A deeply touching Southern story filled with struggle and hope.
Emmalee Bullard and her new baby are on their own. Or so she thinks, until Leona Lane, the older seamstress who sat by her side at the local shirt factory where both women worked as collar makers, insists Emmalee come and live with her. Just as Emmalee prepares to escape her hardscrabble life in Red Chert holler, Leona dies … holler, Leona dies tragically. Grief-stricken, Emmalee decides she’ll make Leona’s burying dress, but there are plenty of people who don’t think the unmarried Emmalee should design a dress for a Christian woman — or care for a child on her own. But with every stitch, Emmalee struggles to do what is right for her daughter and to honor Leona the best way she can, finding unlikely support among an indomitable group of seamstresses and the town’s funeral director. In a moving tale exploring Southern spirit and camaraderie among working women, a young mother will compel a town to become a community.
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Emmalee Bullard and her new baby are on their own until Leona Lane, the older seamstress who sat by her side at the local shirt factory where both women worked as collar makers, insists Emmalee come and live with her. But just as Emmalee prepares to escape her hardscrabble life in Red Chert Holler, Leona dies tragically.
Grief-stricken, Emmalee …
A moving, memorable novel about family ties and life’s disappointments. Gregg-Gilmore captures the struggles and hopes of the characters in well-written novel. I could not put it down.
I’ve read better books but this is still worth reading with good characters. I’d recommend for easy reading.
Got my attention from the beginning
I am so glad I stumbled across this book. She has become one of my favorite authors.
haunting
A good read, but somewhat cliched. Poverty is such a curse!
When you have absolutely nothing going for you, no obvious options, no one who might help you, even if they could, it might make sense to simply sit down and give up. While it may seem impossible at times, life is all about pushing forward, even when all you can see is a dead end. It is at those times that we learn we are not alone.
Lots of struggles and tough life, but ends with hope.
I was very impressed with this book. The depiction of the early years of the TN Shirt Factory were so realistic. I know this since I lasted one month as a ‘turner’ om a WV Shirt Factory. Rigorous, mind numbing work. Encouraged me to finish my last two years of college. I could not wait to get back to this book. An enjoyable read.
One of my Favorites!!
The author captured the essence of Appalachia in a human sense. Having grown up in East Tennessee, I can relate to the characters in this true to life book. But, for the grace of God, go I.
I absolutely loved this book! It’s definitely one I’d read again and again!
The setting, the characters, and the narrative quickly drew me into this book, which I have since recommended to many family and friends.
Historical fiction that was hard to put down!
A good read. Kept my interest, sad at times
The Funeral Dress by Susan Gregg Gilmore is wonderful. I loved the style of writing, setting and the realistic characters. The author takes you to another place and you are home. I look forward to reading every book by Susan Gregg Gilmore.
This book emphasized the indomitable human spirit. The setting was stark, but the human spirit shown brightly.
A very strong story about friendship and tragedy with all sides of humanity on display.