Cover Story

Annual memorial honors more than 175 neighbors experiencing homelessness who died on the streets

This year more than 175 people died while living on the streets in Nashville. At the 2022 Annual Homeless Memorial on Dec. 17, all of them were remembered in a ceremony downtown at Riverfront Park by the Tara Cole Memorial Bench.

Members of the community read aloud each name and gave remembrances in the form of poetry, prayer and comments about their loved ones and neighbors. Following the ceremony, attendees placed flowers in the Cumberland River to honor each person who lost their life while living on the streets.

‘Contributor’ staff say vendor Larry Burrus was quiet, diligent and ‘old-school’ cool

BY 'CONTRIBUTOR' STAFF

Contributor vendor Larry Burrus died in hospice care at Cumberland Manor Nursing Home on Nov. 5 after suffering from cancer.

The Contributor ’s Executive Director Cathy Jennings described Burrus as a very quiet and very diligent vendor. He sold the paper for 10 years on the corner of Belmont and Shackleford — in 2020 a tornado fell on his home, a traumatic event for him that he often retold the story of.

“He took life as it came, everything in stride,” Jennings says. “ His customers always loved him. He will be greatly missed.”

Volunteer Michael Reilly said Burrus had a subtle, old-school elegance and cool about him.

“He did not suffer fools,” Reilly says.

Whenever Larry would come to the office to buy papers, Contributor volunteer Andy Shapiro says he’d comment to no one in particular that he knew, “the smoothest guy in Nashville.” Shapiro said Larry was always polite, in good spirits and dressed smartly.

“He was the most self-assured vendor I ever knew, for sure,” Shapiro said. “I’m certain Larry had stories to tell, but his quiet, humble and polite nature never offered him a chance to share them with me. I’ll miss my smooth friend. RIP Larry.”

Burrus was born on Oct. 14, 1949, in Elkton, Ky., according to his obituary. His parents were Edgar Burrus and Jannie Boyer.

Burrus attended school in the Todd County Public School Systems, and graduated from Todd Central High School. His obituary says he, “accepted Christ at an early age,” and was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church in Elkton.

Burrus served in the United States Navy and received an honorable discharge. He was employed for several years at CSX Railroad. After his service in the military, he was employed by CSX Railroad for several years.

Burrus was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar Burrus and Jannie Boyer.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories wife, Florita Burrus, daughter, Janae (Dejuan) Hobson, sons, Antonio (Tiffany) Neal, Maurice (Kenyatta) Burrus, Larry D. Burrus, Rahim Buford, Jack Buford, Kevin Buford, sister, Mary Ann Burrus, brothers, Wallace Burrus, Billy Burrus, and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, customers and friends.

Christopher Goodale was a ‘kind and gentle man’ against all odds

BY RACHEL TERNES

Chris was a kind and gentle man against all odds. He had a hard life that made it hard for him to feel hope in the future or in himself. Throughout it all, he found joy in his daughter, in fishing, in nature, in animals and in taking long walks. He had friends and family members who knew him to be a good soul and who loved him more than he knew. He was quiet, humble, wise, and thoughtful, and had a strong sense of justice and compassion for anyone who was mistreated. Even though he liked to keep to himself often, he was easy to get along with and a good collaborator. Over the past year of working with us at The Contributor, he was able to gain more hope in his future and was looking forward to making himself a good life in his new apartment. Knowing this makes it especially difficult to say goodbye. He will be dearly missed.

BY MICHAEL DUKE, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

I've known Chris a really long time. We grew up together. We used to go hunting and fishing and we even worked together for some time. He was a really great guy and truly a really good friend. Even if he wasn't in the best situation his self he would give you the shirt off his own back if you needed it. He stayed really humble and true to himself and he had the up most respect for everyone. His tragedy is still sinking in with me. I can't believe how someone can do such a thing to such a great person. He's truly going to be missed but never forgotten. Rest easy and fly high my friend until I see you again.

Longtime ‘Contributor’ vendor David Burke remembered for warmth and positive attitude

BY AMANDA HAGGARD AND HANNAH HERNER

Contributor alum David Burke died on Dec. 21, 2021, while in hospice care. He would often sell The Contributor at the Downtown Arcade. He was 55 years old.

In a Vendor Spotlight of David in 2014, he said selling downtown was like being in one of his favorite televisions shows.

“It’s like Cheers,” Burke says. “Seriously, everybody knows my name. And most everybody is friendly.”

Burke sold The Contributor on and off for more than a decade. He sold the paper early on and was vendor No. 29.

Contributor Director Cathy Jennings said Burke sold almost 24,000 papers during his tenure. He always wanted to go to France because he could speak some French.

“David recently got into housing,” Jennings says. “David was one of those quiet people who can slip through the cracks. He was always pleasant and smiling — makes me realize we have to watch out for those people more.”

Raven Lintu, director of housing initiatives for The Contributor, says. “I will always remember David with his wide smile, and laughing along with his jokes. I remember he would always come in the vendor office back in the day and would make the day feel brighter. Thank you David for the laughs and smiles.”

Co-editor for The Contributor Amanda Haggard says Burke was the first vendor she ever bought a paper from.

“Before I began working and contracting with The Contributor, David said ‘hello’ when I was walking downtown, struck up a conversation and then asked if I wanted to buy a paper,” Haggard says. “I remember how warm and friendly he could be and how easy he was to talk to.”

Co-editor for The Contributor Linda Bailey says she would always see David downtown when he regularly sold the paper in front of the Walgreens in The Arcade.

