The snow-capped Appalachian Mountains, the western Virginian summers, the dusty coal mines — they are part of what makes Big Stone Gap stand out in Rodney Body’s mind. Body has only been back to the small Virginia town once since his family moved to Plant City in 1960. But he is ready to relive his childhood memories by watching a newly-released major motion picture named after his birthplace.
“Big Stone Gap” was officially released in theaters Friday, Oct. 9. The movie stars Ashley Judd, who plays a 40-year-old, self-proclaimed spinster whose life is turned upside down when she uncovers a family secret. The movie takes place in Big Stone Gap in 1978.
“There was a lot of culture (in Big Stone Gap),” Body said. “They had an excellent school system. Big Stone Gap produced a lot of successful people.”
One such person is Adriana Trigiani, the director of “Big Stone Gap.” Trigiani also wrote the screenplay for the movie, which is based off of her New York Times best selling novel of the same name. Body’s aunt, Thelma Carter, was Trigiani’s second-grade teacher.
“Big Stone Gap” is currently playing at AMC The Regency 20 in Brandon, Epic Theatres of Clermont, and Cobb Lakeside 18 & IMAX in Lakeland. But it is not playing in Plant City, despite the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World’s rich ties to the mountain town.
“It plays in a lot of Plant City’s historical narrative,” Body said. “Many Big Stone Gap descendants still live in the area.”
After a downturn in the local economy in the 1950s and 1960s, a number of Big Stone Gap natives migrated to Plant City. Body moved from Big Stone Gap in 1960. Plant City was metropolitan life for the 9-year-old newcomer. When Body started fourth grade at Jackson Elementary School, he didn’t know a soul.
“Plant City was a lot smaller than it is now,” Body said. “But Big Stone Gap is so small, it almost felt like a city.”
Other families who had moved from Big Stone Gap, mostly blue-collar workers, were able to find jobs working along the railroad.
Body’s father, Paul, had worked as a welder on the railroad in Big Stone Gap. After relocating, he worked as a phosphate miner in Polk County until 1971.
“Phosphate mines were booming,” Body said. “Blue- collar workers moved down. There was an influx of people.”
After the initial move, Body and his family stayed with friends in the Plant City area, since they were strapped for cash.
“My dad almost ran out of money,” Body said.
Eventually, the Body family became settled in the new town. Body’s mother, Dorothy, was the manager of a bookstore. Body’s parents always worked the East Hillsborough Historical Society booth at the Florida Strawberry Festival, and the family regularly attended First United Methodist Church.
“My dad was head usher, and my mother sang in the choir,” Body said. “My parents got involved in the Plant City community.”
Paul became known by his friends and family as the silent angel type. When a nearby house burned down, Paul was one of the first people to provide aid.
“He was a big, burly man, but soft as a teddy bear,” Body said. “My dad, everybody in Plant City loved him.”
The rest of Body’s childhood was spent in Plant City. He attended Tomlin Middle and Plant City High schools.
Growing up, he participated in his church youth group, played the cornet in the high school band and was in Boy Scouts.
His parents’ community involvement and regular church attendance led him to pursue a career in ministry.
Body attended the University of South Florida and Emory University, later spending 30 years as a pastor in the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He married his wife, Norfolk, Virginia native Mabel Merritt, in 1979.
The couple moved back to Plant City from Georgia in 2012.
Body is retired, but still serves as a part-time pastor at Dover United Methodist Church. He lives with his wife on Palm Drive, in a home that he inherited from his parents.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
Memories from Big Stone Gap
Plant City resident Rodney Body has only returned to Big Stone Gap once.
“It never really developed,” Body said.
In 2010, the population of Big Stone Gap was just over 5,000. Body still has some relatives that live in Big Stone Gap.
He remembers the summers the most.
“It’s beautiful country up there, especially in the summertime,” he said. “Every year we had a big family reunion.”
Body’s former home in Big Stone Gap was next to Trinity United Methodist Church, where Body was baptized. The house is now an annex to the church and used as an office.
Body’s grandfather, J.E. Body Sr., also had a homestead about a block away from the church. J.E. Body Sr. served as the mayor of Big Stone Gap in the 1950s.
Body’s grandfather on his mother’s side worked in Big Stone Gap’s coal mines.
Body’s parents were buried in Glencoe Cemetery after their deaths in 2007 and 2008.
Local Movie Times:
AMC The Regency 20
WHERE: 2496 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon
CONTACT: (813) 685-3396
Epic Theatres of Clermont
WHERE: Clermont Landing, 2405 S., Highway 27, Clermont
CONTACT: (352) 242-6684
Cobb Lakeside 18 & IMAX
WHERE: 1650 Town Center Drive, Lakeland
CONTACT: (863) 937-0416