Elizabeth Winn Witt
Estill County residents who knew Mrs. Elizabeth Witt praised her for her civic-mindedness and her love for others when she died at the age of 89.
Mrs. Witt was born on February 3, 1901 in Wisemantown. Her parents were Robert and Mellie Hamilton Winn. She attended grade school at Wisemantown and graduated from Estill County Collegiate Institute, now known as Estill County High School. After graduating, she taught at Witt School for one year and at Stump School for three years. She served for many years as notary public and clerk of Estill County Board of Education. In her “This is Your Life Book” she was described”…from early childhood she showed marked traits of ambition and industry and excelled in schoolwork and activities, showed qualities of leadership and desirous of being of service to others.”
On July 19, 1923 Elizabeth married Harry Rucker Witt. When her husband was alive, they would provide Christmas for children at their church in the neighborhood or wherever they could. Elizabeth and Harry would go to churches all over Estill County to give Christmas Parties. Harry played Santa to make sure all underprivileged children had a Christmas party. After Harry passed away in 1975, Elizabeth began to have trouble getting around and decided to move the Christmas parties to her home of 62 years on the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets in Irvine.
Children found Elizabeth’s yard magically turned into the “North Pole, South” for the next ten years. When Santa came by with the parade, he stopped at Elizabeth’s tent where he was surrounded by toys, treats and of course children. She and her many volunteers “fixed” for 500 to 1,000 children and Elizabeth said that her blessing came in seeing the faces of the children light up with Santa and the gifts.
Over the years the faces she loved to see so much began to dim. Cataracts left her with only 10% of her vision, only being able to tell the difference between light and dark. In November 1983 she had eye a complicated eye surgery that could have left her blind. The surgery was a success and special glasses were ordered to replace her natural lenses. Those wonderful glasses arrived from Lexington, brought by her surgeon Dr. William Collis, just minutes before Santa made his way down Main Street that year.
Another Christmas project she was involved with for many years was with the Loyal Daughters Sunday School Class of the First Christian Church. This group made the gifts for the Christian Church Home in Louisville. They were distributed to the churches shut-ins and nursing home residents. Elizabeth also enjoyed having a Christmas Brunch for her friends and giving gifts to fellow bank employees, city employees and fellow club members.
Elizabeth was active in many organizations. She was member of the Estill County Garden Club, Elisha Witt Chapter of the DAR, Estill County Retired Teacher Association, Irvine- Ravenna Women’s Club, Central Kentucky Woman’s Club, Estill County Historical Society, Friends of the Estill County Library, and Marcum-Wallace Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She served as a Guardian Member of the Blue Grass Council of the Boy Scouts of America, honorary member of the Irvine-Ravenna Kiwanis Club and honorary member of the Estill County Jaycees. In 1982, Elizabeth was honored as an Outstanding Citizen by the City of Irvine and in 1984 she was recognized by the Estill County Jaycees as an Outstanding Woman.
Elizabeth’s health began to fail in 1990 but she continued to plan for the Annual Children’s Christmas Party. Elizabeth personally glued every snowman to the individually wrapped packages. On November 19th, two weeks prior to the party, she passed away. Before her passing, Elizabeth made arrangements for the party to continue as usual and each of the more than 700 children attending the party received smiles, gifts including a keepsake necklace, a Christmas card, chocolate milk, candy, caramel corn, a gift according to their age, a religious book and a helium balloon.
Elizabeth is survived by a sister, Roberta Tudor, several nieces and nephews and the loving memories of a grateful community.
Mrs. Witt was born on February 3, 1901 in Wisemantown. Her parents were Robert and Mellie Hamilton Winn. She attended grade school at Wisemantown and graduated from Estill County Collegiate Institute, now known as Estill County High School. After graduating, she taught at Witt School for one year and at Stump School for three years. She served for many years as notary public and clerk of Estill County Board of Education. In her “This is Your Life Book” she was described”…from early childhood she showed marked traits of ambition and industry and excelled in schoolwork and activities, showed qualities of leadership and desirous of being of service to others.”
On July 19, 1923 Elizabeth married Harry Rucker Witt. When her husband was alive, they would provide Christmas for children at their church in the neighborhood or wherever they could. Elizabeth and Harry would go to churches all over Estill County to give Christmas Parties. Harry played Santa to make sure all underprivileged children had a Christmas party. After Harry passed away in 1975, Elizabeth began to have trouble getting around and decided to move the Christmas parties to her home of 62 years on the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets in Irvine.
Children found Elizabeth’s yard magically turned into the “North Pole, South” for the next ten years. When Santa came by with the parade, he stopped at Elizabeth’s tent where he was surrounded by toys, treats and of course children. She and her many volunteers “fixed” for 500 to 1,000 children and Elizabeth said that her blessing came in seeing the faces of the children light up with Santa and the gifts.
Over the years the faces she loved to see so much began to dim. Cataracts left her with only 10% of her vision, only being able to tell the difference between light and dark. In November 1983 she had eye a complicated eye surgery that could have left her blind. The surgery was a success and special glasses were ordered to replace her natural lenses. Those wonderful glasses arrived from Lexington, brought by her surgeon Dr. William Collis, just minutes before Santa made his way down Main Street that year.
Another Christmas project she was involved with for many years was with the Loyal Daughters Sunday School Class of the First Christian Church. This group made the gifts for the Christian Church Home in Louisville. They were distributed to the churches shut-ins and nursing home residents. Elizabeth also enjoyed having a Christmas Brunch for her friends and giving gifts to fellow bank employees, city employees and fellow club members.
Elizabeth was active in many organizations. She was member of the Estill County Garden Club, Elisha Witt Chapter of the DAR, Estill County Retired Teacher Association, Irvine- Ravenna Women’s Club, Central Kentucky Woman’s Club, Estill County Historical Society, Friends of the Estill County Library, and Marcum-Wallace Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She served as a Guardian Member of the Blue Grass Council of the Boy Scouts of America, honorary member of the Irvine-Ravenna Kiwanis Club and honorary member of the Estill County Jaycees. In 1982, Elizabeth was honored as an Outstanding Citizen by the City of Irvine and in 1984 she was recognized by the Estill County Jaycees as an Outstanding Woman.
Elizabeth’s health began to fail in 1990 but she continued to plan for the Annual Children’s Christmas Party. Elizabeth personally glued every snowman to the individually wrapped packages. On November 19th, two weeks prior to the party, she passed away. Before her passing, Elizabeth made arrangements for the party to continue as usual and each of the more than 700 children attending the party received smiles, gifts including a keepsake necklace, a Christmas card, chocolate milk, candy, caramel corn, a gift according to their age, a religious book and a helium balloon.
Elizabeth is survived by a sister, Roberta Tudor, several nieces and nephews and the loving memories of a grateful community.