Members of Washington-Wilkes High School Class of l959 and faculty who gathered at the Drake home to celebrate their 50th year reunion included (front row, l-r) Bobby Long; Edna Lamar and Charlie Davidson, faculty; Guerry Lyndon Amis, Julian Alex Garrett, Ralph Denard, Jean Vaughn McDonald, Mary Lee Boatwright Wendt, Ben Bentley, Bobbie Jo Gunter Wilson, Beverly Garrett Barney, and Jim Burton; (second row) Rosemary Flynt Newby, Mary Hendrix Burt, J.V. Waters, Mary Wright Hurd, Richard Hendrix, Olivia Snelson Cirillo, Mary Broome Harris, Juanita Morgan Williamson, Curtis Tanner, Gladys Broome Thomas, Coley (Ted) Pettus, Chan Drake, Richard (Pug) Nelms; (third row) Baron Callaway, Rosa Lee Godwin Martin, Travis Armour, Kathleen (Kathy) Mulkey Cranford, Gene Hopkins, Gene Anthony, Gene Gaines, Winston Bailey, Clarence Lance, Mitchell Willis, Ralph Hopkins, Stewart Adams and Willis Sherrer. The beautiful country home of Chan and Phyllis Drake was the scene of the 50th year class reunion of Washington-Wilkes High School Class of l959 Saturday, June 13.

As guests entered the drive, they were greeted with a "Welcome" sign on Mr. Drake's 1930 Model A Ford. Gold and blue balloons festooned the mailbox and a Tiger flag with "Class of 1959" printed on it blew gently in the breeze further up the drive. Guests also enjoyed several classic cars owned by various class members scattered around the side lawn and registration table.

Guerry Lyndon Amis and Ralph Hopkins, assisted by his wife, Joan, greeted guests at the registration table which was overlaid with a blue cloth and held a Tiger holding another bouquet of balloons. The three gave out favors. All class members received a "Book of Memories," a DVD crafted by the Drakes' son, Chad Drake, a striking cobalt blue mug with a gold inscription commemorating the 50th reunion and the latest autographed CD of "Zack Brown's Band," complements of Ralph and Joan Hopkins whose son is a member of the band. The Class of '59 DVD continually played on various television screens located in and outside the home during the festivities.

Guests enjoyed a time of fellowship and "catching up" on the beautifully manicured lawn of the Drakes' backyard which overlooks the pond and tennis court. The yard and patio were decorated with numerous hanging baskets of yellow Gerber daisies and other complementing plants.

Jim Burton, senior class president, welcomed class members, spouses and special guests. A highlight of the welcome featured members of the high school chorus singing a special song from their trip to Dallas, Tex., in l958. W-WHS choral director, Johanna Rainey, especially enjoyed this remembrance.

After a blessing by Clarence Lance, everyone enjoyed a delicious barbecue dinner prepared by Frank and Lou Bentley. Mrs. Drake served a special fruit cup for guests from a beautiful cut glass bowl. A bountiful dessert table featured caramel, coconut and chocolate cakes, made by Beth Reed of Lincolnton. Huge bouquets of blue hydrangeas decorated the serving tables.

Tables for dining were scattered around the patio and across the lawn. Each table was covered in a cobalt blue cloth and topped with a pristine white overlay. A square blue napkin trimmed in gold with the initials W.W.H.S., crafted by Sharleen Roehr Anderson, centered each table. A reflective mirror centered the napkins with arrangements of yellow button chrysanthemums, lilies, Gerber daisies, blue delphiniums, blue hydrangeas and white spider chrysanthemums tipped with blue were created in the cobalt blue commemorative "class reunion" mug. Blue stones were scattered around each arrangement. A table tent, especially created for the '59 reunion, recreated the first page drawing from the "Tiger Annual" with dates noting the span of 50 years. On the other side of the table tent was printed the words to the W.W.H.S. Alma Mater.

The reunion committee was composed of Jim Burton, Chan Drake, Travis Armour, Bobbie Jo Gunter Wilson, Beverly Garrett Barney and Ben Bentley.

Attending the festivities were Stewart Adams of Chula, Larry Armour of Odessa, Fla., Ben and Beverly Bentley of Evans, Gene and Carol Gaines, Cloyd and Brenda Denard, Paul and Mary Lee Boatwright Wendt, of Augusta, Dave and Beverly Garrett Barney of Concord, Mass., Baron Callaway of Orangeburg, S. C., Dennis and Olivia Snelson Cirillo of Lilburn, Gene and Elizabeth Clark of Spartanburg, S.C., Richard Hendrix of Ormond Beach, Fla., Ralph and Joan Hopkins of Gainesville, Bobby and Vivian Long, Jimmy and Kathleen (Kathy) Mulkey Cranford of Athens, Mac and Jean Vaughn McDonald of Rome, Julian (Alex) and Judith Anne Garrett of Clarkesville, Gene and Bobbie Jo Gunter Wilson, Jerry Roberson and son, Jeremiah, of Tignall, Coley (Ted) and Mary Pettus of Overland, Mo., Willis and Pat Sherrer, Scott and Juanita Morgan Williamson, of Rayle, Gladys Broome Thomas of Commerce, J.V. and Evelyn Waters of Orangeburg, S.C., Clarence and Lynne Lance of Ringgold, Mitchell and Carole Willis of Elizabethtown, Ky., Guerry Lyndon Amis, Gene and Linda Anthony, Travis and Bettye Armour, Winston and Patsy Bailey, Mary Hendrix Burt, Jim and Jane Burton, Ralph and Mary Will Denard, Chan and Phyllis Drake, Perry Gunter, Mary Broome Harris, Gene and Candy Hopkins, Ray and Mary Wright Hurd, Amos and Rosa Lee Godwin Martin, Richard (Pug) and Kay Nelms, Olin and Rosemary Flynt Newby, Gary and Suzanne Norman, Curtis and Robbie Tanner, Walter and Patricia Lunceford Tuttle, of Washington; faculty, Charlie and Vicki Davidson of Rome, Edna Lamar of Tignall and Johanna Rainey of Highlands, N.C.; and guests were Mary Duggan, Hannah Hurd, William Johnson, Patty Harber and Turner and Dackie Callaway. Cecil Hardy of Stockbridge was in attendance for his wife and classmate, Frances Cosby Hardy, who was unable to attend because of illness.