Page 11 - Robeson Living Spring 2021

were there as long as thirty years. Just to name a few Gerotha Mrs. Price for all she knows about fashion from the years of
Cox, Ann Thompson, Ethel Edwards, Esther Lewis, Ida Mae working with her side by side. Jan shared with me that Price
McNeill, Ellen Kinlaw, Mildred Kinlaw, Martha Baxley, Vi- told her girls “if you don’t have a customer then get on the
olet Lewis, Ester Mae Floyd, Lynda Nealy, Christine Thorn- phone and get a customer.” Each saleslady was to keep records
dyke, Audrey McGill, Laura Grantham, Gayle Edens Bigelow, of the of the purchases of their regular customers so they could
Jackie Gavin, Val Swett, Kim Strawcutter, Samantha Smith, contact them as new merchandise arrived that would work with
Andrea Adams, Karen Caton Granger, Dottie Culbreth Cov- things in their wardrobe. Another of her favorite sayings was
ington, Hope Little, Lisa M Hester, Emerson McLean Berne, “Suggest, Suggest, Suggest”.
Cecile Tomlinson, Gaylen Ehrlichman, Mary Louise Wilson
Stephens, Sharon Prevatte and Amy Lane. When Jan would comment over the years that the store was
packed Mrs. Price in her quick wit replied, “well you can’t sell
Lynda Nealy worked twice for The Fashion Bar for a total of off an empty wagon, honey!” Another example of her quick
nearly 20 years and remained close to Mrs. Price over the years. wit was when they were on a buying trip and Mrs. Price threw
Nealy said of Price that she was a natural born leader that was out the word Rump-sprung. Jan almost fell off her chair as she
not handed anything but worked for everything. She said she listened to the definition of the term as fabric that would stretch
was the best boss she ever. She told how Price worked hard for and not hold its shape.
downtown Lumberton. She said Price isn’t just the queen of
The Fashion Bar but the Queen of Lumberton. She remembers Mrs. Price would tell the “little girls” those who were high
that not long after she came to the store Jack Jr asked her “well school and college students “find something to do honey”.
Ms. Lynda how do you like The Fashion Bar?” she says that
has always stuck in her mind this young boy asking her that in Marilyn Inman remembers well the girls little black books.
such a serious tone. Mr. Price would come by the store every “We had info on our personal customers to include DOB, size,
afternoon to the visit. phone # hubby’s phone number and anniversary date. Favorite
colors and special items they were looking for or maybe Moth-
Jan Tedder Rogers worked with Mrs. Price for twenty-seven er of the bride dress for a June wedding. We took those with us
years many of them as senior buyer for the store. She credits on buying trips and hand-picked items for our customers. We

This photograph was featured in the Christmas ad of the Fashion Bar in the late 1970s. (Seated) Esther Lewis, Gerotha Cox
and owner Evelyn Price. (Standing) Ann Thompson, Ethel Edwards, Ida Mae McNeill, Ellen Kinlaw, Mildred Kinlaw,
Martha Baxley, Violet Lewis, Ester Mae Floyd, Lynda Nealy, Christine Thorndyke, Audrey McGill and Laura Grantham.
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