Remembering With Fondness Mrs. Jim Gilreath

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December 23, 2009

Anonymous The McCreary County Record Wed Dec 23, 2009, 04:16 PM EST

Dear Editor:

On November 27, of this year a legend within our local education community left us for heaven. I expected to see her picture on the front page and was disappointed when it wasn't. As a subscriber to this paper I would like to tell you something about this lovely lady and why I feel you should consider giving her some coverage, just as you do those who hold public office or have been a business person of the community.

Mrs. Jim Gilrealth, touched the lives of more locals than any other business person or elected official. She was a teacher for 31 years in this county, she started her teaching career at the tender age of 17 at a one room school in 1946 at Jones Hollow. A large part of her career was spent in different one room schools within our county.

Jim loved children and she loved to teach them to read! I know this to be true for I was one of those many students, and she never forgot your name! She also was willing to go into every hollow, up every mountain, and down every valley of this county to help little children and their families with their education, general health problems or getting out to town for a doctor, she was there to help and she did with a smile on her face that was warm as the sunshine. college,

Her second school was Foster and then Slavens.She met and married her spouse of 50+ years Odel about here and then she moved on to Wolf Ridge, a short time later she moved across the county to the Kidds school (located at Pleasant Run) from there she moved two more times to work where she was needed at the little one room Greene School and then to the Gilreath school on Bethel Rd. then she was needed at Pine Knot Elementary to teach 1st grade! This is were she taught for the remainder of her career.

How many children has passed through this ladies door? I can't say for sure, but I can say, all of them left knowing how to read!

All of us kids that went on to college or trade school or any type of business can thank this lady, she taught us to read, a wonderful gift, the true gateway to success, this tool allows us to study our religion, to study our world through the pages of a book, Reading makes the possibilities for advancement within our daily lives endless! Jim knew the importance of education for the people of this county and she wanted to help them.

Little Jim as her friends called her,was also a member of the oldest church in our county and she was the church historian! She had very detailed records of the people and their family history within her church.

Jim was a wonderful mother,her children were always clothed, fed, and loved to the best of Jim's ability. She had a way of finding the best in people, young and old, she always made you feel as if you mattered and that you can be successful in your life's quest! Jim's warm smile and sweet voice will be remembered by many for a century to come or more!

This small framed 5ft zero lady with a smile warm as sunshine, made a big mark on this county and beyond. She didn't expect any fanfare she didn't need it to be happy, she drank from the saucer of joy in the Lord every day because her cup overflowed! Remember if you can read this article, thank your primary teacher!

Respectfully

Alice Trammell Bryant

Pine Knot, KY

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