“Jennifer Biggs always managed to be in the vicinity during some of the brightest moments of my life and during some of the darkest.”

Here’s what we learned about those who showed up Tuesday for the Memphis mayoral debate. 

“On behalf of everyone at ALSAC and St. Jude, I’m grateful to Memphis for once again sharing its soul with the world during the FedEx St. Jude Championship.”

“Our people are gold. They’re not the type you just walk out on. ... The everyday folks that make up Memphis are awesome.”

“We met a month before at the spring-fed pool at Allison’s Wells, a fading Southern Belle of a place — sort of resort, part art colony, part retreat from change deep in the Mississippi woods outside of Canton.”

“I consider the former mayor, who was elected five times, the most pivotal player in this year’s election for a couple of reasons.”

“The leadership of Memphis in May has not changed since 1998. We should be grateful for their work over the years, keeping the festival going through all of the rain and mud and years. But it’s time for a change.”

This week, it’s the Grizzlies’ contender status, Jaren Jackson Jr. at center, last season’s road woes and lots more hoops stuff. 

“Perhaps they grew up going to church, but it felt dull. Perhaps they went to Christian school, but didn’t click with their classmates. Perhaps they had a sibling or a friend or a mother who prayed for them, but it never really took.”

“There doesn’t seem to be a cohesive plan to address early childhood development, education, income, outcomes and policing across our agencies and non-profits. An all hands-on-deck summit might be a good place to start.”

“I hope we will all treat it with honor and respect because Tom Lee Park will change the way outsiders view our city and how we see ourselves.”

One thing was clear from those attending the Thursday night Town Hall session — the citizens don’t trust the city’s answers or addressing such a crisis in the future.

Next week, the 70 best players in the world will be here — right here — to play the game like no one else in the world can.

Annie Ruth Taylor, 94, has 19 kids, 54 grandkids and 124 great-grandkids. OK, that’s just a rough count. But take a moment to meet the most interesting woman in Memphis — who lives in a most interesting house.

“It is a relatively small number of young people who are committing crimes. However, the lack of repercussions invites others to join them, committing violent acts they might not have considered under more stringent penalties. “

“Watching ‘The Bear’ has been the most simultaneously cathartic and traumatic television experience of my life.”

“Being away from Memphis while keeping an eye on it from afar has allowed me to appreciate it more, and to long to be back among the people I love.”

“If everyone could feel the anguish of a mother whose son has been murdered; or the father of a daughter who has been killed; or a wife who has lost a husband, and a healthcare community that has lost a member of its family; we would be well on our way to establishing solutions to overcome this societal disease.”

“There are seasons when darkness snuffs out creativity. But every time we make something new and beautiful — something life-giving and delightful — we push back on all that darkness.”

“While I understand, and share, Virginia McLean’s passion to realize the vision, I submit that her passion has prohibited her from seeing the obvious.”

“Young people must be told the truth about our history — not shielded from it because it makes adults uncomfortable.” 

“These questions just scratch the surface, but they require answers.”

“On Sunday July 23, we will be coming together to say goodbye to our beloved Hard Rock Café one last time, including former staffers from around the country all reuniting as we celebrate each other and the time we all served at the Café.”

“You don’t have to live long to realize life on this earth is decidedly short. Eternity, on the other hand, is just that: eternal.”