Kernersville High School - Retrospect Yearbook (Kernersville, NC)

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CLASS PROPHECY May 26, 1951 Kernersville, North Carolina A few days ago as I was typing at the office a lady, looking at magazines, began asking me about my Alma Mater. Suddenly I realized who she was. It was none other than Blanche Stafford. We began reminiscing about all our classmates who graduated from KHS in 1951. These are my results: Blanche, after just finishing her nurse’s training at St. Leo’s is now assisting one of the surgeons there. To my utmost surprise I found the reason she was in my office is—my boss is her boyfriend. Sarah Nelson is still resting and loafing after those thirteen long years in school. My, that must be a wonderful vocation. You remember how happy-go-lucky she always appeared. Well, she is still that way. Not in the least to my amazement, I was informed that Jerry Dean Stephens and Jerrell Stafford and their little one have been living in their new house on the Bunker Hill Road for the past several years. Betty Lou Bowman is daily slaving over a typewriter at Western Electric. She seems to be enjoying her work. It looks as if she is going to be the “Old Maid” of the class after all. Betty Carolyn Barrow, still as bashful as ever, is holding a permanent position with Sears, Roebuck and Company at Greensboro. I was shocked but glad when I saw her really driving the other day. Ann Spears, who became Mrs. Jack Young shortly after graduating from Nursing school, is a registered nurse at City Memorial Hospital. From all reports she knows all about sinus and is taking good care of Jack. At Baptist Hospital we find JoAnne Cooke doing a fine job as head of the Nuse’s Department. Under JoAnne’s supervision we find Carolyn Stockton daily slaving over her patients there. Frances Fontaine, who recently graduated from Averett College, majoring in Com- mercial Art, is training her horse to run in the Kentucky Derby in June. Jane McMichael has spent the last four and one-half years in the office at Du Pont, Inc. As a vocation, industrious Betty Jean Taylor is private secretary to a handsome young lawyer in Wytheville, Virginia. In Raleigh we find Mrs. Jimmy Qualls, nee Kay Helms, as receptionist at Murray- Farlow Funeral Home. At Senior High School in Greensboro JoAnne Ingram is head of the English De- partment. To round up the feminine group of the class of ’51 I may as well give a short report on myself. My husband and I are now making our home in Greensboro as holders of positions with The Starmount Company. Moving on to the masculine end of the class of ’51: At Glenn High School John Nelson may be seen drifting around as Vocational Agriculture teacher. I suppose you all have noticed the new furniture factory located near Colfax. It is owned by Leo Tuttle who worked in the school Diversified Occupational Program. Wesley Suratt, who came to us in our Senior year from Lambsburg, Virginia, is now employed at Leo’s furniture factory after his recent discharge from the Air Corps. On his one-hundred and fifty acre farm just outside town we find Forrest Hauser spending his time.

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By the time we reached the eighth grade we were sure that we knew enough to be seniors but the High School teachers who had not had the privilege of teaching us persuaded Mr. Blackwell to defer our graduation in order that they might have a chance to add to our store house of knowledge. Mrs. E. E. Ripley and Mrs. Kermit Smith guided us that year. September 5, 1947, we learned the true meaning of segregation. For the first time in our school lives we were divided into sections with Mrs. R. L. Kuykendall home room teacher for the girls and Mr. John Hardwicke home room teacher for the boys. The beginning of school in our tenth year was marked by a number of changes, the chief of which was our new principal, Mr. C. V. Sigmon. Mr. Entrekin, the head of our newly organized Agriculture Department and Mr. Hardwicke were our home room teachers that year. The opening of school in our Junior year was saddened by the sudden death of our beloved coach and science teacher, Mr. Alvin Sutton. Our home room teachers for that year were Mrs. King Grogan and Miss Vera Williamson. Reid Chilton was welcomed into our room from Sumner Hi toward the end of our Junior year. We entertained the Seniors at Sedgefield Inn for the traditional Junior-Senior Banquet. This event along with our class rings brought us to the sudden realization that we were Juniors and that our days in Kernersville School was fast drawing to an end. Highlighting our Junior year also was the May Day Festival under the direction of Mrs. J. R. Blackwell Jr. When the opening day of 1950 dawned it was with happy hearts that we again passed through the doors of K. H. S. At last we were members of that privileged group —the Seniors. Missing among the faces of the class were Sarah Morris and Suzie Banks; Sarah having transferred to Oklahoma and Suzie to Greensboro. Their places were filled by een Curtis McLean, from Lumberton; Roy Whitaker from Walkertown; Westly Surratt, from Mount Airy; and Francis Fontaine, from Winston Salem. Of course all the Seniors were more than delighted to learn that Mrs. Grogan who had been our teacher during our Junior year would again direct our activities on this final lap of our High School journey. One of the highlights of this year has been the trip to the Planetarium and we are also eagerly looking forward to the Junior-Senior banquet when we will be the guests, and to graduation—the culmination of all of our work and dreams. As we look toward graduation it is with a mingled feeling of joy and sadness. We are glad to have attained this step in our Educational Career but are saddened by the thoughts of separation from the friends we have made and the teachers who have helped us to make this event possible. To each of my classmates and teachers I can only say with Tiny Tim, “God bless us every one.”

