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This month marks the fifth anniversary of Sweet Heart Alabama located in the heart of downtown Greenville.

Owner Danan Whiddon is a native of Greenville. She has a personal philosophy she lives by, “never be afraid to try new things.” Whiddon takes this to heart.

It takes guts to start a business in a 1973 Airstream trailer. Whiddon acquired the small silver trailer from Josh Gardner of Greenville. With the help of Sheldon Luckie, who made the shelves  and just about everything else for the inside, Whiddon embarked on a true Southern adventure.

She and ‘Towanda’, as she called the trailer, sat in Greenville for six months, dispensing good old-fashioned advice mixed with healing herbs, aromatherapy and beautiful handcrafted jewelry.

“My passion is helping people learn about natural products,” Whiddon said on her website. “I believe there’s a natural way to tackle almost any health problem—with no side effects.”

Whiddon was teaching classes at Nashville State Community College and attending an herbal school whenever she had free time.

“It used to be a two year program, but since my time there, it has moved up to a four year program,” Whiddon said.

“There’s so much to learn,” she added. “I also did my training in energy healing while I was in Nashville.”

She admits that she loves teaching, and  she has a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Alabama. But given a choice, she’d much rather be at her shop in downtown Greenville.

After being in ‘Towanda’ for six months, Whiddon had the opportunity to move to the shop across from the Greenville Post Office.

Now, Sweet Heart Alabama has a new home at 100 E. Commerce Street, dead center of downtown Greenville.

Whiddon set out on her adventure with a dream and an Airstream. Now, she’s stationary and ‘Towanda’ has a new home in Nashville, Tennessee.

Renamed ‘Jolene’, and covered in Dolly Parton memorabilia, it’s now an Air B&B. You can check it out the next time you visit Nashville.

Whiddon has no regrets about her new life path; but, she does wish she had more hours in a day so she could do all the things she loves.

Stop by Sweet Heart Alabama at 100 E. Commerce Street. Whiddon will greet you with a big smile and a happy hello. The friendly atmosphere and unique merchandise will have you stopping in again and again.

If you have a quick question, you can also reach her by phone at (334)357-7234. She is on Facebook and her website, www.sweetheartalabama.com. You can also email her atdananwhiddon@gmail.com.

Sweet Heart Alabama is open Monday—Friday, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m.—1 p.m.