Small Things Make A Difference
By Bonita Wilborn
Small things make a difference, was and still is, the living legacy of Lena Cagle. According to Penny Cagle Grant, daughter of the late Lena Cagle, the Bridgeport Public Library began in a small room in the corner of City Hall. “They gave her a small room in the Mayor’s office, or the City office, where she had two shelves of books. She set up a little library there that was open a couple days a week. She saw the need for a public library as all of the towns around us had libraries, but Bridgeport did not. So, she started going to other libraries studying and working to see how she could get a library funded and then she started applying for grants. Eventually they moved the post office, and when the old building became available they gave the post office building to the city, which was turned into the library.” Penny recalled. “Her [Lena’s] love for the library started when she was substituting as a teacher at school. One year she got to fill in for the librarian, who was on extended leave. That’s where she learned the ropes about how to catalog books and all of that. She had a real passion for books, education, knowing the power of books for anyone of any age, as well as the fact that books can take you anywhere, and they can open doors for you. That was just her life’s passion. She was a little bit of the vision for the town having a library and helped to motivate everyone in the community to come together to support and help make a town library a reality. For that reason, the library was named in her honor.”
“As
her daughter,” Penny added, “the most amazing things she did were the little
things that told people ‘you matter.’
She believed that everybody had potential, and everybody mattered. She was a simple lady that did simple things
that mattered.”
During
the administration of former mayor of Bridgeport, John William Lewis, the
town’s public library was re-named the Lena Cagle Public Library.
Lena
passed the torch of running the library to two terrific ladies, Louise Brown
and Betty McGraw, both former teachers and dear friends. Jennifer Gamble
and Mitzi Guess are the current
Co-Directors of the library.
“Give
the world your best, and the best will come back to you” was Lena Cagle’s
life’s motto, exemplified every day in her relationship with Christ, her
family, and her community. For years
Mrs. Lena secured funding, checked out books, helped with the summer reading
program, and served on the library board.
She
was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Citizens United for a
Better Bridgeport (CUBBS), Bridgeport Area Historical Association (BAHA),
Bridgeport Literary Club, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Tidance Lane
Chapter of the DAR. She loved working election days.
She
was a true “doer of the word” and always focused on the joy of
others. She visited the elderly and
sick, sent notes and cards, cooked and delivered food, and shared bouquets and
vegetables from her garden. She fostered
celebration by hosting teas, catering weddings, and cooking with the
“girls” for the athletic teams and a variety of church events. In return, she received the personal pleasure
of knowing she was serving as God’s hands.
Lena
knew that your “best” is often in the little things. She will be remembered for her love of
gardening, monkey grass, beautiful flower arrangements, Christmas, creative calendars, hand-stitched baby blankets,
fried okra, cats, and her belief that family traditions and history are to be
passed to future generations. Lena
believed that flowers were for the living.
A
severe hearing disability gave her a quiet, gentle demeanor, but those within
her circle knew that behind that softness, she was their loudest, fiercest
supporter.
Alvin
Cagle, Lena’s husband of 67 years, spent his working career at TVA’s Widows
Creek Fossil Plant, but he was also very active in their church and
community. When Lena’s health began to
fail her, Alvin was her very attentive caregiver for the last eight years of
her life. Lena and Alvin both had a
heart of service. They were diligent to
check on their neighbors and help them in any way that they could. Alvin and Lena would plant a large garden
every year and give some of the vegetables to people all over town. They tried to lighten people’s lives and help
their beloved community.
Mrs.
“Lena” Ellen Smith Cagle, age 87, passed away Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Lena
and Alvin had two daughters – Penny Cagle Grant and Beth Cagle Pace, one
grandson – Clay (Amanda) Sanders, and three great-grandchildren – Lyla,
Jackson, and Calvin.
Lena Ellen Smith Cable was born on October 6, 1932, one of 14 children born to the late Charles and Lettie Smith. She was preceded in death by Siblings – Catherine, Edna, Charles, Sally, David, Becky, Joe John, Josephine, and John. She is survived by siblings Martha, Andrew, Herschel, Judy and Pat, and numerous nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
Small Things Make A Difference
Small Things Make A Difference
