Nell Mohney's living legacy of love

Nell Mohney died a year ago this week, on July 19, 2016, at age 94.
Nell Mohney died a year ago this week, on July 19, 2016, at age 94.

Nell's spirit surrounds us,

and if we keep her memory alive,

Then her legacy of love -

A life overflowing with love -

will remain within our hearts.

- From June Scobee Rodgers' eulogy at Nell Mohney's memorial service last July

Vince Vita was taking a hard look at his midlife crisis. Divorced for several years, the then-manager and head captain of the Southern Belle riverboat was spending his off-time in party mode, basically living a bachelor's life. But something was missing.

photo Nell Mohney died a year ago this week, on July 19, 2016, at age 94.

"A little voice inside of me, who I now know was God, said, 'Vince, you need to get a little help from a counselor and get your life back on track.'"

He asked a friend if he knew any good counselors. The friend said he knew someone who'd be willing to talk to Vita, but she wasn't a counselor by trade. Vita followed up with a call to Nell Mohney, and she invited him to her home in Heritage Landing.

"I will never forget that day and the petite woman who answered the door," says Vita. "Her countenance was nonjudgmental, gentle, strong, godly, forthright and wise all at once. I walked out of there an hour and a half later feeling like I had met with someone appointed by God, and in fact I had!"

Mohney mentioned to Vita that she taught a singles Sunday School class at First-Centenary United Methodist Church and invited him to attend.

"Little did I know at that moment the journey I would take!" Vita says.

It's been a year since Nell Mohney passed, at age 94. And her legacy of love lives on. She triumphed in this life with the people she touched in so many ways - as author, speaker, community service volunteer, columnist for this newspaper, wife and mother. But the legacy she is remembered for most often is as an adult singles Sunday School teacher.

"God's message was taught through life lessons with attitude and gratitude, through service to the community and the creation of a singles class atmosphere that continues to be inclusive, welcoming, caring and helpful," says Joe Wilson, a "mostly retired" chemical engineer, who volunteers at the Creative Discovery Museum, First-Centenary and St. Jude School.

But what transformed this class of nearly 80 single people of all ages and from all stages and situations in life - divorced, widowed, never married - into a living legacy to Mohney, her "students," her community and her faith?

Longtime friend, author, founder of Challenger Center for Space Science Education and occasional speaker to Mohney's class Dr. June Scobee Rodgers says Mohney's husband and former minister at First-Centenary, Dr. Ralph Mohney, talked his wife into creating the class. He told her of the need for older singles to have a class in which they could learn, grow in Christ's love and have fellowship with others in a Christian setting.

After Nell's death, the class struggled a bit with their grief and direction, but now they have Jim and Rhonda Catanzaro, longtime class visitors, leading the way with help from within the organizational structure that Mohney put in place.

"With me as teacher and Rhonda as soloist and songleader, we have experienced firsthand the welcoming atmosphere and positive energy Nell created in her classroom," says Jim. "Beyond the warmth and Christian instruction she granted to all, Nell had a gift for organization. Under her guidance, the class developed leaders and forged a nurturing community within and beyond the church. Her legacy is that the class has a strong desire to continue and grow in number and impact on the region.

"Recently, the class voted overwhelmingly to name themselves the Nell Mohney Singles Sunday School Class to ensure her continued presence and to remain faithful to its mission. We are honored and humbled to follow in her footsteps," he adds.

When you ask class members to describe the makeup of the class, you get a variety of answers, but the essential core is love.

"It is a moderate, Christian-based inclusive class that welcomes all broken singles, regardless of your church affiliation," explains Steve Hicks, who is divorced and serves as a sales manager for a large Midwestern coal company. "The class is filled with open-minded singles with God's love in their heart and a passion for supporting each other through thick and thin."

Vita describes the class as single men and women, mostly seniors, who have learned a lot from life and who have found a unique and special group where they can worship God, form meaningful relationships with like-minded people and have fun doing it.

"That class became a huge part of my life - something to look forward to every week where friendships were nurtured and group activities planned," says Vita. "If you are single and divorced and alone, it can be hard to find a place to fit in. We never considered that Nell wasn't single. Her loyalty and love for the class was all-encompassing. We also joked about not getting married because we would have to leave the class."

But some did get married - like Vita - and a handful would have a hard time breaking away. Some of the couples come back to visit. At least one or two each Sunday. But the class "rules" are very clear - married couples can visit, but they must move on.

