Family of a Green Mountain general store finds blessings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene

GREEN MOUNTAIN, N.C. (QUEEN CITY HOMETOWN) —  There aren’t instructions or handwritten recipes.

“Everything,” said Jane Whitson Peterson. “I learned from her.”

Everything that Jane learned about food, work, and life — was taught to her by her parents.

“This place is special,” said Jane. “I was raised right here. I slept on this counter as a baby.”

Her Dad, O.C., passed away 25 years ago. Her mom, Parzady, is 97.

“She’s the queen,” smiled Jane. “She’s the queen bee around here.”

If Parzady is the Queen Bee, Jane is the worker bee. She goes back and forth all day — from her mom’s house to their family’s furniture and general store next door, in Green Mountain, North Carolina.

“It’s our home, this is our home,” said Jane.

The home she knew changed on September 27, 2024.

“It’s unreal, it really is,” said Jane. “It feels like it was years away.”

“I don’t remember much about it, except it was short at the time,” said Parzady.

Jane was with her mom when the North Toe River started to rise. The water got higher and higher. Finally, Jane, Parzady, and Jane’s brother rushed up to the second floor of their store. The moment they hit the top step, the windows broke and the water came in.

“It sort of rushed in on us,” said Parzady.

“He saved us, He really did. It was Him. It wasn’t our time to go,” said Jane.

Their cash register doesn’t work the same. Somehow, there’s still mud no matter how hard Jane cleans. Hurricane Helene changed them all. But also, it reminded Jane of another life lesson her Mom taught her.

“It’s still beautiful, the river, the trees. It’s still beautiful,” said Jane.

No matter the storm — nor the circumstances — look for blessings. They are there, even in the ugly and unknown.

“We are very blessed, to know that there are so many good people in the world,” said Jane.

Now, a year later, it’s moments with mom in the sun.

The flowers that are blooming.

Their family business — that still stands.

There are more blessings than she can count.