In Memoriam - Mrs. Virginia Harvell

Virginia Ross Harvell 1933-2023

It has been quite some time since I have posted on this Millington Stories blog, actually since the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in truth I have not felt like writing or posting anything since.

 

However, Millington recently lost one of the doyennes of our community - Mrs. Virginia Harvell. She and her husband George Jr., have been longtime friends of my family, and they have shown me nothing but support, encouragement, caring and kindness...always. 

Some may remember Mrs. Harvell as the secretary at Millington Central High School for many years, or as the wife of longtime Millington Mayor George Harvell, or as a member of the Shelby County School Board representing Millington...but I knew her mostly as a wonderful and cherished role model, advisor and most of all, a loving and beautiful friend. 

Although the Harvell family has loomed large as stalwarts of the Millington community, they also are a very private family and have chosen to have a private family memorial service for Mrs. Harvell. However, a few members of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Millington recently gathered to share memories, celebrate and toast their friend Virginia and what she meant to them, and I was privileged to be invited to be a part of this group.

What follows is an interview printed several years ago in the St. Anne's Episcopal Church newsletter written by my good friend, colleague in journalism and partner in all things related to fundraising for causes we believe in, Kini Kedigh Plumlee. It has been slightly updated to serve as a memorial for a woman we, and many in our community loved, respected and cared for very much. It was Virginia's idea that Kini and I should meet, and as usual, she was not wrong, as we have been great friends since that first meeting nearly a decade ago, now. Reprinted here with Kini's permission...

In Memoriam

Born at Methodist Hospital on February 8, 1933, at the height of the Depression, Marie Virginia Ross Harvell grew up and lived in Midtown Memphis in a big house on South Parkway East, with a big yard in a lovely neighborhood, when “everybody knew everybody.” 

Virginia had an older brother, John, and an older sister, Betsy. They were raised in the Catholic Church. Her father died of a heart attack when she was 5-years old, and her mother raised the children on her own. 

“We had a wonderful childhood, and my mother gave us everything,” Virginia recalled in a 2018 interview for the church newsletter. “We took lessons: piano, dance, ballroom, English horseback riding, sewing and knitting. But none of it took with me!”

After graduating high school from St. Agnes Academy in 1950 (she was elected to the school’s Hall of Fame in 2004), Virginia started college at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, where she went for “fun.” 

“Women could only aspire to be nurses, secretaries, or hair stylists,” she noted in that interview. “Medicine and those professions were not open to women and I had no ambition other than to have a good time!”

In college, Virginia studied home economics, liberal arts and business education. Of the group of 12 girl friends who started college together, only two graduated. “The rest of us found husbands or became an airline stewardess. That was a golden job then,” she said in 2018.

Virginia met George at UT when she was a freshman and he was a junior. Although she was dating his fraternity brother, it wasn’t long before she was having more fun with George, and then they began dating. After George graduated, he was drafted into the Army where he served during the Korean War. They married in 1954, and 9 months and 3 weeks later, they had their first son, George III. A second son, John Ross, followed in 1959.  

Following his 20 months of military service, the Harvell’s moved to Millington in 1958, and George opened a Goodyear store on Highway 51. When the boys were little, Virginia was a Cub Scout Den Mother and always noted that both her sons and her husband were Eagle Scouts. 

Virginia began attending St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in 1964. During the Vietnam War, she volunteered for the Red Cross visiting injured soldiers at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Millington. That same year, George campaigned for Mayor of Millington, and with Virginia’s support, he won the election and served the citizens of Millington as City Mayor for the next 20 years.

Virginia began working as a substitute teacher at Millington Elementary School and then the high school in the early 1970’s, and found she really enjoyed it. When they asked her to be the high school secretary, she couldn’t even type! Her interest in education led her to serve on the original Shelby County School Board for two terms. In recalling that time, she said, “I felt like they treated Millington as second class citizens and I spoke to those issues. In retrospect, it didn’t make any difference. But, we did get a new school.”

Virginia saw many changes at St. Anne’s in her 50+ years of attending the church. She served in many capacities – several terms on the Vestry, Chair of the Alter Guild, past president of the ECW, setting up and working many Attic Treasures and plant sales, and serving hundreds of BBQ dinners. When the Episcopal congregation from the Navy base meshed with St. Anne’s, many military families helped grow the church membership and bring stability, and Virginia was always a welcoming figure for all newcomers to the church. She never slowed down, even after a fall which resulted in a broken pelvis and tailbone, in 2018. Virginia was steadfast and always kept the church on its toes. 

