Twelve classmates from our Huntingdon High School Class of '53 came together on Friday night, April 20, 2001, at the Pin Oak Lodge in Natchez Trace. Then on Saturday, another ten classmates joined the Friday night group. This made a total of 22 classmates (eighteen of which are HHS graduates from the Class of '53) who met sometime during this April 20th and 21st weekend. Most all the time was spent with friends finding joy in sharing lots of fun, food, fellowship and just plain old-fashioned good-times ....... nay, "great" times.

Total attendance, which includes spouses and friends, for the two day event was twenty-three persons on Friday night and forty for Saturday night.

A list of those in attendance can be seen by clicking here.

A former classmate who joined the reunion this year for the first time was Billy Jarrett (a.k.a., William Bonds Jarrett). Billy was a classmate back in the 40's (during our 3rd, 4th, 5th and possibly 6th grades - no one has figured out about the 6th grade, yet). After Billy had spent this time with us at Huntingdon, he moved to Jackson. There he graduated from Jackson High School (presently Jackson Central Merry). Billy and his wife, Collete, now live in Knoxville. Both were with us for the entire weekend and have made reservations again for next year.

Billy Jarrett and our other "Jarrett" classmate, Gary EARL, were seen from time to time comparing notes on their genealogy. They did establish family lines as having been derived from the same Jarretts - from not too distant a generations-past.

Other matters of interest are as follows: Friday night was used for a time of eating together in the restaurant at the lodge - then, afterward, re-assembling in the Nathez Room for catching up on the latest happenings over the past year.

Saturday morning found many of us back in the restaurant for a good round of food and conversation. Then most of us scattered throughout the area: Gene Shanks went golfing with his pal, Gene Lowe. Gene Lowe is a good friend of many of us. He and his new bride (married within this past year, anyway), Sue, came by to be with us for Friday evening dinner.

Other Saturday morning activities were: Several of the women, including Sue Smith, Mavis (Barnes) Johnson, Joyce (Conyers) Shanks and possibly others, went shopping and/or looking at antiques. James (our 'Butch') Reams visited his sister and other relatives - then went to look over some property his brother, Claude, had purchased. Butch was probably scouting out some of the turkey (and other game) hunting areas also. Damon and Janet King visited relatives, friends and some of the other sites of interest around Carroll County. Larry Williams arranged for the Huntingdon Museum to open at 10 o'clock for many of us to tour. If you have not had the chance to visit the museum, please put it on your agenda sometime soon. You will probably find your name there somewhere - if you have roots in Huntingdon, anyway.

After the eight or ten of us visited the museum, most scattered to visit other areas of interest, especially the 'ol haunts' from our past ... i.e., high school days, especially.

After returning to Pin Oak Lodge later on Saturday, most assembled on the classes' favorite patio. This particular patio, located on front of the lodge, has a viewpoint from which we can see our newly arriving classmates - as each drives up. Upon a classmate's arrival, each one is welcomed with handshakes and hugs all around. Hey!!!! Seems more like an old-fashioned family get together, huh!!! ... with many of us acting as though we haven't seen each other for years - although it may have been only a few days.

After sometime of socializing on and around the patio, we assembled in the restaurant at about 5:50 pm for ... you guessed it ... to eat again. After dinner, we had a short business meeting with our president, Butch Reams, moderating. Butch kept our meeting moving along although everyone, who wants to do so, had a chance to speak. (Our class is never at a loss for words and everyone is always given a chance to speak whatever is on his/her mind.) Again this year as in the past, no one seemed to get bored before the meeting broke up.

Some of the things discussed were: Next year's reunion will be the third weekend in April. If you will, for those of us planning to spend one or two nights, please make your reservation(s) early. (An even larger group from somewhere else is also scheduled for that weekend and early registration is advised by Lodge management.) Call (731) 986-8176 or 1-800-250-8616 to make reservations at Pin Oak Lodge ...

Also during the meeting, a quarterly (mini) reunion was scheduled for Saturday night, June 30, 2001, at the Carroll Lake Country Club starting at 6 o'clock pm. Also scheduled was a 'Guys' get together at the Smokehouse Restaurant in McKenzie on Wednesday, May 16th at 10:30 am.

Also, all classmates signed cards to be sent to Shirley, Lamon and Mrs. Thompson. Our upcoming 50th year reunion was briefly mentioned - during the meeting - and plans are beginning to take shape to make it a special event. It certainly seems that most of the background work is being laid already. You may be asked to help.

After a short time for pictures, we again sat or stood around talking in the Natchez Room and catching up on the latest happenings in each individual's life. Around 10 o'clock pm, most folks left to return to their rooms while others left for their own homes - depending mostly on proximity to the lodge.

Believe you me, ALL classmates who did not attend were sorely missed - with some to be mentioned here because of the known extenuating circumstances - which prevented them from coming. Harvey (our Leon) had to remain in Tuscaloosa, Al, with his wife Shirley who is recovering from serious bouts with a heart condition, pneumonia, shingles and Lupus. Hopefully, Shirley is somewhat better although her condition continues to be quite serious. Lamon King is recovering from having by-pass surgery and was not able to attend. Neither was George Parish. George and his wife, Shirley, are both having problems with their backs (disks). Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Hilliard were not feeling well enough to attend. Nancy (Hilliard) Fullerton was able to be with us on Saturday night. Her son, William (Bill) Kirby, drove her in from Nashville. It was a pleasure meeting Bill and having him and Nancy with us for those few short hours.

Also, please keep Charles Wooters in your prayers: Charles attended Saturday night but was not feeling too well. Also, his brother and our classmate Glenn has been having a few problems and we also missed seeing him. Another former classmate to keep in your prayers/thoughts is James Cooper. James was able to come for the Saturday afternoon and night sessions. Roy Smith's wife, Sue, is recovering from knee replacement surgery. Although Sue continues to be in some pain, from time to time, she and Roy attended both nights. Another classmate to keep in your thoughts and prayers is Joan (Espey) Bain whose husband passed away recently.

Brooksie (Dill) Parham's brother, Otis Dill, who also graduated from Huntingdon HS in the Class of '54 is in serious condition with cancer. Please remember Otis and the Dill Family in your prayers.

Our reunion only breaks up each year after ... well!!!!! you guessed it - eating again ...

Bright and early on Sunday morning, most of us met again - for a good breakfast in the Pin Oak Restaurant and saying our 'so-longs!' - not goodbyes - to our other classmates, their spouses and our friends. On this morning of departure, it seems that everyone 'can linger' easier than we 'can leave'. However, we can all start looking forward to next year (and also to the mini reunions that we try to have each quarter).

Having been touched by angels' wings - we now go our separate ways - yet, knowing a little part of each classmate continues to be ingrained within our very own lives.