Love Thy Neighbor: Meet Wally Mayton

My wife, Lindsay, and I have been in Midland for almost 36 years, serving at Memorial Presbyterian Church. This place has never grown stale for us. We've lived in other areas, professionally and personally, where we felt the need for a change. But Midland has always offered us spaces for growth.

As I enter my retirement years, I hope I've mentored others or helped pave a path for them to have the same fulfilling experiences I've had, whether in Midland or elsewhere. The practice of neighboring here is something young people can carry with them wherever they go. In Midland, we genuinely care about each other, and that sense of neighboring is a core part of who we are as a community.

Lindsay is from Dallas, Texas, and I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. Midland reminds me of what Memphis was like in the 1950s and 60s—a sort of idyllic place, though it had its problems and issues. In some ways, we've moved past those challenges, but our children and grandchildren face a much different world than the one we knew. We wanted to settle in a town where we could have a community like the ones we grew up in and admired. 

Reflecting on my upbringing, I realize that my dad greatly influenced me. He was a very personable man, and when he walked into a room, people could see that he was authentic. He might not have had a job that was the best fit for him, but he did it well. What I noticed most was how people wanted to be around him, not because of what he produced but because they felt close to him and confident in his care for them. He was a model for me in many ways.

Being a middle child also made me more consensual and able to see different perspectives. Once, someone asked me how I could mix so well with people across the political spectrum. I told them it's okay to have differences but that they have to think of people as neighbors, not just label them and build walls because of disagreements.

Lindsay and I met in college, and after I finished graduate school, we married. We spent our first year in South Bend, Indiana, where I pursued a Master's degree at Notre Dame. Regardless of my Presbyterian faith, I received a good scholarship there. Following my time in South Bend, I served a church in Memphis, my hometown. We then served in Anderson, South Carolina, and later in Overland Park, Kansas, before coming to Midland. Interestingly, the church here found me—I didn't find it, which was true of all my positions.

When I first visited Midland, it was in the middle of January, and the weather was dismal. I arrived at night, and it was gray and dark. They showed me the lights of the Dow plant, which didn't particularly stick with me, but the people did. It was the people who made the difference, not the place itself. I thought, "I can be with these people," that mattered more than the setting.

Now, as adults, our five children—four of whom now live out of state—still think of Midland and Michigan as their home. They yearn for that sense of belonging where they live now. It's something unique to Midland, especially for a town of its size. The diversity, the inclusiveness, and the way people here look for ways to give back create a strong sense of community. It's hard to find elsewhere.

Sept. 22 - 28 is this year's Neighboring Week. Midland County Neighboring Week is organized annually by the Midland Area Cultural Awareness Coalition and aims to realize Midland's vision of being an inclusive, thriving community. The week features activities by various organizations, neighborhoods, and businesses to foster connections, nurture friendships, and celebrate community.

Inspired by the idea of "loving thy neighbor," Neighboring Week began in 2011 to build community beyond religious boundaries. It has since evolved into a broader celebration of neighborliness. Anyone can participate by joining events, planning activities, or being a good neighbor. The week emphasizes intentional acts of kindness and generosity, reinforcing that everyone in Midland deserves to feel they belong. 

As Midland advances, I hope we never lose the neighboring spirit I love. Just as I have shared with people through this story, I hope others utilize Neighboring Week to give back and share, as well