I've never done this before, but I'm ready to try. After graduation, I went to work for First American National Bank. I had good grades at GHS but didn't have a desire to go to college. I attended five high schools from Chicago to Mississippi, GHS twice. Daddy was a preacher and when he moved, the whole family moved. All I ever wanted to do was to marry and have a son and 2 1/2 years later, a daughter. You've heard the old saying "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it". That was true for me!

I had all but given up hope on my dream and was considering accepting a position as a programmer at National Life Ins. when I met my knight in shining armor. Ralph asked me several times a day when, not was, I going out with him. I did everything to discourage him but he had bet money he could get a date. He won his bet when I gave in and we went to the old Tennessee Theatre to see 'Waterhole Number Three' on November 7,1967. I thought that would end his pestering me…wrong! It was the just the beginning of our life together. We went to see the Harlem Globetrotters on November 14, 1967. No one knew we were planning a June wedding. My knight asked Dad for permission to marry me, and Daddy asked me if I loved him, then gave us his blessing. When Mother came into the room, crying, Daddy said 'I told you when he picked her up for their first date that she was going to marry him'. We started planning a June wedding. Then we moved the date to March. Everybody involved had a complaint about who was doing what. We got tired of it; rented a duplex on Sunday and told the family to be at Ralph's house on Friday night. His grandfather would perform the ceremony. I think that was the night the lights went out in Georgia. We married Jan.12, 1968. After a 3 day honeymoon in the city of Lebanon, TN, we came back to Nashville.

I went to work for the temp. services until I was expecting my first child. That started another round of betting about why we got married so soon. On Dec.27, 1968, we became the proud parents of a baby boy named Derek Sean. I had my 20th birthday on Dec.30 and our first anniversary was Jan.12, 1969. On June 10, 1971, we completed our family with a girl named Jennifer Rebecca. I was a stay-at-home Mother. Ralph worked as many as three jobs to support us. I wanted to stay at home and he wanted me to. I found out years later that he had been skipping meals so that we were all fed. That's the kind of man he is. Ralph worked 25 yr. for FANB before he was offered a position with IBM Global in MVS Mainframe Support.

We were transferred to Lexington, KY, and moved in January, 1996. We live in Versailles: the Heart of the Bluegrass, home to most of the thoroughbred horse farms. It is so beautiful here. The kids got an apartment in Nashville to continue working for FANB. Sean joined us in 1997 and works for Members Heritage Credit Union as a Customer Representative and is on the short list for branch manager. Becky stayed in Nashville and is a Personal Banker at Music Row branch of Amsouth. She married Ricky McIllwain in April 2001. Still no grandchildren, but I can claim a grand-dog. I declined the offer.

If my history seems boring and I take pride in my family's accomplishments it's because I am part of it all. My husband of soon to be 35th anniversary is also my best friend, confidant, rock to lean on as I am his. Our marriage certificate is not just another piece of paper. It is a reminder of our vows before God. Together we've been through the good and bad times, births, illness, the death of loved ones. Been there, done that and have the t-shirt.