Celebrating Ava Garner ends in October 2023 – The Final “Toast to Ava” Centennial Event.
Smithfield, North Carolina, hosted a year-long Centennial celebration in honor of the legendary actress, humanitarian, and fashion icon Ava Gardner. Ava was a beloved North Carolina native who grew up just seven miles east of Smithfield in a rural community known as “Grabtown.” She was the youngest of five daughters and two sons of a tenant farmer.
In her youth, Ava’s mother encouraged her to continue her education rather than work to help support the family. She finished high school and attended a Christian college.
Ava always wanted to be an actress and make it in Hollywood. She did it!
Ava Gardner was famous for…
Ava Gardner was famous for her leading lady roles in these popular films:
- Showboat
- Flying Dutchman
- Pandora
- The Snows of Kilamanjaro
- The Barefoot Contessa
- Bhowani Junction
- On the Beach
Ava Garner is famous for her marriages to Frank Sinatra, Artie Shaw, and Mickie Rooney. She is also famous for tabloid lies about her relationship with Sammy Davis, Jr., which caused her to move to Europe and live the rest of her days there.
When Ava visited Smithfield, she enjoyed the private and quiet life that Hollywood denied her. She treasured her visits home. Her last appearance in North Carolina was in 1978 for her Rock Ridge High School class reunion. Ava last visited her childhood home in May 1985.
In 1986, Ava suffered a stroke, leaving her partially paralyzed, and she couldn’t return to work. On January 25, 1990, she died in her sleep of pneumonia in her London home.
The Museum
During my visit to the Ava Gardner Museum in March this year, I was impressed with the extensive displays of paintings, statues, elaborate dresses, videos, and other exhibits.
When I met with Lynell Seabold, the Museum Director, she excitedly shared the upcoming plans for Smithfield and wrapping up the year-long Centennial program. New loans of Ava’s movie costumes and two newly recreated iconic gowns from the film Show Boat are featured.
World-renowned costume designer James Kelly is traveling from London, England, to Smithfield, NC, for the festival to share more about his designs with attendees. Kelly is a costume maker and collector who restores Hollywood costumes.
The Ava Gardner Museum is located in Downtown Smithfield, convenient to hotels, nearby shops, and restaurants. There’s lots of parking on the streets and in the parking lot behind the museum.
Be sure to make the time to visit the Johnston County Heritage Museum next door to the Ava Gardner Museum. The Heritage Museum preserves the history and material culture of Johnston County. It promotes understanding of the past through interpretive exhibits, programs, and publications.
The slavery relics particularly moved me. The exhibit made real only the meager information I learned in the past.
Tobacco production and moonshine are also fascinating exhibits.
I learned a lot about moonshine during my visit to Johnston County, North Carolina. See what I learned here.
Johnston County Visitors Bureau hosted my visit. However, all opinions are mine.