In his home-based office at the Town House Apartments where he moved three years ago with his wife, Bridget, the Rev. Lawton Posey writes columns and commentaries for Charleston newspapers and other publications. He's currently doing research on hymnals.

"I am totally deaf. ...

... I hear through a cochlear implant ...

... that sends signals into my inner ear."

At age 2, Lawton Posey was living on a dairy farm on James Island in the Charleston, S.C., area.

In his early 30s, as a pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Welch, Lawton Posey discovered he had a rapport with young people.

This church portrait of Lawton Posey was taken at age 40 as pastor of the Norview Presbyterian Church near Norfolk, Va. "I was in my prime," he said.

Posey10 ... 8x5.385 Monday ellis photo