Doyle Capps

Doyle Capps was born in 1916 in the Stafford's Store community in Weakley County. In olden days, the area was referred to as Flytown because the Cherokee Indian Fly tribe occupied this land along the Obion River. In the early 1800's three young Capps boys came down the Obion River (major means of transportation) and were among the first to settle the Christmasville area. The ancestors of Doyle Capps settled later just down the Obion in the Stafford's Store area, and the family is still in possession of original land grants. Old Capps graveyards, reflecting the records of these early settlers, are on land still owned by some of the Capps family. He considered Indian arrowheads and artifacts he unearthed, as a boy while plowing, some of his most treasured possessions. His father and grandfather before him had small country stores in Weakley County where they sold everything from grocery and farming staples to horse liniment and saddles.

He moved to Gleason in 1945 at the age of 29 with his wife, Wylodean, and 2 small children. He and his brother, Paul, had bought a grocery store on Main St. from Jack Dunning, Sr. Paul left the grocery business after a couple of years to later buy and operate a gas station in Martin. Upon arrival, his daughter Cheri, 5 years, helped sack penny candy and his other daughter Annette, 3 months, laid in the bread rack while they tended the store. In these days before shopping carts, people brought in their "list" and gave it to the clerks to fill. While they called out items from the list, Doyle, Wylodean, or his favorite long time friend and store clerk, Johnny Johnson, retrieved each item and brought it to the counter for them. Many still remember Doyle and Johnny in their white, store clerk aprons tied neatly around the waist. Gleason hummed with crowded streets and Saturday afternoon drawings. The farmers worked hard all week and everyone came to town on Saturdays. Days at the store started at 6:00 a.m. and sometimes lasted until after 10:00 p.m., especially on Saturdays and "election" days. His pickup truck was loaded anytime that anyone needed deliveries of "called in" orders from shut-ins who were not able to get to the store. The store was always closed on Sundays. This day was set aside for the First Baptist Church and Sunday dinner with relatives.

In those days before credit or debit cards, most people didn't go to the store with money. They bought what they needed and said "Doyle, put that on my bill". A nod of trust or a handshake was enough. Most bills were paid, but some were not. Understanding how difficult it was to feed and clothe their children when farmers fell on hard times, many "bills" were simply "lost" when it came time to pay. One of his favorite things to do at Christmas was call someone to the back of the store and, in private, tear up the bill and hand it to them for Christmas. Another favorite was to anonymously leave a much needed bag of groceries at someone's door. And, there was the long list of everything from musical instruments, pigs, knives and shotguns that some used for payment.

As well as selling groceries and hunting & fishing supplies, Capps Grocery was a small town forum, a meeting place where people sat around the stove in the back to discuss politics, hunting & fishing yarns, and the latest news. Many clay truck drivers ate thick bologna sandwiches for lunch there. He enveloped the kindred spirit of Gleason people, and when he received the calls in the middle of the night from someone who needed milk for their baby or some other emergency, the answer was always the same. I'll be there in 10 minutes.

He sold the store on Main St. to Jack Dunning, Jr. in 1959, and built Capps Market on Pillowville Rd. in 1962. He operated this store until his retirement in 1981. When his wife, Wylodean, died in 1979, his daughters wanted him to move to Memphis to be near them, but his answer was "this is God's country and I would never be happy anywhere else".

As well as operating Capps Grocery & Market, Doyle was a member of First Baptist Church, a Mason, volunteer fireman, a school bus driver for many years, and donated time and food to many charity events. Favorite hobbies included vegetable gardening, horses, and hunting & fishing trips with his friends. Doyle died in 1988 at the age of 71 and was laid to rest beside his wife, Wylodean, in Hopewell Cemetery - on the hill just past his long time Capps Market. . . in "God's country"