Nathaniel Armstrong, one of the most well-known taxi drivers in this area, lived across from me and my family on McKinley Street for more than 45 years.
His death about two weeks ago started me thinking about the value of good neighbors and neighborhoods in general. I thought about how good a neighbor he really was.
Whether neighbors in the past lived or still live across the street from me, behind me, around the corner or down the next block, in their own ways, my family and I have had great lives because of them.
Having neighbors is good in many ways for all of us.
They become friends for a lifetime.
Children grow up together, play together and sometimes attend schools at all levels together.
Adults visit each other and become lifelong friends. They cry together. Play together.
And pray together in times of sorrow.
True neighbors are always there to comfort one another.
Many attend churches, synagogues, temples, mosques or other worshipping places together.
Ever hear about nosy neighbors? Most of us have.
Nosy or attentive neighbors can be some of your best friends.
They watch for who comes to your house in the daytime and at night. You feel comfortable when you are out of town.
If you are elderly, sick or handicapped, they assist you with your groceries and check on you when you are ill.
They’ll carry your garbage cans to the curb.
Who wouldn’t want two or three compassionate neighbors? I sure would.
It is important that we love one another because it is written in the Bible that we should love your neighbor as thyself. Nothing is said about loving only those who live in bigger houses, ride in bigger cars, or anything like that.
Neighbors just automatically look out for each other because they truly are concerned about one another.
Loving one’s neighbors definitely says nothing about race, color, creed or national origin.
During my almost 18 years at this newspaper, some of the best people I have met live in the West Second Street and other predominately white areas of Clarksdale.
While on an assignment recently, I met a teacher in the Clarksdale Municipal School District who is the niece of a high school classmate of mine.
During the conversation, I discovered that her new neighbor is Michael Banks, editor of The Clarksdale Press Register, who has recently moved here from North Carolina with his wife.
While the teacher was doing work around her mother’s home on a recent day, Michael Banks, who is white, volunteered to assist the teacher, who is black.
Keep in mind, he had just moved to Clarksdale and knew nothing about her. She was so grateful.
That is what being a real neighbor is all about -- loving one’s neighbor as thyself.
It is deeds like that which make for a good neighborhood and a great city.
We all need to keep in mind that as Clarksdale continues to become better, its neighborhoods become better and Coahoma County becomes a better place to live.
When Coahoma County becomes a better place to live, Mississippi, the United States of America and the world become better.
After all, there is such a thing as neighboring countries.
Therefore, it is important that we all work together to make the world a safer and better place in which to live.
We do want a better world for our children. Don’t we?
Clarksdale and cities around the world would be better off if neighbors really loved and cared for each other.
I am a witness to those kinds of neighbors because they are in my neighborhood.
Troy Catchings is a photographer with The Clarksdale Press Register. He can be reached by phone at 662-627-2201 or email tcatchings@pressregister.com.
