Life in Forest in the Early 70's
Posted by Mark Welsh on January 28, 2022, 4:15 am
Though I only lived in Forest for 4 years, they were some of the most memorable years of my life. My father David, was a horse trainer and rented the horse barn at Jimmy Lackey's Whiteway Farms east of Forest. The Lackey's were friends and great people. Jim and Joy were a a few years older than me, Julie a few years younger and Jenny quite a bit younger. Joy had a horse in training with Dad and went with us quite often through Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee showing and exhibiting her horse. Josephine the mother was one of the nicest ladies that I ever had the privilege of knowing. I was saddened by her death while she was here in my current home town of Shelbyville, Tennessee while on their yearly trip to attend the World Championship horse show. Joy was one of the most beautiful souls that I've ever had the honor of knowing and I know her passing was a blow to so many in Forest. Whenever my parents had to travel on horse business during the school year, I always stayed at the Lackey's home like I was their second son. My 3 sisters stayed at some of their friends' homes during those times also like Thomas Colbert whose daughter Christy was my sister's best friend. You don't see the warm family atmosphere so much anymore anywhere but Forest was and is a special place. We attended the Forest United Methodist Church which was pastored by Rev John Case at the time. Many great memories there and the friends I had and traveled with as part of the youth choir.His children, Mark, Rene, and Paul were great friends of ours also. Rev Case passed away a few years ago and Mrs. Case and Rene stopped by mom's house in Murfreesboro to visit. I believe Mark lives in Franklin, Tennessee now. My 2 best school friends were the brothers, Micah and James Hendry. Both big guys and members of the football team. I'm still in touch with both quite often and we're planning a get together down in south Mississippi where they live now this Spring. I'm subscribed to the Scott County Times archives and really enjoy going back to those wonderful years to reminisce of the good times I shared and catch up on the news and people I knew after I moved. Just read an editorial on when Doug Harvel announced his retirement as band director in the 78-79 school year. Something I thought I'd never see as we were his extended family and he treated us as such. Good to see he stayed in Forest to begin a new career. I was in 2 other high school bands other than Forest but Mr Harvel was in a class of his own. I remember we'd be practicing in the band hall and Mr Harvel would stop the music because he heard something he didn't like. If it was our trombone section, he'd point to the first chair and say play, then the next chair, then the next until he found that strange sound and who was the cause of it. But if we played well, he wouldn't mind telling the person to immediately move to 1st chair. I got that honor once and got to sit ahead of Scott Palmer (who I've seen post here) for a brief time until try-outs for chairs came around and I was back to 5th chair. Believe me, those other 4 were darned good! Dad built a house up at 104 Meadow Hill Drive. we lived next door to Rhett and Pat Mitchell. I often babysat for Mitch and Stan though I was barely older than them. Their grandma, Miss Willie May was one of the finest piano teachers ever and many of us in Forest were under her tutelage. I can still play a few of my recital pieces but I never progressed much after Forest. Would love to hear some of y'all's stories of those early 70's times. We probably knew each other back in the day and shared some of the same stories. God Bless!
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Message Thread
- Life in Forest in the Early 70's - Mark Welsh January 28, 2022, 4:15 am
- School Life after Forest in the 70's - Mark Welsh May 9, 2022, 4:48 am
- The Good News Singers from Forest United Methodist Church - Mark Welsh May 2, 2022, 5:30 am
- A Tribute to my good friends - The Hendry Brothers - Mark Welsh April 12, 2022, 2:21 am
- The Mischief Makers - Mark Welsh February 28, 2022, 4:48 am
- Do You Remember (reply with a smiley face if so) - Mark Welsh February 25, 2022, 4:49 am
- Old Fashioned Fun and Pranks - Mark Welsh February 23, 2022, 1:20 am
- Re: Life in Forest in the Early 70's - Steve 70 February 17, 2022, 5:27 pm
- Mrs Willie Mae Mitchell - Mark Welsh February 17, 2022, 2:20 am
- The Beautiful Dog River - Mark Welsh February 16, 2022, 2:43 am
- The Wild Hogs - Mark Welsh February 15, 2022, 2:01 am
- Driving the Carr - Mark Welsh February 14, 2022, 12:48 am
- Don't Stop the Music - Mark Welsh February 12, 2022, 1:15 am
- Basic Youth Conflicts - Mark Welsh February 11, 2022, 2:26 am
- Mississippi Drivers License - Mark Welsh February 10, 2022, 3:47 am
- It's Horse Show Time - Mark Welsh February 9, 2022, 1:33 am
- Field Day at School - Mark Welsh February 8, 2022, 1:48 am
- RE: Meadow Hill Drive - Mark Welsh February 3, 2022, 1:47 am
- Re: Life in Forest in the Early 70's - Mark Welsh February 2, 2022, 9:40 am
- Re: Life in Forest in the Early 70's - Mark Welsh February 2, 2022, 4:12 am
- Recognize - Lu Ann Gould February 2, 2022, 9:54 am
- Re: Life in Forest in the Early 70's - nancy chambers January 28, 2022, 12:57 pm
- Re: Life in Forest in the Early 70's - Steve Clark 70 January 28, 2022, 11:36 am
- Re: Life in Forest in the Early 70's - Lu Ann Gould January 28, 2022, 9:27 am
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