June 5, 2004
Page 5 - Saturday Night - Party Time
Bill
Kelly's Saturday night get-together for the 50's is always a highlight for
Homecoming weekend. After enjoying Jean and Bill's hospitality at the
Falls
for years, we learned that this year they would be unable to host
the party.
Family obligations had taken them to Montana and they did
not know when
they would return. This news really upset many of us
because we wanted
to be together on Saturday night. Especially because
the Community "Kids"
we wanted to see always attended Bill's
party. Where could we go?
What should we do? How
do you fill the shoes of a legend?
When Janie Owens heard our
dilemma, she offered the
Alumni Heritage
Center to the 50's group. Dale Denham Shaffield, Hazel Guthrie
Underwood,
and Beverly Guthrie Lougher put their heads together and decided
to give it a
try and came up with a plan for a cookout. With lots
and lots of help from
so many, we had a pretty good party and our
Community friends came.
But the best thing - Jean and Bill got
back in time to join us and for the
first time in years could just relax
and enjoy the party. Janie Owens
could not have been more supportive. She is a treasure who truly
loves
her job and we are so lucky to have her. Thank you dear friend
for making
a very special evening possible.
For
all who came to the party - we deeply appreciate your support of our
effort to keep our group together. To Bill and Jean Kelly -
You have our admiration and appreciation for all those years.
For
all our volunteers we offer our sincere thanks.
There were many who pitched in and we couldn't have done it without
you.
Dale, Hazel, and Beverly.
We
couldn't have done it without you - Jimmy Moore. Jimmy arranged
for the use of a grill from the
Rabun County Bank in Clayton. He hauled it to the
Heritage Center and took it back.
He also hired the caterer from the Valley Cafe' who did the
wonderful coleslaw and baked beans.
Check out
this grill - it took many bags of charcoal to fill this monster. Dale had
purchased the
charcoal at the local Wal-Mart and Bob Welden came prepared with a bag that was added
to the fire.
We
couldn't have done it without you Charlie Underwood. Charlie and
Hazel bought most
of the food for the party. He organized
the lighting of the grill and started the cooking until
Phil Landers (the official hamburger
flipper) could arrive from his golf game.
We
couldn't have done it without you Billy Teasley. Billy was the
official "gofer" for the cookout.
He assisted Charlie and Phil with the cooking and did all the leg
work -from grill to kitchen.
We
couldn't have done it without you Phil Landers. Phil hurried back
from the Alumni Golf Game
to cook the burgers. We had 120 burgers and 80 hotdogs
that had to be cooked.
Thanks Phil, great job.
Condiments
ready, coleslaw ready, baked beans ready, chips and buns ready.
Bring on the burgers and hot dogs.
We
couldn't have done it without you Martha Ann Cornette Mann and Viola
Robbins Starr.
Martha Ann and Vi just came in the kitchen and started working.
Here they are helping Hazel
put the burgers in the buns. Martha Ann is certainly concentrating on the task
and Hazel must need new glasses. These three had great fun working
together -
just like in high school.
We couldn't have done it
without you Barbara Lewis Estes. Here Barbara relaxes with
Viola
Robbins Starr after the meal. Before the meal she was in the kitchen slicing
and dicing and doing anything she could do to help.
Men seem to congregate
around a grill. Here Charlie Underwood, Jimmy
Moore, Jim Darnell,
Bob Welden, and Gerald Hammett watch while Phil Landers and Billy Teasley slave over the grill.
Bill Kelly stopped by the
grill area to check on the "amateurs". He gave his
blessing on
the burger choice and allowed as how everything seemed to be under
control.
Charlie Underwood and Ford Kamin enjoy his company.
Bob Welden, Jim Darnell, and Jimmy
Moore are conferring about the skill of the cooks.
Jim Darnell seems to agree with Jimmy Moore but Bob Welden seems doubtful.
We had asked everyone to
bring a dessert and the response was overwhelming.
