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A LOVE OF MUSIC & “HER KIDS”

Marilyn Anita Mitchell was born March 25, 1932 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, Chester Mitchell, was a traveling salesman with the William R. Moore Dry Goods company. Her mother, Mary, was a church secretary until Marilyn was born and remained a homemaker, having two more children – a girl and a boy – until Marilyn and her siblings were out of school.

Marilyn graduated from Humes High School in 1950 – three years before Elvis. During that time, she worked at Goldsmith’s and did some local modeling downtown at places like the Tea Room and Gerber’s. She continued her education at Southwestern – now known as Rhodes College – where she studied English.

Marilyn admittedly “had a ball” while attending Southwestern. She was President of Kappa Delta sororiety, she was Homecoming Queen, she was on the Beauty Court for three years (an honor she chuckles at now) and she was even voted the April Fool’s Queen – no joke! But she also had her eye on a young man who went by the name, Red.

Milton Leroy “Red” Wray was born in Jackson, Mississippi on February 2, 1926. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II and became a pilot. After his time was served, he decided to go back to school. With the Millington Naval Base close by, he just happened to land in Memphis attending Southwestern.

Red was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and Marilyn had seen him on campus and at parties. He was six years older than she, but that didn’t stop Marilyn from holing up at the library when she knew he would be there. It was during a school basketball game where Red spotted her and asked if he could give her a ride home. Marilyn accepted and when he dropped her off, he asked her for a date. Once again, she said yes.

The two continued to date, even after Red went to get his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He traveled back and forth, they wrote letters and became engaged. He returned to Memphis just three days before their wedding on February 20, 1954. Marilyn graduated from Southwestern that same year.

March 1, 1954, Red started work at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company in accounting with tax day being March 15th at the time. The following fall, Marilyn took her first job as a sixth grade teacher at Sherwood Elementary, shaping the minds of 39 students in her classroom. She had no idea that teaching was to become her passion. She remained two years and transferred to Presbyterian Day School for the next five. She got pregnant in 1960 when she decided to get her Masters in Education at Memphis State. Red had begun working on his CPA license.

In 1961, William Andrew Wray was born and Marilyn received her Masters. She became a stay at home mom and two-and-a-half years later came daughter, Lynda. The twelve years Marilyn took care of the children, she also taught Bible school, was a member of her church choir (which she did for 70 years), was the President of Maternal Welfare, was a member of Les Passees and was a charter member of Subsidian.

In 1973, the kids were older and Marilyn went back to teaching fifth grade, this time at ECS (Evangelical Christian School). The next year, she was asked to take the position of Principal of Elementary, to which she gladly accepted. She remained as such for 30 more years.

The family was very involved at Second Presbyterian Church, the kids played tennis, Red left the accounting firm to teach at University of Memphis, William and Lynda became valedictorian of their respective classes ’79 and ’82, and Red eventually opened his own firm. When he was asked his occupation, his reply was “I work for Marilyn and the kids”. He partially retired in 2000.

Marilyn retired in 2004 and was given a 2003 sage green Mercury Sable and a rocking chair from ECS. She drove the car for 12 years and still has the chair. In 2009, Marilyn moved to Kirby Pines. The Wrays had known Jimmy Latimer, Charlie Trammell and Rudy Herzke through church and family attending ECS, so they were already familiar with the community. Red passed away in August of 2016 after 62 years of marriage.

Marilyn still loves living at Kirby. She has been on the Advisory Board, was President of the Resident Association for two years, volunteers for numerous activities, is now president of the Ham-ateur Club and even works in the Blossom Shop. She has made many great friends over the years and is always taken aback when she drives in and through the beautiful Kirby campus.

Marilyn is simply a pleasure to be around. Her favorite verse from the Bible sums up her life beautifully; 3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

A Man With A Mission

The telephone rings at 8:30 pm. It is someone in need of prayer and comfort. Larry McKenzie redresses and goes to the hospital. This is the kind of day it has been for Larry since arising at 6:00 that morning. His calendar for each day, he says, “comes from God”. On arising each morning, Larry quotes scripture from Psalms: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”. He then asks God, “Lord what would you have me do today?” His answer comes from phone calls, emails and conversations with others.

