Suffolk High School class of 1962 enjoys reunion

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 16, 2002

The Suffolk High School class of 1962 gathered Saturday night for their 40th reunion

Classmates had a memorable night meeting and greeting former classmates and their guests. Under the expert direction of Letty Gardner Hernly, volunteers met that afternoon to turn the Holiday Inn ballroom into a 1960’s era

&uot;sock hop.&uot; The tables were decorated with models of ’57 Chevys, T-birds and other classic convertibles which held individual dinner napkins and silverware. Balloons, 45 records, flowers and Arlyn Winslow’s famous &uot;Virginia Gentlemen&uot; poster completed the decorations.

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Through the generosity of Billy Gardner arrangements were made to have a spiffy red and white ’57 Chevy convertible parked outside the hotel entrance – two-tone red and white, the Red Raiders’ school colors.

After much picture taking, laughter and admiration of the ballroom and each other, guests were ushered inside to enjoy dinner.

Charles Foster gave the invocation and after dinner the class president, Charles Darden, welcomed everyone and asked Foster to start introductions.

Forty class members and 20 guests attended. Classmates who married their high school sweethearts included: Sally Michael Caton and Jim Caton, Julane Speer Russell and Jimmy Russell, Lynne Baker Baines and Rufus Baines Jr., and Rogie Coulbourn Hofler and Buzz Hofler; those married the longest were Letty Gardner Hernly and David Hernly-40 years; those who traveled the farthest were Martha Lupton Fewell and husband, Joe Fewell, from Tarpon Springs, Fla.

After the dinner, the celebration continued with dancing to favorite songs of the 60s.

The night ended with the suggestion that the class organizer, Letty Hernly, charter a bus for the next reunion to Tarpon Springs, Fla. to party at Martha Fewel’s new retirement home.