Hopes some share memories

Each year, a group of students from Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas, visits an elementary school in Chinle during spring break. It is a long-running tradition, I believe, and one that the students enjoy very much.

This year, my daughter, Elizabeth Davies, has been invited to make the trip.

We learned something over the Thanksgiving holiday that makes Elizabeth's pending trip to Chinle even more exciting.

My grandmother and Elizabeth's great-grandmother, Opal Langford, taught for the Chinle Unified School District for many years during the 1970s.

During my childhood, I always knew my grandmother worked as a dormitory school principal in Winslow -- until she retired in the 1980s and moved back to her hometown of Brownwood, Texas.

Before serving as a principal, my father just told us over the holiday weekend, she taught for about 10 years in Chinle.

Opal passed away Jan. 1, 2000. She was a special woman and is missed dearly. She always cherished her years working and teaching in Arizona and had great respect for the Navajo and Hopi people. She often shared stories about their traditions with me when I was a child.

My daughter was blessed to have known her great-grandmother for most of her childhood. However, I wondered if any of Mrs. Langford's former students or colleagues in Chinle or Winslow have fond memories of her that they could share with my daughter before or when she makes this trip? Teachers tend to touch many lives.

If so, it would truly be a blessing if they could take the time to mail a letter or send an e-mail to our address.

I would love for my daughter to know how remarkable her great-grandmother truly was.

I think it will be an inspiration to her as she matures into a remarkable young woman herself!

Thank you.

Kelly Langford Thompson

1710 Belmont Blvd.

Abilene, Texas 79602