A strong and independent woman, direct yet gentle in her gracious Southern style, she epitomized the definition of Steel Magnolia. She was kindhearted, considerate, caring, empathetic, frank, honest, bold, straightforward, and stylish - a true doyenne of Millington. She was a decades-long member of the Millington Book Club. Her favorite color was red. Her favorite book was “To Kill a Mocking Bird.” She was voted “Outstanding Spouse of the Year” by the Tennessee Municipal League. And she was a strong supporter of all women, encouraging younger girls in their education and career pursuits. 

When she was asked in 2018 to share some words of wisdom, this is what she said: “Don’t ever give your opinion because nobody really cares what you think. Don’t impose your values on others. Everyone you meet knows something you don’t know. I’ve had a good life and a lot of fun, and I hope I’ve contributed something.”

Virginia passed away peacefully at home on July 13, 2023. Along with her husband George Harvell, Jr., Virginia leaves her two sons George III and John, six grandchildren and, as of 2018, nine great-grandchildren. 

A private memorial service will be held later for the family. The family has requested that any memorials be sent to a charity of the donor’s choice.       

 

The Millington Book Chat Club: A Legacy of a Love of Books & Learning

The Millington Book Chat Club
These women are all very accomplished in a wide range of fields including healthcare, real estate, banking and much more, but primarily in education. If you went to school in Millington, then this has been your teacher's book club, your librarian's book club and your school board member's book club. You may recognize a few of them.

It has been a while since I have been able to post on this blog as my laptop has been in the shop, a sad and somewhat problematic situation for someone who writes for a living, but the good news is, it's all fixed now. If you find yourself with a computer on the fritz, check out Sandstorm IT in Atoka at (901) 475-0275 and local tech gurus Josh Yarbrough and Robert Cleveland, who are very nice and extremely knowledgeable when it comes to all things computer-related.

The Millington Book Chat Club

As a lover of books, I have always wanted to be in a book club, and even thought about starting one of my own, but wasn't sure how or where to begin. A few years ago I was approached by my favorite high school English teacher, Beverly Burk, who asked if I would be interested in joining the Millington Book Chat Club. I was thrilled! A short time later I received an official handwritten invitation by mail. At the time, I didn't know that this book club has had a very long and established history in Millington, dating back to the late 1920s.

The founders of the Millington Book Chat Club were teachers at the local high school, beginning with Ruth Aycock, who invited a few teachers from the school to her home for the purpose of starting a study group, with the charter members composed of teachers and the wives of faculty members. Born out of the Great Depression, the members selected modern fiction for their study as there was no public library in Millington. Each member purchased a book, which was circulated throughout the club during the year, then returned to the original owner. Today, the club has 24 members and this practice still exists (a book club structure unique to this area, as I can find no other examples of a book club that does this,) offering a variety of books based on the tastes of members to read throughout the year, with the only stipulation being that the books chosen for the year, in October, must bear that year's copyright. Among this year's selections include: "A Woman of No Importance," "The Dutch House," and "Furious Hours."

The tradition of circulating books each month had its first serious mishap in its long history last year, when one of the books was left on the hood of a member's car as she drove away. Fortunately, it was retrieved and returned to her, only slightly damaged after being run over by another vehicle.

During the book club's first year in 1928, various members presented programs on current events or book reviews, and guest speakers also were invited to discuss their areas of expertise. This tradition also has continued, with recent programs focusing on travel, writing, book readings and reviews.

Memorable programs as cited by current members of the group include a presentation on stories from kindergarten presented by D'Leigh Harvell; and the first time the group read a book together and discussed it, "The Girls of Atomic City" in 2018, (the more common format for most book clubs today). 

In 1928, dues for the club were $1. Over time, the dues have increased and are generally used to help with community activities, primarily through donations to the Millington Public Library or the various school libraries. The Millington Book Chat Club has a long history of civic involvement in the community, including the planting of flower beds and trees in the city, as well as helping to establish and staff the city's first library.

