By Lela Garlington - The Commercial Appeal -

Sometimes, it only takes one person for an idea to take hold.

Two years ago, Nancy Berry, 74, was the only one to sign up from Balmoral Presbyterian Church to mentor a child at nearby Balmoral-Ridgeway Elementary, the church's Adopt-A-School partner. The church was hosting art shows and holding the school's graduation ceremonies in its sanctuary, but no one had stepped up to be a mentor or tutor.

This school year, the church has 10 people serving as mentors, tutors and even gardeners at the neighborhood school.

"The ripple effect has just been unbelievable," Berry said.

Stick around her long enough and you can see why others followed her lead. She bubbles about her student, Jamie Thompson. She whips out a photo of them together, smiling and mugging for the camera.

"Every moment with her is precious," Berry said. "I almost cried when I had to say goodbye to her before the Christmas break."

Her mentoring was the result of taking classes through the Memphis School of Servant Leadership. The program encourages people of faith to connect with marginalized individuals.

With her love for children, Berry discovered working at the school proved to be the right fit. This is the second year she has been meeting weekly with Jamie, now a 7-year-old second-grader.

At first, Jamie, who wears glasses when she can remember them, was shy around the retired Memphis Food Bank worker. Her teacher told Berry that Jamie just needed affirmation and encouragement.

Each week, Berry brings a shopping bag full of academic workbooks for Jamie to work on. Jamie spies a purple pen she decides to use.

"I did it," she said proudly after finishing a find-a-word puzzle.

Jamie has a pet turtle named Max and lives in an extended, multigenerational family of 13.

At the end of her session, the two play tic-tac-toe with princess crowns. "May I please be pink," Jamie asks politely.

"She loves me so much," Jamie says of Berry. "She always sends me cards that say, 'I love you.' "

Since working with Jamie, Berry said, "I've seen an improvement on her language skills. Her confidence has increased. It's a special time for her. She knows that I hear what she is saying."

Sometimes Berry's daughter, Laura Berry, joins her mom for school visits: "I've seen Jamie walk down the hall and when they see each other it's like a light bulb goes off. They love each other so much. It's like a flame being ignited."

Marylyn Washington, the school's guidance counselor, described Berry as a "one-woman recruiter."

"Any time a teacher can get an extra set of hands and an extra set of eyes, it makes a difference," Washington said. "Once you develop a relationship, the students are going to soar."

One of the school's Teach for America teachers, Laura Baez, knows what a longtime mentor/tutor -- and ultimately a friend -- can do for a student.

As the daughter of immigrants who barely finished grade school, Baez had the same mentor for six years, from seventh grade until she graduated from high school in Dallas.

"She was like my guardian angel all throughout school," Baez said. "She was amazing. She helped me get into college. I'm still in touch with her even now."

Berry plans on being with Jamie for many years to come: "I'd love to see her grown up." As Berry sees it, "Now, I've got my angel."

-- Lela Garlington: (901) 529-2349

Adopt-A-School

About 6,000 people help in the Memphis City Schools as parent volunteers or through the 650 community partnerships from faith-based groups, nonprofit organizations, businesses and civic clubs.

"Our Adopt-A-School is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in the country," community and volunteer relations coordinator Miska Clay Bibbs said of the 32-year-old program. "We see a direct benefit of how it changes the lives of our students."

For more information about the program, call (901) 416-5622.