A Madisonville artist has received a great honor, as her artwork in the form of a Christmas ornament hung on a Christmas tree at the governor's mansion in Nashville this holiday season.

Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam wanted ornaments that represented each of Tennessee's 95 counties to hang on the Fraser fir tree during the Tennessee's Home for the Holidays celebration.

County Mayor Tim Yates first contacted Sharon Evans to create Monroe County's decoration back in the spring. Evans received a letter from the first lady asking her to represent Monroe County.

The first lady wanted the ornaments to represent each county with unique scenes and attractions.

"I felt so honored to have been asked," Evans said. "My first thought was with a county with so many wonderful attractions, how could I decide what to paint on the ornament?"

Evans chose to paint a picture of Sequoyah, the developer of the Cherokee alphabet, on one side of the ball, as she had done American Native art before. Her interest in the outdoors and wildlife played a big role in her choices for other art on the ornament, which is slightly larger than a softball.

"Ever since I was little girl growing up near Sweetwater, I always enjoyed going to Bald River Falls," Evans said. "I have photographed and painted the falls many times."

Evans worked at the Lost Sea back in the 1960s, so the famous underground lake became the next logical choice. Evans said she could not forget about the Cherohala Skyway where she and her husband and children road their trail bikes when it was being constructed. And with the Skyway added, her plan was complete.

But both Evans' mother and husband both passed away this year. When the blank ornament was sent to her from Nashville to paint, her husband's condition was getting worse.

"I did not think I could paint it," Evans said.

But after her husband died, painting the ornament became therapy for Evans. She had to have it finished and to Nashville before Nov. 1.

On Dec. 8, all the ornament painters came to Nashville to meet with the first lady and to see their ornaments on the Tennessee Counties Tree, as it is known. Evans said the group got to tour the governor's home and see all the trees. Evans took her daughter, Donna Isbill with her.

"It was a wonderful day," Evans said.

Evans has painted and exhibited art at craft shows for 25 years. She is best known for painting on turkey feathers and leaves and has been selling her work at the Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair for more than 16 years.