"Elly Mae" To Give Testimony In Chesnee ,South Carolina

Spartanburg Herald-Journal ^ | September 7,2001 | Benny Lee Smith

[Church Lady]

"Elly May" to give testimony in Chesnee

By BENNY LEE SMITH Staff Writer

In the 1960s sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies," Donna Douglas portrayed the young blond character, Elly May Clampett.

Elly May loved her critters and being a tomboy.

Tonight, instead of talking about Jed, Granny and Jethro, Douglas will be at Chesnee First Baptist Church explaining how her life has changed since filming the popular sitcom.

"She has just a wonderful testimony," said Lori Burnett, Women's Missions coordinator at the church.

Douglas will speak at 7 p.m. at a fund-raiser to help poor families in Virgie, Ky.

She last visited Spartanburg in 1997 when she spoke to members of First Baptist Church of Cowpens.

She described what it was like growing up in rural Louisiana, then talked about how God had changed her life.

When she was 17, she married and the young couple moved in with her parents. After six months, they separated but got back together later.

When Douglas became pregnant with their son, they divorced. Her son never knew his father, she said during a 1997 interview with the Herald-Journal.

After her son's birth, Douglas took a few modeling classes and decided to go to New York. Her parents cared for her son while she lived the life of a budding star.

She said men offered to "keep" her in penthouse apartments and make her a star, but she refused.

"God met me there," Douglas said. "It doesn't matter where you are, God will meet you. God will make a way for your talent if you have a sincere heart."

Since "The Beverly Hillbillies" left first-run television in 1971, Douglas has spent time making personal appearances, raising money for children's hospitals and hosting film, and arts and crafts shows.

Audiences still get to enjoy old episodes of the show on cable stations such as TV Land and Nick-At-Nite.

Burnett said she hopes this fund-raiser will bring in money to help with the church's mission project.

In December, church members will sponsor 15 poor families in Kentucky with food, clothing and gifts for the holiday season.

Tonight's event begins at 5 p.m. with a supper that includes corn bread, beans, coleslaw and drink.

Then, the crowd will move from the fellowship hall to the sanctuary to hear Douglas. Douglas is scheduled to speak for about 45 minutes then sign autographs.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children younger than 12.

Benny Lee Smith can be reached at 582-4511, Ext. 7216, or benny.smith@shj.com.

[Church Lady]

Ya'll come now, y'hear:-)

Great to have Elly Mae in the neighborhood !

[Buffalo Bob]

And...

[onedoug]

"Wheee doggies!"

[Captain Shady]

Hate to bring this up ,

But I think you posted a little late in the day for anyone to see your advertisement .I know cause I live in the same locale as you .

[DoughtyOne]

 

[archy]

When I took a job as a columnist for a Midwestern newspaper chain in the late 1980s, Donna Douglas [born Dorothy Smith, of Pride, LA] was the first subject of an interview for my forst column. She made it an easy job, but the real story was the classy way she fielded questions from the local college-age girls both at the blessedly short public interview and her gracious signing of autographs for both long-time and recently acquired fans. She should be a big hit with your folks.

FYI, her birthday is coming up on Sept 26th. Someything a bit early might be a nice touch from y'all.

-archy-/-

[Ditto]

Elly May loved her critters and being a tomboy.

I much as I'd love to, I wouldn't try to pet her critters without permission. ;~))