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Accentuating the Positive

In the realm of relationships, a positive attitude is a desirable attribute for anyone, especially for someone in the teaching profession. In 1986, Peggy Reynolds’ principal nominated her for the Rotary Club’s Award for Teacher Excellence. Using the words of a famous song, he wrote: “Accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative and doing it with enthusiasm could be Mrs. Reynolds’ most personal quality”. Peggy received this award as well as others in her thirty-five years as a teacher in Memphis City Schools. 

Peggy Perkins was born August 3, 1937 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Memphis. Her father owned Memphis Auto Parts and her mother was a homemaker. Peggy was the third of five children, four of whom were girls. They were always known as “the Perkins Girls”, according to Peggy. Church and school activities along with music lessons and many family gatherings are among Peggy’s fond memories of her childhood. 

Peggy attended public schools, graduating from Humes High School in 1955. She continued her education at Memphis State University where she earned a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Special Education with a minor in Journalism. While there, Peggy pledged Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and was active in the Baptist Student Union. The BSU chose Peggy to be a missionary in California during the summer of 1957. 

Well, it is said that opposites attract! Such was the case of the outgoing and friendly Peggy. While out with a group of friends, she met a very shy gentleman, Joe Reynolds. As Peggy states, “it was an immediate, opposite attraction”. After dating for a year, they married on Thanksgiving Day, 1958. Together, Peggy and Joe had four children, three sons and one daughter. There are now ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Sadly, Joe passed away in 1992. 

Peggy’s teaching career began in 1958. Although married and with a growing family, Peggy was able to continue teaching and pursue a successful professional career. Peggy says that it was possible because her family worked as a team, each person having responsibility for assigned tasks. 

In 1973, Peggy was elected Vice-President of the Memphis Education Association and served as President during the 1976-77 school year. Peggy states, “While serving as a professional educator and not a ‘union leader’, I advocated for the improvement of teaching conditions which were the children’s learning conditions”. She further adds, “When I taught, I individualized my instruction to the students’ needs”. This incorporated using teacher made materials, learning centers, and the media. Peggy was recognized for teaching reading using the newspaper. Because of her novel interventions in teaching, Peggy was requested to conduct many reading workshops. This prompted the writing of a book, “Here’s Something for Johnny to Read and Do”. In 1992, Peggy was awarded “Teacher of the Year” by the American Newspaper Publication Association. 

In 1994, Peggy retired from teaching in the Memphis City Schools. She didn’t stay retired long as she expanded her professional career to managing the grant program for teachers offered by the Memphis Rotary Club. After a year, she took a position with Johnson Auxiliary, coordinating volunteers for The City of Memphis Hospital. 

Given the opportunity to work with special students, Peggy was once again lured into a teaching position at Olive Branch High School. For eight more years, Peggy was inspired to introduce her innovative approach in teaching life skill classes. She introduced horseback riding, encouraged Special Olympics participation and had a “Spring Fling” for the students. 

In 2008, the teaching at Olive Branch ended and another chapter in Peggy’s life was about to begin. While continuing to be requested for workshops, Peggy was conducting reading workshops at Mississippi State University. There she made many friends and one in particular kept insisting she meet her cousin from Texas. With Peggy’s permission, the cousin, Charlie Gatlin, started calling. After a trip to an NCAA basketball tournament in San Antonio, Peggy agreed to meet Charlie at the Cracker Barrel in Fort Worth on her way home. 

According to Peggy, “The Cracker Barrel rendezvous went well and we made plans for Charlie to come to Memphis. He came to Memphis, we got acquainted and he met my family. After a whirlwind courtship over the next couple of months, Charlie proposed and I said ‘yes’! Charlie said at our age, we didn’t need to wait too long”. 

On August 6, 2008, Charlie and Peggy were married with Dr. Jimmy Latimer officiating. According to Peggy this new chapter in her life would “take a lifelong Memphian to a Texas ranch and to raising miniature horses. We ‘honeymooned’ for 38 days, RVing to California, took a 15-day cruise to Hawaii and then RV’d across the USA to our home. Our Texas life continued for eight years with NASCAR races, motorcycle rallies, winters in Port Aransas, many family reunions and always looking for a new adventure. We loved our Springtown, Texas home.” 

Eventually, it came time to downsize. As a member of Central Church in the 80’s, Peggy had heard about Kirby Pines. Little did she dream that she would someday be living here. In 2016, Peggy and Charles moved to a Garden Home at Kirby Pines. Sadly, Charlie passed away in August of 2020. Peggy has endeared herself at Kirby for writing the wonderful biographical sketches of new residents for the Pinecone. According to Peggy, “I’m looking forward to the new normal after COVID-19 is over”. Think POSITIVELY, Peggy! 

