Our family is very pleased that a historical marker will be placed in Gainesville to honor the ladies who worked and so bravely gave their lives in the tragic Cooper Pants Factory fire during the 1936 tornado.

However, we were saddened by the wording in the article. The ladies were referred to as “poor country girls.” The wording seems to diminish the importance of their deaths since they were considered to be poor.

Our family lost two people in this fire, and we feel that they were just as important as anyone else. I would like to also point out that in 1936, most people in the Gainesville area were considered poor but were outstanding, well-thought-of citizens of the area.

I believe that Garland Reynolds should be more considerate of the families of these ladies when referring to them, and the same goes for Matt Chambers in relaying the message.

Carolyn Mundy
Sugar Hill