Scenic Roots

"Scenic Roots" offers conversations that matter in the heart of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley.From the mountains to the river, our conversations are rooted deep within every corner of our community - reflecting who we are, who we were and who we can become.We engage with the news that affects our community, behind and beyond the headlines. We build bridges that span from creators and innovators to storytellers and the outdoors. We focus on our challenges as many communities in one - as we celebrate what inspires us. We resonate with countless voices - in words and spaces, sounds and songs.We are "Scenic Roots."Ray Bassett hosts and produces "Scenic Roots" at WUTC.

A Mural For Shannon At Zarzour’s Cafe In Chattanooga

WUTC

Published April 26, 2022 at 8:31 AM EDT

Work on the Shannon Fuller mural at Zarzour’s Cafe.

In Southside Chattanooga, there’s now a mural on the southern wall of Zarzour’s Cafe on Rossville Avenue.

It honors the memory of Shannon Fuller, who died in February months after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Shannon moved to Chattanooga after she married Joe “Dixie” Fuller in 1993 - and at that time, the Southside was known as a rough part of this city.

A few years later, she started working at the Cafe - and in 2015, she took over day-to-day operations from her mother-in-law, Shirley.

The mural - 11 feet by 17 feet, designed by April Cox here at UTC - depicts Shannon holding a multicolored pair of angel wings, as she did at a birthday party and fundraiser in January.

Last week, as the mural was about to be installed, I spoke with Dixie Fuller - and Jennifer Crutchfield, a longtime friend of the Fullers.

We started by talking about the cafe - around for more than a century.

A sign at Zarzour’s Cafe in Chattanooga.