By Mary Lackie

Mrs. Richard Stephens “drove around the corner” and found herself in Lynwood, an old community settled by families who came there to make charcoal from the hardwood trees. Now Lynwood is an area of rundown houses and dirt roads surrounded by neat suburbs.

The neighborhood is “practically next door” to Our Lady of Assumption church, said Mrs. Stephens and “right in the backyard” of other suburban parishes -- St. Jude’s, Holy Cross, Holy Spirit, Immaculate Heart of Mary. Even the Cathedral parish is in a location convenient to Lynwood. “And people keep asking me what they can do -- when their neighbors need help,” Mrs. Stephens said.

Aided by Mrs. Fred Rossman of Our Lady of the Assumption parish, Mrs. Stephens organized a chapter of the Georgia Council of Human Relations in 1965. With the cooperation of Oglethorpe College and Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church, the group planned a summer reading program two afternoons a week for children from the Lynwood area. The Decatur DeKalb Library Association provided books for the library club.

It was then Mrs. Stephens realized that there were many “nonreaders” among the children. In the fall, she asked grade school teachers to provide lists of pupils who need special help. A high school teacher gave her a list of 84 students who had reading problems.

There was no bus transportation for the children on Saturday mornings, so tutoring classes met in the basement of China Grove Baptist Church. The grade school classes swelled. “I guess we were overly ambitious,” said Mrs. Stephens. The Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, girls from St. Pius X and students from Oglethorpe College came to the assistance of the women.

In March, another tutoring class organized under the leadership of Mrs. Louis Erbs of Our Lady of the Assumption parish. The D’Youville Sodality offered its help with the project. “Sometimes I feel that I am getting nowhere,” said Judy Dieterle, prefect of the sodality, “but the child’s reaction gives us a sense of satisfaction. Sometimes the children will talk about their home life -- in an off sort of way -- some Saturdays, my child doesn’t come to class. Her mother had to wash her clothes.”

The girls always bring an extra little treat, Judy said, whatever they can afford. “Definitely, said Judy, “boys should become involved in the program. We intend to do something about this. I mean, the children really need help, and the boys are generally uneasy with girls tutoring them.”

The sisters view their work as tutors as simply “Christians helping where help is needed. One sister, in the chill of the church basement said, “The ideal situation would be a one-to-one ratio--one tutor for each child.” This is not an easy goal. The volunteer tutors sometime bring their own pre-school children to the classes, while high school students who tutor are forced to miss some Saturday classes to study for exams.

Allan Doernberg and Andy Wender of the Temple Youth Group at the Temple heard about the program and plan to work with high school boys and girls at China Grove Baptist Church on Saturday afternoons. “We are going to bring a group with us,” said Andy, “because we feel this is where there is the greatest need for help.”

Mrs. Stephens, vice president of the Archdicoesan Council of Catholic Women, is often asked the question: “What can we do?” Her reply is: “Maybe right around the corner you will find the answer.”