On Friday
morning, May 17th, several class members, and their spouses, toured the old high
school, and grammar school buildings. The old high school building is now a
middle school, and has been expanded to three times its original size. The
original building is architecturally intact, and still houses classrooms. The
oiled wooded floors have been replaced by tile, and royal blue lockers line the
hallways. A very nice new high school has bee built off of highway 80. A brief
tour of the old grammar school building
revealed little change. The windows had been "boarded over", I suppose
for air-conditioning purposes, and the basement and upper floor were gated off
and not accessible. Some of us then went down to inspect the old canal between
the grammar school and "Scratch Ankle", where we spent many boyhood
days battling the enemy during WWII. I hate to report that the canal is now far
too dirty for conducting a decent war.
Friday afternoon Eddie Willingham joined, Doug Lott, Ralph Lewis, Bobby
Masengill, Bo Spear, William Logan and Harry Coker for golf. Anne Jones Fleming
gave some of the ladies a tour of the town. A late afternoon thunderstorm
resulted in strong winds and drastically falling temperatures, which persisted
the remainder of the weekend. Many scurried to shop for warmer clothing. Several
couples, who were staying at the Holiday Inn, were joined by other Demopolis
resident classmates for dinner at the Fosque House
restaurant on Friday evening.
The old Gaineswood mansion was open for a tour and barbeque on Saturday. This
afforded many class members an opportunity to tour the beautifully restored
mansion and visit with other former friends. Saturday evening the reunion
gathering began with a cocktail hour followed by dinner at the New Orleans Bar
and Grill, located on the Tombigbee River. All enjoyed a layout of memorabilia
from our school years. Our nametags also carried a 1952 picture to aid in
identification. All attendees gave a capsule of their past fifty years. We were
joined by two former teachers, Ester Propst and Glen
Bridges. Jimmy Spencer was selected as "Least Changed" male, and Ester
Propst as "Least Changed" female. In a classic "senior
moment", amid all the photos being taken, we failed to gather for a reunion
class picture. In addition to the previously mentioned teachers those attending,
with their spouses were; Asa Boozer, Julia Elliott (Boyd), Harry Coker, Ralph
Lewis, William Logan, Doug Lott, Bobby Masengill, Janet Copeman (Masengill),
Jack McPherson, Hawkins Moore, Bo Spear, Jimmy Spencer, Stiles (Buck) Ulmer,
Babette Levy (Wampold), Agnes Anderson (Willingham), and Marilyn Brown (Hairston).
Sunday morning a lovely brunch, planned and prepared by Doug and Sue Lott, was
held at the home of Doug's aunt, Mrs. Ernestine (Jim) Rogers. A beautiful weekend of memories and fellowship was thoroughly enjoyed by all,
but for me personally somewhat tinged with the sad awareness that this may well
be the last time many of us see each other. All in all it was a great
experience, and one I am grateful to have lived to enjoy. Many pictures were
taken, and I have asked several people to send me copies so that I can compile a
collage and forward along to all classmates, and to you for posting on the
website.