Charlotte Nolan

Charlotte Nolan, 85, of Harlan, Kentucky, passed away May 15, 2014.

Miss Nolan was born November 29, 1928 in Harlan, the daughter of Dr. Joseph Wynne and Bertha Whitehead Nolan.  She graduated from Harlan High School in 1946 where she was a charter member of the Musettes, a cheerleader, class salutatorian, band member and two-time winner of the state speech competition.  She attended Lindenwood College for Women, St. Charles, Missouri; graduated from Northwestern University, and in addition, completed a Masters Degree in Secondary Education.   Miss Nolan spent 17 months in Europe as a recreational director for the United States Army.  She was stationed at a camp near Paris, where she staged parties, games and amateur plays.  During the 1950s and early 1960s, Miss Nolan was a professional performer.  She appeared at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, with Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine and many others.  After moving to New York, she performed in nightclubs with a comedy trio called the MAD-moiselles .  Miss Nolan played the role of Al Capp's cartoon character, Mammy Yokum, in the Broadway musical, Li'l Abner for six years including the national tour.

In 1964, Miss Nolan returned home and entered the professional classroom to teach English, Speech and Drama where she became well-known in the Kentucky High School Speech League and regional theatre circles for her superior dramatic productions.  After 29 years of service she retired but continued  to  encourage and promote arts in the community by being one of the founders of Pleasant Mountains Performing Arts and Artists Association, Inc. and Artists' Attic.  She traveled to Ireland and Wales where she appeared in Mummers Plays with Morehead State University's OperaWorks. In 2000, Miss Nolan began writing a popular weekly newspaper column, and in 2003, published a book of her columns entitled Ah Has Spoken...From the Heart. She performed in many local theatre productions including Higher Ground. In 2006, she was inducted into the Barter Theatre Walk of Fame. Miss Nolan's lasting legacy is her love and passion for the performing arts  that she has spread and fostered and will undoubtedly continue for generations to come.

In addition to her parents, Miss Nolan  was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Robert Nolan and Dr. Edwin Nolan, one sister, Mary Esther "Datter" MacLean and special friend Madge Ashton.

Left to cherish her memory are her adopted family, Rose, Darrell and Katharine Cohelia, staff and residents at Harlan Health and Rehabilitation Center, as well as her Harlan United Methodist Church family.  She also leaves several nieces and nephews, other relatives, countless students and many friends to mourn her passing.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at Harlan United Methodist Church on Monday, May 19  with the Rev. Kyle Burnette officiating.  Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon  followed by a commemoration of Miss Nolan's remarkable life at 1:00 p.m.  A private Internment of her ashes will take place at Resthaven Cemetery at a later date.

Honorary pallbearers are Jeff Lunsford, Dr. Jerry Bryson, Matt Nunez, Darrell Cohelia, Bill McFarland, Dr. N.S.Guy, Sid Douglas, Harry King Shepherd, Ron Spoelman, Lakis Mavinidis, Tom Pope  and Ramsey Carroll.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Harlan Musettes, P.O. Box 1711, Harlan KY 40831, or Harlan High School Band, c/o Laurie Hollins, 522 N.Main Street, Harlan KY 40831