By: Margaret Wallace Commercial Appeal, Living Here

In 1998, Scott Smith began his first job after graduate school, as a marketing manager for International Paper in Memphis. After six months of renting “someplace I don’t remember anymore,” he scouted around for a home to buy.

“Cordova was perfect,” said Scott, who invested in a new home in the Cordova Club community, surrounded by an 18-hole golf course. “I do like to play golf,” he admitted. “But I also wanted a place with a yard that would be safe for a family – even though I hadn’t met anyone I wanted to marry.”

To develop his career and mingle, Scott participated in community service projects through MPACT Memphis. Through friends at MPACT, he met Tran Bui, a young television news reporter and anchor for ABC 24/UPN 30. A go-getter professional in her own right, the two clicked immediately.

“At that first meeting, we talked until 5 in the morning,” said Tran. “We had so much in common. We both grew up in immigrant families, mine from Viet Nam and his from his mother’s German family of Segewitz. We grew up with that family heritage as newcomers to the United States. It’s a strong bond.”

Today, Tran Bui-Smith and Scott Smith have been married for nearly four years and have a dynamic two-year-old son, Jackson. A large family-portrait photo with three beaming faces holds a place of honor on the fireplace mantle, declaring the household’s transformation from bachelor’s pad to a family home. A blooming Christmas cactus at the front door and carefully chosen living room furnishings share space with Jackson’s Elmo chair.

Just up from napping, Jackson peered over the stair banister at the strange visitor seated on the sofa with his mom. Eventually, his personality emerged as he lugged out his favorite alphabet blocks and storybooks. 

“Coo-kee Mon-er. Go-ver. Blue. Seven. Nine.” declared Jackson. This pint-sized dynamo might well become Cordova’s first mayor someday, despite the fact that his parents treasure their neighborhood’s unincorporated structure. With his dual-ethnic heritage and exemplary leadership modeling from attentive parents, Jackson is poised to win friends and influence people in this culturally diverse community. 

Today, Tran has shifted her professional role to that of a freelance reporter, writer and media consultant. She is president of the board of the Commission on Missing and Exploited Children (COMEC), a board member of MPACT and the Greater Memphis Immigrant Task Force. It should be no surprise that she is also co-chair of Women on the Move. Despite its complexity, her new life’s flexibility still allows plenty of time with Jackson. Play dates with neighborhood friends are balanced with flexible Mom’s Day Out time at Mullins United Methodist Day Care. Publicity projects on behalf of various non-profit agencies are plentiful. “I am still learning how to say ‘no’ so I don’t get overloaded.,” said Tran. “I couldn’t have made the transition without Scott’s support.”

“It’s working well for us,” said Scott, “It’s a low-crime, low-tax community with lots of families. We enjoy movies and dining with friends. And Cordova is still accessible to Memphis in a way that other communities are not and we can stay in contact with friends from Memphis.” 

When asked for advice on how other busy professional singles might repeat the Smith family success story, Scott noted, “Memphis can be a difficult, big place for meeting people. Come to Cordova. There are lots of churches with active single programs. And when you find the right person, there are more than 4,000 families in this neighborhood alone. Everyone’s been so welcoming.”