Louis Gordon was a Russian Jew. Though small of statue, he was a giant in his heart.

With kind eyes, he shared his blessings with anyone he knew to be in need. I can see him now standing behind a small jewelry case just as you opened the door to his business in Pinewood.

The sign outside in bold black letters read: L. Gordon Dry Goods. Although I was never able to purchase anything from the jewelry case, I remember it held an assortment of ladies' costume jewelry. I also remember a harmonica with a price tag on it of 10 cents.

Each time I entered the store, I could picture myself playing the mouth organ at the Grand Ole Opry.

Mr. Gordon had a certain twinkle in his eye as he greeted shoppers intending to purchase. He smoked one cigarette after another. The store reeked of stale tobacco.

If my memory serves me correctly, this kind gentleman rented a room, where he lived when not in the store. His one employee was Mrs. Olga Lawrence who trained under this successful merchant. My mother would often send me to his store for something she needed. Although we lived between four and five miles from the little town, there were certain items that could only be found in his store.

My mother was a gifted seamstress and used an assortment of threads in her work. I never complained the times she would stop me from playing to send me to Mr. Gordon's store. I would always be rewarded with at least a nickel. I remember so well the generous Mr. Gordon who would always make a contribution to the churches and civic organizations in the area. I was chairman of the fund-raising committee for the school's yearbook. Mr. Gordon would always purchase a nice size ad that read simply: "L. Gordon Dry Goods."

Next door to Gordon's was the Pinewood Depository which served some of the financial needs of the community. It crashed during the big 1929 Depression. I recall my mother telling me that our grandfather had left the sum of $25 each for me and my sisters. Banks were closing by the thousands, thus ending my first venture in banking. When the bank closed, Pinewood had a post office, a small L-shaped building which also housed in one corner a small barber shop. Next to it was a tiny building that housed the doctor's office. I suppose it would be fitting to say this was Pinewood's tiny mall -- the bank which closed, the post office, the barber shop and the tiny office for the local doctor.

Before we go any further with this, let me share with you what brought back these memories.

You see, I wanted to play basketball, but one of the requirements was to wear what was known then as tennis shoes. Mr. Gordon had an ample supply for $1.98 a pair. As I entered the store to make my purchase, Mr. Gordon again was about to share his blessings with me. The note that my mother had given to me to give to Mr. Gordon was by now a crumpled piece of paper. It read: Dear Mr. Gordon, "Please give Rinehart a pair of the shoes he wants, and I will pay as soon as the sewing I'm doing is complete."

This was another example of doing it for "one of the least of these."

Lest we forget ...

T&D Columnist Rinehart Chewning is a longtime resident of Holly Hill. His column appears every Saturday.

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