Angie Meadows was born to Morris and Jo Ann Ervin Pitman and grew up in the New Home Road area of the county. She attended school in DeKalb County, was a cheerleader from middle school to high school at DCHS. She said that after graduating she had planned on going to cosmetology school to become a hair stylist, but she got a job at TG&Y, where the County Complex is today, and began to move up in management.
It was during this time that Angie got married and had two children, Brandon and Stephanie. Stephanie is married to Billy Tyner, with two children Sophia and Serenity, while Brandon married Kim Wyatt, giving Angie two step grandchildren, Tyler Cunningham and Alyssa Cardin. She also has a great grandson by marriage, Grayson, who is currently eight months old.
Angie began her career at the Smithville Review in 1999, starting as a receptionist, but soon moved to a graphic design position at the paper. “I didn’t know how to do any of that stuff and I was trained for about an hour. I learned as I went and figured it out.”
Later, Angie moved to an advertising director position at the newspaper, selling ads for the publication for several years, before moving up to general manager of the paper.
As her career at the newspaper progressed, Angie joined the Business and Professional Women’s Club to help get to know people in the community. “I joined and I loved it. Loved it. Because, they were helping the community. The overall purpose of the club was great.”
Judy Sandlin called me to give me information about the toddler show at the fair. I learned that the person that had been over that had quit, and she asked me if I would do it. I told them that I didn’t mind to help, but now it seems that I’m over most pageants in DeKalb County.”
Angie is a long-time member of New Home Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as the piano player. “I was raised in this church, and raised my kids there. We are family there. My daughter and son in law are the youth directors at the church.”
Today, Meadows is knee deep in her latest endeavor, something she says she felt she was led to do, the Last-Minute Toy Shop.
Josh Issac, when he was managing the County Complex, started the Festival of Trees. Later he got married and moved away. I thought it [the Festival of Trees] was just the greatest thing because people in the community would come to look at the trees with their family. It was so relaxing and family oriented, and people would bring gifts to give to a non-profit organization. It was just good all around. I didn’t want to see that go away, so the Smithville Review decided to continue with the project, so me and Barbara Ann [Ervin] did it.”
“So, about three years ago I got really sick and I had to ask Wanda Redmon and Vonda Brown to step in and oversee the event. When I was getting better and about to go back to work, I saw a commercial on TV about the Last-Minute Toy Store in Nashville. I just heard the Holy Spirit say to me, ‘We can do this here.’”
“After that, everything just kind of lined up. The Festival of Trees, the Last-Minute Toy Shop, and everything else just fell together.”
The Last-Minute Toy Shop provides new toys and gifts to children from birth to 18 years of age, for families that need help during the Holiday season. “Everyone needs help sometimes. Maybe you’re a parent that is working hard to pay the bills and you’re just short during Christmas. That’s where we try to help. Overall, Christmas is about Jesus, and the holiday can be materialistic only if you make it that way. Along with the gifts, we give every child a Bible, explain the true meaning of Christmas, and give information about accepting Jesus as your Savior. Those are the greatest gifts they received. We want to spread love. We are the hands and feet of Jesus.”
If someone wants to donate to the Last-Minute Toy Shop you can do a monetary donation or deliver gifts to the Smithville Review office. For more information you can contact them at The Last Minute Toy Shop on Facebook or email thelastminutetoyshop@gmail.com. “We fund raise every month of the year and are always looking for sponsors and supporters. It really takes all year long to do this. Last year we helped 350 kids and wrapped 1,150 gifts. There’s always room for help.”
