Jennifer Tramble, Oasis’ Seniors’ Coordinator, does ministry M-F at the Bickford Community Center with our inner city senior citizens day after day. Her dedication is quiet, steady and strong. This summer she decided to take the seniors on a field trip to the outskirts of Memphis and surrounding suburbs … of which was a BIG deal as many had barely traveled beyond this North Memphis neighborhood. Below is her account of their ‘life changing’ experience as told by Jennifer:
As thirty-five (35) of our seniors climbed aboard the Motor Coach and headed toward historic Downtown Memphis, you can hear the chatter and anticipation of the seniors as they remember the old Downtown…the place where history began.
Listening to the guide, the seniors reminisce about walking the beautiful streets of Downtown Memphis where the smell of barbeque fills the air causing their mouth to water, not forgetting how their feet and hips would groove to the many genres of music after a long work day. Yes, it started in Memphis. Various notable blues musicians that grew up in and around the Memphis and northern Mississippi area, included such musical greats as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf and Isaac Hayes.
Upon approaching what use to be old Goldsmith’s and Lowenstein buildings we reached the famous Beale Street. The seniors quickly exit for a brief stopover at A Schwab. A Schwab is famous for old and hard to find items from penny candies to your unique items of need. Shortly there after, we reached Memphis #1 research hospital for kids - St. Jude. We visited the gift shop to uncover that our purchases would benefit the continued research toward a cure for cancers in the many children that enter their doors.
Amazed by the colors and décor, we exited the doors of the hospital and climbed aboard to embark on the next destination. Well, to my surprise it was astounding to know that a few were not familiar with their own backyard. A perusal of the city streets of Memphis we reached Elvis Presley Blvd, not knowing that just blocks down the street, the seniors would get a glimpse of Graceland. From Graceland, we could hear overhead the many airplanes, not minutes later we were at Memphis International Airport. This could have been the highlight of the tour due to the responses of how the airport had evolved. Continuing the experience, the seniors viewed the once Hickory Ridge Mall, flabbergasted at how the city had developed since 1968, we reached Collierville stopping there to have lunch at Barnhill’s, then making our way through Germantown and lastly Cordova. A city that holds a wealth of knowledge with many indulging events can only be shared by those who are acquainted with them.
Bickford Seniors found the City Tour enlightening, beneficial and educational. This priceless phenomenon was life changing; my desire is to continue to provide opportunities that are reflective, as well as enhance their quality of life.
Did you know?
The area around Memphis, Tennessee was first settled by the Mississippian Culture and then by the Chickasaw Indian tribe. The modern city of Memphis was founded in 1819, the city was named after the ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River.
In the early 20th century, Memphis grew into the world’s largest spot cotton market and the world’s largest hardwood lumber market. During the 1960s the city was at the center of civil rights issues. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel (Wikipedia, 2009).
I just wanted to say “thank you” for an AMAZING experience (helping at Oasis’ VBS)!