"Because I knew you, I have been changed for good"

We all have them in our lives, and if we are lucky we have more than one. The teacher(s) who not only teach us the subjects of their courses but that also teach us about life; and when we complete our time in their courses we not only leave as better students, but we carry their spirit, their love, and their inspiration with us for the rest of our lives.

I was blessed to have one of these teachers in high school, Mrs. Margaret F. Gregory. Mrs. Gregory taught chorus at my high school and I was blessed to have the opportunity to have her my senior year for two chorus classes. Prior to my senior year though I had worked with Mrs. G at church as she lead our youth choir and I also had the chance to take private voice lessons from her for a year. She definitely was passionate about music and passed that along to all that she met. She lit up the room when she walked into it, and beyond teaching music she really did teach everyone that she met about how to live and love life to the fullest.

Mrs. Gregory died suddenly last Monday morning and it has been a hard and sad week for everyone who was blessed to have known her and have her touch their life. There are things that happen in our lives all the time that we don't understand and we don't think are fair, and losing Mrs. Gregory so soon is definitely one of those. I am comforted knowing that God has plans for everyone and that I know she is now singing in his choir, the greatest choir of all! I was lucky to get to spend some time with Mrs. Gregory and her husband last summer when they came to Charleston for a visit and took me out to dinner. I will always cherish the lessons she taught me both inside and outside of the classroom, and to honor her will strive to live my life as she lived hers. I pray that I can be the same type of inspiration and joy to others I meet and work with in life as Mrs. Gregory was to all she met. I miss you Mrs. Gregory, and know that I will see you again someday!