SWHS Class of '39 holds reunion
By Sarah Peppenhorst
 | | The Sweet Water High School Class of 1939 were: front row (L-R): Mattye Rhea Etheridge, Jeanette Morgan, Mildred Odom , Elma "Dee" Etheridge, Betty "Polly" Crenshaw, Rachel Boozer, Eunice Hudson, Bernice Tucker; second row: Myrtis Hurt, Lollie Jowers, Dorothy Crenshaw, Sinia McNider, Mina Walters, Sarah Norris, Inolya Phillips, Allie Pearl Nelson, Lucille Parten; third row: Elizabeth Whitcomb, Laura Frances Lewis, Evelyn Smith, Tennyson Tucker, Edgar Smith, Creagh Dozier, Hugh Bouler, Vermelle DuBose, J. D. Kirkham, (Waldo Yeager, Teacher), Cecil Johnson, Mary Merle Peppenhorst, Mary Norris; fourth row: Vivian Blakeney, Julius Nichols, Cecil Rogers, Russell Etheridge, Grey Langley, William "Bo" Ware, Jay Langley, David Beverly, Spencer Smith. Top inset: Alma Williams, Maggie Pearl Williams. Wallace Tutt, Jr. died about three weeks before graduation. Counting him, the total number in class would be 41, sixteen boys and twenty-five girls. Class Officers were: Edgar Smith, President; Vermelle DuBose, Vice-President; Lucille Parten, Secretary; Wallace Tutt, Treasurer. Class Colors: Pink and Green. Class Motto: Green but growing. |
|
Hello, again, and SA-ALUTE!!! to the seven ladies who assembled August 16, 2006 to celebrate the 67th graduation anniversary of Sweet Water High School Class of 1939, the four living male classmates were not able to attend this year. Since the reunion one of the men, Vivian "Bud" Blakeney passed away; he was buried on Armistice Day, November 11. He and several of his male classmates along with two lady classmates served our country with pride, courage, honor, and distinction during World War II.
 | | The members of the Sweet Water High School Class of '39 that attended the reunion this year were: (picture at left) standing (L-R) Mattye Rhea Etheridge Manderson, Eunice Hudson Etheridge, Mary Merle Peppenhorst, Vermelle DuBose Cranford, Alma Williams Driver, Maggie Pearl Williams; seated, Emily Inolya Phillips Moore. |
|
The seven classmates attending were Vermelle DuBose Cranford, Sweet Water; Mattye Rhea Etheridge Manderson, Selma; Eunice Hudson Etheridge, Mobile; Mary Merle Peppenhorst, Thomasville; Emily lnolya Phillips Moore, Tuscaloosa; Alma Williams Driver, Satsuma; and Maggie Pearl Williams, Saraland. At the reunion, we rejoiced to see Rick Langley, the son of a classmate, come to honor the memory of his father, Grey Langley, and to present his new wife, Beth, having traveled from Athens, for the occasion. Others attending were Trula Vee Drinkard Quinney, Gallion, who was chauffeur for Vermelle; Milton Manderson, Jr., Prattville, Mattye Rhea's son and chauffeur; Betty Nonnenmacher, Mobile, Eunice's daughter and chauffeur; Alice Belle Hudson Noble, Thomasville, Eunice's sister; Sarah Elizabeth Peppenhorst, Thomasville, Mary Merle's sister and chauffeur; lnolya's family bringing her were daughter, Edith Newman; son, Benjamin Miller, his wife, Susan, and their son, Ben, all of Tuscaloosa; Alma and Maggie Pearl's sister, Ruby Williams Huggins, Thomasville, joined the group, as did Maggie Pearl's former pastor, Bruce Tillman and his wife, Debbie, Arlington.
This year class members had been asked to use imagination in making their own name tags for themselves and their guests and we had fun showing off our creations. Surprisingly, or not, several designs picked up on using the class colors, pink and green. It was obvious that Susan had art training, but each individual did well.
Each person present was given an opportunity to share comments, memories and updates since last we met. Continuing the tradition, we sang the Class Song, remembered our deceased classmates, sang "May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You" and expressed hope to meet again
the third Saturday evening in August, 2007.
No comments have been posted. Be the first! 
RSS Feed
)
)
