By DONNA NEELY
Thomas (Te) Meador weds Melva Harding
MAY 28, 1960
Thomas (Te) Meador and Melva Harding grew up two doors behind each other in the Village of Old Hickory. The two went to school together all the way from grade school and graduated together at Dupont High School. Te was a football player and Melva a cheerleader. Sparks started when they were selected to walk together at Dupont’s Homecoming 1956. Melva said, “When I put my arm in his arm to walk down the football field, I knew he was the one for me. His arms were so strong! I knew he would take care of me and he has" 
The Meador family love story began 50 years ago on May 28th, 1960. Te taught school and coached in Metro for 35 years. Melva was a law firm receptionist in downtown Nashville for 24 years. They have two sons, Marty (Traci), grandsons Zach 15, Nick 12, live in Mt. Juliet and Murray (Susan) live in Boston, Massachusetts, but are moving back to Nashville soon. They are expecting a little girl in June.
Herman Mark Coleman weds Martha Janice Stamps
MARCH 27, 1951
Old Center School in Goodlettesville was the school that Herman and Martha attended and began their
courtship. Soon after, Herman was sent overseas in the Korean War, while Martha started planning their March 27th wedding.
Two weeks before the wedding, Herman was released and on his way home from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, when his first car broke down. After the second, third, and forth car broke down, he finally found a car and arrived back in Nashville. He and his brother Junior, were on their way to the church when Herman looked over at Junior and said “I hope you’ve got the ring!” Junior said “Yes, it’s in my coat pocket.” The problem was that Junior’s coat pocket was at home. They had to turn around and head back home to get the ring. To top off the entire escapade, it started raining and eventually snowed four inches!
In the meantime, back at the church, with the music playing over and over again, Martha was crying, thinking she had been jilted. Herman, his brother, Junior, and the ring finally arrived thirty minutes late. The wedding that “Almost Wasn’t” was beautiful and the Coleman’s live happily ever after in Mt Juliet on 40 acres of a 1,000 acre Logue family farm that was granted in 1776 after the Revolutionary War. The Coleman’s have three children, Pat (Rickey), Mark & Jim (Angela), eight grandchildren & seven great grandchildren.
Charlie Tatum weds Elizabeth Reed
FEBRUARY 23, 1946
The Lebanon Garment Factory was the hot spot for Charlie Tatum & Elizabeth Reed. Charlie was in charge
of maintenance and Elizabeth was a seamstress. He had a reputation for being the town rascal and she was dedicated to Barton’s Creek Baptist Church. Liz went with Charlie because he had a Model T Ford and Charlie liked her going with him because she could help push to get it started. Charlie said “Liz was willing to take me like I was.”
Finally, everything was ready and the day had come to call the preacher to marry them. The first preacher refused because he didn’t think it would last. So they went to another preacher and he refused for the same reason. Then they decided to try the first preacher again. I said, “Brother Wendall Price, we want to get married today on this Saturday, February 23, 1946.” He married us and we have been hooked for good since that day,” stated Charlie.
“We hadn’t been married long when Elizabeth persuaded me to go to a revival at Barton’s Creek. I came out a new man and I feel that our marriage lasts today because of my re-dedication. Together, we raised three wonderful children and built the house we still live in today.
She helped me with the business, Tatum’s Camper Sales and Service, and is my best friend. We’re both retired now and still pretty good buddies.”
Charlie Lawson Tatum (age 90) married Elizabeth Reed Tatum (age 86) on February 23, 1946. That makes 64 years and still going strong. “I would do it all over again!" says a spunky Charlie.