"I was in Chattanooga for a visit and attended the class for the first time without Nell," says Vita. "As usual I got an incredibly warm welcome. I was asked if I would get up and say a few words, and I thought about the life-changing impact that class had on me. I encouraged them to never underestimate the impact they could have on 'that person' who may walk in and sit in the back of the room one Sunday."

Several members of Mohney's Sunday School agreed that her influence was life-changing for them too.

"It is obvious that Nell was a true Renaissance woman - a compact-size, multifaceted dynamo," says Scobee Rodgers. "She inspired every life she touched to grow in love and to show gratitude.

"Indeed her role model was enough to inspire me to be more like her," Scobee Rodgers adds. "She could do anything; she was a leader with a sometimes serious exterior but always with a sensitive soul. She was the matriarch of not only her family but for many in Chattanooga. We all looked to her for advice, and she gave her encouragement freely and often with humor that made us laugh. She had an ageless energy with style and gracious charm."

"Nell was a genuine example of Christ walking among us. Her presence was unmistakable," adds Hicks. "She inspired me with her ability to use kindness, acceptance and her genuine life experiences that transcended all social and economic class structures to set examples that seemed specific to my particular issue. She helped me remove my inhibitions; she instilled confidence; and she was able to transform me with a since of purpose and wisdom to overcome my life's obstructions - cancer, job changes and the loss of loved ones. Nell was always available to talk, to listen, to advise and to share the joys and hardships of life's ups and downs."

To help enhance the lessons she taught, Mohney often incorporated guest speakers and panel discussion groups into the lesson plans. She had a wonderfully diverse selection of speakers that she held in high esteem, and she knew before the lesson began that their message would be spot-on, says Hicks.

The first time Mohney asked Scobee Rodgers and her husband, Don Rodgers, to speak, she wanted them to talk about the life experiences of their current marriage to each other and how they adjusted to a new life and love after the loss for both of them of their high school sweethearts in their first marriages. (June is the widow of Challenger Space Shuttle Cmdr. Dick Scobee; Don lost his wife Faye to a sudden heart attack.)

The second time Mohney asked them to speak, she wanted them to focus on the loss of their first spouses and how they met and adjusted responsibilities in their current marriage, with an emphasis on the risk of falling in love and the trust they found in a new commitment.

And the experience of visiting Mohney's class to speak was truly special, Scobee Rodgers says.

"Accompanied on the piano with Trish Foy playing Mohney's favorite song, 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness,' we felt such a strong connection to Nell and her Sunday School students when we visited and shared our stories," she says. "It was an awe-inspiring experience."

Outside the classroom, Mohney's living legacy continues through the work of her Sunday School class members in the community. The class continues to support Camp Lookout with numerous scholarships, The Mustard Tree ministry to the homeless, care packages for overseas troops and support programs for those widowed or divorced.

"Nell taught acceptance and understanding," says Wilson. "She taught us that we controlled our attitude. She taught us to look at our blessings and to be grateful for what we have, not dwell on what we have or didn't have."

As far as their support of each other, the class considers that also to be part of Mohney's legacy. They think of themselves as an extended family. Wilson explains that they care about each other, and they want to spend time together in fellowship.

As a longtime member of Mohney's Sunday School class, Wilson experienced a substantial financial crisis, falling from a net worth of $500,000 to bankruptcy.

"I should have been crushed, but I wasn't," he says. "I remained happy. Nell helped me learn the lesson of humility. My heart is full of love. I grew in Christ. I am a better man and Christian because of knowing Nell Mohney. My mission is to make a difference in the lives that I touch."

That message is echoed by other class members.

"She left the class and its mission to us," says Hicks. "Her spirit lives on in our works, and we follow both her teachings as well as her long-term plans and structure for our class. She left us with a permanent daily class agenda structured around both participation by class members as well as Christian teachings that follow in her style which were based on her rich life experiences that were molded by her Christian faith and optimism for seeking the good in all of us."

The future plans for the Sunday School class are lofty. They want to attract more single adults in Chattanooga so their class can become a refuge for hundreds of single adults seeking comfort. As their class grows and other singles classes evolve at the church, their hope is that First-Centenary will be known for its singles ministry throughout the land.

"Nell Mohney made a difference in this life," says Scobee Rodgers. "She was humble, devoted to her family, a generous friend and an awful lot of fun. She brought laughter, joy and harmony to all of us. Her living legacy is embodied in all of us who loved her."

Contact Kathie Scobee Fulgham at Life@timesfreepress.com.

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