Williston High School - Willistonian Yearbook (Wilmington, NC)

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lUislonian CLASS PROPHECY One evening I was sitting in the shade of a large spreading oak near the placid waters of a quiet brook, contemplating the future of my classmates. Much to my sur¬ prise I heard a calm and peaceful voice say to me, Young woman, cheer up! Gaze into the smooth waters of the brook and what you wish to know will be revealed to you.” Before me stood an institution of higher learning which I recognized as Howard University, with Jannie Graves the only student in the English department. Doctor James MacRae was professor of science. As the scenes unfolded, I saw George Fulton filibustering thirty-eight hours per week in the United States Congress. In the office of our great president, taking dictation, sat his stenographer, Ramona Smith. Then a great city seemed to come into the scene. Along one great street called Broadway strolled Dr. James Wright, recent winner of his Ph.D. In lights at the Paramount Theater were these words, Othello”, featuring Theodore Jones, interna¬ tionally famous Shakespearean actor. In the next block at one of the most fashionable night clubs, Doris Hankins had taken over Ella Fitzgerald’s place. Pearly Holmes was appearing there also with The Brown Dots.” Across the street I noticed a sign Swoon to the Music of Willie James Small,” and on the bottom of the sign was the name of Theodore Sharpless, accompanyist. Down the street was the Metropolitan Opera House. Marie Ryans was appearing there and winning the greatest applause ever given anyone. Thelma Sampson was featured nearby at the Ritz” in a role similar to that of Muriel Rahn in Carmen Jones.” Then I saw the Empire State Building. On the twenty- seventh floor in a window was this sign, Alea Robinson-Lawyer-Justice of the Peace.” In another section of the city, Amelia Mitchell was principal of a large high school. Across the avenue at Columbia University, Catherine Bosier headed the English Dept. Arthur Hicks was coach of the football team. Mary Haggins after teaching several years was now a graduate student of the school. In Central Park, I noticed Etta Allen with her young son, Moochie Jr.” As this city faded from view, I noticed a plane landing at the airport on the out¬ skirts of the city. It’s pilot was none other than Emanuel Headen. In the next city which was Philadelphia, as the drama went on, Elizabeth Rivers was starring in a current movie and stealing the show from Lena Horne. Roland Bradley was billed as the Tallest man in the world” with Baily Brothers Circus. (Height 9 1-2 Ft.) Auldrie Haggins was guest on Information Please.” Everywhere signs read, Vote for Robert Martin for President.” At the University of Pennsylvania, Louis BroWn was coach of the swimming team. Helen McRae was chief business ad¬ ministrator at Philadelphia General Hospital. Mildred Jones was a nurse. Not far away from the Hospital was Ruth Stokes, owner of a beauty parlor with sixteen opera¬ tors. Bernice Washington managed the smartest dress shop on Market Street. I

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4 6 CLASS HISTORY All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. One man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.” Act. I. Time: 1942-43 A group of frightened individuals known as greenies” are seen approaching Williston Industrial School, the institution of higher learning. They are bewildered and can’t understand why their shy innocent queries for information of the building and the new and different subjects seem so naive and ridiculous to the upperclassmen. Just the same these awkward and eager Freshmen tackled the tasks that were before them and fell right in line with the other members of the high school department. They were so green” that they did not even elect class officers. Act II. Time: 1943-44 Having completed the first year of hard but fair high school experience, they changed their names to Sophomores. Their chance had come to look upon the greenies” and laugh at their dumb acts, for these Sophs” felt as if they knew everything (but soon learned that there was more to come). They were still too ignorant to elect class officers. Act III. Time: 1944-45 At last these proud Sophomores changed their name to Juniors. Older and more sophisticated they felt more important then ever. At last they had learned enough to elect class officers. By now they had taken many burdens and responsibilities, which Buster Zarkley Smalls who was elected as president helped to bear. They prepared for the traditioinal Junior-Senior Prom with much hard work and planning. They are rewarded by the smiles and applause of their guests, the Seniors. This memorable occasion proved to be an eventful one. Act IV: Time: 1945-46 It seems only yesterday this same group were greenies” that are today Dignified Seniors.” Robert Martin who is also president of the Hi-Y leads brilliantly as class president. First they pick out a class ring that meets the approval of all favorably. Next, this class blazes the trail with the production of the first class annual in the school’s twenty-four year history as a public high school. And now, the curtain closes leaving these hard working students who have success¬ fully finished their high school education setting out for other adventures in search of their life’s work. James R. MacRae, Historian .

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illistonian le noticed an old dilapidated building where Charles Hankins held daily meetings with his Society of Mistreated Preachers.” As the scenes became those of more familiar places I noticed soon that they were of the Old North State.” At Jacksonville, N. C., I saw Rosa Blocker, Jessie Comadore, and Emma Graham who had married Marines and lived in attractive houses with their families. At the nearby church Lois Grady who followed her father’s footsteps was holding evangelistic meetings. Then to my surprise and great pleasure my old home, Wilmington, came into view. First, I saw Dear Williston and in the office was the principal, Foster McNeil. Loraine Smith and Gladys Sutton coached the girls’ basketball. Across the street at Community Hospital Lue Etta Floyd was supervisor of Nurses with Thelma Hill, Marion Henry, and Willie Harper on her staff. James Faison was the newest pastor of Price Memorial Church. Thelma Blackledge owned Wilmington’s most modern Seafood market and Lillian Small was a clerk there also. Edna Foyles was secretary to the Mayor of Wil¬ mington. Nearby at the home of a very happy family, Thelma Williams, the mother, held the newest baby in her arms. Several little ones were playing in the yard. Robert Patterson, her fourth husband, was in the kitchen washing dishes. At Love Grove Azalie Benbow was following in Mrs. Williams footsteps. In the nearby town of Burgaw, Hubert Nixon and George Cromartie were practic¬ ing medicine (heart specialist). William Hill was a criminal lawyer at Warsaw, N. C. As the scenes rolled on, unfamiliar landmarks came into view. Before long, how¬ ever, I recognized New Orleans, La., where Ruth Walker was the town’s only blues singer and Buster Small managed the largest A. P. store in the South. Elnoris Brown was chief of the clerks employed there. Moving on to the fair state of Florida I saw Alcora Williams who was Home Economics Instructor at Bethune-Cookman College. Bernice Thompson was librar¬ ian there. Next, I seemed to be looking at Arkansas, the state famous for live stock. Mabel Garrett taught agriculture in the high school at Little Rock. Across the border in South America, I saw in this fantastic picture, Camille Gantt who taught to persons in Brazil, of all things, the rhumba. As the episode ended I saw before me the continent of Europe where Dorothy Faison, Evelyn Smith, and Elnora Highsmith were travelers. This was an exciting experience, but only the class of ’46 can ever make it true. Hubert Nixon, Ruth Walker, Class Prophets.