'She cared about people': Locals recall the lasting impression of Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton has left a lasting impact on the hearts of many. From her Southern-belle voice to her acting skills and bold personality, Parton's death at the age of 80 on Tuesday left people across the nation in shock. Her memory, however, lives on through her music – and the people who had the pleasure to meet her. Jimmy Grubbs, electrical crew One of those people is Jimmy Grubbs. He used to do the electrical work for Parton's shows, including her performance at the Freedom Hall Civic Center on March 19, 1977. Grubbs said watching Parton perform is something he'll never forget. "She was real neat to work with," he said. "She was always friendly, always laughing and talking. Just a great person to be around." The first time Grubbs met Parton is when she stepped off the bus to perform at Freedom Hall. She took to the stage, singing a slew of songs and interacting with the audience and the crew members who helped keep the show running. He described her personality as "very down-to-earth." "It was a big enjoyment," he said. "She put on a good show. There's no question about it. She sang all of her hit songs…She talked to us a little bit and laughed, stuff like that. She was real good to work with and to be around." Working with Parton at Freedom Hall was only part of Grubbs' time with the famous blonde. After she purchased Silver Dollar City, Grubbs worked with her there as well, saying her kindness and fun personality always shined each time she was on stage. He added Parton always made the effort to engage with her audience and "was one of the best to work with." "She done it different than others," said Grubbs. "She always had something to say and laughed when she got to singing." Grubbs said the news of Parton's death was heartbreaking and surprising, as he wasn't aware she had been sick. His connection through working with Parton, though, left him with a variety of memories from her shows. He said one of the songs that was his favorite to hear her sing was "A Coat of Many Colors." "When I was growing up, my coat didn't look too good either," he said with a chuckle. "I think it was [relatable]." Grubbs commended Parton not just on her excellence during her performances, but her genuine spirit when speaking with anyone. "She was just a great person," he said. "She cared about people, too." Bobbie Shirley, box office clerk Bobbie Shirley also worked behind the scenes at the Freedom Hall Civic Center during Parton's performance. Being a box office clerk, her responsibility was to manage the tickets of the performance. Even now, she said Parton's outfit for the concert is still perfectly painted in her mind. "I can remember what she wore – she had on that pink jumpsuit," Shirley said. "She was so nice to the audience. They loved her." While she said she doesn't remember much of the concert, one thing she'll never forget is when she and a few of the other employees of Freedom Hall were invited to go backstage to meet Parton. "We got to go backstage after the show was over, and she told me that I had pretty eyes," Shirley said. "That was one of the things…that was special." Alongside personally meeting Parton, Shirley said her uncle had a connection with some of Parton's family. Her uncle, a reverend, conducted the marriage between Parton's sister and her husband. The connection her family had, alongside her personal affection for Parton, made the news of her death hard to absorb. Like Grubbs, Shirley said Parton's death took her by surprise and left a lingering grief. "It broke my heart," Shirley said tearfully. "My sister called me crying and she said, 'Dolly's dead.' She was a big impact on our life, and the way that she helped East Tennessee and [showed] her faithfulness to God." Despite the sudden news of her death, Shirley said Parton's impact on people is long-lasting, especially with the support Parton gave to the victims of the fires that occurred in Pigeon Forge and the creation of the Imagination Library, which Shirley's grandchildren have benefitted from. Something Shirley said she will always remember about Parton, though, is the advice to spread kindness to others. "My Dolly thing is if someone doesn't have a smile, give them one of yours," she said.