Dobyns-Bennett High School Class of 1974

Happy Holidays to the class of 1974!!!!

Carol Denton Judd passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2017.

Hi classmates. Just wanted to let you know that Lyman Reynolds and Lisa Reynolds mother, Sylvia, passed away this morning. She was a very special lady. Please remember the family in your prayers.

Classmates,
Please read the beautiful remarks Jeff Fleming gave at Megan Clark Johnson's celebration of life.

My remarks at Megan's celebration of life...

When I got the news, I expressed my feelings on Facebook: “I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do. Confused. Heartbroken. In disbelief. Trusting God, but not understanding. Not understanding at all.”

Then I went to bed, trying to numb the pain of the news I had received hours earlier.

I woke up at 2:30 am, and the pain of reality came rushing back. I stumbled into the family room and turned on Netflix thinking I could surely find something to distract me, so that I could fall back to sleep.

If you’re familiar with Netflix, you know there is a section called, “Suggestions For You”. On the screen of thumbnails, one was already highlighted. It was a movie called, “Where Was God?”

Seriously? Was Netflix reading my mind?

I thought, “OK, God, what do you have up your sleeve?” So I clicked play.

What ensued was a documentary of survivors of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado of 2013 in which 24 people – 10 of whom were kids or infants – lost their lives.

Moore…M-O-O-R-E... Also the name of Megan’s mom’s family.

I saw a tee shirt being worn by one of the survivors who had lost his only son. It said, “Pray Moore, Love Moore, Hope Moore”.

Lost his only child, a son. Sound familiar?

I watched intently to the end – even to the credits – and the original music score was written by Christopher Russell Clark.

God’s mysterious ways.

I’ve known the Moore girls since junior high school (that’s what they called middle school back then).

As Tim, Graham & Pat know, if you fall in love with a Moore girl, you get the entire clan – one that’s full of life, full of love, that lives life full throttle – wide open, with homes full of hearty laughter, and always room for one more. Their love for one another is inspiring.

Then there was Megan.

I called her “Halle Berry”. She had a bright white smile, dark skin and black hair. What made her even more beautiful was the fact that she didn’t believe she was beautiful at all. She rarely wore make-up or styled her hair. She didn’t have to. She was a free spirit. She marched to her own drummer.

You couldn’t know Megan long without her telling you that she loved children. She loved all children. She wanted to be a mommy to as many babies as she possibly could. And she wanted to live in Kingsport, near her clan.

She married her high school sweetheart, Tim Johnson – in this very church -- and in no time they adopted a precious baby boy – a baby boy who needed to be loved unconditionally. And they did. He’d go out in the morning with G-Daddy (Graham) to pick up the newspaper from the driveway and he’d deliver ours to our front porch. I remember opening the door and seeing those big brown eyes, so proud of the job he had done. And he has thrived.

Adoption is a choice that many of us are afraid to make. Megan & Tim were bold enough to act. They responded to God’s call in a courageous way.

Then the improbable.

They had a biological daughter, Edie. She’s feisty, full of life, and will certainly carry on the tradition of the Moore girls.

Then came Levi…and Mila. And Tim & Megan’s family was complete.

The six of them moved into a new home only weeks ago.

Notice I said, “home”. A house becomes a home because of the souls who occupy it.

The same holds true for cities. A city becomes a community because of its spirit.

J. Fred Johnson called it “The Kingsport Spirit.”

And it’s no coincidence that this family has been a cornerstone of the Kingsport Spirit for generations, playing it out in the stadium that bears his name. As Graham always says, “If you want to see 500 kids striving for excellence, come to J. Fred on a Friday night.”

This family has loved our children. They’ve given sacrificially. They’ve maintained contact after high school. They’ve touched lives. They’ve made an eternal difference. Graham has been a father to the fatherless and Marisa their defacto mom. Megan just continued what she learned at home. If you were one of her daddy’s football players, then you were family. And that was good enough for her.

Why would God let something like this happen?

The honest answer is: “I don’t know”.

But I do know this. Eternity is forever.

Whether we’re here on Earth for 100 years, or 50 years, or 30 years – it’s nothing more than a blink of what’s to come.

But that doesn’t make it any easier on those of us who are temporarily left behind.

I imagine Megan climbing up into Jesus’ lap and saying, “Hi, I’m Megan”. And Him saying, “I know.”

“I have 4 amazing kids”.

“I know”.

And somehow, inexplicably, I know it’s going to be alright.

We feel punched in the gut. And we want to quit. But we don’t quit.

I’m reminded of the movie, “Facing the Giants”. A football coach asks one of his team leaders to carry his teammate on his back – blindfolded – and crawl the length of the football field. He says, Coach I can’t – it’s too hard. He says, will you trust me? Will you try? And the player begins to crawl. And he cries out, “It’s too hard”. The coach says, “Keep going, don’t you quit, don’t you quit.” Finally, the player collapses to the ground and says, “I can’t do it anymore, Coach, I can’t”. The coach says, “Son, take off the blindfold. You’re in the endzone.”

I imagine that Megan took off the blindfold and found that she’s in the end zone.

When we think we’ve done all we can do. When we think we don’t have anything left. Listen to our Heavenly Coach. Keep going. Keep going. And one day, we will cross the goal line. We’ll wake up in the end zone.

Yes, there’s a void.

And, yes, it hurts and always will.

But we keep going. We don’t quit.

And we play with more heart. We play for each other. We play with hope.

Because that’s what we do. We are one family, we are OneTribe, we are OneKingsport.