Angie Brack Parkerson's 10 layer chocolate cake was a star.
Bea and Hubert Darnell
were among the first to arrive. We were delighted with
Hubert's
return to health and so glad to see them both.
Picture Courtesy of Ann Mays Brooker
Danette and Bruce Hopper. Can't have a party without Bruce.
Our very faithful cookbook-seller, Angie Brack Parkerson, in deep conversation with Russell Roach.
Bruce
Hopper,
looking mighty comfortable in that rocking chair, visits with
Hubert Darnell and Hazel Guthrie Underwood.
Bill Kelly chatting with Doyle Smith and Verlin Keener.
Joining the party are
Gene Vinson, Adilene Burrell Davis, Wynona McDowell Blackstock,
and Mildred Burrell Bennett. Dennis Dickerson and Dale Denham
Shaffield are
looking for refreshments. Gene's encouragement helped us decide to
have the party.
He and Bill told us our Community friends would come. He was
right - they did.
The parking lot was filling with classmates.
Angie Brack Parkenson had brought her 1959 Board for all
to enjoy. Lexie Justus Scruggs
chats with Barbara Lewis Estes while Dennis
Dickerson listens in the background. John
and Elaine Stovall Olive
check out the board. Gwen Raby Mansini and husband, Charlie,
look
over the crowd. Beverly Knowles Lindsey enjoys a cool drink
and we enjoy Bill Kelly's backside.
Jack Davis getting ready
to dig into a hamburger with all the fixins. His wife, Vivian,
is not too sure he should be eating all that. He does seem to
have a guilty expression on this face.
Everyone found a place to
eat and visit and enjoy each other. Pat Wright McNulty
strolling by with
Fern Dodd Strickland limping along behind. Bill Kelly,
Adilene Burrell Davis, and
Mildred Burrell Bennett are just enjoying the parade. LaVerne Grist
Coleman with Beverly Knowles Lindsey.
Heading to the chow line,
Charlie and Gwen Raby Mansini and Elaine Stovall Olive
find an old friend, Bob Page.
The dessert table was
loaded with all kinds of tempting dishes which were enjoyed by all.
The Class of 1954 was celebrating their 50th Anniversary and had a
special cake for the occasion.
The evening hour
on Saturday night, full of food, and relaxing with old friends.
That's what Homecoming is all about. Opal Norton
Messer sits with Bill Coleman.
Alice Hemple Kamin and husband Ford with Viola Robbins Starr,
Carroll Parkerson
and Fred Trout discuss the 59 board. Wilma Kelly is visiting with
Dennis Dickerson.
Opal Norton Messer, Bill
Coleman, Jimmy Moore, William Thurmond,
Billy Teasley and Mary Jane Carver McCoy. Relaxing and
remembering.
Martha Ann Cornette Mann
seems to be in heaven in between Jack Ayers and Bruce Hopper.
We were all delighted when Jack came by. He had been to
dinner with friends from the Class of 51.
Ken McNulty, Bob Kehres,
Dave Brooker, Jack Ayers, Martha Ann Cornette Mann,
Hubert Darnell and many others enjoying Homecoming.
Gene Vinson enjoying
visiting and
rocking.
Need help on identifying the man who is with Gene.
The Class of 1959 lined
up to have their picture made. We didn't want them to feel foolish
so we took their picture.
Elaine Stovall Olive, Bob Page, Dale Denham Shaffield, Pat Wright
McNulty, Verlin Keener,
Doyle Smith, Alice Hemple Kamin, William Thurmond, Mary Jane Carver McCoy,
Fred Trout,
Russell Roach, Billy Teasley, Angie Brach Parkerson and LaVerne
Grist Coleman. What a great group!
Would you look at
that!! Jimmy Moore, Jim Lougher, Bill Kelly, Broward Strickland,
Opal Norton Messer,
Bill Coleman and Barbara Lewis Estes are certainly checking out
something. Is Dale on the hay bale again?
