Shaw University - Bear Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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CLASS PROPHECY It is the last day of our century. I walk slowly up the street, stopping now and then to rest my aging body upon my silver-knobbed cane. The weak winter sun sinks slowly and a single ray shines through the window as I enter my drawing room. It reflects on a picture on the wall — it is the Senior Class of ' 45. This picture brings back many memories of my visits to my class- mates, some good memories, some mediocre. Oh. the beauty of reminiscing; I can plainly see Harvcleigh Rivera still hunting up family background before she speaks to the suitor. Dorothy Carclock, Eliza Lane, and Donclla Wilson have all continued in the same field, basketball. They are now coaching the championship team of the world. Wait, what have we here? Why. it ' s Bobby Brinkly, general store owner, post offic: operator principal and teacher of Tri-County Elementary School. Can you imagine or did I imagine ' — No, it ' s true — here is Gloria Mitchell and Catherine Davis having tea in a quiet country cottage. They have finally become aware of the fact that they will spend the rest of their lives as spinsters. I sec Sadie Hawkins ' Day is still being observed, but, wait — it isn ' t Daisy Mae chasing Li ' l Abner — why. no: it ' s our classmate, Annie P. Moore, chasing W. D. Burton. The outcome? Why. she caught him, of course. The world of entertainment has greatly improved with a new type of contest. We see one of our classmates. Erma Lee Sands, come out victorious over another, Martha Harley, in a talking contest. Another of our classmates has realized her greatest ambition — to be in the lights on Broadway. Bobby McGuffin is playing tonight for the 100th performance, after which she will go home to her loving husband. The Lloyd A. Burrus. As we shift our scene to a spot whose name most all of you have heard but whose reputation and upkeep has been forgotten since the end of the war, we see none other than Mary Neely entertaining the meager audience of three at the Stage Door Canteen. China Ann McCabe. Janie Adams. Irene Miller, and Augustus Cooper are still spreading ignorance. Frances Logan. Nannie Martin and Vera Gogers are still trying to hold on to their A.B. Degrees. They just can ' t realize that they aren ' t what they used to be. Mildred Oakley is thoroughly disgusted with teaching but she still spends her time in the classroom beautifying her hands. Maggie Southcrland is still losing things. She even loses friends easily now. I have recently been informed that Dot Moye. Edith McClain and Marie Gray are running a beer joint in Harlem but business is very slow. They have one regular customer, Marie Woods, who often tells of her success in growing her hair. She can often be heard saying. I heard you, I use Queens. Fate has been kind to Grace Lane, she is happily married, to the envy of the neighborhood. Joy Johnson is growing fat off the delicious dinners Mrs. Omega Johnson prepares. Edith Hamlin and Minnie Reddick have a two-family kindergarten with Edith as superin- tendent and Minnie as house mother. Life isn ' t any too pleasant for Gladys Saunders now. She can no longer toss her head or wear high heels. She only has one old friend left to gossip with. Have you noticed the change in the meaning and pronunciation of words now-a-day? Why it is because we are using the new Cherry Dictionary edited by Sarah Cherry to replace the old one by Webster. The last time I was in Haiti I was shocked to meet Clementine High. She decided she would have more opportunity for social work there. What is this that I hear? Oh. it ' s Elvin Smith still popping chewing gum; she ' ll probabb bury it sometimes in the near future. Look what the future did for Fletcher Mae Gilliam and Bernadine Grady. Of course they are tops with the men (however, no one knows it but them). Fletcher Mae is still crying and Bernadine still pretending, nothing matters with her. Peggy Cogdcll and Elsie Howell are rooming together now. Peggy is a widow with ten children and Elsie is still planning her wedding with Clyde Watkins. In the same neighborhood. I see Louise Holmes married to an old man for whose death she is anxiously awaiting so that she will be heir to his fortune. I see Annis Cannady. Olivia Cheek, and Elizabeth Allen, sitting around the fire knitting and wondering why they are still old maids. In the department of health I see Thcrcssa Wilkins and Daisy Morris, both Phi Beta Kappa, and both tn love with the same man. It is a big night at Carnegie Hall. Miss Virginia Alexander. Miss Doris Larkin and Mr. Leslie Hudson are presented in Recital. At least there is a speck of success in our class. The war is over and Leronia Beasley is trying to explain to her many soldier friends why she must marry the one who wrote her most. After fifteen years, Marie J. Childs is still trying to buy that house with the lovely office for her husband, who is a private physician. We now switch to Florida where Louise Little is Dean of the School of Religion and Peter Brown is still a student, they are both at St. Augustine ' s College. What, am I seeing right? A rummage sale — white shoes for men — have been worn for fifteen years and still wearable. And what do you know, they are being bought all o ' er again by C. Joseph Barfield. Yes, they are the same ones he wore while at Shaw. My travels have been many and my years long. It ' s funny how a picture recalls so many things to one ' s mind. It has been a long time since I ' ve seen them but I ' ll always remember them as I saw them last. Elvin Smith Mary e. Neely Maggie Southe -iand [26]

