SHS Class of ’52 reunites
Published 12:00 am Monday, October 21, 2002
The moment, place and graduates of the Suffolk High School class of 1952 were all golden Saturday, Oct. 12 as the alumni gathered to celebrate its 50th-year reunion at the Nansemond River Golf
Club on Hillpoint Road
Present were 39 members and 19 guests; several alumni were unable to attend because of illness.
Bill Birdsong, class president, was the emcee for the evening, Dale Brothers gave the invocation. and Wagner Evans called the roll and introduced the guests.
Seven club members are deceased, and a time of remembrance was observed for those people.
Betty Bailey Brinkley read a poem entitled &uot;The Class of ’52&uot; and a delicious dinner was served immediately after the program.
Members adjourned by singing their school song, &uot;Suffolk Forever,&uot; which was led by Ada Brinkley Heffington. She was accompanied on the piano by Donald Verlie Evans.
On Sunday morning, the class enjoyed a farewell breakfast at the Holiday Inn Peacock Alley Restaurant.
Members of the class traveled from seven states to attend the reunion and joined the locals to talk about old times and the wonderful memories that they all shared during school days.
Birdsong announced that the class would be presenting the newly proposed Suffolk center, formerly Suffolk High School, for Cultural Arts with an endowment to honor all 56 graduates of 1952.
In a few years the class hopes to hold its next reunion in that renovated facility.
Senior class officers were: Bill Birdsong, president; Virginia Wagner Evans, secretary; and Doris Wiggins Williams, treasurer. Cornelius Blair, now deceased, was the vice-president.
The 50th-year reunion celebration committee was made up of Betty Bailey Brinkley, chairman; Barbara Wygal Birdsong, Marian Cutchin Hines, Judy Edwards Vail and Myrtle Ann Mountcastle.
Keepsake programs were provided by class members Joanne Farless Coleman and Barbara Shotton of Williamsburg.