By Evelyn Wall

Special to the News-Herald

One hundred and twenty former students of the former Booker T. Washington High School on Walnut Street celebrated their 16th bi-annual reunion recently, the 24th year of the school’s alumni renewing old acquaintances and meeting new additions to families.

The event included a dinner-dance July 5 at the Hilton Garden Inn on West Constance Road, a breakfast and business meeting July 6 and a worship service July 7 at Booker T. Washington Elementary School on Walnut Street and a dinner cruise aboard The Spirit of Norfolk in Norfolk on July 6.

During the celebration, the class of 1963 did a special presentation to celebrate its 50^th anniversary. The emcee for that part of the program and from that class was Joyce Biggs Atkins. Class superlatives and deceased members were recognized, and the class song was sung.

Following that presentation a candle-lighting memorial was held for deceased alumni members and teachers by Bertha Wigfall and Julia Bradley.

Superlative prizes were awarded to the following: Farthest Traveled — Elgin Vines from Grand Rapids, Mich.; Oldest Student — Mary Goode from the class of 1941; and the first to pay for the reunion, Norman Wilson.

After dinner, students and guests danced to music played by Andre Johnson, the DJ for the entire event.

Breakfast on Saturday was followed by a business meeting. During the meeting, five scholarships were presented and new officers were elected to serve for the next two years.

The new officers are as follows: president, Gail Hinton-Copeland; vice president, Julia Bradley; secretary, Evelyn Wall; assistant secretary, Rita Fleetwood; financial secretary, Florine Cooper; and treasurer, Theodore Vincent.

James Ward conducted the voting ceremony, and officers were sworn in by the outgoing president, Roland Wilson.

At the worship service on Sunday, the guest minister was the Rev. Anthony Jones, who preached on the subject, “In Everything Be Thankful.” Second Chance Gospel Ensemble rendered music for the hour-long service.