The Pinecone

KIRBY PINES FABULOUS FOUR 

Thirty-eight years ago, the doors of Kirby Pines were opened to its first residents. Since then, thousands have made their home here. Four residents have agreed to share their experiences of living at Kirby Pines: 

BETTY PHILLIPS – Betty is the youngest of the group at age eighty-seven. Yet, she has lived here the longest – twenty-five years! Betty says that an offer for a free lunch resulted in her move to Kirby Pines on March 21, 1997, along with her husband John. 

After moving to Kirby Pines, Betty was a Wing Leader for five years. She soon became known for her baked “goodies”, especially peanut brittle. Caring for her husband John became a full time job until he passed away in 2016. She continues to frequently serve as a representative at the “Lighting of the Lake” ceremony. 

According to Betty, Kirby Pines was quite different when she and John moved in. Structurally, she remembers when the second floor of the main building was completed. She was the first person to descend the beautiful winding staircase that adorns the lobby. A picture of the event remains on the “King and Queen’s” table. According to Betty, “everything has continued to grow and improve to make this a better and more beautiful place to live”.
Today, Betty is thankful for her daughter, Sandy, and the employees of Caring In Place and Environmental Services for helping her remain in her apartment. “Kirby Pines is my home” states Betty, “and the people here are like my family”.

KEN LEWIS – According to Ken, “In 2007, as I was leaving my house, I noticed the grass had gotten tall, the weeds were having a holiday, and, the leaves had made my gutters their permanent home”. Ken realized he needed to get away from all these responsibilities. After researching a place to live, he decided that Kirby Pines was THE MOST. He moved in March 2008. 

Since moving to Kirby Pines, Ken has been “a cog in the wheel that keeps everything turning”. Perhaps, he is best known for the many times he has been “married” since moving to Kirby Pines. Being active in our Ham’ateur Club, Ken has been the groom in three mock weddings. When asked if he would like to marry again, his answer was “I don’t think so. They can’t find a woman who wants to marry a 99 year-old man!” 

Seriously, Ken has served us well in his thirteen years at Kirby Pines. He has been a member of the Advisory Committee, President of the Resident’s Association, and, was elected as King for one year. Line dancing, golfing and many activities are no longer possible. He currently attends the Men’s Christian Fellowship and keeps us all smiling with his wonderful sense of humor. 

LENORA VINER SMITH – Twenty-two years ago, at age seventy-two, Lenora made the decision to move to Kirby Pines to relieve her family of decisions later on. Always one who loved working in the soil, and moving from a home that had won many “Yard of the Month” awards, Lenora brought her gardening talents to help the beautiful sixty acres at Kirby Pines. On good weather days, one can find Lenora on her knees “playing” in her yard. “This is my therapy”, says Lenora. “I smile”, she recalls, “remembering the many times I have been on the ground pulling weeds and people driving by have rushed to help me, thinking I had fallen”. Recently, she was in the yard when the sprinklers came on. “They completely drenched me before I could get in the house. I now know the sprinkler schedule”! 

With only a small piece of land to care for, Lenora volunteered many hours and participated in many activities such as Line Dancing, Marketing events, the Blossom Shop and as a greeter for entertainment venues in the PAC. She was Queen for one year. She utilizes the Oasis and walks daily. 

Lenora’s proudest moments are when her great-grandsons and great-granddaughter come to Kirby Pines to perform on piano, cello and violin. The great-grandson has been performing here on piano since he was FOUR years old! He is now winning all kinds of awards. 

Lenora believes that living in a congregate environment leads to a more productive and longer life. “We are stimulated, supported, entertained and well-fed!” 

JIM STAFFORD – In his early life, Jim made four goals: go to college; own a business; have a family of his own, and, one day retire to a community with a larger family. Having accomplished all of these, Jim smiles and says, “Look where I am now!” 

Jim’s business, Memphis Wire and Iron Works, kept him working until a year ago. At age 93, Jim decided to finally retire. Work did not prevent Jim from participating in many activities for the twenty-two years he has lived at Kirby Pines. Line Dancing and ballroom dancing were his favorite things to do but he also volunteered for many activities. He has been a Wing Leader, President of the Resident’s Association and is currently serving as Chairman of the Advisory Committee, an assignment he has had for the past eight years. “I have really enjoyed everything I’ve done”. 

Jim and his wife, Arweda “Weda” moved to Kirby Pines in 1999. Sadly, “Weda” passed away in 2008. Two years later, Jim married Irma, a widow he had known for some time. Irma passed away in 2013. He says he is frequently asked why he doesn’t get married again. “I tell them no”, says Jim, “I don’t want to give up one of my closets!” I have many good friends here at Kirby and I hope the good Lord lets me stay around a little longer. It’s a great place to live.” 

