Lovin’ The Journey

Just Thinking Lovin’ the Journey

By Mark Holloway

A father and son friendship. The bike trip

The thing about social media is you learn stuff.

Kevin and his 93 year old dad Clayton have a relationship as rare as gold in the Tallulah River. Clayton is an intentional father to his daughter Karen and 62 year old son Kevin. He was an intentional husband to Vanita who passed away in 1995.

I asked both men to share a favorite memory and almost simultaneously they geared up for a cycling tale. Kevin’s internet posts about his dad caught my attention. So getting them together to talk for the Father’s Day June issue made as much sense as warm butter on a hot biscuit.

Right from the jump, Kevin choked up while sitting next to his father trying to explain his love for his dad. The tears did the talking. From the living room of Kevin’s childhood home in the shadow of Screamer Mountain, they unpacked just a sample of their friendship. You simply can’t distill 93 years of abundant living into a few talking points. Clayton, Georgia needed Clayton Croom.

Clayton Croom answered the rural Georgia mountain need for teachers and transplanted himself and his young family from Hendersonville, North Carolina in the 1950s. His four-line poems written for his Rabun County physics and chemistry students were just his classroom bonus.

Evidently each day with Mr. Croom was an event. Kevin reveled in sharing about having his dad as his science teacher. In 1976, the Croom family joined seven other Clayton Baptist friends for a ride they’re still talking about. Mrs. Vanita drove one of the support vehicles while the nine adults and youth pedaled from Clayton to New Smyrna Beach, Florida on heavy steel Schwinn ten speeds. Yep, the then 47 year old, stepped away from his Bunsen Burners and beakers to saddle up and pedal, untrained the nearly 500 miles with teenagers. Kevin marveled then and marvels now at his dad.

route,” Kevin explained.

“But having my dad along side us on his Schwinn is still such an incredible memory. And he nor any of us gave up, even when we hit the strong head winds along the beach for miles and miles. And we made it!!”

Clayton has been proud of his son from the absolute beginning. “When I was standing at the baby nursery looking at Kevin, in comes this couple and they say ’look at that thing over yonder. Boy, he’s a whopper.’ And I said, ‘That’s my son’.”

“We covered 120 miles a day for four days, sunrise to sunset, riding the roads and highways from here to there. McDonalds fed us for free at their restaurants along the

Mark and Carol Holloway own PropertyStewards.com and are passionate about delivering excellent care to the homes and property of their clients. They are outdoor adventurers and love the thrills of rock climbing and hikes to waterfalls and exploring all of God’s creation. Mark can be reached by calling 706-490-7060.

Kevin describes his dad as having Clint Eastwood good looks when he was younger. In fact Clayton sang in the choir a long time, even as a widower. He’d look out over the congregation and see so many widow women looking back at the eligible crooner. Kevin remembers all the affection his dad received when his mom died. Kevin says: “After the crowd left the house and I came in, dad tells me, ‘ I love them church women, but they’ll casserole you to death.’” We laughed out loud. Clayton did not remarry but he did reconnect with Lib Freeman from high school and they dated long distance for twenty five years until her recent passing.

Kevin and his dad are fixtures at local sporting events. Both men played basketball and still faithfully occupy the fan section at high school basketball games.

I’ve got so much in common with Kevin it’s probably good we were in separate countries during high school. I suspect we would have been best of friends and consequently found ourselves in lots of trouble together.

Kevin and his dad are unashamedly Christ followers. This is what binds them closest. When you’re with them, there’s not the slightest hint of any distance or strain. They’re companions. They share so many common hobbies and interests.

I also share some common ground with Clayton. We both have two children, “one of each kind” as Clayton describes. Like him, my daughter is just a few years older than her brother.

As Father’s Day approaches, I’m deeply thankful for so much. I remain honored to be Victoria and Garrett’s dad.

I’m also humbled to have shared time with Kevin and Clayton. May your journey together continue to inspire us all. See you on the trail.

Downtown Clayton, GA