There are many things which make our tight-knit community a place we like to call home.
Scenic beauty is certainly one of this area's most endearing attractions with rolling hills and flowing rivers dotting the landscape. Good schools, safe neighborhoods, and quality jobs also contribute to making this area a great place to live.
But without a doubt, the thing that sets Warren County apart from everywhere else in the world is our people. We're blessed to have a colorful collection of friends and neighbors that help shape who we are individually and as a community.
As the hands of time continue to spin, we lose some of these memorable people from our lives. While death is a constant occurrence, Warren County has been hard hit in recent weeks with some prominent losses.
J.B. McGregor was one of those people. He was a World War II veteran and we don't have many of those brave soldiers left. A prominent builder, he started Colonial Building Supply and Ace Hardware in McMinnville back in 1980.
Mr. McGregor also made sure religion was a focus of his life as he was a deacon at First Baptist Church for the past 55 years.
Jo Dean Lentz was another memorable person as owner and operator of Lentz Cee Bee Grocery for years. The grocery was a staple in this community.
Many local residents will remember well-known pharmacist Dannye Ray George, who was as loyal as they come as far as UT Vol fans are concerned. Mr. George was certainly a character who mixed humor with a genuine care for his pharmacy customers. If a customer was unable to pick up a prescription from him at work, Mr. George was known to drive it to their house after regular business hours.
Aaron Durham was a pioneer in radio during a time when that was one of the primary means of gaining information. He started broadcasting from his neighborhood as a child, eventually started his own radio station in Smithville, and then operated one here in McMinnville for around 30 years.
It's hard for a community to replace such fine citizens and such remarkable community leaders. They will be missed for their contributions and remembered for making our lives a little brighter.