Graduates of Kosciusko High School Judy Shaw Jenkins (1967) and Tressie Shaw Harper (1969) are honoring the late Nettie Mai Lewis with a chair in the Skipworth Performing Arts Center.
Lewis was a revered piano instructor in Kosciusko for decades. In addition to teaching “the Shaw girls” the art of playing piano, Lewis modeled for the values of kindness, caring and selfless love. Through her words and actions, sometimes unknown to others, she demonstrated God’s will and good purpose to all.
Lewis and her husband, J. B., reared three children. All three — Elaine, Lloyd and Jimmy — have served in a teaching capacity.
Elaine learned piano from her mother, majored in piano performance at Mississippi State College for Women — now known as Mississippi University for Women — and taught piano for many years. She faithfully ministers to groups of her friends through Bible studies and by playing piano for listening and sing-alongs.
Lloyd taught industrial arts and technology in Ellisville, until his retirement. Calling himself “The Toymaker,” Lloyd currently employs his industrial arts background to foster a successful woodworking hobby of constructing toys, including train sets, trucks and heavy-duty equipment.
Jimmy, who also goes by Jim, is currently an internal medicine physician-educator at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. His teaching practice is based at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
“Mother was a saint,” said Elaine Lewis Brent, Lewis’ only daughter. “In my whole life, I never heard her say an unkind thing about anyone. She was a born teacher, whether it be Bible or piano. What a role model to try to emulate!”
Her son, Lloyd, added, “My mother prayed every day for me, and I sure did need it! She was a wonderful mother — was always there for me.”
Dr. Jim Lewis said his mother was “a Barnabas character in so many lives.”
“Over the years she wrote hundreds of encouraging letters to friends, to high school seniors, and to others. Her formal teaching career of six years was truncated by her husband’s job and by motherhood, but she cherished her memories of teaching.”
After graduating from Blue Mountain College in 1930 with a major in Latin, Lewis taught English and Latin in North Carrollton. Her son said her students there adored his mother.
“She particularly enjoyed teaching Shakespearean plays,” he said. “The curriculum required one play per year, but mother’s students demanded an additional play. Mother was not trained in piano pedagogy. However, her love of teaching children and her ability to play the piano combined to make her a popular teacher in Kosciusko. She preferred to teach beginners. After a few years, she would encourage them to take lessons from formally trained piano teachers. Children loved her for her patience, her enthusiasm, her care for them and her ability to nurture their talent.
“Mother taught a women’s Sunday school class at First Baptist Church for decades. She was an engaging teacher who encouraged discussion. The class was devoted to her. One member regularly placed flowers on her grave for 10 years after her death. Mother continued her Bible teaching at Atwood Personal Care Home until she was over age 100. Mother thoroughly enjoyed books and instilled the joy of reading in all three children. I recall two large Bible storybooks that she read to me as a preschooler. Every time I was sick, she and my father would read a book to me. Measles was the ‘Peter Pan’ illness and mumps was the ‘Deerslayer.’ When I was a little older, my favorite time of the day was immediately after supper when we would gather in the living room and read aloud to each other. Favorite authors were Louisa May Alcott, Booth Tarkington and George Eliot. Our college choice, college majors and careers were considered to be our decisions. I think Mother tried to subtly influence my career decision in college by giving me the book ‘Bill Wallace of China.’ Wallace was a medical missionary who suffered a martyr’s death in 1951 after the communist takeover. I’m thankful I became a physician and not a martyr!”
New chairs are a part of the modernization of the Skipworth Performing Arts Center. Those who would like to contribute to this worthwhile cause can honor family members, classmates, teachers, civic clubs, churches, Sunday School classes and more. Brass plates will designate honorees on each seat.
The contributions go toward the much-needed renovations of the Skipworth Performing Arts Center’s auditorium, which greatly benefits Kosciusko and the community.
For more information, visit www.kfeems.org/buy-a-chair.
