Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

September is always a special time of year at Kirby Pines. The summer heat begins to fade, the colors around campus start to change, and we get a chance to slow down and enjoy the season before the busy holidays arrive. It’s also a meaningful time for reflection as we celebrate the people, memories and traditions that make Kirby Pines so special and our 43rd anniversary as a community. Our time-honored Lighting of the Lake will take place Saturday, September 12th, at 5:00 p.m., followed by a reception. The celebration will be preceded by our Flag Blessing and Flag Raising. See the calendar for dates and details. Our front cover features new resident Barbara Frantz, who will light the 2026 lantern, representing the year she joined Kirby Pines. Barbara moved here from Midtown Memphis after her band, The Memphis Knights, performed here. She was immediately impressed by our beautiful grounds and the welcoming people she met, and the rest is history. Our back cover tells a story of family, memories and a lasting connection to Kirby. Kathy Smith’s mother, Floy Johnson, lived at INSIDE THIS MONTH’S PINECONE September always brings a mixture of emotions for me. The end of Summer, the beginning of football! Birthday celebrations and remembrance… here at Kirby Pines we have both! Since July, we have proudly saluted our nation for its 250th Birthday. We will continue that there throughout this year’s “Lighting of the Lake” Ceremony. This is the 43rd Anniversary. As is due tradition, we will have 3 separate events starting with the blessing of our flag at Vespers on 9/10. We then will have a truly inspiring Flag Raising Ceremony on 9/11. This is also the 25th Anniversary of destruction of the twin towers, as well as the attack on the Pentagon as well as the downing of the Flight United 93. And we will conclude our celebration with our Lighting of the Lake Ceremony followed by a wonderful buffet. This event is the highlight of our year. Come Celebrating Our 43rd Anniversary join us as we celebrate passed friends, have our spirit moved with our featured vocalist and even a visit from “Francis Scott Key.” Our featured speaker is Mr. Ken Well. Ken will speak on his military service as an Air Force fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, including the 466 days he was held in captivity. This Lighting of the Lake promises to be one we will talk about for a long time! Please join us! Michael J. Brown, Jr. Executive Director, Kirby Pines at Kirby Pines • 2 • The Pinecone | September 2026 Looking Forward to Lighting of the Lake Still Celebrating America at Lighting of the Lake BOARD OF DIRECTORS S Dr. James Latimer, Chairman Mr. Rudy Herzke, President Mr. Larry Braughton Mr. Bob Dalhoff Mr. Jim Ethridge Ms. Linda Harrington Ms. Mary Ann Hodges Mr. Rusty Linkous Mr. Brian Lowery RCA STAFF Charlie Trammell President, RCA Michélle Vincent Executive Vice President, RCA Tim Cox Senior Vice President of Finance, RCA Michael Kelly Vice President of Finance, RCA KIRBY PINES STAFF Michael Brown Executive Director, Kirby Pines Mike Abutineh, M.D. Medical Director Deniece Caldwell Healthcare Administrator Ann Marie Bishop Director of Accounting Harold Morris Director of Culinary Mike Rayder Director of Grounds & Landscaping Kayla Holland Director of Hospitality & Life Enhancement Trudy Schenkenberger Director of Human Resources Chuck Neeley Director of Maintenance Anna Bradford Director of Nursing This magazine is produced by RCA 6465 N. Quail Hollow Rd., Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38120, 901-794-2598 Electronic version of The Pinecone is available at www.kirbypines.com Kirby Pines formore than 20 years, andKathy and her husband, Harry, visited often during that time. Seeing the exceptional care her mother received, the friendships she formed and how she thrived throughout every level of care helped Kathy and Harry realize that Kirby Pines was the right community for them, too. This year, Kathy, who holds a photo of herself and her mother on the back page, will light the 1984 lantern in Floy’s honor. Kathy says her mother had only one regret about moving to Kirby Pines: “That she didn’t move in 1983, so she could be a Kirby Pioneer.” These are the stories that make Kirby Pines more than a community, they make it home.