When I started teaching in 1987, I was very scared and didn't know what to expect. At that time you didn't have a mentor teacher, but there were teachers at Alma Middle School who took me under their wing and helped me through everything. There are good schools and there are good teachers but the legacy these women left will never be outdone. I dreamed of being as good a teacher as they were. But who can fill the shoes of Carlene Ewing, Beth Graham, Rosemary Blasingame, Marilyn Ferguson Yates, Vi Pettit, Karen Thompson, Sharon Bean, and Sue Lewis, They all helped me in different ways, but Carlene had the most affect on my life. We taught next to each other for over 10 years. We shared our happy moments in life, we shared our sad moments, we shared everything. We taught each others children, Deidre Underhill, Barrett Ewing, Erica Walters, Justin Blanton, and Brooks Blanton. We shared there successes, the tough things they had to go through. We shared the times our husbands were sick. I learned how a good teacher and classy lady lived and worked. I don't know how many times I would get to school and she had been there until 1,2, a.m. She altered or sewed clothing many, many times for people, for cheerleading uniforms, band and choir uniforms. Any time we had a reason to eat she would fix her room up so it would be nice for all the teachers coming in. She put tablecloths, she would go buy stuff extra with her own money to make her room as homey as possible. She did all these things, and still made each student think she was there just for them. She gave her all to every task she took on, being in the same department was wonderful, because she led and following her was so easy. She retired a few a few years before I did, and it took something out of me. My guide was gone. Deidra, Barrett, Erica, you three were so loved, I never heard her say one word about being frustrated with her kids. She had many accomplishments in her life, but to her, you three were her best. I was fortunate enough to learn and see a true servant of God.