By Charlotte Hicks Caudill
Knott Countian members of the Radiology staff: From the first moment I met Tommy Cornett, I felt a kinship. When I talked with him I discovered that we have several commonalities. We are the youngest children in our families and we have a lot of older brothers and sisters. Our fathers were over 60 and our mothers were older than 40 when we were born.
Both mothers were Old Regular Baptists. His mom, Sylvania (daughter of Arminda Ritchie from Lower Ball), belonged to Little Bethlehem Old Regular Baptist Church. After being widowed twice, Sylvania married Preacher Hillis Reedy. Tommy’s uncle Odis Ritchie is an ORB preacher.
Sylvania first married Grover Patrick. They had twelve children, Jewel, Trela Cox, James, Grover, Jr., Charlie, Cora Robbins (deceased), Glenda Cook, Virgie Cook, Ray, Billy, and Goldie Nickles. After her husband was killed in an auto accident she married Tom Cornett, son of Roger and Nancy Cornett. Tom Cornett died in 1978 when Tommy was 16.
Morg Smith’s daughter Becky is married to Ray Patrick. He works at R.M. Johnson Engineering and she works at Hindman City Hall.
Tommy and his wife Karen have a ten-year son, Matthew, who attends Hindman Elementary. They like doing family activities like hiking and camping. They are big UK fans. Tommy drives a white truck and his wife has a blue car. Blue and white all the way.
Tommy’s dad was born in 1901. Tommy’s son Matthew was born 100 years later, in 2001.
Tommy got married when he was 35. I would have waited later than 24 but my mom said, “This is the last train leaving town. I think you better take it.”
Another thing I have in common with Tommy is we both live in the same home where we grew up. His is on Walkers Branch in Carrie. My home is at the mouth of Ball Branch of Jones Fork.
Tommy’s wife Karen is Sheriff Dale Richardson’s first cousin. She is the daughter of the late Arthur and Agnes Richardson of Burgey’s Creek.
They have two cats, Odie and Heart; and another thing I have in common with Tommy, we are firm believers in spaying and neutering pets. It is cruel to allow pets to breed when you know they are not likely to go to a good home.
Tommy Cornett knew all twelve of his half-brothers and sisters. My father had eleven children before I was born. Four died as infants. I knew the other seven. Only two are living, Olive Bolen, who lives in Prestonsburg with her daughter Imelda Wright, and Jeanette Starbird who lives in Ohio.
Reggie Ritchie, Radiology Dept. Manager, is the son of Kenneth and Maxine Conley Ritchie. Reggie is a race car driver. He is first cousins with the late Peg Combs’ children. Maxine and Peg’s wife Dean are sisters.
Kenny Hicks, Director of Radiology, is the son of Allene Gibson Hicks of Caney. Kenny’s son Justin was on last year’s Pikeville College Basketball National Championship team.
Thomas Morey, MRI/ Rad Tech, is the son of Glenn and Iredith (Dump) Combs Morey of Mousie. He lives directly across the road from me.
I forgot to include three other Knott Countians in this picture. Judy Perkins, daughter of the late Doffie and Melda Campbell of Pine Tree Hollow, Bill Gayheart, Rad Tech, CT, (I don’t know his parents’ names but his sister Pat has worked at Napier Family Drug forever), and Patty Caudill, daughter of Johnnie and Melvie Slone of Garner. I had a hard time getting the four guys together for a photo because they are so busy all the time with patients….
Find the Troublesome Creek Times at local stores in Knott and surrounding counties or subscribe to the Times at (606)-785-5134