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Our 34rd Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers ISSUE NO. 6 • February 12, 2026 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
A Valentine’s Day wedding and Disney World honeymoon for this couple Story and photos by Jean Gordon.
Wedding bells will be ringing Valentine’s Day, February 14, as family and friends gather to witness the marriage of a couple who met at the Rutherford County Senior Center just over a year ago. For Nan Thompson, 73, of Forest City and Kenneth Burrell, 74, who lives in Green Creek, their love story has an interesting beginning. Kenneth said he noticed Nan at the senior center and wanted to get to know her. She was helping serve food in the center’s cafeteria and Kenneth was waiting in line for his food when he told her, “I want to talk to you.” Finding the time and privacy to talk with Nan presented a few challenges for Kenneth. Nan was always busy at the center, talking with others and enjoying lunch. Nan, who has never been married, said she had been praying for a long time to have someone to “go out with” and to be a good friend. Kenneth had been praying the same prayer. Married for 51 years to Shirley McDade Burrell (she passed away in 2022) Kenneth was incredibly lonesome. His heart was broken. Interestingly, Kenneth and Shirley met at Isothermal Community College where they were both students in 1970. Nan was a student there at the same time and she knew Shirley, but never met Kenneth. “If I ever crossed paths with Nan, I don’t know it,” Kenneth said. Nan and Shirley were studying business and Kenneth was studying collision repair. Kenneth and Shirley fell in love and were married in December 1971. After graduating from Isothermal, Shirley and Nan actually worked together at Isothermal. “I didn’t know who she was married to,” Nan said. Kenneth returned to
Isothermal later and Jerre Foster, and taught having moved collision repair at to their home night school while after her mother working a day job passed away. Nan in South Carolina. talked to Jerre At that time and Jerre made Shirley was also a call or two and employed there. learned Kenneth Nan retired after was a nice man. a 30 year career Jerre was excited at Isothermal and for Nan. began visiting Their first the senior center, real date was to subsequently Big Dave’s that becoming an Saturday night active member. and then on to a Kenneth tried dance at a nearby to move on with church. That was his life after his the beginning of wife’s passing, but weekend dates he was extremely over the next lonesome. He had months and heard about the spending time at Kenneth and Nan share their love story. good programs the senior center at the Center and during the day. decided to check it out. A Although Nan wasn’t banjo picker, Kenneth was sure if she liked bluegrass especially interested in the music, she began music programs offered accompanying him to there. Inman, SC where he played He began going to the the banjo every Friday night. senior center and attended Nan surprisingly discovered a Halloween dance where she loved bluegrass music he saw Nan at a table with and especially liked the several other ladies. “She banjo picker. caught my eye,” he said. The couple admitted Kenneth said he wasn’t they were both looking sure if Nan was married or for something to do and in a relationship, but he was were having a great time, determined to find out her but neither was thinking situation. On February 21, of marriage. However on 2025, they had their first October 11, 2025, while lunch together at the center. The couple at the senior center dining on a date, Ken asked Nan, room table. “I am so glad I met him… “What do you think about he’s the most wonderful man getting married?” for a date, he gave her a note and I have always been shy and and asked Nan to call him. He “You want to marry me,” Nan was never sure of myself. I just wanted her to go to a dance, but asked him. wanted someone to go out with said he didn’t feel comfortable She said ‘yes’ and on and to have a good time,” Nan asking her with others around, November 1, 2025 Nan chose said. so he handed her the note with her diamond ring. She bought After the death of his wife, his telephone number. his wedding band and they Kenneth said at first he felt “Back in the day, girls didn’t were ready to set a date. guilty about wanting to date, but call guys,” he said. They decided on a Valentine’s he kept praying daily that the Day wedding and the work On Saturday morning, March Lord would send him a female 23, 2025, Nan called Kenneth. began for Nan to get her Christian friend. When he asked her out, Nan traditional white wedding gown, On Friday, March 22, 2025, said she wasn’t sure what to do making decisions and plans for Kenneth took another step in and told Kenneth, “I’ve got to the reception, the wedding party trying to get to know Nan. Since ask my sister.” and moving from the only place he couldn’t find her alone at Nan lives with her sister she’s ever known, Forest City to the Center to talk and ask her and brother-in-law. Claude Green Creek. “I don’t feel any
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different...It is a little more out in the country,” she said of Green Creek but quickly adding, “15 minutes away.” During the past weeks leading up to her wedding day, Nan has been packing her belongings to move to Green Creek. Nan is also gaining a family. Kenneth has two daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She met this family on May 24, 2025 and the family got together with Nan for Christmas, Thanksgiving and when there is a birthday for one of the grandchildren. On February 14, with their family and friends at First Baptist Church in Forest City, the couple will pledge their love for each other. Nan’s twin brother, Van Thompson, will walk her down the aisle. When he found out about his sister’s upcoming marriage, he cried. Her cousin, Jane Revels is her matron of honor. “We’re going to Disney World” Nan exclaimed of their honeymoon destination. She’s never been there but always wanted to go. Kenneth has been to Disney World with his children. After Disney World, Nan will continue her love of playing the piano at First Baptist Church and will also go to Kenneth’s church in Green Creek. “Maybe we’re both crazy to get married, but we believe God brought us together,” Nan says. Kenneth wholeheartedly agrees. Jerre and Claude will also have a big adjustment. At ages 80 and 84, “we’ll be empty nesters,” Jerre said. “I can’t believe it,” said Jerre, who is actually over the moon about her little sister’s marriage. Whether or not the couple will return to the senior center every day, is uncertain. Regardless, the place they met, had lunch every day and fell in love, will always hold a special place in their hearts. No doubt they’ll be there on special occasions, for sure.
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