Jimmy and Veda’s Enduring Love

Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2020/11 - November

The enduring love story of James “Jimmy” Sherard and his beloved wife Veda is a southern love story for the ages, spanning 80 years, and still going strong.  

Jimmy says it’s the classic story of small-town girl meets small-town boy, and often in his retelling of their romance he will stop and say, “wasn’t I lucky?”

Certainly, luck has smiled on this charming couple but clearly their devotion to each other, their family, friends and community strengthen the threads that form the fabric of their story.  

Theirs was a courtship in simpler days when time spent swinging and talking on a porch swing on sweltering summer evenings formed the perfect backdrop for a burgeoning love.   Now 99 and 100 years old and enjoying the fruits of a life and love well spent, their lovely home still boasts a porch swing, now indoors in a solarium where they can swing and reminisce. On the wall behind the swing are portraits of their daughters, Sandra, Robin and Laura.

Jimmy and Veda met in September 1940 when both entered Emory University School of Dentistry in Atlanta, Georgia.  Veda Sanders, who had completed her pre-med requirements at the University of Tennessee, was one of 3 girls in a class of 113 students, and was an instant standout with her megawatt smile and vivacious personality.  

Jimmy, who had completed pre-med requirements at Clemson University, took notice of the charming Veda immediately. As luck would have it their seats in classes and labs were arranged alphabetically, which meant they were seated next to each other.  Romance soon blossomed and they enjoyed eating lunch together, studying together, and swinging on the porch swing of the home where Veda boarded. 

Their partnership even included them being assigned the same cadaver in anatomy lab, a bonding experience few can share.

Realizing that they intended to marry and wishing to seek their parent’s approval each wrote a letter to their parents outlining their intentions. Veda was a bit concerned that she was one year older than Jimmy, but she wanted her parents to know how serious she was, and she let them know that she intended to marry Jimmy or no one.  

He recalls that when he met her parents for the first time, he instantly hit it off with her Mom, but her Dad was a bit harder to win over.  He laughingly says her father kept an eye on him for their first year of courtship to be certain he was worthy of marrying the apple of his eye. They married in March 1942. 

Following graduation in November 1943 Jimmy was commissioned in the Navy and assigned to teach at the dental school. Veda joined a private dental practice in Atlanta.  He was soon reassigned to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida and later served on the USS Curtis in the Pacific.  Veda kept the home fires burning during that time.

Upon leaving the Navy in 1946 they settled in Atlanta, with Jimmy joining the practice of his mentor, Dr. Harry Johnston, whose practice was the first in the world dedicated solely to endodontia in 1929.  Veda often considered practicing again but chose the role of wife and mother. Jimmy is quick to say that he made the living, but she made the living worthwhile.

As they reflect on their many blessings in life Jimmy says, “I thank the Good Lord everyday for my three wonderful daughters and their spouses, one loveable granddaughter, three outstanding grandsons  and 11 great grandchildren (Number 11 named Veda Kate) and consider them my greatest dividends.”   

Both Jimmy and Veda beam with love when speaking of their loving family and take pride in their many accomplishments. Watching their family grow and flourish is the pinnacle of their love story.