Looking Back and Moving Forward
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| Mrs. Lucille Flack Ray author of “Looking Back and Moving Forward.” |
Who is this sweet lady with the voice of an angel and a mind that can create beautiful poetry?
by Sarah Williams
Mrs. Lucille Flack Ray might be described as a woman with the voice of an angel and the mind of a poet. She was born in Knoxville, Tennessee but grew up in Asheville, where she later reared six children of her own: Carol, Donald, David Lee, Danny, Sharon, and Doug. Donald and Doug are now deceased, though they still, and always will, share a special place in her heart.
Sharon has moved back to Asheville and spends much of her time with her mother. When you encounter Lucille Ray, you cannot help noticing how her lovely smile lightens up a room, and her positive outlook on life lightens the heart.
Mrs. Ray grew up before desegregation and the construction of South French Broad High School in 1966 — when Stephens-Lee — the “Castle on the Hill” — was the only African American high school in the community. Her dedication to the school is strong and deep, and she is a Life Member of the Stephens-Lee Alumni Association.
Beginning at a very young age, Mrs. Ray began to read and write
poetry, and in later life, after she retired as lead teacher in an
early childhood program, her writing became a passion as well as a
hobby. She has written a book of poetry entitled Looking Back and
Moving Forward, including “Let’s not Forget,” a poem inspired by
memories of her school days and her experiences at Stephens-Lee. She
has been invited to read her poems at Asheville’s Barnes and Noble
Bookstore and at other events throughout the Asheville area. Most
notable was her presentation at Asheville’s annual Martin Luther King,
Jr. Prayer Breakfast at Grove Park Inn. She received outstanding
reviews.
Mrs. Ray also sang for many years in the choir at Hill Street
Baptist Church, where she is still a member. She worked diligently
there until her health caused her to limit her activities. As a
two-time cancer survivor, Mrs. Ray is now a spokesperson for Relay For
Life, the annual fundraiser that supports cancer research, support, and
treatment. All profits from the sale of her book of poetry will be
donated to the American Cancer Society.
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Mrs. Lucille Flack Ray’s Book of Poetry
What lesson does life teach you |
Like most people, Mrs. Ray carries fond memories of two ladies
who inspired her as a child. One was her Sunday school teacher, Mrs.
Mary Dixon, the first lady of Hill Street Baptist Church during the
1930s, who became a role model for her in childhood. One adage that
Mrs. Dixon used often, Mrs. Ray remembers is, “A bird with a broken
wing can not soar as high as the other birds.” As she recalls and
describes it, the adage had two meanings:
“One,” she says, is “if you fail in life, you have to heal before you
can move on to more positive things.” And the other meaning is that “if
you sin, you must heal before you can understand clearly God’s ability
to forgive.” Lucille Flack Ray has taken that adage to heart throughout
her life.
She also remembers with great affection one of her elementary
teachers, Mrs. Virginia Daniels. “Mrs. Daniels had the heart of a
saint,” says Mrs. Ray. “Even as she grew old she had kind words to say
about everybody. She was a gentle spirit who could make even the
downtrodden feel special.” Mrs. Daniels recently passed on, but “people
who knew her will always remember her twinkling eyes, sweet placid
voice, and beautiful smile.” Mrs. Ray dedicated one of her poems, “One
of My Favorite Teachers,” to Mrs. Daniels.
Two great accomplishments in Mrs. Ray’s life have been writing
poetry and returning to school in Washington, DC. She is an avid
supporter of education whose pervasive hope is that all children will
strive to attain their greatest potential. Her advice to young people —
reflecting the ideas and guidance she received from her own inspiring
mentors — can be found in two of her poems, reprinted to the left, “The
Inner Voice” and “The Great Rewards.” Both exhort children — whether in
elementary school or ready to graduate from college — to work hard,
learn thoroughly, and live up to the highest standards. Both reflect
her values and the life that she achieved by keeping those values
firmly in sight.
The Inner Voice
My dear children
Remember you are in school to learn
Making preparation
for your diploma to earn
As you begin
to select colleges of your choice
Stop and listen to your inner voice
Asking you, “Is my grade point average what it should be?
I know that answer is up to me.”
Young people,
your life is a precious gift to cultivate
To the highest level each and every day
Keep a focused mind,
then your thoughts won’t go astray
Books and learning
are the keys to success
Keep this in mind and
you will be blessed with the very best.
Yes, I’ll study hard
till the middle of the night
Trying to make sure
that my grades are right
Next I’ll check with my counselor
before it’s too late
To make sure that I’m ready to graduate.
The Great Rewards
Each year it’s amazing to watch
our young men and women
Graduate from high school,
colleges, and universities
And those moving on to the next level
Receiving their Master’s and
Doctorate degrees.
While parents wipe their tears
of blissful joy
Reminiscing over years gone by
When they were just babies
Holding a special teddy bear
or a special toy.
It’s such a blessing
watching so many young people
Striving to live clean lives
With reservation and high expectations
One day these young people
Will be the leaders of this great nation.
The money that we continue to spend
On building prisons and jails
Would help our bright young people
To enter Harvard or Yale.
We won’t need more jails
If we have more schools
Teaching our young people
The proper tools to use.
Early childhood education
Is a major component
during a child’s early school days
With well trained teachers
They are taught discipline,
respect, sharing,
And learning in so many ways.
There is much that each person can do
By lending a helping hand
Being a good listener, seeing the
positive and letting them know
that we understand.
A kind word
A kind deed
This is what we all need
So each day
Let’s plant a love seed.