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Jerry Kirkman spent thirty-one months with the U. S. Army, but he, his wife and little son are now making their home in High Point. Jerry is sports announcer for WFEMY-TV. I suppose you remember Robert Kirkman who worked in the laundry business in the school D. O. Program. He now has his firm in Winston-Salem. As the result of his successful basketball record in high school, Bill Pegg is coaching the boys at Old Richmond. Rex Voss’ basketball skill is also a hit. He is a star player at Hanes Hosiery. As we all know Uncle Sam kept most of our boys occupied for some time. Another of those is Edgar McGee, our married classmate, who worked in his spare hours at The Lone Star Service Station during his high school year. Since his release from Uncle Sam’s force he has returned to the Lone Star. Jimmy Ragland can be seen driving his new tractor here and there on his farm at his old homeplace. To help him enjoy life otherwise he owns a big Buick. I saw him strutting around in it the other day. It seems like the boys who were in the high school D. O. Program just can’t stray from it. Reid Chilton is still in the meat cutting business. Gary Snow, who sings in his odd hours, remains in the sheet metal firm in town. Since his honorable discharge from the Navy, James Wilson has fallen back in the laundry and dry cleaning firm. One more to add to our list of farmers is Jay Vance. I have been informed that he married that cute little girl after all. They have a beautiful home and a big farm down near Oak Ridge. Roy Whitaker, who is working at Western Electric, is married too. It seems that the marriage epidemic struck the boys rather than the girls in the class of ’51. Surely you all remember “‘Poochie,” in other words Kenneth Warren. He is still working with his father atc W M Dry Cleaners. I was told that he is still looking for a girlfriend, so beware, Girls! Robert Stuart has taken over his father’s garage as general manager. He does some mechanical work, too. Jack Taylor, whom you may see sporting a new Ford has a big farm, in partnership with his father. As I was informed he is fixing to go in partnership with a lovely wife. Charles Ragland’s artistic ability has really paid off. He is now in New York draw- ing for Stark Nursery and Orchard Company. Robah Blackburn, who sang in the high school Glee Club and the Quintet during his Senior year, is really showing his talent now. He is singing with the All-American Professional Quartet. Western Electric Company recently elected a new president. He is Wilson Barrow, the youngest president ever elected in this firm. He seems to be very successful in this career. At San Antonio, Texas we see J. B. Walker strutting around as a lieutenant in the Uo Army. On his route from Greensboro to Norfolk Leon Beeson drives his Greyhound bus week-in and week-out. His practice as bus driver at school paid off in a permanent job. The new owner of the Men’s Shop is Darrell Corder. He spends his leisure time hunting. Roger Nelson turned out to be a contractor just like his father. He and his workers have a contract with The Bourbon Company. This report is really too long, but we had such a nice group of classmates that I couldn’t report on one without mentioning the others. It doesn’t seem as if we have been out of school five years but many have been our accomplishments and great our progress throughout these short years. May this self-same spirit remain with us always. GERALDYNE LOGGINS, Class Prophet