Written by Joan Dodson, Resident, Kirby Pines

Man with a Vision

Early in life, Dr. Warner Dickerson envisioned a “ladder” that would take him out of poverty to a level of comfort and fulfillment. From the life of a sharecropper to one that incorporated becoming a community leader and a top executive in the state of Tennessee, Warner Dickerson overcame many obstacles to achieve that goal.

Born in rural Haywood County, Tennessee in 1937, Warner Dickerson grew up in a family of sharecroppers. When he was just a toddler, he followed his mother into the cotton field, pulling the lowest cotton bolls and putting them in his mother’s sack. As he aged, he was given a pillowcase of his own to fill. Warner was the last of six children; the older five were girls. According to Warner, his sisters begged for a brother and when he came along, they smothered him with love. In fact, they were so overprotective that it interfered with him doing the things most boys want to do, like playing football.

When Warner was nine years old, the family moved to Memphis and the economic status of the family improved greatly when his father found employment helping to build railroads. Warner was able to attend better schools and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1956. He took vocational courses there and specialized in automotive mechanics. When he decided to enter Tennessee State University in Nashville, he declared his major in Mechanical Engineering. Much to his surprise, that major had nothing to do with automobiles! Eventually, he declared a different major and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1961.

While living in Nashville, Warner met his future wife, Arcola Leavell, on a blind date. According to Warner, “Initially, Arcola had absolutely no romantic interest in me. I couldn’t understand this, since I thought I was ‘the cat’s meow’! Then, in trying to figure out why she wasn’t interested in me, I discovered that she had the character and qualities I wanted to be with for the rest of my life”. Warner evidently found the way to win her heart and they were married in 1960.

Warner made the decision to teach in schools. Education became the “ladder” to achieve his goals. He says that the philosophy of Marian Edelman on education mirrors his own. That is, “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” He and Arcola moved to Memphis eventually, and while teaching, both continued their education. Arcola completed requirements for a B.S. in Home Economics and Warner earned a M.S. degree in Mathematics from University of Memphis in 1967 and an Ed.D from University of Sarasota, Florida in 1979.

Warner began his career teaching mathematics at Carver High School, then moving to LeMoyne College, and then to State Technical Institute of Memphis, eventually becoming Vice-President. While there, he developed several programs which were applied to prison reform. These programs attracted the interest of other states and countries. The Governor of Tennessee, Lamar Alexander, recognized the talent and experience of Warner and appointed him as Tennessee State Commissioner for Vocational Education. He remained in that position for four and one-half years, traveling the state and being responsible for one-fourth of the state budget. Once his political life was over, Warner and his family moved back to Oakland, Tennessee and he became Superintendent of Schools for Fayette County. He retired in 1990 and he and Arcola moved to Olive Branch, MS.

Warner’s professional career and family obligations were all encompassing, and he and Arcola had a son and a daughter to rear. Yet, Warner found time to become a community activist and volunteered many hours in helping to improve his community. His past political life and frequent speaking engagements gave him the opportunity to mingle with the power structure of Tennessee and Memphis. Also, as an active member of Greenwood CME Church, Warner became a Bible teacher and eventually Director of Education.

During their lives, Warner and Arcola had time and resources to travel. They have visited Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Jamaica, Bermuda, Canada, France, Puerto Rico and many other places. Warner developed a hobby of collecting rocks and driftwood. His love of motors was manifested in riding a motorcycle every day until he could no longer leave Arcola, who had begun to show signs of dementia. This was the determining factor for them to move to Kirby Pines in September, 2019. Arcola moved to Job’s Way and until the pandemic of COVID-19, Warner visited her twice a day. He says that the most difficult thing he has ever experienced, tapping on his heart, is the situation that now exists where he has had no personal contact with Arcola for a year. He is only able to see her on face-time and through a glass door.

Warner says, “I am pleased with the comprehensive nature of Kirby Pines in the matter of health care, safety, culture and family style”. He is involved with the men’s Bible and Alzheimer’s Groups and loves to read. He remains close with his son and daughter. “They have been a tremendous support system for me”, adds Warner.

Warner Dickerson’s persona reflects a gentle, soft-spoken and professional gentleman. When you hear the story of his life, one realizes the impact h has had on others. A true model of ambition and overcoming much adversity, Dr. Warner Dickerson will leave a legacy to those who follow. What a great addition he is to the Kirby family!

Written by Joan Dodson, Resident, Kirby Pines