Susan Harber, Daily News Journal, July 5, 2015
Judy Johns Rogers
My mother, Judith, was always a good writer, and I felt she could have made a career in this endeavor. While visiting her on a recent weekend, we filtered through some historical papers she had at hand. In the mix was an article she wrote for her high school newspaper, Smyrna Hi-Lite, at the age of 16.
Her English teacher, Jane Maxwell, was so impressed with her writing skills that she placed this chronicle on the front page of the Smyrna High paper. Today, I will share this article written 60 years prior on Dec. 5, 1952.
Judy, as her classmates and teachers knew her, was an early student of Old Jefferson School with a namesake of President Thomas Jefferson.This school truly formed the individual she is today. The H-shaped school housed students in grades 1-8 and was known for extraordinary instruction from gifted and devoted teachers.
The original community of Old Jefferson was laid out by pioneers Thomas Bedford and Robert Weakley in 1802. Within a century, Jefferson School was the center of community activity for pie suppers, cake walks, movies and elections.
The longstanding school was comprised of two grades within each individual room. Thus, first and second graders were bundled together in one room, as well as seventh and eighth graders.
Judy Johns Harber on a recent tour of Old Jefferson (April 8, 2017)
The younger grade would closely observe the higher grade and emulate success by attaining homework on an advanced level. Therefore, a student in a third grade class would often be honored with afourth grade assignment. The incentive to move forward was unending.
Discipline within Jefferson School was not shy. The need for a paddling was dispensed in a heartbeat. A child who committed a misdeed was reprimanded with a real persuasion to never repeat the crime.
The vast majority of valedictorians and salutatorians within Smyrna High began their educational journey at Jefferson School. Judy was a salutatorian and has continued her quest for knowledge the entirety of her life.
Many of the former students of Jefferson School are now retired, after serving decades in business and community service in Rutherford County with a purpose of making lives better.
Judy rode a bus from Lamar Road at 6:30 am and had one transfer. The students would have a stove running in Jefferson School to keep warm on these early mornings, and she would return home at 4:30 pm every day. With no television, Internet or cellphone as a standby, students were acclimated to school, church, hard work and occasional play.
Mom lived on Lamar Road in a two-story, white home on a sprawling farm that was taken by the Percy Priest Dam project. Her parents, Emily and Glendon, moved to Wilson County afterward and farmed near Vesta for several decades. Mom had a very content and happy childhood with many special memories.
My grandmother, an excellent seamstress, sewed every garment my mom wore to the age of 18. Emily and Glendon worked hard on their farm and provided a loving home. In this essay, you will see a reference to the Spring Creek Bridge that carried Judy’s family home each day.
This same bridge was destroyed when a large Army tank crossed the bridge in error. For weeks, the family was relocated to Judy’s grandmother Susie Randolph’s home on Old Jefferson Pike, while the government repaired the bridge.
In 1943, the Army sent soldiers to Smyrna for World War II maneuvers, and farms were utilized for the “Food for Freedom” program. Around 10 soldiers camped on the Johns’ front lawn and were a constant presence. They had ration buckets that were insufficient; and my grandmother, Emily Johns, fed them dinner after soldiers captured chickens from the coop by her home.
Having these soldiers near was an education and life experience for my mother. So many of her dreams came true through sheer will and determination to always take the right path. The below article is titled “A Picture” by Judy Johns.
“As I sit here in front of large windows framed with flowered curtains, I look out on a placid leafcovered world framed by the blue of the sky. The beautiful orange glowing sun gives this lovely picture light and strength. The multicolored trees give the picture color, and their swaying gives it music and movement.
Smoky, the cat, and Tip and Teddy, the dogs, lazily snoozing in the sun give our picture life and warmth. My daddy and several neighbors are out working on the red hay baler. This represents friendship, work, and the love that stimulates work.
I now hear the pop and crackle of the little bridge that is down by the mailbox. This one little bridge has carried so m any people over Spring Creek and has sung its merry way by our home and by our land before this house was built. This is an example of time, something that is always passing.
I often think of times before our modern world, times when there were no cars, airplanes, electricity; times when things were slow and simple. I would like to live for a little while in the past and see how our ancestors lived. I also wonder what the great men of yesterday such as Jefferson, Washington, Jackson and Edison would think of today. Would they think our efforts worthwhile or useless? I wish that I could know some of these great men and get some of these answers.
Mom is now coming up through the lot from the mailbox. The wind is blowing her hair, and she looks cold, but she represents encouragement, aid, faith and protection from such things as the cold and hurt.
Sue is sitting across from me getting her lessons and Randy by me looking at television, maybe thinking of tomorrow and the things that he c an do to make it great. My brother and sister represent companions hip and the future.
This picture will be etched on my mind always. This is the snapshot my mind takes of my family, my warm home and my happy surroundings. The strength and security of love and honor bless my life now. The positive threads of today will only make me stronger for a new tomorrow.”