Dressed as Mrs. Claus, Dalton resident brightens the Christmas season

Published 12:00 pm Sunday, December 24, 2017

Santa Claus on motorcycles, Santa placing baby Jesus in a crib in the manger, black Santa, white Santa, life-size Santa, miniature Santa, Santa rocking in a chair and even Santa sitting on the toilet — Connie Simerley has them all and more. About 250 more.

For the past 27 years, Simerley, 64, has been an avid Santa Claus figurine collector.

“A lot of them are animated,” said Simerley, a Dalton resident. “The ones on motorcycles are my favorites because I like to set them up like they’re doing rides.”

To add to her fascination with Santas, five years ago Simerley began dressing as Mrs. Claus.

“I’m trying to give a happy childhood to others because I never had one,” she said.

Simerley said she spent her first few years in an orphanage before moving to Murray County with her grandparents. She remembers people doing nice things for her, such as her fourth-grade teacher Estelle Townsend buying her a stainless steel cookware set. As Mrs. Claus, Simerley appears at several events during the holiday season to help spread Christmas cheer.

On Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — she can be found outside Hobby Lobby ringing the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle fundraising campaign.

“One reason I do Salvation Army bell ringing is because it’s about the kids’ Christmas,” she said. “I don’t want any little girl going without a Barbie or a car for a little boy. I want every kid to have a Christmas.”

Maj. Douglas McClure, corps officer with The Salvation Army in Dalton, said Simerley has become a fixture with the organization.

“She kind of helps kickstart the campaign,” he said. “She has such a great spirit and takes it a step further as Mrs. Claus.”

McClure said Simerley makes volunteering a family affair by bringing her husband and grandchildren.

“She does extremely well (in donations) at Hobby Lobby,” he said. “I think it’s the spirit she has. She always brings a positive attitude and joy.”

McClure said every year Simerley calls the Salvation Army office to schedule volunteer time.

“She’s one of those volunteers that’s easy to work with because you know she’s going to get the job done,” he said.

McClure said he likes that Simerley makes donating fun for shoppers. This year she had a life-size Barbie dressed as a bell ringer with a small red kettle to collect money.

“Being Mrs. Claus has always been a desire in my heart ” Simerley said. “I just had to get up enough courage to do it.”

As Mrs. Claus there are some things Simerley usually wouldn’t do, such as climb into an old playhouse, transformed into a gingerbread house with Santa and a little girl. But when she’s wearing her floor length, red velvet dress with matching clothes and a hat, all bets are off. Mrs. Claus does “anything to make a child smile.”

That’s exactly what happened earlier this month at the Pine Grove Baptist Church Pancake Breakfast when Mrs. Claus and Steve Oliver dressed as Santa entertained families during the annual fundraiser to raise money for Bible camp.

Children giggled and parents snapped pictures as Simerley, Santa and a tiny head peeked through the window.

Sherri Bennett, a member of Pine Grove, said the fundraiser raised enough money so none of the kids have to pay for Bible camp. This year was fundraiser’s fourth year, which was almost canceled due to snow a few weeks ago.

“Miss Connie was determined we were going to have the fundraiser,” Bennett said. “I think she talked to God and the weather worked out for us.”

Bennett said ever year Simerley puts out the decorations.

“She brings all her Santas, take pictures with the kids plays with them,” Bennett said. “She’s very hardworking and dedicated. It’s always a great fundraiser.”

For Simerley, she always goes back to that memory in fourth grade.

“My teacher giving me that cookware inspired me to do things for other children and make sure they have a Christmas,” she said.

Simerley said she especially enjoys seeing children’s faces light up when she visits local restaurants dressed as Mrs. Claus. There she takes pictures with children, hands out candy canes, word search books, necklaces and coloring books.

“I still remember my first coloring book, it was a Charlie Brown one,” she said. “I think that’s why I like giving out coloring books. Coloring made me happy.”

Now, she’s the one making children happy.