Valera Hord remembers the first time she saw her husband of

65 years, Lloyd. &uot;He lived in one town, and I lived in another,&uot;

Valera, 87, recalls. &uot;I was at a school program with one

of my girlfriends when he walked in.&uot;

She said she asked her friend who he was, not because she was

interested, but because she did not recognize the stranger in

her small town of Taylorsville.

After graduation, Valera moved to neighboring Raleigh, where

Lloyd was teaching school. It wasn’t long before Lloyd tracked

her down at the Smith County Chancery Clerk’s office where she

worked and asked for a date. Four years later, the two were married.

In the simple ceremony, no photographs were taken and Lloyd

did not receive a ring, but the couple does not need the traditional

reminders of the vows taken that day.

The year was 1935, and the country was still recovering from

the Depression, but Valera said she found the money for her wedding

day attire.

&uot;I bought a new dress and a hat,&uot; Valera said, adding

the ceremony it was not as extravagant as weddings today.

For the conservative husband and wife, many things seem extravagant

these days. Lloyd, 91, prides himself on the fact that he has

only bought one car on credit and sent two children through college

without taking out a single loan.

When Lloyd graduated from college in 1931, he owed $12,000

to a local merchant and friend of the family who paid his way

through Mississippi College. Lloyd began teaching to save money

for medical school, but soon chose education as a profession.

&uot;I think the Lord wanted me to teach,&uot; Lloyd said.

&uot;There was something about teaching that seemed important.&uot;

That &uot;something&uot; kept Lloyd in education for almost

50 years, 44 of them in Mississippi public schools. Valera is

also a retired teacher with more than two decades in business

education.

A conversation with the Hords proves just how important their

teaching careers were and are to their lives. In the combined

75 years the couple taught, they saw many changes.

Valera said she remembers the integration of public schools,

but while history records it as a time of turmoil, she remembers

it as a smooth transition.

&uot;It wasn’t hard,&uot; Valera said. &uot;When (blacks)

first moved in, we hardly noticed it. Some of the best students

I had were black.&uot;

Lloyd said one of the biggest changes he sees in today’s schools

is the lack of discipline and respect for teachers. He said he

never had problems with discipline when he taught. &uot;It’s

not the size of the person (that commands respect), it’s something

about their personality,&uot; he said.

When he announced his retirement from Natchez High School in

1974, Lloyd said several people tried to convince him to stay

on a few more years, &uot;just to make it 50.&uot;

&uot;I told them, ‘I’ve never been fired, and I’ve never been

physically assaulted. I’d better quit while I’m ahead,’&uot;

Lloyd said.

After retiring, the couple bought a travel trailer and toured

the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They also took two cruises to the

Caribbean and Central America. When not on the road, they spent

hours tending to the 50 hybrid Tea roses in their backyard garden.

Valera said they have now grown too old for traveling and gardening,

but they still enjoy spoiling four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Neither Lloyd or Valera seem to be bothered by age. &uot;The

only way to keep from growing old is to die young,&uot; Lloyd

said.

Six years ago, Lloyd was diagnosed with an eye disease that

has gradually stolen his vision. While he still has some peripheral

vision and can detect movement, he is legally blind.

&uot;He can’t read the newspaper anymore,&uot; Valera said.

&uot;I read anything important to him.&uot;

Over the years, taking care of one another has become as natural

as caring for one’s self.

&uot;She’s very attentive to me,&uot; Lloyd said. &uot;Sometimes

I think she does too much.&uot;

The Hords’ two children and their families are giving the couple

a reception next weekend to celebrate their July 31 anniversary.

Lloyd said it is difficult for him to realize they have been

married so long, adding he has never regretted his proposal.

&uot;Somebody asked me if I ever thought about getting divorced,&uot;

Lloyd said. &uot;I told them I’d be too afraid nobody else would

take me.&uot;

Both Valera and Lloyd agree their relationship has not changed

too much in 65 years, although Valera said there have been a few

bumps in the road.

&uot;It hasn’t always been smooth,&uot; she said. &uot;We’ve

had a few quarrels, but nothing serious.&uot;

While many couples today split because of money woes, Lloyd

said he and his wife are unique because they have always shared

a bank account.

&uot;We never did argue about money, because we never had

any,&uot; Valera said. But Lloyd is quick to add that they were

always content.

&uot;The Lord blessed us, and we never went without,&uot;

he said.

After 65 years, the couple has also never gone without each

other.

&uot;We haven’t been separated much at all in our lives,&uot;

Valera said, patting her husband’s hand.