Ad in 1964 Sevier County High School annual.

Arguably, the busiest time of year at Raymond’s Shoe Store was fall. That’s when the local farmers sold their tobacco crops at market and had a little extra spending cash to outfit their families for the winter.

When the Parton family was fortunate enough to lease someone’s government tobacco allotment for the year and sell their harvest, Lee and Avie Lee Parton would take the entire family to Raymond’s for new shoes. All the kids would come in for a proper fitting knowing that whichever pair of shoes they chose would have to last them the whole year.

The younger children especially looked forward to visiting the store because Raymond had a reputation for making every customer feel welcome. After being fitted for shoes, each child could choose a sucker from behind the counter, selecting whichever flavor he or she liked. That small gesture left a lasting impression on many local youngsters and helped make those annual shoe-buying trips treasured memories.

For Dolly Parton, Raymond’s Shoe Store remained part of her life even after she began earning money of her own. By her teenage years, she was performing regularly and developing the flashy sense of style that would later become one of her trademarks. Instead of practical school shoes, she returned to Raymond’s to purchase the high-heeled pumps she wore on stage while singing at local events and appearances. Those shoes were an early glimpse of the larger-than-life entertainer she would become.

The Partons’ connection to Raymond’s extended beyond the store itself. Raymond’s son, Raymond Jr., was one of Dolly’s classmates at Sevier County High School. The two graduated together as members of the Class of 1964, linking the store not only to the Parton family’s shopping memories but also to Dolly’s school years and the close-knit community in which she grew up.

Today, stories about Raymond’s Shoe Store offer a glimpse into a time when a new pair of shoes represented hard-earned success, a tobacco harvest helped determine a family’s spending for the year, and a simple trip to town could become a cherished childhood memory.

Ad from 1967 Sevier County High School annual.