From the April 21, 1994 edition of The New Castle Record
At 95, Hazel Lamb has a lot of stories to tell and a lot of fond memories.
Born April 9, 1909, in Crockett, she attended Lewis-Gale School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1934.
“I nursed a lot of surgery patients and a lot of heart patients at Lewis-Gale,” said Lamb.
“I even nursed a lot of the Lewis-Gale doctors and their families.”
Lamb recalled that nursing brought her and her late husband, Elbert “Coon Hunter” Lamb (as he was known in Craig County), together back when she was young.
“One day he came over to the hospital to request a private duty nurse for his daddy and they sent me out there,” she said. “and I got mad because I had been out to Craig County before and sometimes the facilities weren’t all that good. One place I went the outhouses was across the creek, and I just didn’t want to go over to Craig County in all that snow and ice.”
“They sent me anyway,” she remembered, “and ‘Coonie’ was just really kind to me. He helped me across the ice and all,” she said, with a twinkle in her eyes.
That was the beginning of a relationship that included 62 years of marriage. The couple wed Sept. 30, 1939, and were together until April 2001 when Lamb died at the age of 92.
The Lambs had three children, Jerry, David and Kathy, who were all raised in Craig County and now have their own children.
“I didn’t work at the hospital after the children were born because I wanted to be home with my kids,” she said. But even as a stay-at-home mom she put her nursing skills to work in the community often doing private duty when she could just to help a family out.
“She was the Florence Nightingale of the community,” said her daughter, Kathy Ponton of New Castle.
“Dr. Walt Mitchell used to depend on her whenever he was out of town. I remember people coming to the house with asthma attacks and injuries and she would take care of them.”
“Coonie worked for C&O railroad over in Clifton Forge and was gone a lot,” Lamb remembered, “but tie when he was home, I would carry folks over to the hospital and even delivered a couple of babies.”
She never lacked for anything to do. In case anyone should wonder, she recalled washing diapers in the bathtub and learning to sew.
“I made my children’s clothes and sewed aprons out of some of the prettiest feed sacks you’ve ever seen. I even made my niece’s wedding dress and all of the bridesmaids’ dresses.”
Although she says she is still able to do some sewing by hand, her favorite pastime is reading. In addition to raising her family and being the “community nurse,” she helped out with the Boy Scouts as well as the Girl Scouts.
“Coonie and I always took the children to Sunday School from the time they were babies. We felt that was important,” she added.
She recalled the move from Roanoke to Craig County wasn’t all that easy for her back then because they didn’t know many folks over here and she worried about fitting in, “but I was accepted and was grateful for that. I wish everybody that comes here could have the feeling I did after getting to know the people a little bit better.” One of the things she remembers most is the fact that back then people were interested in each other’s families.
“We even sent birthday cards to each other’s children. I tell you, the depth and character of this place is almost contagious.”
One of her fondest memories is of a fellow named Ned Lester whom she says got the town interested in horses. She recalled horse shows and trail rides and time spent at Craig Healing Springs.
“We had horses too, and I just loved the trail rides because of all the people you met and all the friends you made. Riders would come from everywhere.”
With her husband gone Lamb said she misses all the friends that used to come to see them and all the people she used to know and all the things they did.
“Coonie was a giving person and had a lot of friends,” Lamb said.
“Although she doesn’t get out much or have as many visitors as she would like to have, “I love people and treasure every visit.” She pointed to a stack of pictures and cards lying in one corner of the sofa which she also treasures.
“I know the children probably feel like I should get rid of some of these things, but I just can’t bring myself to part with them. They all mean something to me.”
And obviously she herself meant a lot to others judging from the stacks of old cards and notes and the many birthday flowers that brighten her living room.
“She’s one of the sweetest most caring people I’ve ever known,” said Kenneth Hardin of New Castle who grew up with Lamb’s children and has known her from as far back as he can remember. “Her oldest son, Jerry, and I were best of friends growing up. Their house was like a second home to me.”
Lamb said she knows why she has lived this long.
“I believe angels have been looking over my shoulder all these years. I have been so blessed to have had so much love in my life, but I believe you have to give love to get love. If you are nice to people then they will treat you nice.”
-Prepared by Shelly Koon
