Elizabeth Neely Jewell

Elizabeth Neely Jewell is a phenomenally talented artist who possesses the kindest soul to ever grace this earth. She has created a name for herself as a designer and architect by balancing not only her conspicuous ability and craft, but also her sensibility to how a designed milieu can effect the disposition of those experiencing it. Her skillset is broad, encompassing a dexterous pencil hand, skillful brushstroke, as well as an attentive and benevolent friend.

Born and raised in Nashville,  Elizabeth has always enjoyed the company of others, having little choice considering comparative enormity of her family. Showing promise of a bright future and being just as precocious as her siblings, she attended Encore, a program for gifted children, and continued on in the Magnet program. While at Meigs Magnet School, she immediately enraptured my heart. Elizabeth continued to display her astute assimilation of erudition by not only being the Top Graduate in her class, but also by graduating a full semester early from the five year Architecture program at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Her eyes smile radiantly with a genuine goodness that is incredibly rare. She has an uncanny ability to accommodate others, creating an atmosphere of comfort and sincerity. She is always available to provide appreciated admonition and council.

I am completely smitten with Elizabeth. I revere her with intense love and adoration. She has, without a doubt, been my most powerful muse, always providing justified advice and impartial guidance, which is something that I, being somewhat headstrong, can always employ. I am thus blessed to have her by my side, let alone also in my heart. She will be forever cherished, as will be her convivial and august family, whom I will soon be  ardently joining.

Jonathan Thomas Gatlin

Jonathan Thomas Gatlin is a brilliant, loving man who means the world to his friends and me. Known as Tom among friends, he grew up in Nashville, TN with his family surrounded by people who looked after him. He has two wonderful sisters, aunts, and grandmothers. His mom is an awesome spunky woman who means the world to him, and Nick, his stepdad, has been a prominent figure in his life.

Having so many wonderful influences in your life makes it hard to go astray. After some time in Encore, a school program for gifted children, he soon proved how smart he was by asking me to be his girl while we were at Meigs Magnet School together. This young love romance only lasted about a month or two but we continued caring for each other throughout high school There he excelled in German classes and Computers. He is a language guy by trade and learning comes very easily to him because of his eidetic memory. Jonathan loves to read and has a passion for documentaries that he makes me watch on a regular basis. (I usually accidentally fall asleep but I love them too) He graduated from Hume Fogg Academic and began his journey to find out what defines his true calling in life.

Jonathan is an old soul and wise beyond his years; this may be in part due to his wide range of experiences. He has already served in the Army and was Honorably Discharged just a little more than a year ago. He is an esteemed Eagle Scout and likes to help others learn about ultralight hiking and cool survival techniques. He spent time living in Germany and many other European countries. He worked in Knoxville for the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Association (the people who monitor the weather) as their Director of Web Projects and  recently opened his own design firm, GATLIN, specializing in information design for high net worth individuals and brands.

Jonathan is a caring family man who epitomizes honesty and integrity. He would give everything he owns to those he loves. He is a wonderful friend and role model. He is a Master Mason and will be a Shriner soon. Generosity may as well be his middle name. He is a one-of-a-kind, steadfast friend that anyone would be lucky to have. He will be an amazing husband and life long partner. I am completely in love with this amazing man.

Tom – The Real Story, Written & Illustrated by Jan Gatlin

After reading the fabricated biography of Tom, I felt compelled to set the record straight.

I vividly remember Tom’s first Christmas like it was yesterday.  Papa had long since retired from his job with the WPA, Diddy was home on a furlough from the work release program at the State Correctional Institution, Nana was still slaving at her job as a highway flagger, where she constantly suffered from the Hwy 40 Blues and Jada had traded her 80′s big hair for Paul who was devoid of any.

It was a bad winter that year. Even though a light snow was falling through a brutal north wind, we were warm inside feasting on Nana’s cathead biscuits and sampling Papa’s moonshine stash. Tom was known as Roly Poly, daddy’s little biscuit. The only thing that Tom wanted for Christmas that year was a Pee Wee Herman doll, delivered in person by Large Marge herself. “I know you are but what am I” replaced the more genteel “Merry Christmas” greeting that year. Time marched on in our little corner of the woods, punctuated only by our twice annual visit from our inbred cousins toting homemade deliverance banjos and guitars.

Around the age of 3, Tom bravely fought his way down the path to the communal outhouse.  Blood cuddling screams summoned all of the kin to find Tom bent over with his head stuck in one hole of the 2 seater outhouse.  We were told to constantly observe the little tyke for the next 2 to 3 years to make sure he recovered from his traumatic brain injury.  Thankfully, 2 or 3 years later his protruding forehead was barely noticeable.

The first day of school brought Tom to Ms. Bumpus’ class sporting the little sailor suit that Joy had knitted for him.  The left pant leg being  6 inches shorter than the right was barely noticeable, as was his little una-brow which we covered with a little cap. We were all thrilled when Tom exercised an inate ability to sing.  He would belt out:  ”I can see clearly now” and we held high hopes that he would make it to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.  Our dreams were shattered years later when we watched him perform in the chorus of Hume Fogg.
Tom soon left stateside to study abroad.  (From the pictures, she tweren’t much to look at).  For 1 to 2 years he lived as a Kraut.  He returned home with a penchant for home brews a/k/a “The Devil’s Milk”.

After graduation, Tom determined that he wanted to become a Doe Boy and follow in the footsteps of General Lucius T. Gatlin whose statue still graces the Franklin City square.  After seeing infantry combat duty in SC and GA, he was granted an honorable discharge and a rainbow heart for his service.
Tom then followed his beloved to Knoxville where armed with little more than an old rooster weather vane and a cardboard barometer, he went to work for NOAA, the weather people (not to be confused with the 60′s weathermen)

Tom is about to get hitched to Liz, who we all hope is not the same as the one who gave her daddy 40 whacks and her momma 41.