Anyone acquainted with Larry McKenzie recognizes that he is a godly and humble man who lives to serve others. At a service honoring Larry on his 35th anniversary at Highland Street Church of Christ, it was acknowledged that Larry’s work “covered a larger spectrum than most in his position-from being the resident expert on every piece of equipment in their building, and also one who knows exactly how to word a prayer in a hospital room, or say the right thing at a funeral. He counsels with troubled individuals, teaches searchers about the Gospel, visits those with special needs and additionally supervises staff and custodial personnel”.

Recently, the leadership and congregants of Highland Church of Christ honored Larry for his fifty(50) years of association with them. What an unusual feat! He has not kept records but estimates that he has conducted at least 400 funerals, many weddings and hundreds of counseling sessions for members of his church thus far. He said he thought preaching a funeral would get easier as he got older, but he says “that is not the case. It has gotten more difficult. You try to make each service special to honor the person”.

Since moving to Kirby Pines in December of 2014, Larry has endeared himself to the residents. His warm smile radiates from a happy, positive countenance that invites friendship. His reason for moving to Kirby Pines is because of the health guarantee. “I do not want to be a burden to any of my family”. A frequent comment one hears from other residents living at Kirby Pines! “Not having to cook and wash dishes” are what he likes best about living here.

In addition to his usual work schedule, Larry is now serving as President of the Resident’s Association at Kirby Pines. He says that the responsibilities of that job are more challenging than he had anticipated. His goal as President is to be a communication conduit to the residents and to help every new resident of Kirby Pines feel welcomed and become involved in some of the activities at Kirby Pines. He visits local hospitals most days to pray with those members of his church and residents of Kirby Pines who are hospitalized.

Larry’s story has a beginning. He was born on June 23, 1933, in Van Zandt County, Texas. He was the middle child, having 2 older brothers, then twin sisters born 22 months afterward.

From childhood, Larry said all he ever wanted to be was a farmer and a preacher. He actually began his “preacher life” early. At age 5 he baptized his 2 younger sisters in ditch water. They were covered in mud and with “hair all stringy” when they got home. One can only imagine how his mother responded.

To paraphrase a familiar saying “you can take the boy out of Texas but you can’t take Texas out of the boy”. This is pretty obvious when you see Larry in his cowboy boots (he says they are “Sunday attire”) and his occasional visits to Texas. Larry lived his entire life in Van until entering Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas in 1951. He met his future wife, Nelda Joe there. He graduated in January 1956 and they were married May 19, 1956.

After graduation, Larry took his first position as pulpit minister at a church in Omak, Washington, making $300 a month. There he got his wish to be a farmer. He worked in an apple orchard to supplement his income and participated in all work necessary for a successful apple business. However, Larry stopped work when temperatures reached 20 degrees!

His oldest daughter, Patricia, was born in Omak, but the family moved to Spokane, Washington, for another pulpit position when she was 2 weeks old. From Spokane, the family moved back to Abilene, Texas, for Larry to attend graduate school at Abilene Christian College. While attending school, he was also on the staff of College Church of Christ and made his first missionary trip to Perth, Australia. His second daughter, Robin was born in Abilene.

Then, in January 1969, Larry moved his family to Memphis where he began his ministry at Highland Street Church of Christ. Throughout his ministry, Larry has made numerous missionary journeys. He says he has had the privilege of visiting 32 countries and all but 5 states in the U.S. His missions have included 10 trips to Papua, New Guinea and 10 to Ukraine, to name only a few. He was part of Mission/1000 at Highland church for 19 sessions, teaching a seminar on prayer. He intends to continue missionary work as long as possible.

In addition to his 2 daughters, Patricia and Robin, Larry has an older brother and one sister still living. He has 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. His wife Nelda Joe passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s in 2010.

Certainly, Larry has a strong spiritual and serious side, but he also has a definite sense of humor. He is known by his friends for “the Larry McKenzie’isms”, such as “it ain’t braggin’ if you done it’. When asked how he would like to be remembered, Larry responded immediately, “that I was a blessing to someone when no one else could be”. He also acknowledges the support and mentoring he has received in all the places he has been employed, especially at Highland Church of Christ. “without this and the love from members of the congregation, I would not be where or who I am today”.

Our good fortune as residents of Kirby Pines is that Larry McKenzie chose to live among us. Let us fold our arms around him, as he is doing for us and pray for his continued service and a STRONG FINISH!

Written by resident, Joan Dodson