Other traditions continue as well. Dessert and coffee are still served at the end of each meeting along with nuts and mints or chocolate, generally on fine china, while other traditions have gone by the wayside. Annette Bates remembers club members "being dressed to the nines wearing long dresses and gloves singing Christmas carols." 

At close to 90, Anna Lou Williams, a retired teacher, is currently the oldest and longest serving member of the club. At this point, I must digress to say, what an honor it is to be a part of this group, which includes several ladies who have taught me over the years, such as my 6th grade social studies teacher Ms. Merrel Durham, as well as Ms. Anna Lou Williams who was my 7th and 8th grade English teacher, and Ms, Beverly Burk, my high school English teacher. Ms. Williams and Ms. Burk in particular, I refer to as my "grammar goddesses" as they laid the foundation for the writer I would become. And, for their hard work, in teaching this hard-headed girl, I am forever grateful.) The youngest member of the club, Tina Wilkerson, in her 30's, is an assistant principal with Shelby County schools.

Clearly, the tradition of women involved in education continues to be a legacy of the Millington Book Chat Club, representing hundreds of years of experience in the field as teachers, librarians, principals, school staff and elected school board members. 

In my mind, education and books go hand-in-hand. Jane Donnelly who taught kindergarten throughout her career fosters a love of reading in her grandchildren by providing them with book money every month, and it has paid off in an astounding number of points accumulated by them in the Accelerated Reading Program at school.

It's also no surprise several members spoke fondly of their favorite books, some of which include: "Wuthering Heights," "To Kill A Mocking Bird," "The Water is Wide," "Charlotte's Web," and "The Secret Life of Bees." Further, several members also spoke of their love of reading and those who inspired them to read including Judy Pace and myself, who give all the credit to our mothers.

For more than 90 years and counting the Millington Book Chat Club - this group of accomplished women - continues to be a quiet presence in Millington dedicated to fostering a love of books and learning not just among themselves, but out into the community at-large as well.

Scottie's Cut & Color...and Caring

The team at Scottie's Cut & Color Specialists: Melissa Yager, Susan Gladney, Lisa Hawkins, Tony Smith and Pam Shinosky.

It’s getting close to Christmas, so for many people, including me, that means getting a haircut to look and feel our best for the holiday season.

I’ve been getting my haircut at Scottie’s since I moved away from Millington and was living in Washington, D.C., more than 20 years ago now. When I would come home on holidays to visit, my dad would take me to Scottie’s because that’s where he would get his haircut.

Being a career military man, my dad was particular about his haircut and his appearance. While he had many different jobs in the U.S. Army, I think he was proud of having been a recruiter, where he was always required to look sharp. His barber at Scottie’s was Barry Laxton, who retired several years ago.

Toward the end of his life, my dad spent seven months under the care of hospice at home, with me as his caregiver. He wanted a haircut badly, but couldn’t get out of bed. So, I called Scottie’s and Barry came to our home. Barry was not a small man, but I watched him climb up on my dad’s full-size bed and give him a haircut. It was one of the most extraordinary acts of caring and kindness I have been privileged to witness. My dad was happy, and he felt better. Barry gave my dad his last haircut and refused to accept payment.

The folks at Scottie’s, especially my stylist Lisa, continue to take care of me, too. It’s a level of customer service and caring that I doubt folks in Washington, D.C. would be able to find, but in Millington, it’s business as usual.

Scottie’s, a local, independent, small business has been a part of the Millington community for more than 60 years.

Scottie’s, founded by barber Scottie Gladney has been in business since 1957. For many years, the shop was located in the retail center on Navy Road. Scottie’s moved to its current location at 8370 Highway 51 N., in Patriot Plaza 15 years ago.

The team of stylists includes Susan Gladney (Scottie’s daughter-in-law), Lisa Hawkins, Pam Shinosky and Tony Smith, who together have more than 125 years of experience. They were all rigorously trained by Scottie, often staying after hours in the shop until late in the evening. He had high standards and specific ways he wanted things done. Pam says, “Scottie always said, ‘You’re only as good as your worst haircutter,’ and none of us are that. We’ve all been trained by Scottie, but we all have our own style, everybody’s good.”

