Gordo High School Class of 1956
Quite a long time, you say? Well, now “back in THE day”, we had a whole lot of WHOLESOME fun. As the song goes, we respected and honored GOD, we said the pledge of allegiance to the flag, we had PRAYER in school and we respected teachers, and each other. Our parents were our guides, they were our life. We (or I) thought they could do no wrong. Mother and Daddy were good parents, always providing a home, clothing, food and discipline. They went to church and took us each time there was any service. They supported my brother and me in all our school endeavors.
SO, that gets me down to my school friends. Let me first say that I attended five schools over a 12 year period. Four years at one, two years at the next, one year and one year at the next two and four years at Gordo High School in Gordo, Pickens County, Alabama. And, the first day we moved into Gordo, it was during summer so no school. Oh, my new next door neighbor, Patsy Johnson invited to join the band and immediately was carrying a tenor sax. Oh, what fun the next four years with that group of young folks!
And now getting to the question am I still in touch with any of those friends of long ago? Yes, many of them.
In 1966, Fern Mullinex (Fleming-Cork) organized a class reunion. What fun! So much so that we had one every year for a while, then 5 years and back to every year. I don’t remember who all helped her with that one, but in some future ones, Max Wiginton, Loretta Colvin then Sanders Colvin Fuller, Peggy Hall Junkin, Ravenell Springer Boswell, Gladys Miller Posey helped. In answer to the question, how many more than those mentioned do I stay in touch with?
Class Mates who have died:
Fern Mullinex, Geraldine Porter Griffin, Louis Price, Max Winginton, Earline Griffin, Sam Parker, Ralph Beard, Billy Joe Gay, Ruby Nell Junkin, Joe Lee Goodman, Gerald Homan, Dwight Housel, Fannie McCool Taylor, Albert (Junior) McGee, Joe Pritchett, Rayford Moss.
I talk with Annie Lou Burkhalter Bankston at least one time a week and often more often. How has my friend changed? She and I attended the same church for about 40 years and our children went to the same schools. She is the one who has become my wonderful friend from the early 1950s. She and her husband moved not too long after Thomas and I relocated. (We moved to Cullman from Center Point. Annie Lou (Ann) and James moved to Decatur from Center Point. Thomas went back into the hospital 12 days after we moved into our brand new home and he never came home.) James and Ann moved also into a brand new home and he was diagnosed with dementia. He was recently moved to a Nursing Home due to his health. We share much of our lives and keep in touch when we hear from Gordo.
Others I still see at class reunions:
Loretta Sanders Colvin Fuller lost her first husband and later met a professor at one of the local colleges. She became Mrs. Fuller. She now takes a leading role in keeping the class together and getting us together. What a trooper! She is still a talented musician, playing piano for her church. She is still as beautiful as when she was a girl.
Ola Marie Burkhalter Gibson I still consider as a dear friend and we see each other when we have a reunion. She is no longer married at last meeting. She lives in Ohio and is retired. (Who isn’t at 83?) She had two sons and one died.
Troy Barron and wife, Brenda, attend most of our meetings and still lives in Gordo. He has served in the military, been Gordo’s Police Chief, mayor and served our city and country well.
Holly Dyer still lives in Gordo. His wife was also a dear friend of mine. She died and he is still alone.
Ola Agnes Elmore Barton remains in Gordo. She is also retired.
Peggy Hall Junkin is now helping organize our meetings. She retired from Gordo First National Bank where Fern, Max and my Elmore-Moss cousin worked. Peggy is a good friend.
Faye Hendon McGee and I talked yesterday (1-10-2022). We are researching whether she is really my cousin. My great grandmother Crow was a Hendon and was born in Gordo. Faye Hendon lives in Gordo and we are friends since 1952. Her husband is dead and she lives alone but doesn’t drive. Her children are great helpers to her.
Ravenell Springer Boswell still lives alone. Her sons check in on her often. She is involved in planning our reunions. She remains a beautiful person, physically and her demeanor.
Jerome Hickman and his wife Peggy have invited us to the family venue where receptions, parties, and other events are held. We have met there a few times and been graciously treated by both. Jerome takes pictures and provides the food for those times. Other times, we meet at “Cattle on a Flame” a local restaurant on Gordo. Jerome and Peggy are a sweet couple.
Gladys Miller Posey meets with Ravenell, Loretta & Peggy for lunch when they can. She helps Loretta, Peggy and Ravenell plan our get-to-gathers. She retired from the State having worked at Bryce Hospital.
Mary Dean Goodman Watkins is our entertainer when we gather. She keeps us in stitches with every breath. She lives alone but has children who are in and out ‘all the time’. A grandson brought her to the last meeting so her extended family also see about Grandma.
Frances White Pritchett was married to class mate Joe Pritchett. They spent many years in the military, touring Europe. Frances is a registered nurse and retired from Hospice of West Alabama. When Joe died, he was pastor of a church in or around Tuscaloosa. Following Joe’s death, Frances became pastor of either that church or another in the area. There was a man at the church who was widowed. He and Frances caught each other’s eye and the rest is history. They have been happily married for a few years.
Joe Donald Wood married my former next door neighbor. Kay Johnson. He sold farm equipment. They live in Aliceville. The worship at First Baptist in Aliceville where he is in the choir and serves as a deacon.
Those are the class mates with whom I stay in touch and most, if not all, are retired, grandparents, great-grandparents. Their situations have changed as have mine. Considering that is has been almost 66 years since we thought we were grown, I assume the main changes in that time include finding out we weren’t as “grown-up” as we first thought after our further education, marriage, children, deaths, remarriages, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Life has a way of teaching lessons that aren’t taught in any higher learning facility. The most important lessons anyone can be taught is that Jesus is ALWAYS with us. HE died for us, HE rose again on the 3rd day as was told by profits, HE walked again on earth and then went to Heaven to live until HIS return. BUT HE did not leave us alone. We have the Holy Spirit with us always and Jesus intercedes to God for us. We don’t walk alone through troubles, HE walks with us through troubles.
Some of the lower class friends are those I either babysat with or who have married relatives. It is wonderful to reach out to these and stay in touch.
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