“In my early years working at The Contributor, I would always pass David on my way to get coffee. I’d try to stop by for a quick chat and David would make a joke or tell me how things were going in his thick Northeastern accent,” Bailey said. “He always had a smile, even when I knew things going on in his life were difficult.”

Volunteer Michael Reilly said that David bore his many burdens with a positive attitude.

“He was a gentle soul,” Reilly says.

Another volunteer, Andy Shapiro said David was a good man, who could sometimes have a short fuse because he, “knew the world was passing him by without recognition.”

In the spotlight from 2014, he also spoke about losing three other jobs before he started selling The Contributor because he had a history of epileptic seizures. Everytime he would have a seizure, he would lose a job, and the stability that came with it. He described selling The Contributor as a “lifeline” that allowed him to buy his medication and meet other needs and work on his own time.

“I count my successes by whether I can get the things done that I need. That almost always works out,” Burke said.

Director of vending Tom Wills remembered David as a resilient and faithful vendor for years at the entrance to the Arcade by Walgreens and at the KFC at Murfreesboro and Bell Rd.

“Even when he broke his ankle he had the willpower to get out and meet his customers,” Wills says. “Over the pandemic he got out of his routines, dealt with illness and eventually found housing. I miss his smile and steadfastness. The Arcade will always remind me of David.”

Vendor Mukesh Dadwal was 'strong willed' and polite with volunteers

BY 'CONTRIBUTOR' STAFF

Contributor vendor Mukesh Dadwal passed away in December.

Volunteer Joe First remembered Mukesh as strong-willed and smart.

“No matter how hungry he was he wouldn’t break his religious convictions to eat the meals we offered,” First says. “[He was] always very polite in the office with volunteers.”

Volunteer Michael Reilly said Mukesh's kindness and vulnerability always made him often want to give Mukesh a hug. Mukesh often mentioned he would like to return to his family in India, but was never able to make it happen.

Volunteer Andy Shapiro said “Kesh” was a different kind of vendor.

“He knew more about life than he was willing to share and from a perspective quite unknown to me as an old white guy,” Shapiro said. “He was always kind and I was happy to see him. He was the first guy I’ve ever met who would ‘waggle’ his head when he asked me for something.”

Shapiro said he was glad to have been able to help Kesh on occasion and said they often had satisfying philosophical conversations.

“I think he was burdened with shame and loss from which he could never escape,” Shapiro said. “Kesh was wise, but his demons got the best of him. Last time I saw him, he looked wrung out and desperate. He wanted to go home.”

‘The Contributor’ remembers vendor Paul Arndt for his generosity and dark humor

BY CARLI THARP

On Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, The Contributor said goodbye to beloved vendor, advocate, and friend: Paul Allen Arndt.

There is no simple way to sum up Paul’s life or personality in words. To say that he deeply loved his friends and The Contributor fits, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Paul loved people enough to act.

He expressed great generosity, even to the point of his own detriment. He stood up for The Contributor and for folks experiencing homelessness every time an opportunity arose. He had big ideas on how to help, and always had questions about what Nashville was doing next to help end homelessness.

Paul loved Nashville enough to get angry when people’s needs were not being met. He wanted everyone to do their part to make the world a better place, and he believed in hard work. He saw his friends at The Contributor doing their part by vending, creating microbusinesses and spreading important news. He heatedly demanded that those with power and money do their part to help those experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness in return. He fought against the stereotypes and cliches — that everyone can just pull themselves up by their bootstraps, or that poverty is a character flaw.

He loved with a ferocity that held leaders accountable, asked hard questions, solved problems, and challenged us all to do our absolute best for each other.

Paul cared about other people so much.

My hope — and I think his hope — for Nashville would be that we can all learn to love and demand justice for each other with kindness, but also with unrelenting strength, and maybe a little bit of dark humor.

We miss you so much already, Paul.

Paul A. wanted to ‘solve the world’s problems’

BY HANNAH HERNER

When Paul Arndt was in high school, he got in big trouble for selling shots of alcohol to other students from his locker — $1 per shot. He counted this as his first business, a sign of the resourcefulness that would stick with him for the rest of his life.

He had come to Nashville a few years ago to escape some of the cold of his home in Michigan, and camped under Jefferson Street Bridge for much of his time here. If he really had a choice of how to spend his time, he’d be out fishing, but it seems sitting in front of Puckett’s downtown selling The Contributor was a fine second choice. While he wasn’t selling a high number of papers, he was one of the most consistent and well-known vendors to The Contributor staff.

If Paul had a catch phrase, it would probably be what’s going on? He had a voracious appetite for news, gossip, cigarettes and black coffee. Through his many submissions to the paper, he wanted to share good news, ways things were getting better for him. But he was also very honest about issues he saw and felt deeply that if he could just get the word out about what people experiencing homelessness needed, it could get better. Paul was up at all hours of the night just thinking about how to solve the world’s problems.

Paul made friends wherever he went — at his camp, in two different apartment complexes, at the office, on the street corner. He was a good conversationalist, took interest in other people, and gave away a lot of single cigarettes. The Contributor staff and volunteers worked hard to get him into housing, and a number of times he let others stay with him, even at risk of his own well-being.

On the other hand, Paul was very stubborn, and if someone crossed him, he was going to put up a fight.

Life had an unfair amount of challenges for Paul. What made it easier for him to manage is that he was always thinking about the future, and things he could look forward to.

Paul said once that he wanted to die with a Contributor in his hand. It didn’t happen that way, but he did die having left a mark on this paper, and many others including myself, through it.