This story was originally published in the March/April 2025 edition of Paducah Life Magazine.
Click here to read the original publication.
In Memory of W.P. Hendley, Rhew Hendley Florist founder, 1933-2025.
“I’m loading the van for delivery,” declared Marsha Tinsely, a florist at Rhew Hendley Florist as the old wooden door clasped closed behind her. She’s preparing for her almost daily delivery of flower bouquets to local hospitals. “They pretty much sell out,” Marsha shared. While she prepares the van for delivery, the rest of the shop is working intently to prepare for Valentine’s Day, preparing bows, decorating the sign out front, and, of course, putting the final touches on orders for the day. Rhew Hendley Florist shop has been buzzing with life for 50 years . But between the slick sips of flower stems and the unraveling of ribbon, the shared stories and tales create for quite a unique bouquet of history.
Rhew Hendley Florist was started by business partners W.P Hendley and Hal Thomas Rhew. In 1975, Hendley sold Jeanette Flower Shop in Mayfield, ready to move on to a new project. The two bought a building in downtown Paducah from Lucille Sanders that was in desperate need of a clean up. “There was a hole in the roof and lots of damage,” stated Linn Eller, the 2nd owner of the iconic florist shop. After purchasing the building, the two business partners opened an account at Hank Brothers to buy supplies for the much need repairs. After their first month of work, they received their first bill from Hank Brothers addressed to a “Rhew Hendley,” their last names put together. After a few glances, they decided they had found the name of their floral shop and continued work on their storefront.
In 1975, Rhew Hendley Florist had their grand opening in their new renovated location. The shop was a success, but soon, Hendley & Rhew were ready to move to the next project. “I wanted to own a bookstore but, I ended up with a flower shop,” Linn shard jokingly. Linn Eller bought the business from the business duo on April 15, 1981 and built the shop Rhew Hendley operates in now in 1988. When the building was complete, Linn planted a cherry blossom in the front lawn that still stands, which they lovingly named John. “We were digging the hole to place the tree and found this white, grainy powder,” Linn shared. “A few shovels later, we found the neck of a toilet!” The shop brightened more with the laughter of the florists.
Linn owned the shop for 44 years when she decided to take a step back. She listed the business for sale in November of 2021. Current owner Lakyn Worthen said it was dream come true. “in October of 2021, we were doing a Dream Again series at church. Our pastor asked us to write down our dreams,” Lakyn shared. “So, I did. All kinds of crazy things. One of them just happened to be flower shop.” Through a family connection, Linn’s daughter reached out to Lakyn to see if she was interested in purchasing Rhew Hendley, one month after she wrote down her dream. After weeks of thinking, talks with her husband, and lots of prayer, Lakyn was ready to make the move from dental assistant to business owner.
Lakyn is now in her third year of business with Linn by her side working as a florist. W.P Hendley was even known to stop in for lunch and the history of Rhew Hendley owners would share their experience while enjoying local cuisine. “In my first year of owning the business, I wasn’t really involved in making the flowers, even though I wanted to be. Just watching, listening, and talking to them, they’ve been my mentors and its really helped.”
Lakyn is also working to inspire the next generation of artists, raising her three children, ages 9 and 2. Her 9 year old loves to make his own floral creations and art. “He tries,” Layken expressed lovingly while holding one of his creations of a wicker basket with a silk lily on top of a silk rose with a patriotic bow. “He likes art. He put up an art collection in the front.” While her 9 year old might not be the next floral prodigy, the joy she instills in her family and the Rhew Hendley staff & customers radiates from the building before you walk in the door; something that all businesses strive for and few achieve.
