Once upon a time --- in Decatur County, TN, a little girl named Julia was born to very loving parents. This was a big event in the lives of Robert L. and Addie McClure Lancaster, as well as three brothers, Curry, Grady, and Ben, also three sisters, Euda, Beulah and Thelma.
This little girl had a great love for life and living every day to the fullest, as she proved time and again with her school friends as they played tricks on their teachers, such as eating home ec. cookies when they weren't supposed to, eating pickles from a barrel early in the morning, riding at breakneck speed on a horse through the city of Decaturville.
After attending schools in Decatur Co. it was time to spread her wings and fly. She could do this with the greatest of confidence after being taught by the best, her Mother, whose wise advise she carried with her and lived with and does until this day.
After attending Tolers Business College in Paris, TN it was on to George Peabody College in Nashville where she was greeted with open arms by fellow students, and more "fun things" that are such a part of school days, the things our fond memories are made of.
She was later employed by TN. Dept. of Ed. For two years in Nashville and late moved to Knoxville to work in State Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation. The office was located on Univ. of TN campus. The rest-as the old saying goes-is history in the making. This is where her "Prince Charming" appeared on the scene.
John F. Stephens, whose parents were: Emma A. Laporte Firth and John Tupman Stephens. John and his sister Frances were born in Covington, KY. His Mother was a musician, his father worked with Nashville and Louisville R. R. Co.
They moved to Knoxville when John was ten years old. He attended grade schools in Covington, KY and Knoxville, TN followed by high school and Univ. of TN in Knoxville.
His university degree is Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He first worked as a salesman for Warren Candies in Knoxville. About a year after graduation from university, John met Julia on campus, where she was employed. The "never ending joy" began (John's own words). After a short exciting dating period she accepted his proposal, after three and one half years engagement they were married in Elizabethtown, TN where John was employed by American Bemberg Corp. Rev. Jesse Benton, Methodist Minister performed the ceremony on December 24, 1939. The bride was beautiful in a teal blue suit with matching accessories and corsage. Their honeymoon weekend was spent at the John Sevier Hotel in Johnson City, TN.
They were off on the first part of their fabulous journey through life together, where they have traveled to many places and have seen many extraordinary things.
In 1942 they moved to Cleveland, TN where John was employed in the first of two successive World War II jobs. In 1944 they moved to Oak Ridge where he received an Army-Navy award. He attained a civil service job and moved to Detroit, MI in 1949. His principal career role with the General Motors Corp. followed in 1951. This work involved much travel and Julia was included in many preferred trips, such as world fairs and expos, Chicago, New York, Montreal and Knoxville.
From the beginning of their life together they were both involved in civic
activities as well as church related ones. They served as scout leaders,
mission activities that they supported in their church, volunteer work at the
children's hospital of Michigan, administrative board of the Metropolitan
United Methodist Church in Detroit where they attended. Julia was awarded life
membership in the Society of Christian Service in Oak Ridge in 1949, many other
activities too numerous to mention.
John retired from General Motors on December 31, 1975. They continued to live
in Detroit for eight more years where they enjoyed their retirement by staying
involved in their church, neighbors, friends, and hobbies, which include flower
arranging, bridge, travel, reading, hiking and napping.
For all their blessings along the way, they give credit first of all to God and to their wonderful parents, teachers, relatives, friends, for their love, inspiration and encouragement along the way. They moved back to Nashville in 1983 where they have continued their activities to a great extent. They transferred their membership from Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Detroit to West End United Methodist Church in Nashville March 24, 1985.
It's impossible to put fifty years of love and marriage on a few pages of paper, for this has been and still is two very busy people. There are no "couch potatoes" at 4001 Anderson Road in Nashville, TN.
This was written in honor of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, which was celebrated December 1989 at the old home place of Uncle Ed and Aunt Flora Lancaster at Bath Springs, TN which was fitting for the occasion since so many of Julia's earlier memories were there. The dark wintry day was blessed with beautiful sunshine as if the whole world was smiling on this couple who have so much love in their heart for everyone and promised before God fifty years before to stay together and have kept their promise.
Written by Earline Thompson Lancaster
excerpted from The Lancaster Descendants, Patricia Ann Maners
prepared for the Lancaster Reunion, July 4, 1991