thank the Dungannon Development Commission for asking her to serve as Grand Marshall. She also wishes to say hello to all her friends and past postal patrons. She truly misses seeing everyone when she was the postmistress. God Bless and Happy 4th of July! 

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