The number of awards that fill the walls, shelves, and tables is overwhelming. Each has a story to tell and is well earned through hard work, passion, and dedication to her career, volunteerism, and advocacy at local, state, and national levels. The name on the awards is no stranger to Paducah. They recognize the persistence, determination, and courage of Mrs. J. Merryman Kemp.
It doesn’t take long to realize her strong principles drive her to action. These, in combination with her work ethic, push for excellence, and passion led the way for her to make lasting change in the world. Ask her how she accomplished so much in her lifetime and Merryman boasts of nothing. “What I’ve done, anybody can do.”
Merryman was born to low-income parents who lacked a good education. The resources available to her growing up in a poor, rural farming community in Tennessee were few and far between. However, she took hold of whatever opportunity came her way. While a one room schoolhouse doesn’t seem like much to some, young Merryman soaked up all the lessons of the grades above her, accelerating her beyond her years. She read better than most adults in her life.
She strived for excellence in all she set forth to accomplish. The culture of that day did not encourage more from an overachiever such as Merryman. It simply expected women to marry and bear children after the fact. Despite her exceptional nature to achieve, her parents’ expectations of her were no more than society’s.
Merryman confesses she didn’t fit into society’s norms: “All my life, I’ve been different.” She holds deep convictions, many times different than those around her. She speaks quite candidly about her thoughts, and as a result, Merryman Kemp is no stranger to opposition. She has ruffled feathers and raised eyebrows with her opinions since childhood.
She remembers visiting a general store with her father around nine years old. She listened as her dad and the other men discussed the national events of the day. She had read of the events in the school’s Weekly Reader and quickly realized the men knew little about the facts other than having good common sense. Merryman proceeded to tell them what she had learned about it.
She recalls, “When I shut up, it was quiet, and nobody said anything. Then Daddy declared we needed to leave, and the others said they needed to leave, too. We got in the truck, and I don’t think Daddy even looked at me. He said, ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ And I’ve done it ever since.”
Merryman’s outspoken nature and drive to action remained when she moved to Paducah to live near her beloved aunt in 1965. In the fifty-five years since, she’s strived to advocate for others and continued to expect excellence from herself. The many, many awards in her home and titles she earned overwhelmingly speak of her impact in Paducah and beyond.
One of her first impacts that remains today is her work through the Jefferson Street Area Association. Take a drive down Jefferson Street and admire the beautiful, historic houses. This is, in part, due to the work of Merryman. It began in 1969, when she put on her big straw hat, buckled her young son in the stroller, and walked the neighborhood to collect signatures to stop the demolition of a historic house. Since then, many historic homes have been preserved. If not for her work and the work of those who joined her efforts, Jefferson Street would look much different, with parking lot after parking lot in place of the beautiful historic neighborhood.
Merryman founded several groups and organizations, and in addition has held local, state, or national offices in nearly every one she joined. She has participated in groups and organizations such as Business and Professional Women, Woman’s Club of Paducah, Human Rights Commission, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant’s citizens advisory, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Kentucky Lottery Board, Beta Sigma Fi, State Consumers Council, 4-H Club, Paducah Civil Discourse group, Jefferson Street Area Association, Inc., Women Aware, Inc., Women’s Political Caucus, Paducah Life Underwriters, and Patriots for Peace, along with many more. In addition, she has been honored with the titles of Kentucky Colonel, Admiral in the Kentucky Navy, and Duchess of Paducah. Along the way, she has taken every opportunity possible to advocate for equal treatment for all humans.
Perhaps her most well-known legacy is the Merryman House, originally founded through her efforts with Women Aware, Inc. The domestic abuse shelter began out of the heartache she experienced as an abuse victim in her first marriage, prior to moving to Paducah. At the time of its founding, domestic violence was a taboo topic. However, in true Merryman fashion, she stood firm and spoke out, knowing many others experienced the nightmare she courageously escaped.
If she had another lifetime, Merryman would dedicate herself to educating the public on the mental disorders of alcoholism and drug abuse, providing homes for the homeless, and improving public transportation to help those who desperately need it. She knows her time is short and hopes others will take the torch and press on.
A long-fought battle against cancer is coming to an end. In 13 years, she has had three full chemo treatments, along with radiation. Her cancer did not go into remission with the last round of treatment as it did with the first two treatments. The endometrial serous adenocarcinoma quickly metastasized into both her lungs, liver, spine, and thyroid. In agreement with her doctor, she decided to not pursue treatments to prolong the quality of her life, due to the high risks associated with the treatments in conjunction with her frail health. However, she is not giving up on living.
Merryman faces her final chapter with the same courage and persistence she’s possessed for a lifetime. Each day, as she always has, Merryman writes a list of things to accomplish and courageously presses on. Her attitude toward having cancer is much like her attitude all these years to being told no.
“Where I’ve failed, I tried again. Where I have been met with a no, I went back later, went to someone else, or I’ve found a way and I keep trying until I get it done.”
There are days she feels so poorly she desires to stay in bed, but she doesn’t. She keeps going, saying, “You swing your legs over the side of the bed and get up.”
Her physical strength is fading, but her convictions remain strong. Her lifelong efforts to leave the world a better place is something she desires for all to embrace. She expresses she is nothing special.
“What I’ve done, anybody can do,” she says. “So many think, ‘What can I do?’ Then they sit back and don’t do anything, or they don’t anywhere reach their potential for making the world a better place. At some point, we have to realize we want the planet to be better for our having been here.”
In the words of one of her favorite quotes by Calvin Coolidge, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
Paducah, especially those who have interacted with Merryman Kemp, must agree she leaves this place better for her having been here. However, she didn’t achieve all these things on her own. Whether she began the cause on her own or joined others in their cause, the things she accomplished took a team of individuals, all willing to do their part to change the world for the better.
Whether you agree with her convictions or not, there’s no mistaking she is exceptional and an example for all to follow. It is never too late to make a difference. Embody her persistence and courage. Press on, and change the world for the better.
