Old Finley Store and post office was once hub of activity at Sunny South

The old Finley Store at Sunny South, Alabama.

I always enjoy hearing from readers, and I received a nice e-mail this week from longtime Sunny South resident Sharon Ault. Last week in this space, I wrote about a recent trip that I made to the historic Sunny South community, and Sharon e-mailed me last Thursday to tell me more about that community’s unique history.

Sharon explained that her family owns the old store and post office buildings located on the southeast corner of the town’s main crossroads. Sharon, who lives just down the street from these two buildings, said that her grandmother, Cammie Finley, was postmaster there for over half a century. Finley, who passed away in 1987 at the age of 93, began serving as postmaster in 1913 and retired from the job in 1964.

Finley was born in Sunny South in 1892 and was raised in a house that was located across the railroad tracks from the old store. Finley’s childhood home is no longer there, but Sharon remembers it well. Sharon, who was born in 1960, grew up in a house that was next door to her grandmother’s old house.

Sharon’s father, Gene Finley Sr., worked for the railroad and also ran the store. Her mother, Elsie Finley, also served as the town’s postmaster. Growing up, Sharon spent many days in the old store and playing around the back door of the old post office.

Sharon noted that Sunny South did have a train depot at one time, but it was torn down years ago. The depot was located in the corner of the crossroads across from the Old General Store, which still stands across the street from her family’s old store. Back during the town’s heyday, Sharon’s family members would go to the depot and use an old-fashioned hook to retrieve mail bags from the train while it was still moving down the tracks through town.

Sharon also provided more details about the small park on the northeast corner of the crossroads. She said that years ago, Ethel Parham and Robbie Purser led a project to beautify the town, and this park was a big part of that project. Each decorative planter inside the park was placed in memory of a family’s loved one, and Sharon had three planters placed in the park, including the planter beside the park’s patriotic flag display. Sharon said that, sadly, many of the people who bought planters for the park have either died or are too old to maintain the planters.

Sharon also noted that every October, the community group Sunny South United, holds a “Fun Day” in downtown Sunny South. This reunion-style event usually includes a short program, a “huge meal” and activities for children, Sharon said. She said the event is well attended and includes storytelling and visiting that goes on for hours.

“People stay into the night to catch up because people have come from all over the country to capture this piece of their history,” Sharon said. “Sunny South is a great little community.”

In the end, big thanks to Sharon for taking the time to send me more information about Sunny South’s history. If anyone else in the reading audience has more information they’d like to share about Sunny South, please do so. I’m especially interested in hearing any old ghost stories, local legends, tall tales or Indian lore from the Sunny South area, so if you have anything along those lines to share, please let me hear from you.