| Sources |
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 11 Mar 2012.
Terrence Logan Stewart obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 28 Feb 2014.
Reed recalls early days at Tanner School
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Tanner Preservation Alliance continues its work to rescue and preserve the historic Tanner School, one of the few Rosenwald Schools remaining in America. Many students of the institution used the knowledge and wisdom gained there as springboards for success in many areas of life. Many students chose to leave Cocke County and pursue their careers elsewhere, but took with them fond memories of their days at Tanner. One of these was Vivian Dykes Reed, who shares her story and memories today. In observance of Black History Month, the Tanner Preservation Alliance has shared these memories with us
I am the youngest daughter of the late Roland A. Dykes, Jr. and Elizabeth C. Smith-Dykes, of Newport, Tennessee. I am the fourth of seven siblings: Roland III, Stephanie Dykes-Stewart, Gary, Kathy Dykes-Sims, Dion, Scotty and Terry Stewart.
I grew up in Newport and, of course, attended Tanner School the first through the second grades. After the desegregation of schools, I attended Newport Grammar School the third through the eighth grades and graduated from Cocke County High School in 1977. I went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee/Knoxville in 1983 with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and later earned a Master’s in my field of Special Education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona in 2008. I have been employed by the Harlandale School District in San Antonio, Texas for 30 years.
I have been married to Mark Reed for 27 years and we have three sons, Mark Jr., Jamal, and Evan Reed, and we reside in San Antonio, Texas.
One of my fondest memories of attending Tanner School was my Head Start teacher Miss Odessa Franklin. I remember her as being very beautiful and nurturing, a trait which afforded me a good start for my academic career.
Another fond memory was my first and second grade teacher who just so happened to be my biological aunt, my father’s sister, Nettie Sue Swaggerty. She was another beautiful lady who I feel gave me a good start at Tanner School; she made sure we learned what she taught us. If she had any doubts that we did not “get it,” she would spend more time with us until she knew we had absorbed the lesson.
It will forever be in my memory how we sang in the cafeteria before we ate our lunch…”God is good and God is great, etc.”(You know the rest).
Spring commencement was always eagerly awaited. We would participate in every program and event and wear new dresses with our patent leather shoes.
I also have a fond memory of a community store which was run by Mr. Pee-Wee Woods. The store stood on the other side of Cosby Highway, and we younger students were not allowed to cross the street. I remember standing by the side of the road in front of Mr. Pee-Wee’s store waiting for the older students to run back across the street with the candy.
I’m proud of my humble beginnings at Tanner School, for they have taken me miles away to a successful career with the San Antonio, Texas School System.
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, d. 11 May 2005, Wilson County, Tennessee