Macon County is filled with remarkable individuals and 89-year-old Lovelda Harper is one of these people. Her vibrant fashions and joyous smile garner her attention in Franklin, where she often assists at Diva’s on Main with her daughter, Kerri, and owner Sarah Miller.
Harper is a fifth-generation native Floridian who moved to North Carolina with her husband and daughter in 2001. She has traveled to all 50 states, as well as to 29 countries and five continents. Yet she considers Franklin a special place to call home.
“This is such a kind, sweet little town. The people are so friendly and so nice. I just feel at home here,” said Harper.
Harper was a district sales manager for Avon Beauty Products for 27 years.
“I needed something to do, and I knew that I still wanted to be a mother,” she said. Avon allowed her to remain active in her three children’s lives while giving her a job that she enjoyed. “I loved it so much that they offered me a management position. I started just selling [their] products door to door, but then they wanted me to be a district sales manager.
“I won 14 trips out of the country, totally paid for, by having a sales increase of a certain percentage. I was able to do several years wholesale, over a million dollars increase over the prior year,” shared Harper.
Avon also sent her to work in different places, like Grand Cayman and Jamaica. During her career, she met the Hungarian-American actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, among others.
“When [my family and I] sold our house in Hollywood, Fla., my boss still wanted me to work for him,” explained Harper. Her boss asked if she would stay with the company part-time at the same salary and work alternating weeks in Grand Cayman and Jamaica, with a week spent at home in between.
Harper agreed and stayed with the company.
“My husband had a debilitating stroke, and for six months he couldn’t talk or walk, and I only missed two days of staying home and caring for him. Those two days [were spent] when I returned the company car in Florida,” she explained.
Finding Franklin
“My husband — I call him a Tar Heel — was born and raised in eastern North Carolina. North Carolina was home to him. When my children were young, my parents had a house near Cherokee, so we spent all our vacations here. My parents came to Franklin on a regular basis; my dad bought his country ham and his steaks here,” she said.
Harper’s daughter Kerri works part-time at Diva’s on Main, while Harper helps at the store by sorting jewelry, for example. Otherwise, she hangs out in town and reads books.
In fact, Harper is often recognized in the Franklin community for her fashion sense.
“It probably came from work. When you work for a beauty company, you have to dress appropriately because you never know where you’re going to be,” she explained.
Miller describes Harper as “quite a lady. She is always dressed head to toe – stunningly beautiful. My customers just love her. I’m very lucky to have her come in and offer her assistance. She looks like a million bucks every day … dresses in clothing from my store sometimes. Any shade of blue is her favorite color. And bling; wow, does she wear gorgeous jewelry! People in Franklin definitely notice her.”
Besides awing Franklin with her demeanor and her dress, Harper annually volunteers her time with Toys for Tots. “All year long, my Kerri and I collect toys to have ready for Christmas to give to little children who don’t have any gifts,” she stated.