The Traffic Lady
When Karen Brown, Lewisville's Traffic Control Officer, tells you to stop, you better stop!
Go Play in the Traffic
When Karen Brown was a little girl, her mother would lovingly coax her out of the house by saying: “Karen, go out and play in the traffic!” And you might say her mom’s humorous directive turned out to be prophetic.
You see, Karen has been “playing in the traffic” for 10 years now as a Traffic Control Officer for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department. Karen works part-time, in the mornings and afternoons, directing traffic at both Lewisville Elementary School and West Forsyth High School.
CLICK for more evidence of Karen Brown’s outstanding work as Lewisville’s Traffic Lady
A Gardener’s Delight
Robin McBride of Lewisville, North Carolina loves tending her beautiful garden.
Enthusiasm, Joy, Wonder
There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.
— Mirabel Osler
Robin McBride seems to find delight all around her — but most especially in her garden. There, she’s enraptured by the smallest of details involving the variety of flowers and plants growing under her watchful care.
I first met Robin when I photographed the Crochet Club at the Lewisville Library last fall. Robin is the instructor for that class, which meets every second Wednesday of the month at 4:00 PM. As enthusiastic as Robin is about crochet, she’s even more passionate about gardening.
The Secret Garden?
Last Saturday I found myself at Robin’s house on Reynolds Road in Lewisville, taking in the scope of her gradually expanding garden.
It’s possible that you’ve driven down Reynolds Road quite unaware of the existence of this little bit of botanical splendor. Currently, while most of Robin’s gardening handiwork is not yet visible from the road, she’s implementing a plan to adorn the front yard nearest to the road.
CLICK for more on Robin and her garden
Speaking of Hard Times
James E. Munden, Sr. shared about growing up during the Great Depression in a program co-sponsored by the Lewisville Library and the Friends of the Lewisville Library.
An Oral History of the Great Depression
On Tuesday, March 17, 2009 the Lewisville Library and the Friends of the Lewisville Library presented the third in a series of four programs about the Great Depression. This particular program focused on the Oral History of the Great Depression, with several individuals sharing their memories.
The keynote speaker was James E. “Jim” Munden, Sr., who has written a book titled The Spring of ’31: A Kid’s View of the Great Depression. The book describes growing up on his family’s tobacco farm near Smithfield, NC during the Great Depression, as well as about his years in the Navy.
Jim’s wife, Jane, attended the program with him, also sharing in an easy-going manner about her own experiences during the Great Depression.
If you’re interested in Jim’s book, here’s a link to The Spring of ’31 on Amazon.com. Jim also has a website for his book at TheSpringof31.com.
I recorded the program and have placed the audio recording of each individual within their respective sections below. First up is the audio of Jim Munden’s presentation. CLICK the link below to hear Jim’s childhood memories of the Great Depression.
James E. Munden, Sr.’s Recorded Memories of the Great Depression (MP3, 10 MIN.)
To see MORE PHOTOS of others who shared about the Great Depression, and to hear their RECORDED MEMORIES, please continue to the NEXT SECTION. CLICK for more on the Oral History of the Great Depression
Miss Nicie — 100 Years and Counting
Miss Nicie Lambeth is shown here being greeted by one of many who turned out at Bethlehem AME Zion Church to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Celebration
Miss Nicie Lambeth is 100 years old — and her friends won’t let her forget it! Eager to show their love and appreciation, they gave her a grand Celebration/Roast this past Sunday, February 22, at Bethlehem AME Zion Church in Lewisville.
The church was filled with friends, church members, former church members and pastors who came to pay tribute to “Miss Nicie,” as they affectionately call her. They expressed their love in song, poem, recollections, Scripture and prayer. They praised her, thanked her, and laughed with her at some of their fondest memories of her.
Following the Celebration/Roast, Miss Nicie was treated to a warm reception in the Fellowship Hall.
Proclamation
Earlier, on February 12, the Town of Lewisville proclaimed the “Miss Nicie Ophelia Lambeth Day” and presented Miss Nicie with a plaque describing the proclamation:
Whereas: The Town of Lewisville wishes to recognize its senior citizens and the important role they serve in our society; and
Whereas: Miss Lambeth was born on February 18, 1909 in Pfafftown and has been a lifelong resident of the area; and
Whereas: Longevity of life is a blessing for an individual and for a community which benefits from the knowledge, creativity, and experiences this individual brings to all; and
Whereas: During a long, productive lifetime, Miss Lambeth has demonstrated her dedication to the welfare of others in countless ways and has earned the respect and affection of people from all walks of life and all ages; and
Whereas: Miss Lambeth has lived during the most eventful century of this world’s history;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Dan R. Pugh, Mayor of the Town of Lewisville, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim February 18, 2009, as Miss Nicie Ophelia Lambeth Day in the Town of Lewisville to recognize and acknowledge the one hundredth birthday of Miss Nicie O. Lambeth on the day of this occasion.
Miss Nicie, we wish you many more years, as fruitful as your first 100!
More Photos
To see more photos of Miss Nicie’s Celebration/Roast and Reception, please visit the Nicie Lambeth Celebration photo gallery.
NOTE: The 2/19/09 edition of the Winston-Salem Journal featured an article, titled 100th Birthday, by Lisa O’Donnell, describing various stages of Miss Nicie’s rich life. Be sure to check out that article, as well as an accompanying audio recording in which you can hear Miss Nicie recite from memory a portion of Longfellow’s A Psalm of Life.
UPDATE ON 11/4/09: Miss Nicie Lambeth passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2009. Loved ones spoke highly of her kind heart and her love for the Lord. The Winston-Salem Journal published a 10/29/09 article on Miss Nicie’s passing titled Vienna loses beloved historian.
