Well, folks, that time has finally come. I am sad to say that this will be the last "Lucy Memoirs" article. What merely began as a simple blog has somehow developed into a fun little weekly article that has allowed you, the reader, a glimpse into my world. I started "Lucy Memoirs" so that I could record my childhood memories and share about those who have made an impact on my life. I had, and still have, the ambition to share these stories to my children and maybe even to their children. It's strange to think about my three-year-old's children, but I have listened to many of you and your remarks of how "time flies", "it'll be here before you know it", and my favorite, "in a blink of an eye." I, too, will age, my daughter will marry and have children, and this thirty-one-year-old man looking to the future would like to see that his life had meaning and had a grand story to tell. Max Lucado has written a new book with the title, Outlive Your Life. I thought for awhile on that title. There is a lot to be said there. Am I living a life that will affect generations past mine? Am I touching people in a away that changes their lives which then affects others'? These are big questions to ponder, but I hope that these memoirs have at least laid a foundation of who I am and what God can do with me next. I can say this with confidence because He's not finished with me yet.
So in conclusion to my stories of my childhood, I think it's only fair to bring you up to present-day. What has happened in the last twenty years to the boys of Lucy? Well, Stevie now serves in emergency management services and lives in Millington. Of course, he now goes by Steve Sparks Jr., but he will always be Stevie to me. Mike Luhm married a secret service agent who was deployed to Presidential guard in Dallas. She and Mike still live there today where Mike proudly serves on the Dallas Fire Department. Mom and Dad still live in the same home in Lucy with a few changes. Where Will's and my rooms were, they are now rooms for the grandkids. Where the side yard is where we played many of baseball games and held bombfire events, is now a pond and a brand new playhouse. I couldn't be more proud of my little brother, Will. The same kid that I hit in the head with a shovel, wrecked countless motorized vehicles on our property, and made our house look like the Grizwalds at Christmas, finally tied the knot a couple of weeks ago. He married a young lady from the Gentry/Waits family. That is one scary combination when you combine these three families. Will has always had a passion for lighting and illumination. He now designs lighting plans for churches and businesses all over the United States. As for me, I met a gorgeous girl, Shannon, at the same church I have gone to my whole life and have been married for eight wonderful years now. We have a beautiful three-year-old daughter, Emmerson, and by the time most of you read this article, we will have welcomed our son, Cole Franklin Childress, into the world. One of Frank Capra's most famous movies, It's a Wonderful Life, pretty much sums up my own life. God has truly blessed me to no end and I give Him all of the glory for it.
Finally, I would like to thank you, the reader. It has been a great honor to speak to those whom I run into at church or around town who have read and commented on these articles. I especially love hearing your memories of Christmas Tree Larry's, USA Baseball, and many more written topics. I think Millington is one of the greatest towns in this country, enriched with a history of patriotism, family values, community pride, and Christian leadership. I have no doubt that my childhood would've looked a lot different if it were not lived out in Millington, Tennessee.
If you are ever out on a Sunday drive, I encourage you to pull off the highway onto Sykes Rd, take the second right onto Lucy Rd, and drive through the heart of Lucy. Stop off at Down the Road Motors (a.k.a. The Man Store), and pop a top on a cream soda. Drive through the tunnel of shady oak trees and look out over the rolling pasture land of green. Maybe you'll like it so much that you'll decide to start a family of your own there. Your kids can be raised in a town where they can let their imaginations run wild. And maybe, just maybe, they will one day write about their own journeys, childhood memories, and escapades. And just maybe, I will still be around to read their own "Lucy Memoirs."
Thank you & God Bless,
-Steve Childress
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Lucy Elementary
I could not have asked for a better introduction to my first school experience than what Lucy Elementary provided me. When I started kindergarten in 1984 Lucy was this picturesque community, very family involved, school that proved to be inviting to a five year old like me who had never been away from my family for a consistent period of time. Some of my greatest early childhood memories were spawned out of this red bricked, green shingled roof school house.
Dr. Evelyn Jewel was the principle when I attended. I remember her always making sure we kindergarteners had everything we needed to make our time at Lucy a pleasant one. I remember we had "Old Fashion Day" and Dr. Jewel would dress up in an old dress and bonnet, and drive us around the school in a mule drawn buggy. Dr. Jewel also allowed several other events at the school like the annual Halloween carnival, community day and many other events that truly made the school Lucy's own. Many years later, as I was working at my first bank and Dr Jewel came in to conduct some business. I had the opportunity to help her. Before I could even introduce myself she called me by name and gave me the biggest hug. There is something to be said about an educator like Dr. Jewel who has taught so many children to remember a student like myself twenty years later.
