Linda Morgan
loves living in Cullman , Smith Lake
By Amy Henderson
Nestled in the Bankhead National Forest , Lewis Smith Lake has become a popular second home and retirement home location for many people . Linda Morgan came to live there nearly 18 years ago , following the death of her husband , Colonel Robert Morgan , pilot of the World War II bomber Memphis Belle . Linda has traveled the world as an event planner and attending air shows with Bob , but in Cullman , she said , she ’ s found a home unlike any other .
“ Cullman is a really special place ,” she said . “ I like the small town atmosphere and the caring of the people in this part of the country ,” said Morgan , who moved to Cullman from Asheville , N . C .
“ I ’ ve experienced kindness that I would never have experienced in large cities that I ’ ve lived in ,” she added . “ Little things like if you don ’ t put enough postage on your letter , the post office will take care of it and put a little envelope in the mailbox with a note saying , ‘ you owe us 7 cents .’ It ’ s all based on trust .”
The first Christmas she spent in Cullman after the death of her husband is one she ’ ll never forget as an example of the type of people who live in Cullman County .
“ We always went to midnight service , and I drove up to Bethany Baptist Church and I kept saying , ‘ I am not going to cry , I am not going to cry ,’” she said . “ I walked in and just lost it . I had my B17 earrings on and the pastor came over to me and said , ‘ Those are B17s !’”
He asked who she was , and , tears rolling down her face , she told him and mentioned that Bob had died that year . “ He put the head Sunday School teacher on one side of me and his wife on the other and said , ‘ Take care of Mrs . Morgan during the service ,’” she recalled .
Another time , she was mailing a package to Italy and asked the post office to send it priority mail . After leaving the post office , the postal worker realized Italy didn ’ t have priority mail , so she repackaged the item and put the difference in the cost in an envelope that Morgan received in her mailbox the next day . “ I ’ m going , who does that !?” said Morgan .
It ’ s not just the people that Morgan has fallen in love with . The lake has also become home . “ I like the fact that its so big and it ’ s one of the cleanest lakes in the country ,” she said . “ Eighteen years ago it wasn ’ t nearly as busy as it is now , but it ’ s scenic .”
Over the years , she ’ s seen many new houses go up and people move into the area . “ All my neighbors are great people ,” said Morgan .
She also enjoys going into the city of Cullman . “ I like the restaurants and antique stores ,” she said . “ I love the Foundry Thrift store ; I ’ m a thrift-store-aholic . And for a small town
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Senior & Retiree Directory 2021-2022