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CLASS HISTORY On September 2V 1941, our class entered Shaw University to start on that long hard jour- ney to higher education. Unaware of the many obstacles to be encountered, we started this trip with joyous plans for four years of entertainment, interspersed with a few hours of classwork. Our general idea of college was just another high school with the addition of dormitory life. Many changes took place in our group ol ambitious youths before the trip was finally com- pleted. Our first days at college were spent for the most part, in getting acquainted with our room- mates, learning the different buildings of the campus, and learning the new rules to which we would be subjected during our stay at college. The uppercl assmen were most willing to help us, and within a little while we began to feel at home in our new abode. The next day, however, was quite different. By this time most of us were suffering from extreme cases of nostalgia, but we managed to go through the line of registration, filling our little yellow cards that were to play such a vital part in moulding our future. Soon classes began, and we realized that our careless, idle days were over, and we learned that failure is easier to achieve than success Several of the students were unable to withstand this first obstacle and dropped along the way- side, leaving the more ambitious ones to travel farther. As the warm sunny days of fall gradually drifted away the spirit of homecoming pervaded the air We participated wholeheartedly in this event. We entered our float with Miss Clemen tine High. Betty Sue Holmes and Fern Mitchell. Miss Virginia Alexander was an attendant to Miss Shaw and a group of majorettes, led by Miss Florence Avent. led the parade. The game was a brilliant display of well coached football teams. Although we felt a little downhearted over our defeat, our spirits were lifted when we heard that our float had won first prize. Upon our return after Christmas holidays we found ourselves confronted with that terrible ogre that the upperclassmen called examinations. Long nights the midnight oil was burned while rusty weapons were cleaned and polished in order to win the battle with this monster. Examination started his attack on Monday morning at ten o ' clock. By Thursday afternoon the battle was over. Almost everyone escaped with minor injuries, and were even more intent than ever to complete the journey to success. We were represented on the honor roll by Teresa Wilkins. William Burton. Elvin Smith, and William Darity. The new semester was greeted with resolutions to leave off some of our leisure hours and spend more time studying. The Freshman-Sophomore debate was an outstanding event of this semester, with the freshmen sharing equal honors with the Sophomores. Another week of examinations ended our first year at college, and we marveled over the successful completion of the first milestone of our journey. Tears streamed down the cheeks of departing youth, to be dried only by the thoughts of returning next fall. A smaller, more dignified group of students returned in the fall. Many of us who the year before were graciously accepting the assistance of upperclassmen were now helping home-sick freshmen to get acquainted with the college. A goodly number of the class took up their new responsibilities as officers of various organizations. In the University Choir we were represented by Miss Virginia Alexander, Mary Neely. Martha Harley. Donclla Wilson, and Doris Larkin. On the student council there were Lenora Weaver and L loyd A. Burrus. Since football was excluded this year from our activities, our attention was centered on basket- ball. We were represented on the team by Dorothy Carelock. Donclla Wilson and Eliza Lane. For many years we will remember the exciting games played by both boys and girls. A large part of their success may be credited to Miss Florence McGuffin, Clementine High and Virginia Alexander, who acted as cheer leaders. Because we were unable to travel at Christmas, we had to remain at school for the holidays. We made this a very enjoyable holiday as we exchanged gifts and sang carols. Ho-bum. spring had just arrived in all her glory. We went in whole-heartedly for outdoor sports. The crowning event of this season was the Mexican Fiesta. It was a very gala affair. Our Junior year was very quiet. Because of the war most of the social activities were eliminated and our time was spent with our lessons. The preparations for the Junior-Senior Reception took up most of the spring. We were trying to make this a very memorable occasion. We transformed the Gymnasium into a fairy land and we were all pleased with the results. In September. 1944. we started for the last mile of our journey. We were only a few but our hopes were high. We had not forgotten those who had started with us but we felt as if we were too near our goal to fail. All through the fall and winter our time was spent for the most part with our lessons. We were faced with the task of student teaching, which we dreaded at first, but later found rather enjoyable. We were entertained by the Choir and the Shaw Players in order to liven up our dreary existence. The early spring was a busy time for those who were planning to graduate. We worked end- lessly on our plans for that great occasion. The Junior-Senior Prom culminated the year ' s activities with the Juniors acting as host to the Seniors. Four glorious years had implanted so many happy memories in the minds of the Shaw Seniors, and the breaking of the spiritual bonds which had steadily grown stronger, all came too fast. It really does hurt, this graduating, but then our life is in front of us with new challenges, interests, and delightful memories to look back on. As we donned our caps and gowns with our eyes brimming with tears, for the graduating exercises, we faced the world with the motto on our lips. The skill to do comes with doing. WlLHELMINA ELVIN SMITH, Class Historian. [25 J

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