My Brother, My Friend

My Brother, My Friend

Lloyd Jernigan confers with Dr. Jernigan

at the head table.

My Brother, My Friend

by Lloyd Jernigan

From the Editor: Lloyd Jernigan was Dr.

Jernigan's older brother. This is what he said at the memorial service:

First, I want to read two paragraphs from a

letter that I received from Dr. Abraham Nemeth and his wife Edna. I received the letter

shortly after returning home from Kenneth's funeral, and I appreciate his kind words about

my brother. These two paragraphs will explain a great deal about Kenneth's life and his

legacy. I now quote from Dr. Nemeth's letter:

"Now he belongs to the ages." These

were the words uttered by Edwin McMasters Stanton, President Lincoln's Secretary of War,

at the moment of Mr. Lincoln's death. Dr. Jernigan will forever occupy a prominent place

of honor, love, and respect in the history of the blindness movement. No one whose life in

any way touched that of Dr. Jernigan could fail to sense that he was in the presence of

greatness. We are grateful and privileged to have had that experience.

We know that we cannot, nor are we required to,

achieve all the goals that we have set for ourselves—having achieved one, there is

always another in the distance—but neither are we at liberty on that account to

refrain from exerting the effort toward that achievement.

When we are momentarily disoriented and are

required to assess the alternatives before us, we should pause, turn back, and take

careful note of the direction in which Dr. Jernigan is pointing. Then we should face

forward again and follow that direction. He has always guided us along a path which has

brought us closer to our objectives.

Those three paragraphs bring us a great message

from Dr. Nemeth. In Dallas during the past convention an NFB member from New Jersey said,

"He taught us how to be a family." The blind definitely have a better chance in

life today than at any other time in history. Kenneth Jernigan also fought the battle of

prejudice through pity. Without the acceptance of sighted people, it is difficult for the

blind to achieve their goals.

Dr. Jernigan and his brother Lloyd stand

in front of a bus at the Bear Creek barbecue in 1993.

As youngsters Kenneth and I were raised on a farm

in Tennessee. Several of the Kernel Books have articles about his life on the farm. Our

parents and I were afraid to let Kenneth out of our sight for fear that he would be

injured. That action is what I now see as loving pity, which hinders the future

independence and ultimately a happy and successful life of a blind child. It took me many

years to rid myself of that loving pity. I believe that one of the great obstacles facing

blind persons during Kenneth's youth, as well as today, was the lack of understanding of

blindness by family members. My family truly believed that because of his blindness

Kenneth would lead a bleak helpless life, depending on others for survival. Thank God we

were wrong.

All blind persons, present and future, will have

a better chance to be independent and self-supporting because of our brother. He was not

only my brother; he also considered many of you his brothers and sisters.

Kenneth was a very serious person when it

involved the NFB or other business activities, but he was also a fun person to be around.

I am told by some of his college associates that he was a typical, devilish,

happy-go-lucky kid in college. Like the time at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tennessee,

when he and some cronies were out one night much later than they were supposed to be. They

decided to drive across the Dean's lawn, and the car mired down and became stuck. I

understand that the Dean was not very happy about the incident. When Kenneth lived in

Iowa, he was appointed to the State Wine Board for the purpose of purchasing wine for all

state stores. I was invited to attend a meeting with him to a wine tasting in Des Moines.

The location of the event was three or four blocks from Kenneth's apartment. After tasting

many different wines, we started walking home. Realizing that I was not feeling well,

Kenneth said, "My God, man, I can travel better than you, come on: I'll take you

home."

I remember my first meeting with Dr. tenBroek,

which took place in Detroit. I marveled at the mobility and independence displayed by him.

He stood erect and carried himself with dignity. After Dr. tenBroek's death Kenneth

carried on the fight for the blind movement. I know that President Maurer and the members

of the National Federation of the Blind will continue the battle. My sister-in-law Mary

Ellen is to be commended for her loyalty and support to my brother. She stood by him until

his last breath.

A great leader's work is never finished. We

always say, "If he could have lasted just a little longer." If Kenneth were

alive ten years from today, he would have new projects going, and we would say, "If

he could have lasted just a little longer." I believe that Kenneth lived a good, full

life. He has helped his fellow man; he has made a difference.

Kenneth Jernigan was a giant of a man, not in

physical stature, but in achievements. Blind persons around the world, as well as their

government leaders, knew his name. Kenneth Jernigan—my brother, your teacher, our

mentor—He will be missed.