She was delighted to be asked, and agreed with the organizers that it was high time to have a female grand marshal (the last four GMs were Jake Spencer, Chester Lynn, Andy Anderson, and Kenny Ballance).
Della was honored later in the day at the Awards Ceremony following Donald Davis's storytelling at Books to Be Red.
Jeanie Owens, Ocracoke School's 4th grade teacher, interviewed Della last year for an article about figs. (Della loves figs!) Jeanie spoke about Della at the Awards Ceremony, and explained why Della was chosen to represent Ocracoke in the Parade:
"I am so honored to introduce to you this evening the Grand Marshal of the 2017 Fourth of July parade, Mrs. Della Williams Gaskill. Miss Della was born on Ocracoke in 1937, in the old Homeplace near the lighthouse, to Elizabeth and James Williams. In her lifetime, Della has witnessed many events on her beloved island, from the storm of ’44, to the instillation of the Navy base during World War II; from ponies roaming free to ponies penned; from muddy roads to paved ones, and all the various ferries; mail boats, school houses, old and new, and dance halls come and gone. Miss Della has experienced it all. To Ocracoke she has given all of herself. She has worked with the ferry system, worked in shops, and owned her own little shop, Woccocon Gifts. She has been a seamstress, a teacher, a weaver, a poet, and an author. She is best known as the island baker. Her fig cake is the best on the island. In fact, she sells her homemade preserves and cakes to customers across the United States. Everyone is touched by Della’s goodness. Tourists are her lifelong friends. Her faith is her guiding light. All while being the best wife to her beloved late husband, Owen, mother to her son, Monroe, and grandmother to Parker. In 2013, Miss Della wrote her life’s story and called it A Blessed Life: Growing Up on Ocracoke Island. I believe, however, it is the Ocracoke community that has been blessed by Miss Della. We honor you Miss Della for showing us what it means to be a true American hero this 4th of July and for being an inspiration to us all."
You can find A Blessed Life at Books to Be Red and other island shops. (Read more about the book here.)
Della won the Ocracoke Fig Cake Bake-Off in 2013 and 2014. She also sells her fig preserves and fig syrup at the Fig Festival, which will be August 18-19 this year.
Della embodies the wonderful can-do spirit of Ocracoke. When asked to lead the parade, she said, "Well, at my age, you don't want to miss anything, so I'll do it!"