by Tammy Moore Franke
I was reading the recent Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon story (in the summer issue) about The King and Prince, and it brought back some memories of my parents and of me, of St. Simons Island and The King and Prince. I wanted to share it with you.
As a child, I lived on Jekyll Island. We had a small sailboat that we would take out almost every day and sail up and down the coast. I can remember sailing north and seeing The King and Prince. To me it looked like a castle, and I wondered what it would be like to live there. It was not uncommon for my family to go over to St. Simons and eat dinner in the Delagal Dining Room, where we would spend an evening dining on escargot and French onion soup.
The hotel was special to my parents because it was where they spent their honeymoon. I still can hear my mother telling me the story of the day they were married–how she felt and the many things that happened that special day.
The happy bride shows off her "Colgate-worthy" smile!
It was a warm summer day, June 9, 1963, in Savannah, Georgia, and all was being prepared for the wedding that morning. Everyone was bustling around making sure the flowers were ready–including the bride, Genevee M. Smith. The man she was marrying was Terrell E. Moore. They were a young couple very much in love with one another and ready to begin their lives together. Genevee was one of six daughters, but she was the only girl that her father would end up walking down the aisle and giving away. Yet, that morning, she wasn’t sure if he would be there–much less sober. To the surprise of everyone, he was there and he was sober, which made the day even more special to my mother.
The ceremony began, and she was lead down the aisle with her father at her side and a grin so big it could have been used for a toothpaste commercial (she would laugh about that). I would look at their wedding picture, agree and laugh with her.
Vows were spoken and matching rings were exchanged with engravings on the inside that read: TEM to GMS 143 and GSM to TEM 143 (143 means I Love You). After the reception, they prepared themselves to leave for their honeymoon in Terrell’s candy-apple red, convertible Triumph TR3. They came out ready to leave, dressed casually for the era. He wore a casual suit and she was in a dress with heels that matched the car. When she told me the story, I couldn’t imagine my mother in red high heels, so she went to her closet and pulled them out of the box for me to see. I just laughed and told her she was crazy. She stated, “Yes, I was and crazy in love with your father, too.” They ran to the car while being showered with rice and set off for their honeymoon, destination St. Simon’s Island and The King and Prince Hotel.
On the way to The King and Prince, they rode with the top down, and my mother wound up being sunburned. But that couldn’t stop the happiness the two had found. They arrived and checked in. Everyone there knew that they had just been married and were all excited that they were staying there for their honeymoon. They spent their days walking on the beach, playing in the ocean and splashing in the pool.
The funniest part of this story is what my mother did the morning after their first night there together. She refused to leave the room and would not go to the dining room for breakfast! She was so embarrassed; she said everyone knew what they had done the night before. When she told me this story, I laughed so hard and told her that was hilarious. She chuckled and said, “In 1963, that was something that wasn’t discussed, and I didn’t want people talking about me like that.” I was still laughing as I asked her what my father did. She said, “He went for breakfast and brought it all back for us to eat together in the room.”
This whole story took place 47 years ago, yet it seems like yesterday that she told it to me. On June 9, 2007, my parents celebrated their 44th anniversary. They stated that it felt as though it was yesterday they were married. Unfortunately the following month, on July 23, 2007, my mother lost her battle with cancer. She was one week from her 65th birthday. Before she passed, from time to time, she would speak of the hotel and just smile as though she and my father were 19 and 20 all over again.
Note from the editor: Thank you for sharing these sweet, precious memories with us, Tammy. Your story is delightful, and we are honored to share it.
What a great story! I want the book now – haha!
Graham and Elizabeth,
I never dreamed that when I sent this to you that you would have wanted to publish it and it thrills me that you wanted to and that you did. I thank you so very much for what you have done.
Sincerely,
Tammy
This reminds me of my parent’s wedding story! My parents actually spent their honeymoon in Savannah. I remember my mom telling us about being bashful, too! Times sure have changed.
What a Sweet story, Tammy!