By Emily Beggerow

The oldest of five children, Kathleen Pender was only a week from her eighth birthday when her youngest baby brother was born. Joy filled the home for a brief moment, until, just two months later, tragedy took her father, who died unexpectedly from a stroke. From then on, KK, as I call her, had to grow up more quickly than most children.

On September 28,1942, my grandmother, Linda Kathleen Fowlkes Pender, was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Her family frequently relocated as her father pursued employment opportunities with the Works Progress Administration (WPA). They eventually settled in the small town of Crawfordsville, Arkansas, which had a population of approximately 700 residents and a single stoplight.

Pender was the eldest of eight children in her family: six daughters and two boys. Two years before she was born, her mother had given birth to twin daughters who, unfortunately, did not survive. Reflecting on her experience as the eldest, Pender remarked, “We were just like a little group.” Despite her father’s early death, she recalled that “Mother always took care of us.” Following her mother’s remarriage to Ralph Knapp, Pender came to regard Knapp as a paternal figure. The household operated with a system of shared responsibilities, and under this system, “the older one got assigned to a younger one that day, like helping putting on shoes or getting dressed,” and she noted, “I always said [her mother] had good help because she had live-in helpers.”

Even with many shared household responsibilities, Pender did not lose sight of her love of learning. She recalled, “Once I tried to check out a book from the mobile library, and I couldn’t find one I hadn’t already checked out,” reflecting her insatiable curiosity and effortless will to learn. Despite her strong academic record and aspirations to attend college, pursuing higher education was financially unattainable for her family, and when she realized that, she stated, “I didn’t really think much of it, and I thought, ‘Well, I got to study some more.’” Pender’s mother, who read the newspaper daily, came across a scholarship offered by the Methodist School of Nursing in Memphis, Tennessee: “I didn’t know what a nurse did,” Pender recalled, “I just wanted to go to college.” Following her high school graduation, she was willing to pursue a career in nursing if the opportunity allowed her to further her education.

While in nursing school, Pender met her future husband, Dr. John Vincent Pender, Jr., at a party where neither of them knew anyone prior, and she almost didn’t go. They ended up hitting it off, and when he called to ask her out, she broke the news she had another date that Saturday. Instead, she suggested the following week and, “he said he’d never had a date a week ahead.” Their first date was at the Ole Miss vs. Memphis State football game. When asked if she had a lasting first impression, she fondly recalled, “Oh yeah, you never forget that.” They were married about a year later, on June 10, 1964 marking the beginning of a beautiful relationship that would last the rest of their lives.

Upon completing their post-graduate training, they devoted their efforts to establishing a practice together: Pediatric Associates. Dr. Pender and Nurse Pender built a thriving pediatric practice in Memphis that cared for many familiar names, including pop star Justin Timberlake. When thinking back upon their relationship, Kathleen expressed how his family had laid a firm foundation with support and love: “He had the best family, and I think that’s what helped him do so well all those years.”

Family was always at the heart of her life. Growing up, she learned the profound importance of love, loyalty, and standing by one another through both joys and hardships. Her unwavering dedication, paired with her tireless work ethic, shaped not only her own journey but also the lives of those around her. She carried these values into her family, ensuring that her children and grandchildren would understand the strength and rewards that come from hard work and surrounding yourself in a community that supports you through every season of your life.

For many individuals, their family functions as a fundamental pillar in their life. For me, my grandparents hold an especially distinguished and influential position. I find comfort knowing I always have their unwavering support and love in every stage of my life.

Every summer, our family, gathers in beautiful Seaside, Florida, for a weeklong beach vacation. Since each of the Pender children lives in a different part of the South, it’s rare that we all find ourselves in the same place at the same time. Still, no matter how busy life gets, everyone makes it a priority to come together for this one special week. Our days are spent soaking up the sun by the ocean, laughing over meals at our favorite restaurant, The Surfing Deer, and catching up on Tennessee sports. It’s a week filled with stories, shared traditions, and the kind of memories that remind us just how lucky we are to have each other.

Each year, the family is profoundly reminded of the sacrifices Pender has made and the boundless, unwavering love she has always shown. Her steadfast consistency has been the foundation upon which this close knit and caring family has been built, and we are beyond grateful.

All photos courtesy of the Pender family.