Highway and sign dedication for Hattie Louise "Tootsie" Bess
February 2, 2023

Pictured, from left, are Ashley DeRossett with the Tennessee Department of Tourism; Jeff Parrish, aide to Senator Marsha Blackburn, Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Landers; City Mayor Danny McKnight; Commissioner Austin Carroll; County Mayor Jonah Keltner; Howard "Jarco" Dodson, Larry Weakley, Mike Weakley, Noah Weakley, Natalie Weakley, Greg Oglesby, Jessica Weakley and Alyssa O'Byrne.
Last week Lewis County celebrated the life of its hometown hero, Hattie Louise Tatum "Tootsie" Bess, with two ceremonies honoring her impact on the world of country music.
The first ceremony was a road sign unveiling along Centerville Highway, where a portion of Highway 48 was named in memory of Tootsie. The second was the unveiling of a "Tennessee Music Pathways" marker along Main Street in downtown Hohenwald.
Several of Tootsie's family members came to town to take part in these events, including her son, Howard "Jarco" Dodson. Jarco was a 1958 graduate of Lewis County High School where...
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