And, for the more than 20 years that I have been a customer, at turns Scottie, his stepson Michael Easter, Pam and Lisa have all cut my hair, and I have never had a bad haircut there. It’s true. They are all good!

The four stylists became business partners nearly seven years ago, taking the shop over from Scottie. “We work well together, we’re a family and a team,” Lisa comments. The team also includes “magic fingers" Melissa Yager, who will give you a wonderful, relaxing massage while she shampoos your hair.

Scottie’s doesn’t take appointments.  Pam explains, customers are first-come, first served, going back to the early days when Scottie began as a barber, as barbers rarely take appointments. Over time, walk-in salons became trendy and the shop used beepers to let their customers know their stylist was ready for them. Today, cell phones work well.  However, Pam says, “We know our system doesn’t work for everyone.”

Tony says many people travel as far as a 100-mile radius to come to the shop, and there also are many customers who (like this writer, did) come to Scottie’s when they are in town visiting family and friends. I have a friend who travels the world with the U.S. State Department. When she comes back to Millington, she always goes to Scottie’s to have Tony cut her hair. Pam notes, there also are many military families who come back to Scottie’s after being stationed elsewhere. “We take pride in that,” she says.

With 40 years, Tony is the member of the team of stylists who has been at Scottie’s the longest.

Recently, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving there were 25 people lined up in front of the shop before it opened it doors.

Customer Susan Chambers, originally from the Missouri Bootheel, has been coming to Scottie’s since 2002. She says her mother always insisted on getting her hair done at Scottie’s on her way home from the hospital.

Prices range from $26 for a men’s haircut and style to $36 for a ladies haircut, a ladies cut, color and style is $83, and ladies highlights with cut and style range from $100 and up. Through December 31st at noon, Scottie’s is currently offering 20 percent off on their complete line of styling products, which includes brands like Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Rusk and much more.

Lisa says, “We love what we do. We want our shop to be a loving shop. We want you to sit in our chair and listen to your heart. We treat everybody with loving care. It’s more than just doing hair.”

Scottie’s is located at 8370 Highway 51 N., Suite 109. Shop hours are Tuesday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday & Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (901) 873-HAIR (4247) for more information.

Thanksgiving: Family, Sharing & Gratefulness

Today, the congregation of St. William Catholic Church along with volunteers throughout our community will prepare and deliver more than 600 hot, cooked Thanksgiving meals to neighbors in need in Millington, North Memphis and Tipton County.

Just a bit of trivia to start with: The first Thanksgiving in America was celebrated between the Pilgrims and Native Americans in October of 1621, marking the Pilgrims first harvest. The first official U.S. “Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer” was declared by President George Washington on November 26,1789, and it was Abraham Lincoln who declared Thanksgiving Day a federal holiday in the midst of the Civil War in 1863.

Family, Sharing and Gratefulness

For most folks, particularly here in the South, where there are many amazing Southern cooks, Thanksgiving means a great meal, with my apologies to my friends on the East Coast who are devotees of oyster stuffing and my vegan friends who ascribe to tofu turkey…just no.

My mom, who was Japanese, learned to prepare a Thanksgiving meal from my many Southern aunts who are wonderful cooks. Today, more than a decade since my mamaw passed away, a Cooper Thanksgiving is celebrated at the Cooper cabin, a huge kitchen, built by my uncle Dale solely for the purpose of my large and extended family to share meals together. Our Thanksgiving is a quintessentially Southern one, with both turkey and ham, cornbread dressing (made in a pan, not stuffed inside the bird) and all the trimmings. Last year, maybe because my great-grandmother was Irish, I counted no less than six different dishes of potatoes, as well as macaroni and cheese, green beans (cooked with pork), and much more, along with desserts too numerous to count.

For several years before my mom passed away, my immediate, small family of three went to Thanksgiving dinner at The Helmsman Club on the Navy base. My dad enjoyed it because we always saw and visited with friends and neighbors there, and my mom enjoyed it, too, because she didn’t have to cook or clean up. The last picture I have of us together as a family is at Thanksgiving dinner there.

And, it’s where I will be celebrating Thanksgiving dinner this year, with my best friend and her family. Her mom is Japanese, too, and at 86, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. She wanted to have Thanksgiving at The Helmsman, and made a point to ask me to come along, At its heart, to me, Thanksgiving is about family, sharing and gratefulness. My best friend and I have known each other since we were children. We are only-children, and share Japanese moms and Southern, military dads, as the major common threads in our lives. She and her family are my family, too. We are so much more than friends, more like sisters, really. And for this, I am eternally grateful.