I saw Sharon Edwards’ Facebook post to Marisa. Someone else who’s been through inexplicable pain, but kept the faith. And I thought, “Could I do that?” Don’t underestimate the strength you never knew you had until times like this.

So, where was God?

He really is there and not just somewhere in the atmosphere. In fact, he’s here right now. God is the only thing that can bring hope out of hopelessness.

This year’s Dobyns-Bennett band show asks, “What will your verse be?”

I leave you with these verses, chosen by the family:

Isaiah 41:10, 13
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
For I am the LORD your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Please share this post! This is the gofundmelink for Marisa and Graham's daughter.
https://www.facebook.com/chasity.huffman/posts/10208027789520865

Megan Clark Johnson & Family Chasity Huffman has posted a new update!

Classmates,
I haven't gotten around to do the emails but I'll try to get that done soon. I need someone to post on here about the services tomorrow plus the two ways to contribute to the Tim Johnson family. Thanks.

Classmates,
Tonight is a very sad night in Kingsport. The daughter of our classmate, Marisa Moore Clark, and 1973's Graham Clark, passed away tonight, Megan Clark Johnson. She was also married to our classmate Curtis Johnson's son, Tim Johnson. Please pray for these two families.
I will be emailing everyone as I find out more tomorrow. It's an unimaginable thing.

Don't forget classmates we are meeting tonight at Meadowview in the bar area between 7-7:30 everyone please come. PARTY!!!!🎉🍺🍸🍷

Hi classmates,
Just a reminder that we are having our first annual 40th class reunion get together Saturday night at Meadowview bar area. Also, class of 1973 is having a get together Friday night at Meadowview after the DB football game. Our class has been invited. If anyone from class of 73 would like to attend ours on Saturday we would love to have you!!!
We hope to see as many of you as we can.
Peace and Love!!

Hi Classmates,
Can you believe it's been a year since the reunion? Luckily we are not fossils yet and don't belong at the Gray Fossil Museum. With that being said, the committee has gotten together and decided we will meet on Octoer 17, 2015 at the Meadowview Convention Center bar area at 7-7:30ish for an informal anniversary reunion. We are extending this invitation to anyone that would like to come and visit, maybe with someone you didn't get a chance to talk with last year. Also, for those of you who didn't get to attend, hopefully you will make it this time. This is a casual get together. If you would like to let me know if you are coming or not please reply back so I can warn Meadowview that we will be returning!!!! Please pass the word around if you know someone that didn't receive the emails from last year or even this one.
I am posting this on our page-Dobyns-Bennett Class of 1974.
Peace and love,
Judy

HI Classmates! Just received an email from our treasurer, Barbara Adherholdt Bedford. She just sent a check to the ALS TN Chapter in the amount of $542.00 in memory of Danny Rosenbaum and in honor of Greg Morgan. Thanks to everyone who helped to make this happen. Thanks to Barbara for being an awesome treasurer.

Hi Classmates and anyone else that is on this page. I have uploaded all the pictures from the reunion on Shutterfly. The link to that is: https://dbhsclassof74reunion.shutterfly.com
Please only upload pictures that are during the reunion weekend. Enjoy the memories.

Shutterfly

Thanks, Butch for sending these. It was great seeing you and Becky.

More pics from the best weekend ever!!!

What a memory!!!! I believe I see Danny and those white shorts and of course, Bill Bixby, standing next to Deb. We all know why he was standing next to Deb.

Hi Classmates!
All I can say is I love each and everyone of you!! I'm so glad you came tonight. I'll never forget this.
Love and Peace,
Judy

Class of 74 at the football game.

Hi Classmates!!!!!
And so it begins! Wow it's here.

Hi classmates! I'm on the ferry and heading to our 40th reunion. And so it begins!!!!

Hi classmates! I emailed the 8th edition of Senior Moments yesterday. It's awesome. 14 more days!!! It's getting here.

Check out the countdown clock!!!
http://datecountdown.com/?&d=9%2F27%2F2014+6%3A00+PM&t=DB+40+reunion

Date Countdown - DB 40 reunion

Something to Think About

This is our 40th reunion. The last one I went to was the 20th. Being 37 was different from being 57. Back then, I was still comparing myself to other people: Were they more successful than I was? Happier? Thinner? Twenty years out of high school, people were still pretty much instantly recognizable. We were still waiting to become what life would make of us. We were on the upward swing.
Life’s a little different 40 years out. I’m feeling more relaxed, not so competitive, except when I play Pickleball. The last time around, I worried a lot about what I would wear. I think less about my own “success” and worry about my kids: Are they happy? Do they have partners and careers they love? Can they pay the rent? (especially the later)
My definitions of happiness and success have changed, anyway. Getting older does that to you. Classmates cope with cancer, lose jobs, lose spouses, and sadly lose their children. This is what I think — I hope — we’ll be doing the weekend of Sept. 26th. Our pre-game dinner with my committee members and old friends who are still my best friends, and then at the event itself, complete with great prizes and I pray funny jokes and “Who are you again?” It’s a question worth asking. None of us are who we were — and yet we are. That’s what why I can’t wait to go to this reunion. Besides, they talk about you if you aren’t there.

Hi classmates!!! I've just emailed the latest installment of Senior Moments. This means the reunion is getting closer. Just a reminder that all reservations have to be in to Barbara by September 13th.

Last night I emailed the January edition of Senior Moments. If you didn't get it please let me know.

ALS Ice bucket challenge. It's kind of long, but it was for a good cause and for our classmate Danny Rosenbaum. I miss you, buddy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdjOXC0DiLM&feature=em-upload_owner

DBHS Class of 1974 ALS ice bucket challenge