RETIREMENT RELAY
Jenny Folsom serves the city she loves
By Kelly Wheeler
A love for Cullman runs deep within the veins of Jenny Grissom Folsom . Folsom , who retired as Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs in 2010 , spent 22 years at Wallace State Community College .
And even though she isn ’ t working in the system at the moment , the long-time Cullman City Councilwoman is still devoted to making her hometown a better place to live on every level .
“ I love Cullman ,” said Jenny Folsom , who has been on the Cullman City Council now for 13 years . “ This community has invested so much in me and to be able to give back in this capacity is truly an honor .”
The love and appreciation the petite , spunky beautiful council woman has for her community is obvious . It is engrained in her and her home .
“ I just love showcasing local artists and people who contribute / give back to our community ,” Folsom said .
Folsom ’ s dedication to her hometown didn ’ t just start with her — it runs generations deep . The councilwoman credits her parents , Hubert and Gracie Hembree Grissom , for instilling a love for community service in her and her brother .
Graduates of Cullman County High School in 1936 , her parents were voted in the “ Who ’ s Who Section ” as the most love-sick couple .
Jenny Folsom with granddaughter Ellie Hager and daughter Bama Folsom Hager .
And after they married both her mom and dad stayed in their hometown , raising Jenny and her brother , Hubert Grissom , Jr ., a retired attorney , ( who now lives in Tampa , Fla .) to make the world , starting with their hometown , a better place to live .
Her father was a conductor for the L & N Railroad and her mother owned / operated Gracie ’ s Beauty shop in downtown Cullman , where the Community Shopper ’ s Guide is today .
Folsom fondly remembers exploring the streets of Cullman when she was just a young child and a student at East Elementary school .
“ After school my cousin , Patti Patrick , and I would walk to my mother ’ s shop and her parents shoe store ,” said Folsom . “ Along the way , we might stop by Klein ’ s Creamery , People ’ s Drug Store or Watson Department Store . A special treat would be an after school walk to the Cullman County Library — at the time the library was actually located in the basement where the Cullman Chamber of Commerce is today .”
As Folsom reflected back over her childhood in Cullman , she said there was one constant that always stood out to her : her parents — the two people she says she owes the world .
“ They loved me unconditionally and taught me values just by their own example . They both worked hard to provide everything for my brother and me ,” she said .
Folsom said her parents taught her two important values in life : faith and family .
“ Mom and Dad made sure we were in Sunday School and Church at First Methodist ,” said Jenny . “ And I guess you could say the value of family was illustrated in our Sunday lunches . We usually ate a meal together at my grandparents who lived next door to us .”
Folsom said her parents also valued education . “ Many , many times I remember my parents saying , ‘ Get your education . It is something that NO ONE can take from you !’”
Folsom said she and her brother quickly learned that if they made good grades and kept their nose in a book , the siblings could get out of a lot of chores .
8 | WINTER 2021 CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE