Despite my searching, I couldn't find anything on Eddie, even a class photograph. My guess is that he was a 4th-year transfer student who arrived too late to be in our annual.
Eddie was a bookworm. I recall that he read science fiction. I was paired by one of the teachers to walk with him in graduation. Otherwise I suppose I wouldn't have known him.
No, Susan, Eddie had been around a long time. But he was so quiet and so focused on his reading that he could never make any connections with anyone, and thus became sort of "the invisible guy." He and his family attended the same church I did in Donelson and I remember seeing him at church as early as when we were 11 or 12 years old. He had several siblings and they all looked exactly alike -- like Eddie! His mom was a very pleasant matronly woman who seemed so healthy and alive and happy (and a little frustrated) as she tried to manage Eddie's hyper brothers and sisters during church service. She never had to say a word to Eddie, because he always sat perfectly still and read some paperback which he had tucked into his Bible. I expressed concern to my mom that "something should be done," but she told me that Eddie's mom "was getting him help." I always wondered what that meant. I never found out.
I tried in earnest to connect with Eddy (seemed like the Christian thing to do, plus I was already a shrink since I was very young), but try as I did, he resisted every effort. I mean, this kid wouldn't even talk to you! He'd just look up from his book, make brief eye contact, looked annoyed for a moment, then go back to his book. I was saddened to hear that he had died.
Bill, I went all the way back to my 1967 yearbook and there was Eddie!
I suppose he just didn't feel inclined to be pictured in subsequent years. Sadly, there isn't even a space with his name and "no photo available" so it looks like he just wasn't there.
As I look back I think there were more of these silent, "invisible" kids that none of us ever really connected to. With my "professional" eyes I wonder how much stuff was going on in their lives that we never had a clue about or made an effort to understand...
I came across Eddie on a Nashville Transit bus in the early 70's. Sitting by himself, reading a book. I managed to strike up a conversation with him, a short one. I was surprised to learn that he was into model making and wanted to go to LA and work in the movie industry building scale models. I never saw him again.
I had Eddie Smith in my class and have often wondered what happened to him. I was saddened to read that he had died. Once this sweet, little boy asked me to find a friend for him, and I hooked him up with one of your classmates. For a time they seemed to bond. Eddie was not invisible to everyone. There was someone who noticed him....ME.
Susan Stockell
Despite my searching, I couldn't find anything on Eddie, even a class photograph. My guess is that he was a 4th-year transfer student who arrived too late to be in our annual.Eddie was a bookworm. I recall that he read science fiction. I was paired by one of the teachers to walk with him in graduation. Otherwise I suppose I wouldn't have known him.
Billy Gray Johnson
No, Susan, Eddie had been around a long time. But he was so quiet and so focused on his reading that he could never make any connections with anyone, and thus became sort of "the invisible guy." He and his family attended the same church I did in Donelson and I remember seeing him at church as early as when we were 11 or 12 years old. He had several siblings and they all looked exactly alike -- like Eddie! His mom was a very pleasant matronly woman who seemed so healthy and alive and happy (and a little frustrated) as she tried to manage Eddie's hyper brothers and sisters during church service. She never had to say a word to Eddie, because he always sat perfectly still and read some paperback which he had tucked into his Bible. I expressed concern to my mom that "something should be done," but she told me that Eddie's mom "was getting him help." I always wondered what that meant. I never found out.I tried in earnest to connect with Eddy (seemed like the Christian thing to do, plus I was already a shrink since I was very young), but try as I did, he resisted every effort. I mean, this kid wouldn't even talk to you! He'd just look up from his book, make brief eye contact, looked annoyed for a moment, then go back to his book. I was saddened to hear that he had died.
Susan Stockell
Bill, I went all the way back to my 1967 yearbook and there was Eddie!I suppose he just didn't feel inclined to be pictured in subsequent years. Sadly, there isn't even a space with his name and "no photo available" so it looks like he just wasn't there.
Billy Gray Johnson
The invisible kid. I wonder how many more there were.Love you, Susan. You know I really do.
billy
Donna Green (Pence)
As I look back I think there were more of these silent, "invisible" kids that none of us ever really connected to. With my "professional" eyes I wonder how much stuff was going on in their lives that we never had a clue about or made an effort to understand...Joe Timothy Jones
I came across Eddie on a Nashville Transit bus in the early 70's. Sitting by himself, reading a book. I managed to strike up a conversation with him, a short one. I was surprised to learn that he was into model making and wanted to go to LA and work in the movie industry building scale models. I never saw him again.Margaret (Scottie ) Atchley
I had Eddie Smith in my class and have often wondered what happened to him. I was saddened to read that he had died. Once this sweet, little boy asked me to find a friend for him, and I hooked him up with one of your classmates. For a time they seemed to bond. Eddie was not invisible to everyone. There was someone who noticed him....ME.
Mrs. Atchley