Page 36 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2023 - Online Magazine

RED RAIDER
Since 1948
JOYCE PEMBER CHEATHAM
by June Hogue
“Be the kind of woman you want to call -- when things go wrong. Be the motivator, the
encourager of dreams. Be the kind of fierce friend you want to have for yourself….”
-Donna Ashworth
ontemporary Scottish poet
Donna Ashworth’s words
Ccould be describing Joyce
Cheatham, mother of five and
teacher of many. She was born
in Dallas but lived most of her
life in Slaton as the eldest of four
children and the daughter of a
prominent business family. She
and her sisters (MayBelle Kern
and Joan Adams) were 15, 12, and
9 when they welcomed a new
brother (Bruce). Each of the four
have become active, contributing
citizens in their own communities. brandishing toy guns to request
Joyce entered Texas Technological
Joyce with great-grandson Henry
36 Lubbock Senior Link
College in 1948—75 years ago. Ford coupe for her for $200.
She was invited to join the Ko
Shari Social Club which focused Joyce graduated from Texas
on Native American lore. It was Tech in 1952 with a degree in
led by none other than esteemed Home Economics and a teaching
Tech professor Dr. Curry Holden. certificate, which served her
(TTU’s Holden Hall was named in well for more than 30 years of
his honor.) Ko Shari later became employment in Texas public
the Pi Phi Sorority. schools.
At 21, Joyce and her husband
As a pledge, she was to participate (Dick Cheatham) began their life
in a drive for a worthy cause. She together and lived in Slaton for the
remembers dressing with others first 11 years. Five children came
in cowgirl attire and playfully along to complete their family
dimes which were used to line of seven, before the Cheathams
the sidewalks along College moved in 1963 to the Lubbock
Avenue. Polio had become home where she currently resides.
a dread disease, and the Dick became a well-known artist,
money raised would support and Joyce became a secondary
research by the March of teacher for Lubbock ISD. Their
Dimes. adult children (Chrys Hawkins,
Cyd Seideman, Caryn Richards,
Joyce had no car, but the Richard Cheatham, and John
Greyhound Bus service Cheatham) have gifted Joyce with
and friends with “wheels” eight grandchildren and 13 great-
allowed her to commute grandchildren.
often between Lubbock and
Slaton. During her senior I first met Mrs. Cheatham as a
year at Tech, her paternal student in her junior high English
class. Later, I was her student in a
grandfather purchased a