Wayne County Outlook

Community mourns loss of Of Newspaper Lady' Kelda Stringer

Editor's Note Stringer, passed away early Thursday morning after a nearly year-long battle

with cancer. Kelda was 80 years old.

She was commonly known as "The Newspaper Lady," a title she earned for

more than 30 years of selling The Wayne County Outlook in downtown

Monticello. Each week Kelda set up shop in the shadow of the Doughboy and

sold hundreds of copies of the newspaper to people traveling along Main

Street.

Everyone who knew Kelda knew that she was a hard worker. Her dedication

to the job was easy to see as she stood outside hour after hour in grueling

heat and below freezing temperatures.

Kelda had been unable to sell newspapers for several months because of

her health. But throughout her illness she remained optimistic that she

would be able to return to work and "sell her papers."

Following is a tribute to Kelda, our "newspaper lady."

By HARLAN OGLE

In time books that chronicle the history of Monticello, Kentucky will be

written. Those books will record the spectacular accomplishments of

government, industry, and education. Statistics will be offered to impress

the reader. Photographs will appear depicting powerful political leaders.

Some people will read all those words and view all those photographs and

conclude that the value of a person is to be found in how powerful, how

wealthy, and how successful they were in achieving fame.

One person's name will probably not be included in those historical

accounts. Her name is Kelda Stringer. As much as she deserves to be

included, she will probably be overlooked.

You see, Kelda never occupied a political position of leadership. Kelda

never accumulated vast wealth. She did not receive a degree from some

prestigious college. She was not known in Frankfort or Washington, D.C.

But, Kelda Stringer was one of the most influential people who ever

lived in Monticello, Ky. She was one of our best-known citizens. Everybody

knew Kelda.

Many didn't know her name but they knew Kelda.

The surprising thing was that Kelda didn't seek any of that notoriety.

She didn't demand first place in anything! She embodied the concept and

practice of humility! She didn't put on any "airs." She was Kelda every time

you ever saw her.

Nobody seemed to know very much about Kelda's background. She just

seemed to always be a part of life in Monticello. When you were around Kelda

she was not the topic of conversation. You were!

It seemed that she would much rather talk about you than herself. We all

know why. Kelda loved people. All kinds of people. If you knew Kelda you had

to be impressed to see how everybody seemed to relate to her. Rich people,

poor people, black people, white people, old people, young people; she had

friends in all segments of Monticello society.

Those who only knew her as the "newspaper lady" missed out on a pure

blessing. Sure, she sold you the paper on the street every week. You could

see her gathering aluminum cans in waste containers. But those who took the

time to see past all that and talk to her found a wonderful example of God's

creative powers. Kelda was truly "one-in-a-million." Yes, she was friendly,

knowledgeable, and compassionate! Boy, was she compassionate.

None of us will ever know the hours Kelda spent in caring for so many

people who could not care for themselves. She seemed to be drawn to the

elderly, the poor, and the needy. It was difficult to try and meet any

personal need she had because she would use her abundance for the benefit of

others.

Little children who were sick and in need seemed to have a very special

place in her heart. She was moved to tears when she heard of a family who

had been "burned out" and her big heart was moved when some young child

developed some terminal disease. Indeed, she was a little lady with a big

heart.

If Kelda had a claim to fame that made her proud, it was probably

centered around her association with The Wayne County Outlook Some of the

people in Monticello can't remember a time when Kelda wasn't associated with

The Outlook. For some, Kelda and the Outlook were one and the same.

For several decades, Kelda could be found on Tuesday evenings and all

day Wednesdays by anybody who was looking for her. She was at her station in

the town square under the watchful oversight of the faithful Doughboy

statue. Surrounded by her papers and adorned by her cheery smile and

pleasant greeting, she sold her papers to adoring, faithful, and

appreciative customers.

Kelda was the only person in all of Wayne County who was authorized to

stop town traffic for the purpose of making a sell. No officer of the law

dared interfere with her important task of disseminating the news of the

community.

Even though the paper was available at various stores and newspaper

racks, most everyone preferred risking the downtown traffic just to make

their purchase from Kelda. The week wasn't complete without seeing Kelda. To

see just how faithful Kelda was to her task, you only had to go through the

square on Tuesday or Wednesday and find that she wasn't there. The talk at

school, in the store, and around the supper table was, "Did you notice Kelda

wasn't selling papers today? Wonder what's wrong?"

Kelda probably depended on what she made selling papers for her

livelihood but most of her customers remember that there were times when she

would say something like, "Just take this one. You don't have to pay for

it." She would try to give the paper to you. And, if it was paper day and

you didn't have change for a paper, you stopped any way. You could pay Kelda

"next week."

Kelda's association with The Outlook went beyond just selling papers.

The staff at The Outlook became part of her family! They related to her in

so many ways. She was their friend, their coworker, their confidant, their

example, their mentor, their advisor, their mother figure, and their

inspiration. Kelda taught The Outlook staff so many practical life lessons

that helped them deal with the tough spots that come to every person. They

were family.

Some months ago the whole town noticed that Kelda seemed to disappear

from her place in the square. "What happened to Kelda?" was asked by

hundreds of people. It was a sad day when it was made known that Kelda had

developed some serious health problems. It was even a sadder day when we

learned just how serious those problems were. Our hearts went out to her. We

prayed. We sent her cards. We visited her. She told us that everything was

going to work out all right. We watched every week to see if she was back on

the square selling her papers. We watched, but Kelda didn't return.

Kelda was hospitalized, went through surgery, and received the treatment

prescribed by the doctors. We were all encouraged and told ourselves she

would return when she was feeling better. It was not to be.

Kelda died on Thursday, February 16. That is to say her kind and

compassionate heart ceased to beat and the breath of life left her body.

But, we all know that she didn't really die. Not in the sense that she's not

with us anymore. Friends like Kelda will never really die. The presence of a

friend like Kelda will always be with us. In our memory we will continue to

see her smile and hear her simple words of kindness and encouragement.

For years to come we'll pass the Doughboy in the square and remember a

little lady who used to stand there in the cold of winter and the heat of

summer. In our memory we will see Kelda walking up and down the streets

eking out a living by the sweat of her brow and by practicing a work ethic

that is almost unknown in our society.

Kelda never flaunted her relationship to the Lord, but if you took the

time to talk to her, you knew she loved Him and depended upon Him for care

and comfort. She was not a trained theologian but she had an understanding

of things eternal. Kelda was a woman of faith and it is certain that her

faith and her friends sustained her in her last days.

There are those who weep because she has gone and our relationship with

her has ended. But. there are those who will not spend a lot of time in

weeping. They will be rejoicing because Kelda's life touched their life and

made a difference in who they are and the way they live their lives.

The next time you drive through the downtown square, you'll not see

Kelda standing with her supply of weekly papers. Don't think she's not

there. She is. Your memories and thoughts of her will keep her alive.

Kelda will be missed. Missed so much. Don't just think of her in the

context of loss. Think of the blessing you had in knowing her as your

friend. Let your memories of her be precious. Thank God that you were

fortunate enough to cross paths with the lady with the big heart. "We'll

miss you, Kelda, and we'll fondly and lovingly remember you. Thanks for the

memories."

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