They were the Best children of William (Willie) and Mary Best. They all got their start in Woodville, Mississippi. After High School, several completed professional training and education. Growing up in the early 1900’s they all became honor students and graduates of Hard Times University. No electricity, no phones, horses & mules for transportation. What people today call essentials were unthought of conveniences when they grew up.

But the hard times only made them more appreciative, closer to each other and focused on the main thing, love. They bathed each conversation with encouragement and lived out, The Golden Rule,  “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Matthew 7:12

Meet the Faculty left to right: Wilhena Best Simonton, Mary Ella Best Smith, Francis Best, Josephine Best Smith, and Farrar Best Johnson. Each of the Best Faculty were incredible encouragers. They saw value & good in their students. Each Best Faculty also had a unique specialty that they used with their Homeroom students and their community.

Their homeroom class (their children) were Gene Simonton (Wilhena), Kirk Smith (Mary Ella), Barbara Dunbar & Charles Best (Francis), Lela Smith Warren, Joyce Williams & Mary Elizabeth Smith Chaffin (Josephine), Gene Johnson & Robert Johnson (Farrar).

Their teaching philosophy was, Trust Jesus, Honesty & Integrity, Never Complain, Find the Good In People, Make Do With What You Have Until You Find A Way and Always Put Your Family First (Time). Commitment was more than a catchy word; it was a life value. All the Best Faculty remained married to their first love until they went home to be with Jesus.

Wilhena Best Simonton, far left, was a businesswoman trailblazer in Natchez, Mississippi. She taught me to look for opportunities and the value of hard work. She started the first after-hours calling service for doctors and other professionals in Natchez. She was one, if not the first, to install washeterias in the Natchez area. She had rental property and had, I think, the first spa in Natchez. She worked hard yet always had time for family.

Next to her was Mary Ella Best Smith. She taught me customer service. She started out keeping books for their service station and local petroleum distribution business. Before long local businesspeople & farmers were asking her to keep their books and prepare their taxes. As I remember she was the first woman president of the Arkansas Public Accounting Association and passed her federal certification. She had a quiet, and cheerful demeanor. Later she moved her office to their house. I remember many times when she cheerfully got up from the table to meet a stressed-out client. That’s when she used her “Best Values” to encourage & find a way.

In the middle was Francis Best, the rock. He taught me leadership. While he was not the oldest, he was the family member they all depended on. As a business leader in Carlisle, Arkansas he provided the same calm, wisdom and thoroughness with his family and his community responsibilities. Before the E. F. Hutton TV commercial of “When E. F. Hutton speaks…,” there was, “What did Francis Best say?” He was known for his wise counsel.

Josephine Best Smith was the great storyteller. She taught me the power of an enthusiastically told story. She never met a stranger. All her stories were uplifting & sprinkled with laughter. She used her spellbinding nature on many occasions. One time U. S. News & World Report sent 2 staff writers from New York to interview her. They thought they would only be there a short while to get facts about Russian Jews settling in Woodville, Mississippi. What happened was they spent a big portion of the day with Ms. Jo, sitting on her back porch, eating hot dogs & drinking lemonade listening to her stories. They missed their plane back to New York.

Finally, Farrar Best Johnson, my mom. She taught me so much. There was the love of cooking, conversations around the kitchen table, family first and the tenderness & caring for people. But the most important was her example of a “No-Matter-What” faith in Jesus. It was her singing “In the Garden” & reciting the 23^rd Psalm that lingers in my heart today. But on the morning of the worst day of my life, when I had lost all hope, God recalled an image of her sitting in her chair with her Bible in her lap. It was a stormy period of life. And yet, I remembered her Peace & Confidence. I knew she had what I needed. Two days later I accepted Christ and my life changed forever.

Each of the Best Facility shaped my life.

Ponder the verses.

• Proverbs 13:22 “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.” This was a priority for each of the Best Facility,
• They lived out Psalm 78:4 “We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
• And the Best Faculty unashamedly “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Timothy 2:2

It’s not, “Will we leave a legacy?” But what will it be? It’s not too late to tell someone to Good News of Jesus.