Sarah Garner Bondurant
and her husband, Joe, joined us after having dinner
with their friends from 1951 class. She and Joe check out the
names in the courtyard.
Harold and William Thurmond share some family time together.
Don Strickland with
Opal Norton Messer and Bill Coleman and
Martha Ann Cornette Mann checking out the view.
"Chief" Phil Landers visiting
with Jimmy Moore or maybe he is guarding him.
In the background -
Angie Brack Parkerson, Billy Teasley, Pat Wright McNulty,
Russell Roach, Elaine
Stovall Olive and John Olive.
Don Strickland, Martha
Ann Cornette Mann, Broward Strickland and William Thurmond.
Martha Ann seems to be saying, "I can't believe you don't
remember."
Barbara Dean Hallford with husband, Irvin, visit with Wilma Kelly Hoilman.
Joe Bondurant, Bill Dunbar, James Smith, Gerald Hammett, Mitch Houston, and Jim Harrell.
Wynona McDowell Blackstock, Gail Thurmond, and Linda Landers having fun.
Hubert Darnell, Danny
Hopper, Billie Bert Shope Harrell, LaVerne Grist Coleman,
Beverly Knowles Lindsey, Wilma Kelly Hoilman, Bruce Hopper and
Barbara Dean Hallford.
Joe and Sarah Garner
Bondurant with Terre and Don Kelly.
Very good friends who share some interesting history. Many
thanks to Terre for
all your help in cleaning up after the party. We couldn't have done
it without you Terre.
Our good buddy and great
hugger, Ron Ward did not come to Homecoming this year.
He was missed by all but especially his groupies - Martha Ann
Cornette Mann,
Hazel Guthrie Underwood, Dale Denham Shaffield, and Viola Robbins
Starr.
Any way you say it Ron - you should have come. You were missed.
James Smith had to fill
in for Ron and the ladies lined up for their hugs. Beverly Burton
Struble,
Patsy Rice Cunningham, Wilma Kelly Hoilman, Barbara Lewis Estes,
Lexie Justus Scruggs,
Beverly Knowles Lindsey, Jean Hopper Barber, Dale Denham Shaffield,
Hazel Guthrie Underwood,
Gwen Raby Mansini, Viola Robbins Starr, Fern Dodd Strickland, Vicki Vinson
Nash,
Sarah Garner Bondurant, Barbara Dean Hallford, Wynona McDowell
Blackstock.
On the ground (because they were the only ones who could get up)
Carol Dickerson Dunbar,
Pat Wright McNulty, Martha Ann Cornette Mann (holding James's leg no
less) and Angie Brack Parkerson.
Billy Teasley came over
to get in on the hugging and the ladies obliged. Mary Jane Carver
McCoy,
Angie Brack Parkerson, Patsy Rice Cunningham, Ann Mays Brooker, Barbara
Lewis Estes,
Fern Dodd Strickland, and Wilma Kelly Hoilman cannot believe their
eyes.
When Billy tried to leave, Dale wanted one more
hug.
The Class of 1955 lined
up for a picture. Bruce Hopper, Lexie Justus Scruggs, Bob Welden,
Wilma Kelly Hoilman, Beverly Knowles Lindsey, Bill Kelly, Barbara
Dean Hallford, Gene Vinson,
and Hubert Darnell. Cleo Dodson, class of 52 wandered into the
picture.
Janie brought the
Marshalls, the new Headmaster and his wife, to meet her favorite
alums.
Here she visits with Dale Denham Shaffield and Jane Tanner
Bridges.
Thanks again Janie for making this party possible. It was a
blast!
We
close the Saturday night party with a picture of our 50th year
class.
1954 - it was a very good year. Ann Mays Brooker, Mildred
Burrell Bennett,
Beverly Burton Struble, Patsy Rice Cunningham, Dennis Dickerson,
Wynona McDowell Blackstock, Hazel Guthrie Underwood, Fern Dodd
Strickland,
Gerald Hammett, and Patty Cone Gober.