By Staff
THE JOYS OF FATHERHOOD n Since becoming a father a little more than a year ago, Todd Tilghman's days are a string of the simple and touching moments of watching his son, Eagan Brooks, grow. As his father did with him, Tilghman said he plans to teach his son to be an upstanding, godly man. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star.
By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
June 17, 2001
To first-time father Todd Tilghman, the best thing about being a dad lies in the beauty of hearing his son, Eagan, say the name.
Eagan learned to talk at about eight or nine months or maybe a little before, Tilghman said, and his first word was, "Daddy."
Tilghman and his wife, Brooke, had been married a little more than a year when their son, Eagan Brooks, was born. The couple were up all night before his anticipated arrival on Jan. 29, 2000.
Now, Tilghman's days are a string of the simple and touching moments of watching his child grow.
Today is Tilghman's second Father's Day. The first went by almost forgotten.
Tilghman is youth director at Cornerstone Church on Highway 39 North, where his father, the Rev. Clarence Tilghman, is pastor. As director of the church's youth ministry, Abide, Tilghman teaches about 30 children on Wednesday nights.
Other than teaching, he said his duty is to "be their servant in every way possible." He also leads Praise and Worship music at the church.
Tilghman plans to spend this Father's Day at the church.
And though he is now a father, Tilghman is also a son. He said the best thing about being his father's son is that he learned the "right way to live" and the "right kind of person to be."
And because of these lessons from his own father, Tilghman said he will raise his son in the church.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.