Wanda Rhea Redmon has been in Smithville all of her life. She was born in the old hospital where Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is now located, along with her identical twin sister, Vonda, and she jokes that, “I was born right where the chapel is at, and when I go that’s where they’ll carry me out.”

She was born to Cleta Rhea (Tallent) Redmon and Leonard Earl Redmon from the Belk area of the county. “I’ve been here all of my life except for two years when I moved to Lebanon. I then made the great decision of moving back home.”

Wanda is a woman of many hats as they say, having worked at several different jobs over the years. Wanda said her first job was working at Pizza Inn in Smithville, where the County Complex is now located, but later got on at DeKalb Hospital where she worked in the emergency room as an admissions clerk. She would later work at the Doctor’s Hospital before they merged with DeKalb and she began working at DeKalb Hospital once again.

Later she would be employed at MIM Industries, better known as the Shirt Factory in Dowelltown, manufacturing robes, but she would then move on to Kingston Timers. She would then take a job working as a teacher with Smithville Head Start, where she taught for 10 years. She even worked at WJLE for a time with her own radio show, where she got to interview the likes of Roy Acuff, and attend the Grand Ol Opry backstage.

Wanda would eventually return to the medical field, doing office billing in Mt. Juliet, then UMC Hospital in Lebanon for almost 10 years, and currently works in the medical field for a company out of Nashville, and has been there for seven years.

If that’s not enough, Wanda is also known for her volunteer work. “I am a volunteer on the Rehab Team for the DeKalb County Fire Department. I love it and have been doing that since 2018. We are a unit that responds to structure fires and tend to the firemen. We give them water, check their vital signs, and make sure they take breaks and are in good shape before they go back to fighting a fire. I call them ‘My firefighters. They are like family.”

“Watching them work and communicate, while they are making sure everyone is safe, as well as themselves, while trying to save people’s homes is just wonderful. I once watched them take an elderly man out of a house, and go back in, he was a veteran, and I watched them get his flag and not just give it back to him, but fold it for him the way it is supposed to be folded. That was amazing to see.”

The Lord has also blessed me with my own ministry, called Fish Ministry, Faith Inspires Shares Hope. We have a devotion Monday through Friday, except for on holidays, on Facebook. We do that in the mornings from 5:30-6 am.”

“And, if someone’s in need, we also help with the homeless. We had some people that needed new air conditioners. Through our group, we were able to get those people two new air conditioners. We help when it’s needed and help with what we can. Our main focus is sharing Jesus, and giving them hope.”

Wanda is also on the board of directors for the Last-Minute Toy Shop, that helps children in need during Christmas. “We’ve been doing that starting three years now. I was very thankful for Angie [Meadows] for asking to help out. I love it. Seeing these kids come in, and helping people who are not able to help themselves.”

Wanda also recently took over as teen Sunday school teacher at her church, Smithville First Freewill Baptist, and volunteers with Extend Arms and Patchworks both non-profit organizations.

With a big smile, Wanda also announced that she is in the process of getting remarried to the love of her life, Grady Prichard, her ex-husband. “When we were first married, we were set in our ways, and it’s hard when you’re like that. We were married four years and nine months to the day. The flame might have flickered a bit, but it never went out.”