Jean Gordon
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 2:03 pm
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Wedding bells will be ringing Valentine's Day, February 14, as family and friends gather to witness the marriage of a couple who met at the Rutherford County Senior Center just over a year ago.
For Nan Thompson, 73, of Forest City and Kenneth Burrell, 74, who lives in Green Creek, their love story has an interesting beginning.
Kenneth said he noticed Nan at the senior center and wanted to get to know her.
She was helping serve food in the center's cafeteria and Kenneth was waiting in line for his food when he told her, "I want to talk to you."
Finding the time and privacy to talk with Nan presented a few challenges for Kenneth. Nan was always busy at the center, talking with others and enjoying lunch.
Nan, who has never been married, said she had been praying for a long time to have someone to "go out with" and to be a good friend.
Kenneth had been praying the same prayer. Married for 51 years to Shirley McDade Burrell (she passed away in 2022) Kenneth was incredibly lonesome. His heart was broken.
Interestingly, Kenneth and Shirley met at Isothermal Community College where they were both students in 1970. Nan was a student there at the same time and she knew Shirley, but never met Kenneth.
"If I ever crossed paths with Nan, I don't know it," Kenneth said. Nan and Shirley were studying business and Kenneth was studying collision repair.
Kenneth and Shirley fell in love and were married in December 1971.
After graduating from Isothermal, Shirley and Nan actually worked together at Isothermal.
"I didn't know who she was married to," Nan said.
Kenneth returned to Isothermal later and taught collision repair at night school while working a day job in South Carolina. At that time Shirley was also employed there.
Nan retired after a 30 year career at Isothermal and began visiting the senior center, subsequently becoming an active member.
Kenneth tried to move on with his life after his wife's passing, but he was extremely lonesome. He had heard about the good programs at the Center and decided to check it out. A banjo picker, Kenneth was especially interested in the music programs offered there.
He began going to the senior center and attended a Halloween dance where he saw Nan at a table with several other ladies. "She caught my eye," he said.
Kenneth said he wasn't sure if Nan was married or in a relationship, but he was determined to find out her situation. On February 21, 2025, they had their first lunch together at the center.
"I am so glad I met him...he's the most wonderful man and I have always been shy and was never sure of myself. I just wanted someone to go out with and to have a good time," Nan said.
After the death of his wife, Kenneth said at first he felt guilty about wanting to date, but he kept praying daily that the Lord would send him a female Christian friend.
On Friday, March 22, 2025, Kenneth took another step in trying to get to know Nan. Since he couldn't find her alone at the Center to talk and ask her for a date, he gave her a note and asked Nan to call him. He wanted her to go to a dance, but said he didn't feel comfortable asking her with others around, so he handed her the note with his telephone number.
"Back in the day, girls didn't call guys," he said.
On Saturday morning, March 23, 2025, Nan called Kenneth. When he asked her out, Nan said she wasn't sure what to do and told Kenneth, "I've got to ask my sister."
Nan lives with her sister and brother-in-law. Claude and Jerre Foster, having moved to their home after her mother passed away. Nan talked to Jerre and Jerre made a call or two and learned Kenneth was a nice man. Jerre was excited for Nan.
Their first real date was to Big Dave's that Saturday night and then on to a dance at a nearby church. That was the beginning of weekend dates over the next months and spending time at the senior center during the day.
Although Nan wasn't sure if she liked bluegrass music, she began accompanying him to Inman, SC where he played the banjo every Friday night. Nan surprisingly discovered she loved bluegrass music and especially liked the banjo picker.
The couple admitted they were both looking for something to do and were having a great time, but neither was thinking of marriage. However on October 11, 2025, while on a date, Ken asked Nan, "What do you think about getting married?"
"You want to marry me," Nan asked him.
She said 'yes' and on November 1, 2025 Nan chose her diamond ring. She bought his wedding band and they were ready to set a date.
They decided on a Valentine's Day wedding and the work began for Nan to get her traditional white wedding gown, making decisions and plans for the reception, the wedding party and moving from the only place she's ever known, Forest City to Green Creek. "I don't feel any different...It is a little more out in the country," she said of Green Creek but quickly adding, "15 minutes away."
During the past weeks leading up to her wedding day, Nan has been packing her belongings to move to Green Creek.
Nan is also gaining a family. Kenneth has two daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She met this family on May 24, 2025 and the family got together with Nan for Christmas, Thanksgiving and when there is a birthday for one of the grandchildren.
On February 14, with their family and friends at First Baptist Church in Forest City, the couple will pledge their love for each other. Nan's twin brother, Van Thompson, will walk her down the aisle. When he found out about his sister's upcoming marriage, he cried. Her cousin, Jane Revels is her matron of honor.
"We're going to Disney World" Nan exclaimed of their honeymoon destination. She's never been there but always wanted to go. Kenneth has been to Disney World with his children.
After Disney World, Nan will continue her love of playing the piano at First Baptist Church and will also go to Kenneth's church in Green Creek.
"Maybe we're both crazy to get married, but we believe God brought us together," Nan says.
Kenneth wholeheartedly agrees.
Jerre and Claude will also have a big adjustment. At ages 80 and 84, "we'll be empty nesters," Jerre said. "I can't believe it," said Jerre, who is actually over the moon about her little sister's marriage.
Whether or not the couple will return to the senior center every day, is uncertain. Regardless, the place they met, had lunch every day and fell in love, will always hold a special place in their hearts. No doubt they'll be there on special occasions, for sure.