Ellen, my wife’s sister, was left some personal effects by a cousin, Suzy Smith. Suzy’s father, Frank Smith, graduated from Thomasville High in 1930. His annual was given to THS, but some letters from a class reunion need a home.

Graduates from 1929, 30, and 31 celebrated jointly in June of 1990. Copied letters and a class roster are from the 1931 group. Of 72 classmates 30 were deceased. Five had unknown addresses. 

Their “Senior Class Poem” offers tender reflection. “Tis June once more, the high school door swings wide as we pass through. And down the halls, our last footfalls echo in sad adieu.” 

June Bailey McDaniel, the author, was looking forward to the reunion. “Some years ago I went with my husband to one of his in Bainbridge, Georgia, where I met several of his old girlfriends and heard how nice, smart and handsome he was and is.”

Ruth Booker moved to Ocilla in 1941 to work as a Public Health Nurse and met Claude Nelson Gray. “We had a wonderful life together for 43 years. He passed away in 1984. We had three children, twins, Jack and Jill, and another daughter Jean.”

Nora Pearson Cason had lost her spouse after 36 happy years. “As we approach the reunion of the 1931 class after 59 years, it brings to mind how precious the time given to us was and still is.” 

Amarinthia “Ama” Tanner married in 1935 and spent most of her life in Florida. After her husband retired in 1974 they moved to a Thomas County farm. He died in 1979. 

Kurt Clements confessed, “delusions of making a living playing baseball.” He held various jobs until 1938 when he settled at Forshalle Plantation. “Didn’t even know, till the end of the first month, how much I was going to be paid. Back then, if you asked what a job paid you didn’t get the job.” 

He stayed 40 years and raised four daughters. After his wife’s death he married two more times. “I must be the only man around who has had three good wives.”

Elizabeth Dekle Harris wrote hurriedly when sending her check for $60. Her husband’s health was, “not too good,” but children and grandchildren were, “beautiful, handsome, successful, and happy.”

Sara Goldstein Blumberg had a 50th wedding anniversary coming up. “About two years ago, I got run over by a car when out walking for my health! …I wasn’t supposed to live, but I fooled them.”

Helen Grovenstein Kitchens had three children but only one living. “My husband Bill died four years ago. We were married for 52 years. I now live alone and am trying to adjust. We’ve had some tough times, but had a lot of fun too. Life is mostly what you make of it, I’ve found.”          

Rosalie “Rodie” Mason White had been married and divorced twice. “You can call me a Gay divorcee,” she wrote, back when gay meant cheerful. Classmate Kurt Clements was husband number two. Apparently they parted on good terms.

Earl T. “Gussy” Mayo married a young lady from Boston, Georgia, then moved there and opened a hardware store. “I am 76 years old and holding…Good luck and may God bless each of you.”

Dr. Emory N. Milton served in the military during WWII. His first wife died in 1987. He married again in 1989. Ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild had been added to his tribe.

Elizabeth Sims Stenson recounted a moment from History Class. “The teacher (probably Miss Woodruff) asked Florence Dobbins what Napoleon’s Coup D’etat was, and Florence said, “Was it what he rode in?” 

Thomas Heyward Vann was a Captain in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He practiced law in Thomasville for 52 years before retiring. He and his wife, Mildred, had traveled to almost every state and several foreign countries.

Margery Wheeler Brown was married for 43 years to a Georgia Tech Professor before he died in 1981. “I stay busy with family, friends, and church activities.”

Estelle Johnson Joiner’s poetic expression began, “Memories, Memories, How I love to recall. Senior days of long ago, Best memories of all.”

Verse two of June Bailey’s poem seems a fitting close. “The plans we laid, the friendships made, Will linger for many a year. Though each of us may go a separate way, The memory will ever be dear.”

Not everything can be kept, but I hope those letters from a class reunion find a good home.