Elizabeth Denny – A Woman of Resources & Collections

BY JACLYN ROSE –

As a child of the depression, Elizabeth Denny, “Liz” to her friends, was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1932.  The youngest of five children, her family traveled to different cities around the Florida panhandle and Southern Alabama following her father’s job.  Denny graduated from Flomaton High School in Flomaton, Alabama in 1950 in the top 5% of her class right before her father was transferred to Hammond, Louisiana.  Denny spent almost two years at the two year college there, but wasn’t totally happy with her education experience, and transferred to Baton Rouge Business College where she obtained a degree in Accounting.  “I enjoyed Business College, it was just what I needed,” explained Denny.

Denny had a career working at Allen Parker Finance Company and Capital Bank and Trust while living in Louisiana.  “I used to make loans for Pete Maravich.  One time he came in barefoot with holes in the legs of his jeans.  We sent him home because he was not dressed properly,” said Denny with a laugh.  Eventually Denny moved with her children, Rebecca and Terrell, to Illinois for a change of pace.  There she began working in quality control for General Mills and met the love of her life, Horace Denny.

“Horace was such a nice man and he got along real well with my children.  He was very generous, not just with finances but with his time and with my children.  We dated for two years and I was leery of men, but my son (Bud) was about to join the Navy and Horace went to talk to him at his job, at the bowling lanes, and told him I was a nice lady and he always tried to be a gentleman to me and wondered if we could get married before Bud joined the Navy.  Bud said, ‘well, have you asked her?’ and Horace told him that he wanted his permission first.  So we were married on the 30th of August, my birthday. I always joked that he married me on my birthday so he only had to buy me one present,” Denny said.  “Horace was 91 when he passed on and we never had cross words.  He was the most generous man you would ever want to be around, we had the most wonderful life together.”

Denny is a kind lady, with a sweet disposition and her face lights up when she begins talking about her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She is very humble and never wanted to brag until she mentioned her babies, and then she was quick to remind that she is allowed to brag because she is their mother.  “I have two of the most wonderful and generous children, a lot of people can’t say that, but I can.  My daughter is generous with her time and talents, she has a catering business and loves to cook.  I was sick recently and she spent two weeks with me and we just laughed and laughed, she lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.  My son spent 16 years in the Navy and now works for the government.  He just recently moved back to Germany and he is my baby.  I don’t want for anything.  I get along with all my children and grandchildren.  They take good care of me,” Denny said.

After retiring, the Dennys moved to Mena, a place they had visited when driving back to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, Horace’s hometown.  “We wanted to retire in a small town and we came through here and stopped at the lodge on the mountain.  It was so cold we came down to Wal-Mart to buy sweaters and drove around the town and it was the best thing we ever did!  We found the people here to be very friendly,” Denny explained.  The Denny’s traveled all over the United States before settling in Mena. They visited every one of the states in the Union except New York and Washington State, but Denny explained when they came to Mena they just knew, this was it.

Denny collects teapots and has a beautiful collection with over 150, she also collects ceramic roosters and has 42, and an impressive collection of dolls.  She also plays the harmonica and loves singing in the choir of her beloved First Baptist Church in Mena.  “The people there have been so nice to me.  I have to say that E. Wayne McDaniel is one of the finest people I’ve ever met.  He and his wife, Belva, and my neighbor, Sue Rowe, take such good care of me.  When I got sick and had to go to the hospital by ambulance, they were right there with me.  They brought me food and they helped me when my husband got sick.  They are always there when I need them.  And when I am well, I love to help people too.  When Horace passed (in September of 2010), Jeff Ulmer was just so wonderful, he would call to check on me every couple weeks.  That is over and above.  The people here are just so kind, that’s why I could never leave Mena.  If I die here, I’m going to die happy,” said Denny with a smile.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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