I can easily name all of my teachers at Lucy because they all had an impact on my early education in some form or fashion. Ms. Becky was my kindergarten teacher who was so patient with me my first year. Ms. Brown was my first grade teacher who still brags even to this day, about how great a student I was. Ms. Brown has made such an impact on my life that I dedicated an entire article all about her. There is not a Sunday that goes by that she doesn't hug my neck still. Ms. Monroe was my second grade teacher and that was the first year I received principles honor role. Ms. Westmoreland was my third grade teacher and it was there that I honed my skills as the "teacher's pet". I learned quickly that if you make yourself available and offer your assistance to your teacher she will love you to death. At least that’s how it worked out for me. Mr. Lunsford was my P.E. coach and he is now the principle at Millington Elementary where my mom works. Ms. Hair was the Librarian, and Mr. Walker was our music teacher. Mr. Walker had an interesting way of motivating us to sing. During school programs he would sit behind the choir instead of directing from the front. He would scream at the top of his lungs "SING! SING! SING!!!!" You would've thought we were snow dogs in a race and he was the driver. Nevertheless if he didn't do that I most likely wouldn't have remembered him.
Lucy holds so many memories for me outside of the classroom as well. At one time the playground had three big oak trees that made perfect bases for recess kickball games. There was one of those ten foot metal slides that burnt your legs during the summer and an old merry-go-round. The swing sets were those white painted "A" frame structures where I had carved multiple love notes to girls on. Before they removed those swing sets I went back to Lucy and sure enough those same carvings were still there.
I absolutely loved Lucy Elementary. It was an era when practically every mom was a room mother, the pledge of allegiance was said every morning, school pride actually meant something, and the community was just as active as the staff was in regards to the betterment of the establishment. Even today I am still proud to call myself a Lucy Eagle.
-Steve Childress
Dr. Evelyn Jewel was the principle when I attended. I remember her always making sure we kindergarteners had everything we needed to make our time at Lucy a pleasant one. I remember we had "Old Fashion Day" and Dr. Jewel would dress up in an old dress and bonnet, and drive us around the school in a mule drawn buggy. Dr. Jewel also allowed several other events at the school like the annual Halloween carnival, community day and many other events that truly made the school Lucy's own. Many years later, as I was working at my first bank and Dr Jewel came in to conduct some business. I had the opportunity to help her. Before I could even introduce myself she called me by name and gave me the biggest hug. There is something to be said about an educator like Dr. Jewel who has taught so many children to remember a student like myself twenty years later.
I can easily name all of my teachers at Lucy because they all had an impact on my early education in some form or fashion. Ms. Becky was my kindergarten teacher who was so patient with me my first year. Ms. Brown was my first grade teacher who still brags even to this day, about how great a student I was. Ms. Brown has made such an impact on my life that I dedicated an entire article all about her. There is not a Sunday that goes by that she doesn't hug my neck still. Ms. Monroe was my second grade teacher and that was the first year I received principles honor role. Ms. Westmoreland was my third grade teacher and it was there that I honed my skills as the "teacher's pet". I learned quickly that if you make yourself available and offer your assistance to your teacher she will love you to death. At least that’s how it worked out for me. Mr. Lunsford was my P.E. coach and he is now the principle at Millington Elementary where my mom works. Ms. Hair was the Librarian, and Mr. Walker was our music teacher. Mr. Walker had an interesting way of motivating us to sing. During school programs he would sit behind the choir instead of directing from the front. He would scream at the top of his lungs "SING! SING! SING!!!!" You would've thought we were snow dogs in a race and he was the driver. Nevertheless if he didn't do that I most likely wouldn't have remembered him.
Lucy holds so many memories for me outside of the classroom as well. At one time the playground had three big oak trees that made perfect bases for recess kickball games. There was one of those ten foot metal slides that burnt your legs during the summer and an old merry-go-round. The swing sets were those white painted "A" frame structures where I had carved multiple love notes to girls on. Before they removed those swing sets I went back to Lucy and sure enough those same carvings were still there.
I absolutely loved Lucy Elementary. It was an era when practically every mom was a room mother, the pledge of allegiance was said every morning, school pride actually meant something, and the community was just as active as the staff was in regards to the betterment of the establishment. Even today I am still proud to call myself a Lucy Eagle.
-Steve Childress
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