Memory Bears by local Seamstress and Quilter Creates Rave Reviews
by: Bill CongerJun 19, 2025
Seamstress and quilter Elizabeth Pruitt, the owner of Quilts, Memories, and Sew Much More, has founded a special niche that has created rave reviews and swelled into a massive business. Pruitt started the memory bears from her DeKalb County home ten years ago when her dad, a college history professor at Westbrook College in Portland, Maine passed away. He always wore blue striped or solid blue oxford cloth shirts. Among a huge pile of her dad’s shirts, she found the perfect one to use, an orange and gray plaid Seersucker.
“I made the bear and I showed it off on Facebook. People just loved it!” Pruitt explained to WJLE from her sewing room. A very large computerized quilting machine fills part of the room with many of her ongoing projects organized to her liking.
The popularity of the bears began to extend beyond Smithville when she created a listing for them in her Etsy shop, QuiltsandMemoriesUS. “My goodness gracious! I have made 1,700 bears in the last four or five years for people all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Australia.
Pruitt is invited into the lives of people’s loved ones who are grieving deceased family or cherished friends. They often send photos of the person who died wearing the clothes along with a personal letter explaining the significance, and sometimes they are accompanied by the people’s obituaries.
“A lot of them that stand out to me are the young adults, who didn’t get a chance live their life. Those are the ones that seem to choke me up a little bit. This one woman lost her 17-year-old son in a car accident, and one of the shirts in the box was the shirt he wore when he died in the car. That gets me. When I got the bears all done and I sent them to her, she had a gathering of his friends, and she had a picture of her son and the friend wearing the shirt that she gave to the friend. Now they’re sitting there holding the bear that I made from the shirt. That’s just heartbreaking.”
Pruitt will receive unique items like a handmade 1963 prom dress made from red velour material with eggshell white colored lacing across the top. She made two bears that looked just like the dress.
“A girl sent me her wedding dress, and I made a bride and a groom bear from her wedding dress. He was wearing a little vest and the bride bear was wearing a little veil. It was really cute.”
She was asked to create a bear from the fabric of a grandpa’s favorite recliner that was camouflage with a deer pattern.
“There’s so many things that people can come up with like favorite blankets, favorite quilts, even fabric luggage. They cut all the fabric off it because mom had traveled the world with that piece of luggage. They had me make a bear from the luggage fabric. It was crazy, but it was pretty cool when it was done.”
Pruitt’s bears garner praise, strong reviews and thank you notes from those who now have a tangible memory to literally hold.
“Here’s a whole story that I got from somebody,” Pruitt explains as she reads one of the letters in her collection. “I’m sending you a flannel shirt. Lavender is my wife’s favorite color. My wife’s name is Cynthia. She passed away from breast cancer 10 days ago. Ten days before he sends me a shirt for a bear.”
Normally, for shipping orders Pruitt allows a lead time of six to eight weeks to create the memory bear, but she can squeeze local folks into a shorter time frame. Before the memory bears, Pruitt had already been tackling a myriad of projects from hemming and sewing to t-shirt quilts and most recently custom rug tufting. She lends her crafty hands to non-profits at times including a genealogy tree that is planned for Alexandria. It’s quite the feat to juggle all her sewing jobs.
“I’m too easily distracted,” she admits with a smile. “I’ll think I’ve got to cut those shirts. let me go make a bear, wait a minute, I’ve got to work on this dress. It’s just like, dishes are in the sink. I got to go put the dishes in the dishwasher. That’s part of being here at home. It’s like focus. You can do this.”
Starting as a teenager, Pruitt has been sewing for more than 40 years.
“My mother taught me how to read patterns and how to sew,” she says. “One of the first things I ever made was a little peach corduroy flower girl dress for my older sister’s wedding back when I was about 13 years old. That was my first experience in sewing. But I didn’t do anything for the longest time until I had the kids [Bailey and Grayson]. Then, it was just pretty much a hobby until people knew I could do hemming. It just grew from there.”
