McPherson’s anthem was ‘Sweet Home, Alabama’

MADISON – During almost 30 years, Eva McPherson has witnessed many changes in Madison.

“We’ve seen it grow from a small town with two grocery stores to a booming city with proximity to everything we could imagine, including our Madison Hospital,” McPherson said. “Madison is truly our ‘Sweet Home, Alabama.'”

“I love the people of Madison … people from all over the world who came to this melting pot. Madison’s school system, churches and recreation offer a hometown feel,” she said.

Technology has shaped Madison as unique. “While ‘rocket science’ is a language spoken here, other careers also form our population,” McPherson said.

She earned an undergraduate degree and then a master’s degree for reading specialist at Middle Tennessee State University (“Go, Raiders!”) in Murfreesboro. Education is the thread that wove its bond through McPherson’s siblings, along with students with whom she worked from daycare to

community college. McPherson’s siblings also worked in education and public service.

“In 1986, my husband John worked at Arnold Engineering in Tullahoma, Tenn. as we watched the Challenger tragedy unfold. John’s company won a safety contract at Marshall Space Flight Center. We moved here in March 1987,” she said.

“We were conflicted about leaving Tennessee. The next night we heard ‘Sweet Home, Alabama’ and that made our decision! In contacting realtors, we immediately heard, ‘Move to Madison,'” McPherson said.

Eva and John enjoyed working with PTA events throughout the school years for daughter Molly. Eva served as President of Bob Jones Choral Boosters.

After graduating from Bob Jones, Molly earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama. As a graduate student at Indiana University, Molly met Jeff Naylor; they married in 2014. In Charlotte, N.C., Molly teaches in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg system and Jeff works in data analysis. Their rescue cats are Ollie and Penny.

Eva participates in Moms in Prayer International that prays for college students and young professionals. She serves as chairperson of the Finance Committee at First Baptist Church of Madison and was pianist there for 25 years.

“John and I enjoy traveling, eating out and watching movies. We frequent all the Mexican restaurants in Madison,” Eva said. Their “guilty pleasures” are Sam and Greg’s Pizzeria and Cricket’s cheeseburgers. “I’m addicted to coffee and use the drive-through lanes at Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.”