In Memoriam

‘Contributor’ vendor Bronson Hunter was a reader and a person who remembered others

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

In late 2020, longtime Contributor vendor Bronson Hunter was feeling frustrated by the prospect of politics. In a Vendor Spotlight for the paper, he kept a positive attitude, but lamented the lack of resources for people experiencing homelessness.

Bronson Hunter

“It’s kind of hard to get out and vote when you don't have a place to live and you don’t have nowhere to go,” he told the paper. “It’s so hard. When I was homeless, the last thing I cared about was voting. I hate to see people out there on the streets because I’ve been there and it’s awful.”

Hunter, who died in February, was a painter, an avid reader of John Grisham and James Patterson novels, a sensitive and thoughtful person. He moved to Nashville from Ashland City, Tenn., in 2014 and sold the paper since 2010 primarily from Mallory Lane and South Spring Street. For a period of time, he sold the paper five days a week and worked every single other day of the week painting houses. He was 49.

“If you met Bronson on the street, or at a restaurant, you would assume he was just your average Nashvillian,” said Cathy Jennings, executive director for The Contributor “He was well spoken, very polite, clean, handsome. He was a hard worker, both

painting housing and selling the paper. I remember wondering why he was homeless when I first met him several years ago. That was a lesson to me that often the face that presents itself to us masks a lot of pain.”

Jennings described Hunter as extremely sensitive to the feelings of those around him and also to the events of his life. The Contributor worked with him to move into transitional housing and then to find a permanent home.

“He gave me a metronome that a customer had given him to say thank you,” Jennings said. “He remembered that my husband was a musician. That’s the kind of man he was. Godspeed Bronson. I will always remember your kindness and I am sorry the world was not a gentler place.”

Hunter was quick to point out the blessings others had given him and often passed things he had worked for to others.

Bronson was always sharing his blessings with those close to him, never leaving a man down,” said Stephanie McElvy, Hunter's landlord and friend. “In every conversation, he was somehow managing to remind me to be grateful for the small things! I’m so happy our paths crossed and I got to experience the richness of who Bronson was.”

Longtime ‘Contributor’ vendor Tony Blake had a sharp mind and a caring nature

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

Contributor vendor Tony Blake passed away in February. He was 62 years old.

Tony Blake

Photo by Susan Adcock

“I knew Tony for a little over a year, during which we worked together on his disability application and his health,” said Rachel Ternes, who works in The Contributor ’s housing department. “He had a wry sense of humor and a great sarcastic laugh.”

Ternes said he cared a lot about his friends and was deeply affected by some losses and by concerns for his friends’ wellbeing and that his connection to the paper was very important to him.

“He was proud to have been a vendor since the early days of the paper, and comforted to know that The Contributor community was by his side through anything,” Ternes said. “I and many others will miss Tony and remember him fondly.”

Ree Cheers, who runs the paper’s SOAR program, said Blake was a “kind and compassionate individual” who was a joy to work with while Cheers helped him through the SOAR program.

“He had a sharp mind and great ideas when it came to problem-solving, and he was always willing to put in the effort to find a solution that worked,” Cheers said. “One of the things I will always remember about Mr. Blake was the conversation we had about diversity and building bridges to become whole in the United States. He had a warm and welcoming personality that made him easy to talk to and be around.”

She said Blake was a friendly face and a listening ear for those who needed it most. He wasn’t afraid to reach out with concerns or to ask questions.

“The sense of belonging and companionship that he found through The Contributor was a source of comfort and strength for him, and he cherished it deeply. Mr. Blake was a true friend to all who knew him. He had a heart of gold and a spirit that could not be broken. Remembering Mr. Blake will always bring back memories of his infectious way of thinking, his kind heart, and his unwavering commitment to his friends and community. He was a shining example of what it means to be a compassionate and caring person, and his legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come. Although we may no longer be able to see him in person, his memory will live on in our hearts, and we can honor him by continuing to live our lives with the same kindness and compassion that he embodied. Rest in peace, Mr. Blake, and thank you for all the love and light that you brought into the world.”