From the Publisher: The Gift of Working

Several months ago, as I thought about what I wanted to share with the readers of 4Memphis in my Publisher’s letter I had a working thought about writing about two people who inspired me - by simply going to work every day. In the 12 years of publishing 4Memphis I have written a letter in all but eight issues. I have told our readers before that when I bought VIP Magazine, which just two issues before had converted the name of the magazine to 4Memphis, I had not intended to write a letter for each issue. I simply wrote what was on my heart in that first issue as to the reason I had purchased the magazine and what we hoped the pages of 4Memphis would become for our city

As each of the following issues was being worked on by the numerous people that make 4Memphis come to life each issue, there were people in my life and situations/struggles in our city that led me to share my thoughts on paper. In the issues that I have written a letter, I have tried to use my own personal journey through life to help myself and our readers handle or consider how we should view or celebrate issues that we are all facing in the Mid-South. I am as flawed an individual that has ever written, but through all my success, struggles and failures, I know there is a God who loves me and has answers in His word on how I should try to live my life to deal with all the difficult situations that life puts in my path.

4Memphis has had the privilege of writing about the numerous people that fight daily to help their fellow Memphians overcome the struggles that our city is facing. We also celebrate the numerous victories our city has been given through their work. My letters are an attempt to relate to what I believe to be true in my personal life about God’s love and provisions to the situation the people of Memphis face daily.

Which brings me back to an internal conversation that I have had for several months about writing about two people that have inspired me for years. They are both over 90 and going to work every day serving the people of Memphis. Their work is not in the not-for-profit sector that fill the pages of 4Memphis, but each of these individuals has worked to provide services that modern day living requires or that makes modern day living more enjoyable.

In this issue, Lesley Harris Colvett writes about Peggy Heard who at the age of 91 works in customer service at Oak Hall. Oak Hall gave me my first job in 1976, and 12 years ago they were the first advertiser to make a long-term commitment to 4Memphis. This commitment has given me the privilege of interacting regularly with Peggy. If I had been asked, I would have thought Peggy to be in her early 70s. To say the least, I was shocked to discover that she is 91, which is what put it on my heart to write about her and Ted Winestone, another great Memphian that I have come to know and love these past 12 years.

It is with a very heavy heart that the idea of the story didn’t come to me sooner. Mr. Winestone passed away, September 17, 2022, one week before his 93rd birthday. Ted was born in Baranowicx, Poland, and his entire family was killed by the Nazis in 1941. He escaped his town’s slaughter and spent the balance of the war fighting the Nazis with the Polish Partisans. After the war, he immigrated to America and settled in Memphis. He attended Memphis State University and graduated in three years. He then joined the Marine Corps serving in the Korean War for two years. He went on to become an attorney and CPA, working daily to help his clients while quietly giving to hundreds in need, refusing to allow anyone to know of his numerous gifts. I had the privilege of attending his funeral as the Marines helped his family lay Ted Winestone’s body to rest in a traditional Orthodox Jewish funeral. The celebration of a life that had touched so many from Memphis to Poland to Israel.

In a world that celebrates youth and fame, Peggy and Ted give us a picture of the Godly call to work quietly serving our fellow Memphians.

Seek the peace and prosperity of Memphis.
Jim Walker