Pruitt will be giving a live demonstration of her craft at the DeKalb County Fair on Thursday, June 26 at 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 p.m.
Nicole Wright to Become the Next DeKalb County Clerk and Master
by: Dwayne PageJun 18, 2025
Hello Nicole!
Meet Nicole Wright, the next DeKalb County Clerk and Master for the Chancery Court.
Appointed by Chancellor Ronald Thurman to succeed longtime Clerk and Master Debra Malone upon her retirement effective June 27, Wright will be taking her oath of office that afternoon at 4 p.m. in Smithville. Wright’s first full day will be Monday, June 30.
“I am truly honored to be considered for this position, and I look forward to assuming the duties of the office,” Wright told WJLE Tuesday.
“I learned about the opening a few months ago. I immediately began to pray about it and consider it. I submitted my resume to the Chancellor and later interviewed with him. A little over a week ago, he informed me that I got the job,” said Wright.
Born and raised in DeKalb County, Wright has made public service a lifelong career.
“I began my adventures in public service here in DeKalb County in 1995. I went to work for the DeKalb County Ambulance Service. I was an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) for 25 years working at various times in that position. I served at the 911 Dispatch under the direction of former Sheriff Lloyd Emmons and later became a dispatcher for the City of Smithville Police and Fire departments. I subsequently worked at the DeKalb County E-911 centralized dispatch center when it relocated to its new facility for a brief period,” stated Wright.
“Following that, I worked as a Deputy Clerk for former Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack for six years and ran for the position in the 2018 August election as the Democratic nominee when Ms. Pack chose not to seek re-election. I was subsequently employed by the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office of Warren County.
“During my career, I also worked for five years as an Office Administrator for local attorney Jeremy Trapp. I served as an Escrow Officer for DeKalb Title, LLC for five years. In October 2024, I became a Deputy Trustee at the DeKalb County Trustee’s office,” Wright said.
Nicole and her husband Jeff Wright reside in Smithville, and they have three daughters and four grandchildren. Jeff has also made a career in public service, both as a career firefighter for the City of Murfreesboro and as Deputy Chief and 39-year veteran firefighter of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department.
“Smithville is our home, and I enjoy working near my family,” said Wright.
Nicole plans no major changes in the operation of the office and the two current employees will stay on including full time deputy clerk, Amanda Vaughn, and part time deputy clerk Sarah Evans.
“I am so grateful they have agreed to stay,” said Wright. “Debra has done a tremendous job in her many years of service, and I look forward to keeping that going. I certainly want to wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement,” she said.
“I enjoy meeting new people and engaging in conversations. Our door remains open, and we are here to serve,” Wright concluded.
Long time DeKalb County Clerk and Master Debra Malone to Retire
by: Dwayne PageJun 17, 2025
Goodbye Debra!
Almost 26 years after becoming Clerk and Master for the DeKalb County Chancery Court, Debra Malone has announced her retirement, effective June 27.
Nicole Wright has been appointed to a six-year term as the new Clerk and Master by Chancellor Ronald Thurman to succeed Malone.
In an interview with WJLE recently, Malone explained that while she has been Clerk and Master since October 1999, she actually began working in the office almost 35 years ago when she was hired as a deputy clerk by former Clerk and Master John Robert Nixon in 1990.
“At the time I was working at Federal Mogul in the office when a friend and co-worker told me about a soon to be job opening in the courthouse. He knew about it because his wife had worked for another county official there. I checked on it and learned that an employee for Mr. Nixon was leaving so I came in and talked to John and he hired me. I’ve been here ever since,” said Malone.
Although she never expected the opportunity of a career in this line of work, Malone said she has always enjoyed the job, and Mr. Nixon (now deceased) was a great mentor to her.
“When I came to work in 1990 as deputy clerk for John I was 32 years old. My husband, Miles and I have one son, Granger, who had just turned 5 years old at that time. There were a few challenging times, trying to learn the job, transferring from handwriting everything in books to computers, trying to keep up with all the changes in the laws and proper procedures, but I can truly say I have loved this job. Mr. Nixon was so good to work with, and such a great teacher. He became a great friend to me. John and I had worked together for 9 years when he decided to retire” she continued.
