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www.southernsenior.info 21 S ness of the times and the scarcity of money. His older brother Earl was sent to the grocery store on be- half of their mother with 25 cents to get some groceries. After he got the groceries, Earl had four cents change left and he decided he would get himself a candy bar, which he could buy for a penny. When he got home, his mother was expecting four cents, but only got the three cents Earl had left. She said that was the last time she would let Earl do any shopping. Many of his family members also chose education as a ca- reer. Vel Von was an elementary teacher at West Side for many years, and his daughters have worked in Picayune schools for many years, with Kaye retiring this past spring. “I never tried to convince my children to go into education, but I will say it’s a very rewarding career. It proved to be a good retirement as well,” he said. “I missed it (working in education) for the first six months or so, but I have really en- joyed retirement. I’m thankful to the Lord that teachers have a good retirement. “I enjoyed when I started out as a teacher, and when I first started out, I had no idea how much joy it would be and I’ve really enjoyed it,” Henley shared looking back at his career. Through his life experiences, Fred said he learned a lot of things that he shares in the form of advice to young teachers just starting out. “I think it mounts up to the attitude you have about teach- ing. Some are interested in themselves, but you’ve got to be interested in the students you are teaching and the sub- jects you are teaching. As far as I know, I never had any problem with a child in a class. I think that goes with the way you treat them.” Fred has been a member of First Baptist Church of Picayune for 77 years. He has a plaque that was presented to him for teaching a Sunday School for 50 years. He wanted to set the record straight on that. “I actually taught Sunday School for 53 years, another three years after they gave me the plaque,” Fred commented with laughter. Fred Henley has received many awards recognizing his serv- ice to others as well as his accomplishments as a player, a coach, and an administrator. In 2008, he was inducted into the Pearl River Community College (PRCC) Hall of Fame and PRCC’s Lifetime Achieve- ment Hall of Fame in 2015. He served as President of the Pearl River Junior College Alumni Association. He has served on numerous committees and boards for edu- cation associations, the District Boy Scouts of America Coun- cil, Pearl River County Development Association, and U.S. Selective Service Board. He received the Rotary Club Presidents Cup, is a member of Moses Cook Masonic Lodge, past President of the Picayune Education Association, and is a member of the Mississippi Association of School Administrators. His lovely wife, Vel Von, passed away on August 24, 2016. It’s so vividly obvious how much Fred loved her and misses her when reflecting on their lives together. “It was a great life together. We were married eleven years before we had our first child. Now, just look up there on that wall (referring to pictures of Craig, Kaye, and Stacey),” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. Fred Henley has served so many in so many ways: his coun- try, his family, his students, his players, his employees, and his community as a whole. His life is an example of how one should serve. A Resource Directory of needed information for Seniors , promoting self-sufficiency, quality of life, and dignity in aging. Serving 15 Counties in southeast Mississippi Look for the BlueBook at senior centers, libraries, hospitals, medical offices, home health agencies & visitors bureaus.