By Sarah Kuper Lottie Jacks feels like any recent college graduate – glad not to have to study for another final or drag herself to an 8 a.m. class after a long night of studying. But unlike the average Samford University grad, Jacks is 85 years old. The octogenarian walked across the Wright Center stage May 14 to receive her degree in biology nearly 65 years after she began … [Read more...]
Reluctant Hero: First Alabama Vietnam Veteran Reflects on Real Tragedy of Any War
By Lee DavisJim Lawrence’s professorial looks and soft-spoken manner give him the appearance of a college dean or a teacher. In fact, Lawrence has been both. But he is much more than that. The Vestavia Hills resident is a war hero – even though he disputes that description. Lawrence, a Troy native, had just graduated from The Citadel in South Carolina when he decided … [Read more...]
Through a Vet’s Eyes: WWII Vet and Broadcaster Appreciates American Village’s Mission
By Sarah Kuper If you ask Sterling Brewer where he grew up, he won't tell you about his childhood in Nashville. "I grew up in New Guinea and in Japan. At the age of 18 coming in direct contact with the dead, dying and wounded changes you," he said. Brewer was drafted into the Army the week he turned 18. He served as a surgical technician in World War II. With no previous … [Read more...]
WWII Vet Running Coast-to-Coast to Raise Money for Ship Restoration
By Sarah KuperAt 93 years old, WWII veteran Ernie Andrus is on the verge of breaking the record for the oldest person to run from one coast of the United States to the other. Andrus isn't running to break a record, but rather to restore a piece of WWII history. His run is an effort to raise money to help repair the USS LST 325 so it can make the trip back across the … [Read more...]
Making Memories: A Daughter Finds Light in Darkness of Alzheimer’s Disease
By Emily Williams When Pam Arenberg was first introduced to Alzheimer's of Central Alabama, it was a somber visit to one of the organization's family support groups. Her father had been diagnosed with vascular dementia, most likely due to a small stroke, and she found herself unprepared for the rapid deterioration of his mind and body. "One of the best things about the … [Read more...]