Feeding Our Neighbors

Continuing on the theme of sharing...While most businesses and churches are closed on Thanksgiving Day, St. William Catholic Church located on Easley Street is a busy place. Beginning at around 5:30 a.m. the kitchen in its Family Life Center is filled with provisions and volunteers preparing to cook and transport no less than 600 Thanksgiving meals to shut-ins and families in need in Millington, North Memphis and Tipton County, according to parishioner Bob Allen who spearheads the logistics of this effort, having taken over several years ago from church members Ruth Ann Olson and Jack & Gloria Sparks

The congregation has been offering this ministry of food and fellowship to neighbors in our city and the surrounding area for some 35 years. Allen stresses the key role Wendy Strevel plays, whom he calls “the kitchen queen,” overseeing the cooking of the meals. “She has a real passion for this.” He also notes the church’s Knights of Columbus and women’s club are very actively involved in this effort.plays, whom he calls “the kitchen queen,” overseeing the cooking of the meals. “She has a real passion for this.” He also notes the church’s Knights of Columbus and women’s club are very actively involved in this effort.

Similar to the “Meals on Wheels” program conducted by the Metropolitan Interfaith Association (MIFA), hot, cooked meals are hand-delivered. Allen is in charge of recruiting the approximately 20 drivers needed and mapping the routes.

Some 250 of the 600 meals prepared are delivered to and distributed by the nuns of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity who run a shelter for women and children and minister to neighborhoods in North Memphis.

The menu includes turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, mixed vegetables, cranberry sauce, a roll and dessert.

But Allen says, it’s much more than a meal. For many folks, the human contact and connection is just as important, if not more. He urges the volunteer drivers not just to drop-off the meals, but to take the opportunity to visit with folks, especially the shut-ins, who may not see visitors often.

“We have the skills, capability and means, and we’re driven by faith. It’s a labor of love and fun. I’m honored to be a part of it. I do so little. Everyone else works a lot harder. It’s a marvelous project,” Allen says.

He stresses this is an ecumenical and community-wide effort, with volunteers from other churches including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and First United Methodist Church, and companies such as Ingram-Micro and other individuals donating funds and their time as well. This morning, the MCHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes played a key role helping to peel and slice some 300 pounds of potatoes.

Strevel says she has been participating in this ministry since she was in the church youth group. As a teacher and administrator with Millington Municipal Schools she sees many low-income, working families struggling to make ends meet.

“This is one day out of the year we can come together and help someone.” She adds, “This is what community is about, pitching in and helping out, and we’ve expanded and continue to reach out.”

She stresses, “This is not just a ministry of the Catholic church. This is what Jesus has called us to do.”

St. William Catholic Church is located at 4932 Easley Street. For additional information, visit the church’s website at www.stwilliamcc.org or call (901) 872-4099.

Check it Out, The Library is Changing

I've loved books and libraries since I was a little girl. Here's one of my favorite books I remember checking out from the library at Millington South Elementary School. The Millington Public Library has a wealth of programs, events, activities and services available for free to the residents of our community, and lots of books, too.

A Love Letter to Libraries

I’ve loved books since I was a little girl, and I suppose by extension, libraries, too. As a student at both Millington South Elementary and Millington Middle School, I remember helping the librarians shelve books. My favorites were little, red, hardbound books known as the Childhood of Famous Americans series. I believe I read every one of them. My favorite was the biography of Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. So, I guess it was only natural that a few years later I would spend a summer during high school as an American Red Cross candy striper at the hospital on the Navy base in Millington.

My mom was an avid reader, so I like to think I inherited my love of books from her. When I lived in Washington, D.C., she would visit often, and of all the historic places to see and tour there, her favorite was the Library of Congress. It’s a beautiful Beaux-Arts style building with a classical exterior, and interior filled with frescoes, stained glass windows and of course…books, including a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, the first book printed using mass-produced moveable type in 1455.

The Millington Public Library

Our own Millington library built in 1957 may not be quite as fancy, but it’s a busy place, filled not just with books, but also with a wealth of programs, activities and services for residents in our community of all ages.

