The Woman Behind the Legend: The Inspiring Life of Avie Lee Owens Parton
When one thinks of Dolly Parton, the iconic singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist immediately comes to mind. Parton is renowned worldwide for her musical talents and business savvy, having achieved immense success over her decades-long career in the entertainment industry. However, behind every legendary figure lies the influences, support systems, and loved ones that helped shape them into who they became. For Dolly Parton, one of the most formative influences in her early life was her mother, Avie Lee Owens Parton.
Avie Lee was born on October 5, 1923 in Lockhart, South Carolina, a small cotton farming community located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains [2]. She was one of eleven children born to Jake and Rachel Ramey Owens. Avie Lee came from humble beginnings, growing up in poverty during the Great Depression era. Her father Jake was a Pentecostal preacher, and the family struggled to make ends meet on his meager salary [4]. Despite financial hardships, Avie Lee was surrounded by a close-knit, loving family in her rural community.
In 1939 at the young age of 16, Avie Lee married Robert Lee Parton. Robert, like Avie Lee, came from a large family of modest means in the Smoky Mountains region. Together, they started their own family in the remote hamlet of Locust Ridge in Sevier County, Tennessee [2]. Over the next two decades, Avie Lee and Robert welcomed twelve children into the world – ten daughters and two sons. Dolly Rebecca Parton, who would later gain worldwide fame as the legendary country singer Dolly Parton, was born on January 19, 1946 as the fourth of Avie Lee and Robert’s children [4].
The Parton household was bustling as Avie Lee raised her large brood during the mid-20th century. Money was extremely tight for the young family living in the remote Appalachian hills. Robert worked as a sharecropper and Avie Lee took on all the duties of maintaining their homestead. In addition to cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and caring for the children, Avie Lee also grew vegetables and raised chickens in their small backyard to help put food on the table [4]. It was a life of hardship, but Avie Lee ensured her children felt only love, laughter, and music in their home.
Music became Avie Lee’s escape and passion during difficult times. She had a beautiful singing voice and loved folk songs, gospel hymns, and ballads that were traditional to the Smoky Mountain region. Avie Lee would often sing while completing her chores or put her children to sleep with lullabies. Dolly Parton has fond memories of sitting on the porch with her siblings as their mother sang classic tunes like “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and “I Saw the Light” [4]. Avie Lee’s love of music had a profound impact on young Dolly, sparking her innate musical talents at a very early age.
Despite her own lack of formal education, Avie Lee made learning a priority for her children. When funds were available, she sent her kids to a one-room schoolhouse. However, most of their education came from Avie Lee herself. She taught them basic reading, writing, arithmetic, and history lessons at home. Avie Lee also exposed her children to the rich cultural heritage of Appalachian folkways through storytelling, crafts, and music [2]. This upbringing instilled in Dolly a strong work ethic and independent spirit from a young age.
Tragedy struck the Parton family in the late 1950s when Avie Lee’s husband Robert suffered a stroke at only 41 years old, leaving her a widow with ten children still at home. Avie Lee was forced to take on the sole responsibility of providing for her massive brood as a single mother during extremely difficult financial times [4]. Despite the hardships, Avie Lee maintained her cheerful disposition and continued making music a cornerstone of her family life. She supported Dolly’s musical talents from a young age, often sewing costumes for her daughter’s early performances. Avie Lee’s unconditional love and encouragement were instrumental in Dolly pursuing her dreams of becoming a singer.
One of Dolly Parton’s most famous songs, “Coat of Many Colors” pays homage to Avie Lee’s immense love, sacrifice, and resourcefulness as a mother. In the song, Dolly recalls how her mother lovingly fashioned her a coat from various patches of fabric when they could not afford a real winter coat. This act of sewing together scraps symbolized Avie Lee piecing together whatever means possible to keep her children warm, happy, and cared for [2]. The song has become an anthem of Appalachian values like community, family, and making do with what little you have. It serves as a touching testament to the profound influence Avie Lee had on Dolly’s life and career through her strength, resilience, and maternal devotion.
In later life, Avie Lee took great pride in witnessing her daughter Dolly achieve worldwide fame and recognition as a multiple Grammy Award-winning singer and cultural icon. Dolly never forgot her roots and remained fiercely devoted to her family back home in Tennessee. She helped support her mother and siblings financially as her star power rose. In 1995, Dolly built Avie Lee and Robert a house next to her own sprawling estate, ensuring her mother wanted for nothing in her later years [4]. Avie Lee enjoyed a comfortable retirement surrounded by the love of her massive extended family, which by that time included over 50 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Sadly, on June 14, 2003, Avie Lee Owens Parton passed away at the age of 80 after enduring various health issues in her final years [2]. Her funeral was held at the Parton family church, and she was laid to rest at Parton Cemetery in Sevierville, Tennessee. Avie Lee left behind a legacy of strength, perseverance, compassion, and the enduring power of motherly love. Through her influence, she helped shape Dolly Parton into the cultural force and philanthropic powerhouse she remains today. While Avie Lee lived a life of hardship, her spirit of resilience continues inspiring generations through Dolly’s music and philanthropic endeavors, which aim to lift others out of poverty.
The impact Avie Lee had on Dolly Parton’s upbringing cannot be overstated. She instilled a strong work ethic, nurtured her daughter’s musical talents, and demonstrated the virtues of family, faith, and community. Through her unconditional love and encouragement, Avie Lee helped give young Dolly the confidence and determination to pursue her dreams against all odds. Dolly has said that despite her fame and fortune, her proudest role remains being Avie Lee’s daughter. While Avie Lee lived a simple life in Appalachia’s remote hills, her influence continues resonating worldwide through Dolly Parton’s music and philanthropic endeavors, which have uplifted countless lives. Avie Lee Owens Parton’s legacy as a devoted mother, source of strength, and guardian of Appalachian heritage deserves to be celebrated and remembered.