In the spring of 1969, we made our first visit to Charleston in the middle of the Hospital Strike. Fred was interviewing for a position in the Plastic Surgery Department at MUSC and Sallie tagged along as an add-on hoping for something in Pediatrics. There were armed guards everywhere around the hospital. It was a little intimidating. But Fred got the job, and a place was found for Sallie and we LOVED Charleston in spite of the strike and what went with it. We came back 2 weeks later and bought our first home. We moved here in July with 2 and 4 year old boys and immediately started looking for a church home and a Sunday School for the boys. We had both grown up in the Presbyterian tradition, and after a couple of weeks our neighbors Sue and Rev. Tom Horton invited us to 2nd Pres. We loved its warmth and friendly people, and “Miss Betty Lou” completely captivated our 4 year old. It is now 50 years since we joined.
In that time, we have served on the Diaconate and on the Session. We have both sung in the choir. We have been part of the yard clean up. Fred was part of the crew that worked on the restoration of the belfry and re-flooring and up-dating the choir room. Sallie has taught Sunday School. We jointly taught a class for young adults on “The 5 Love Languages.” (For those of you who don’t know it, we can really recommend it. There are also versions for children and for teens.) More recently we have been active in the 2nd Edition Book Club.
In our spare time since retirement, we have spent time on hobbies, woodturning and knitting especially, with our boat and in our garden. We have traveled some as well, most often to visit children, grandchildren and friends, but also for fun and for meetings.
Our faith and our church have always been a central part of our marriage and our lives. Our daughters were married here and some of our grandchildren were baptized here. Our friends here have supported us through some of the tough times – everyone has them. Our church needs from each of us what we have to give. At different times in life, what we have to give may vary. Sometimes it may be for projects like yardwork, tearoom, teaching, sometimes expertise in a given field, sometimes financial support. And in some of the tough times, our church and the friends we make here will be able to respond, as our faith tells us God always does, “Lean on me.”
- Fred and Sallie
