Burnout native inspires Red Bay youth

Edie Hand has myriad accolades to her name. She is a businesswoman, speaker, media personality, filmmaker and international author. She has written, co-written or assisted in the development of more than 20 books. Her personal titles include inspirational books, cookbooks and novellas. She has starred in national commercials and daytime television soap operas and has hosted numerous radio and television shows nationwide. She has been the CEO of Hand N’ Hand Advertising Inc., since 1976 while being actively involved in the Alliance for Women in Media (known as American Women in Radio & Television) for more than 40 years.

She’s also a hometown girl from Burnout, and she recently spoke to inspire at a showing of her documentary, “The Last Ride,” at Red Bay High School.

Hand screened her 2016 autobiographical documentary Friday at Red Bay. The story is based on her novella, “The Last Christmas Ride,” and explores the life of a Southern family and the love they shared – especially the love Hand had for her three younger brothers, each of whom died tragically as young men. It also paints a picture of Hand’s adulthood and her many accomplishments. As Hand put it, it “shows how my past led me to help others.” The documentary, which was filmed in Red Bay, Burnout and Florence, fulfills a promise to her brothers: to share the story of their love and care for each other.

The short film includes interviews with pivotal people in Hand’s life; dramatized scenes featuring extras and budding actors from Red Bay like seventh grader Bryson Hacker; and touching moments recorded with Hand at the graves of her three brothers, David, Terry and Phillip.

The documentary’s star and narrator is her son Linc Hand, whose own Hollywood career is growing steadily.

Mike Shewbart helped coordinate with Hand to bring the documentary to Red Bay. He said he wanted to encourage students who have a dream to go after it.

“She had a vision a long time ago, and she stuck with that vision,” Shewbart said. “If you’ve got a dream, you can reach out and get close to that dream and make that dream a reality. There is no doubt Edie has done that.”

Hand donated copies of her book to drama students and a number of other students as well as the school library. She encouraged students to remember what’s really important – “our character, who we are and what legacy we leave behind.”

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x