Before Nixon stepped down, Malone said she let him know she was interested in the Clerk and Master position, but of course it was the Chancellor at the time Vernon Neal, who had to make the appointment. Malone remembered how she got the call from the Chancellor.
“I had previously let him (Nixon) know that I was interested in the position of Clerk and Master whenever he retired, and he had shared that with Chancellor Neal. I’ll never forget the phone call from Chancellor Neal, which I wasn’t expecting or prepared for, in which he said “So, tell me why you think you’d be a good Clerk and Master”. Of course, caught off guard, I was dumbfounded, and couldn’t answer immediately. Then he laughed and I relaxed a bit and was able to speak again,” explained Malone.
Not long after that phone call, Malone got the job when Nixon retired, and she is thankful to Chancellor Neal (now deceased) for the opportunity.
“I was appointed to the office on October 1st of 1999 and have always appreciated and enjoyed being the Clerk and Master for DeKalb County. I thank God always for the blessings this position has brought me and my family over the years, and hopefully I have done a good job for the county. My parents taught me to always do the best job possible at whatever I’m doing, and I’ve tried to do that,” said Malone.
In 2006, Chancellor Neal retired from the bench, and he was succeeded by Chancellor Ronald Thurman.
“I appreciate Chancellor Thurman so much and have enjoyed working with him for 19 years. He is a very considerate, caring and accommodating person and is always ready to assist us when needed,” said Malone.
As she prepares to leave the office, Malone said she is thankful to her current and past employees for their dedication and hopes they will remember her as a “good and fair boss”. Malone is also grateful to the public and others, especially the county commission, for their support.
“For many years it was just me and one deputy clerk but in 2019 the County Commission approved the hiring of a part-time clerk. That has improved the efficiency of this office,” said Malone. “And I have had some great deputy clerks. Judy Mathis and I worked together for more than 12 years before her retirement, and Amanda Vaughn has been with me since September of 2014. Both have been not only my co-workers but have come to be very good friends of mine. We’ve also had several part-time deputy clerks since 2019 including Sarah Evans, the sweet young lady who is working with us now,” she said.
“This position has been such a blessing to me and my family, and I have learned so much working with the court system,” Malone continued. “I’ve attended many training sessions and conferences offered by the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts and by CTAS. It’s amazing to me that I have been in this office for more than 34 years and I’m still learning something new all the time. I’ve met a lot of good people and made several good friends over the years. Most of the attorneys have been so good to work with, and their secretaries are just great. When dealing with the public you get a mix of good and not so good, but the good outweighs the bad every time”.
Malone also fondly remembered longtime friend and real estate auctioneer Charles Atnip who often helped her with court ordered sales. Atnip passed away earlier this year.
“Over the years I’ve worked with a few different auctioneers through court ordered sales and dealt with some fine people. Most have always been very considerate and helpful in any way possible. The Charles D. Atnip Realty and Auction Company gave me my education in auctions,” explained Malone. “We spent many extremely hot days together, and 3 or 4 super cold, snowy or icy days doing auctions, but it was always good to work with them, and they always gave 100% no matter the size or dollar value of the sale. Charles Atnip was a good friend to me, and I miss him,” said Malone.
“As I approach my retirement, I realize I won’t be seeing and visiting with many of the people I’ve come to know so well, and that’s sad in many cases. I appreciate the time we’ve spent together. But I’m also preparing for a new phase of life in which clocks and appointments are less important, and the freedom of unscheduled days lies ahead. Thank you, DeKalb County,” said Malone.
Next week, the torch will pass to a new Clerk and Master and Malone wishes her successor well.
“Nicole Wright has accepted the position of Clerk and Master and will soon take the oath of office. I wish her the best and hope she enjoys her time as the DeKalb County Clerk and Master as much as I have,” said Malone.