Wrtten by Joan Dodson, Resident, Kirby Pines

Acting Up and Staying Busy

In “As You Like It”, Shakespeare declares that “the world is a stage”. His various “stages” of life could also be interpreted as occurring in ACT I, II, & III. While most of Diane Mullins’ life revolved around family and community, her entry into the acting world was unique, interesting and fascinating. It seems appropriate to view her life in those terms. She shares her story:

ACT I: Dorothy Diane DeWess entered the first stage of her life in Chicago, Illinois on September 3, 1932. Due to her father’s work, the family lived in several cities but eventually moved to Memphis where they remained. She had a happy childhood but always felt in the shadow of her older brother, David. “He was very popular while I was a wallflower”, says Diane. When she was six years old, she survived a freak accident after falling one and one-half stories down an elevator shaft. She fortunately was dressed in a rabbit fur coat, muff and tam, so that her fall was not fatal due to being wrapped in a “pillow of fur”. However, she did sustain a broken wrist and a concussion. Diane attended Memphis public schools and while attending Messick High School, met her future husband, Billy (Curly) Mullins. They married in 1951, a year following graduation.

ACT II: Diane’s husband Billy served in the Army during the Korean War. During this time, Diane worked in secretarial jobs. On Billy’s return from the Army, he began work in insurance, eventually starting his own business, A-Z Insurance Agency. Diane and Billy had three boys, Tim, Pat, and Mike (deceased). Diane became “Girl Friday” to her husband’s business. Billy was so successful that he was awarded thirty-five vacation trips. These included many U.S. cities and three trips to Hawaii and England. The Mullins were active in Colonial Baptist Church before transferring to Ridgeway Baptist.

The acting bug struck by accident. Although Diane had done some acting in high school, she never considered this as an option in her life. However, a friend encouraged her to try out for a part in a Christmas play at Germantown Community Theatre. She got the part and the “acting bug bit”, says Diane. From theatre, she saw an opportunity in the independent film industry and performed in many independent movies. These are movies usually only fifteen to twenty minutes in length, are entered into a film festival and, never seen by the public. She hired an agent and was able to make commercials for businesses and products, including: Accent Jewelry, Fed Ex, Kroger, Arkansas Lottery and one for Doritos which was entered in the Superbowl commercial contest. She has been an extra in all of the Memphis made movies, including: The Firm, The Client, Blueberry Nights, and Nothing But The Truth. 

During this time, another form of acting was providing one of the most unique and fulfilling roles for Diane. She was hired to be a “standardized patient” for all of the Medical Units of University of Tennessee. In this role she was given a script to memorize and perform as a “sick” patient for the students to analyze and diagnose. A big part of the evaluation was determining the bedside manner and appropriate reactions of the students. One example was of a hysterical woman who had to cry for one and one-half minutes. Faculty watched on camera and Diane had the opportunity to evaluate as well. “What fun it was acting ‘sick’ for the students. I really felt like I was contributing in a worthwhile way”, says Diane. 

In the late 70’s or early 80’s, Diane began singing with The Sweet Adelines, a barbershop harmony singing group for women. They performed in many venues including contests. 

ACT III: The singing with The Sweet Adelines continued for twenty-five years. The acting for U.T. students ended in 2016. However, acting continues. According to Diane, “I am really enjoying my acting career and there must not be too many ‘old white-haired ladies’ that are in the acting business. I get called often when an old gal is needed. I am ready to go and the ham in me loves it!” In fact, she has just finished a role in an independent film called “Dear Lady Joan”. 

Sadly, in 2019, Billy passed away following a two-year illness. Diane made the decision to move to Kirby Pines in 2020. Her two sons, and all but two of her six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren live nearby. “My family means everything to me and I’m so grateful that they are near me”, says Diane. Diane also likes going out to lunch or dinner with old friends, playing bridge, reading and just socializing with people. “Although I have only been at Kirby Pines a short time, I have made so many new friends and I am enjoying all the activities and programs offered. I feel very blessed and very much at home here”, says Diane. 

Fortunately good health allows Diane to continue many activities. Her story reminds us that productivity, happiness and a satisfying life does not necessarily occur in one particular stage of life. The ability to have a satisfying last “scene” in our life depends on being willing to remain open to others and taking advantage of the opportunities that are available to be productive and serve others. 

Wrtten by Joan Dodson, Resident, Kirby Pines