Librarian Stephanie Kinsler has been the library’s director for about a year and a half. Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, she has served as a librarian primarily in academic settings including at the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee medical library.

After being a librarian in academia, Kinsler says she was ready for a change. As a librarian in a community setting she believes she’s on the front lines of service. “I feel I’m helping people in a more meaningful way.” She adds, "I don’t think it’s any secret that this is a socioeconomically challenged community here. A lot of patience is involved helping patrons…computer users. But, you can make an impact on someone’s life in their time of need, helping them apply for jobs or helping them get information on matters that are important to them.” The library has 13 computers on-site for patrons to use.

Along with her master’s degree in library science, Kinsler also has a degree in English education and stresses the importance of “helping children learn that books and reading are fun things.” Among her own favorite books are Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Robert Penn Warren’s “All the Kings Men,” Laura Hillenbrand’s “Seabiscuit” and more recently David Pinks’ “A Whole New Mind.”

She notes that with societal changes it can sometimes be difficult to balance the needs of the library’s older patrons, women and men age 50 and older, and children. ”I’m trying to build a better rapport with teens,” who typically visit the library after school. “It can be a challenge to make both of these groups happy.” The library hosts a Teen Card Club on Monday afternoons from 2:30-4 p.m., as well as an After-School Game Day, a Teen Movie afternoon and a Teen Breakfast Cooking Class.

Kinsler has instituted a variety of other activities including gardening programs, embroidery classes and a ukulele jam session, in addition to book signings, family research, a family movie night, resume building, craft days, and of course the children’s story time.

She views the library as the center of the community, or meeting place where groups can gather to discuss ideas.

For children in particular, she points out the way students learn has changed. Children now learn in teams, and she sees the need for a space like the library for students to discuss projects through collaborative learning...learning how to work with each other, being carried over into the library environment.

“People have their heads in their phones or computers, taking in information and not talking to each other. It’s definitely addictive and not healthy,” especially for teens. She sees the library as a place with a new purpose and value to society in helping people hone their communications skills. She says employers are placing a high value on “soft skills,” the ability for people to talk and communicate well, and shake hands. “We are ok with quiet talking.”

“The library is changing,” Kinsler says.

Many people now read on electronic devices. She urges those readers to definitely come get a library card. Library cards are free for residents living in the 38053 zip code, and $35 annually for persons living outside the 38053 zip code.

With a library card and the new Libby app, those reading on electronic devices can have access to more than 100,000 books through the Tennessee READS Regional eBook & Audiobook Download System. There is a 14-day loan policy, with the digital book returned automatically.

“We’re upping our game with the quality of our programs,” Kinsler says, “in particular for people with children through our summer reading program.” She stresses, “You should do this for your kids, it’s fun for them, and it’s fun learning." She explains, children of all ages can suffer from the “summer slide" when their reading aptitude can drop while children are out of school. She encourages parents to participate with them, reading with their children. In addition to reading, “we have tons of free stuff, food and entertainment,” she notes.

For older folks Kinsler comments, we’re adding more mysteries, thrillers and suspense novels to our collection as well as more westerns, Christian fiction and romance.

“A library is now more important than ever,” Kinsler says. “It’s a myth that Google has negated the purpose of a library. Google exists because of advertising. Books cost money for a reason. It’s a creative work, as well as credible information that you need. The most completely reliable source is still a book. There’s no better resource in my opinion. There’s a lot of garbage out there and a lot of people don’t know the difference. Libraries offer a broad range of services and access to information.”

There are lots of readers here in Millington. The library averages 150-200 people coming through its doors daily, with 47,000 visits annually and more than 37,000 books circulated. And, Kinsler happily reports this year’s Summer Reading Program saw an increase of 550 more books read.

Kinsler says, “We’re here to help, filling a social need. It’s fun work. I feel like I’m in the perfect place at the perfect time. I feel lucky.”

The Millington Public Library located at 4858 Navy Road is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed on Sundays. A library card is free for those living within the 38053 zip code and $35 annually for those living outside the 38053 zip code. For more information about the library’s many programs, events and services visit them on the Web at www.millingtonpubliclibrary.org on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MillingtonPublicLibrary/ or call (901) 872-1585.