Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

first teaching job was with Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. “We taught five classes each, cleaned restrooms and walked to school. We were incredibly poor, but I don’t think we knew it,” recalls Michael. The next year, Michael and Melanie moved back to Memphis to teach at Harding Academy, and both continued their education earning a M.Ed. from the University of Memphis. Soon, Michael was teaching English 12, and Melanie became an administrator. While touring with students in England, Michael developed a love for all things Shakespeare. In addition to classroom teaching, Michael received an invitation to a position as Reader for Advanced Placement to grade exams in English language and composition. This involved spending 12 days in Daytona Beach, Florida, during the summer for 13 years. At Harding, Michael taught, but, he was also involved with the school’s musical and drama events. According to Michael, “I taught at Harding for 28 years. Besides receiving the Betty Bates Teaching Award, I was voted by the senior class, eight different times, to be their commencement speaker. What an honor!” Melanie served Harding for 42 years before succumbing to inoperable brain cancer in 2021. After resigning from Harding, Michael taught 19 years in the Shelby County School System, both as a teacher of honors classes and recipient of awards for his contributions. One extraordinary position was with Renaissance Academy in Millington, a school for problem students in Shelby County. His most vivid memory there was teaching an eighth grade student how to read! Church and music have always been important parts of Michael’s life. As a fourth generation song director in Churches of Christ, Michael served as minister of music in several churches and was involved with various quartets and alumni singing groups. The alumni group of A Cappella Singers traveled to Romania and Bulgaria to sing and work as missionaries. One group they worked with was an orphanage for Gypsy children. After retirement, Michael remained active in church and singing. When Melanie became ill, he along with help was able to care for her so that she could remain at home until her passing. Michael continued to live in their home for four years. He admits, “I grew tired of preparing meals, doing laundry and buying groceries. I was essentially alone all week, except for church and grocery store. I decided to visit Kirby Pines. According to Michael, “On my visit to Kirby Pines, I met at least 50 people I knew. I signed up that day!” Since moving to Kirby Pines in December 2024, Michael has become involved in many activities, and his beautiful voice and drama experience is very much in demand! Michael has had many diverse experiences in a life spent in service to others. He says this quote by Chaucer sums up his career: “And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.” Written by Joan Dodson, Resident of Kirby Pines The Pinecone | October 2025 • 7 • There are several ways by which one can serve his country; to serve as a teacher of the children and young people in our country is one of the greatest. Without question, we all owe a great deal of gratitude to those who taught us. Michael Semore, from a young age, planned to teach. His life has also been centered on involvement in church activities, music and drama. A full life indeed! Michael Semore was born on January 5, 1953, in Centerville, Tennessee, the oldest of three children. When he was 13 years old, the family moved to Waverly, Tennessee, and Michael would attend junior and senior high school there. In 1971, Michael graduated third in his high school class of 174 students. He played French horn in the school band and, during his junior year, accompanied the band to Washington, D.C. to march in the Cherry Blossom Festival. During his junior and senior years, and during evening hours and weekends, he was a local radio station disc jockey, known as Mike Sea, playing country music. “It was good money,” remembers Michael, “but it all went to college savings.” In the fall of 1971, Michael enrolled in Freed-Hardeman College (now University) in Henderson, Tennessee, as a speech and English major. During his first week of school, he joined the A Cappella singers, which would become a major part of his college days. Small wonder, as the group would travel to sing in 30 states and spend three weeks in Europe. One of the highlights was being invited to sing in theMormon Tabernacle. “We felt swallowed up, as there were 55 of us, and their choir space was for 300,” remembers Michael. It was during chorus practice that Michael became “intrigued” by a brunette alto singer in the group named Melanie Pogue, and they soon became a “campus item.” Another “bug that bit” in college was for theatre, and from his sophomore year until graduation, Michael performed or was involved, in every theatre production–from Dracula to Charlie Brown! In fact, his involvement with Charlie Brown resulted in performing it with future students and at West Memphis Playhouse. In 1976, Michael graduated from Freed-Hardeman with honors and with a license to teach English, speech, drama, Bible and music. And this he did–until he retired in 1998. Melanie graduated from college in1976 and was prepared to teach History. Michael and Melanie were married in August of 1976, when they were hired to teach in the same school. Their TO TEACH AND SERVE OTHERS Resident Spotlight: Michael Semore Michael Shakespeare